Heller Bismarck + Tirpitz TWINSET

The Bismarck was commissioned on July 1, 1936, at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The launch took place on February 14, 1939, and it was commissioned on August 24, 1940. The major operation in which the Bismarck participated was "Operation Rheinübung" in May 1941, alongside the Prinz Eugen, to wage commerce raiding against Allied convoys in the North Atlantic. During the battle on May 27, 1941, the Bismarck was hit multiple times by torpedoes. The HMS Dorsetshire struck the starboard side with two torpedoes and another torpedo hit the port side, leading to the Bismarck's demise. The ship sank approximately 550 nautical miles west of Brest.

The Tirpitz was laid down on November 2, 1936, in Wilhelmshaven. It was launched on April 1, 1939, and was commissioned on February 25, 1941. Due to some improvements in its design, the Tirpitz is heavier than its sister ship Bismarck and remains the largest battleship ever completed in Europe. "Operation Rösselsprung" was conducted from July 2 to 5, 1942, against the Anglo-American convoy PQ 17 and involved the ships Tirpitz, Admiral Hipper, Admiral Scheer, and smaller units. On November 12, 1944, the ship was hit by three direct hits during air raids and sank near Tromsø.