{"product_id":"22777","title":"\"Nemesis': HMS Ark Royal launches Swordfish against KMS Bismarck, 19.15 hrs 26th May 1941\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWatercolour \u0026amp; \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBodycolour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12 x 20 inches (30 x 51 cm)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSigned, lower right \u0026amp; dated '22, lower right\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the third painting in a series of four by Ian Lowe depicting the exceptionally famous Second World War action against the German warship KMS \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e had sunk the British HMS \u003cem\u003eHood\u003c\/em\u003e during her battle with \u003cem\u003eHood\u003c\/em\u003e and HMS \u003cem\u003eRodney\u003c\/em\u003e, she had been damaged and was leaking oil; Admiral Lutjens hoped to bring \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e to France for repairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere followed three days of hide-and-seek; \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e was attacked unsuccessfully by aircraft from HMS \u003cem\u003eVictorious\u003c\/em\u003e and then was lost by the shadowing British cruisers. However Lutjens fatally broke radio silence, allowing the British to get an approximate fix on his location. On the morning of May 24th \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e was spotted by a Catalina flying-boat piloted by a US officer, Ensign Leonard B \"Tuck\" Smith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe painting shows HMS \u003cem\u003eArk Royal\u003c\/em\u003e and HMS \u003cem\u003eRenown \u003c\/em\u003elaunching their second strike against \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e, having turned north into the wind and battling heavy seas and severe weather. The first strike had failed, having been directed by misidentification against HMS \u003cem\u003eSheffield\u003c\/em\u003e. Fortunately the torpedoes had been faulty and no damage was sustained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy contrast the second strike, by 15 Swordfish torpedo bombers of 818 Squadron under Lt Commander Tim Coode, went home. In those severe conditions, only Swordfish aircraft could have delivered such an attack. A torpedo severely damaged \u003cem\u003eBismarck\u003c\/em\u003e's rudder making her unsteerable and delivering her to the guns of \u003cem\u003eRodney\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eKing George V\u003c\/em\u003e early on the morning of May 27th.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eTo buy the painting or reserve it while obtaining a shipping quote from us\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003econtact  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eCharles Mayes - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk   +44(0)20 7352 7759\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003e - or buy direct through our secure website   VAT does not apply\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #005500;\"\u003eA larger photograph \/ full description is available on request\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"IAN LOWE (British, Contemporary)","offers":[{"title":"Framed  Painting","offer_id":55616624066902,"sku":"-22777","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Lowe_20-_20Ark_20Royal_20-_202_20-_20large_20stamped_4ee539a6-35b6-4f66-a9cc-604c218d871a.jpg?v=1791279892","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/22777","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}