On this day 26 May 1941
Published: 26 May 2013
Fifteen Swordfish aircraft from 818 Squadron, HMS Ark Royal, cripple the battleship Bismarck by scoring a torpedo-hit which jammed her steering-gear. She was then unable to maintain a course. The FAA strike enabled the ships of the Home Fleet to close and sink her the following day using gunfire and ship-launched torpedoes.