Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Discussions about the history of the ship, technical details, etc.

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DaveDecadent
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Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by DaveDecadent »

Yet another documentary on UK Channel 4 tonight 6:55pm. Based on Iain Ballantyne's book and shedding new light??
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wadinga
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by wadinga »

Hello All,

Review:

It was absolutely dire. Used the PoW CGI to represent Hood when blowing up, but it had all the 20mm deck mounts of late war DOY. Said the Swordfish crews were ordered to hit the props and rudders specifically- impossible.

Map graphics were variable in scale. A parade of not very well informed naval historians(?) trotted out the usual one-line sound bites. Strangely CGI Ark Royal operated her Swordfish with her wireless masts in vertical positions instead of horizontally. Not a good idea.

Loads of irrelevant vintage B/W footage used, including inverted Kingfisher floatplane on an American warship to represent bad weather.

2/10

All the best

wadinga
"There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today!"
Bill Jurens
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by Bill Jurens »

I haven't seen this particular treatment, but can certainly confirm that the historical accuracy of many of these recent 'documentaries' -- if one can dignify them as such in the first place -- is often abysmally low.

One problem is that we are now entering a rather brief historical 'window' where most of the actual participants (who are the most qualified to call 'bull----') are now dead, so that one can now make up more or less whatever story one wants without significant fear of being called on it. While some residual interest in potential audiences may remain, it's more casual than serious in most cases, and within a few more decades the incidents will have slipped into 'deep history' where nobody -- except true specialists in the field -- really care any more.

This is one reason why I myself have ceased to participate in many of these sorts of productions; too many of them tend to demand that one insert commentary that is, at best, of highly questionable validity, and if you won't speak it, the producers will just find someone younger and less-qualified who will. They just need a talking head...

I hold out hope that things will improve, and although good documentaries etc. on these subjects are certainly not impossible to make, the number of production companies willing to put in the necessary effort to properly producing such a documentary is shrinking all the time. But they ARE still out there...

Bill Jurens.
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by DaveDecadent »

Agreed, the worst so called documentary I've seen yet. Embarrassed to have brought it to the attention of the forum. Channel 4 used to be so much better.
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by Steve Crandell »

It looks like someone used the World of Warships game to reconstruct the battle. The really pathetic thing is that the game actually has HMS Hood and they didn't bother to use her. I'd imagine it's because you have to pay extra to get that ship.

Anyway, it's really a shame people do stuff like this because people watch it and think it's accurate. The internet today is a real mess because it's hard to distinguish the real information for things people just "put out there".
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José M. Rico
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by José M. Rico »

I haven't seen this documentary but your comments about it don't surprise me at all.
If you want to see a decent one, check "Sink the Bismarck" from 1996, 100 minutes duration.
GREYSTONE COMMUNICATIONS INC. PRODUCTION FOR A&E.
Not perfect, but probably the best Bismarck documentary in English language in my opinion.
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by Kev D »

Bill Jurens wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:51 amThis is one reason why I myself have ceased to participate in many of these sorts of productions; too many of them tend to demand that one insert commentary that is, at best, of highly questionable validity, and if you won't speak it, the producers will just find someone younger and less-qualified who will. They just need a talking head...Bill Jurens
I commend you on your integrity Bill! :clap:

And, alas, the somtimes 'unknown' or seldom realised side for those that do partake in such docos is that although their 'part' / what they have to say may be accurate, and made in 'good faith', it is then interspaced in the editing process with some inaccurate 3D graphics and / or totally unrelated historical footage, etc. I don't know how many docos I have seen that the footage shown is in no way related to the action depicted save for a similar occurnce - or not so similar in some cases - to another action / ship / plane / land battle altogether. It's an historical travesty that that is the case, as history becomes diluted / distorted the further we get from the event. But seems the doco makers, in general, are not really looking for histoical accuracy, but what for might at best be termed exciting fiction "based on a true story" (to attract the viewers) over the actual facts (that in actuality are just as exciting / interesting). Oh well. :stubborn:

And no, I havent seen this particular doco, but sounds like :kaput:
We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it.” Capt. Tennant. HMS Repulse. Dec. 8 1941
A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging.” Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942
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Bismarck 24 hours to Doom

Post by paul.mercer »

Gentlemen, Did anyone watch the program on TV a couple of nights ago entitled 'Bismarck, 24 hours to doom' as it was apparently organised by Ian Ballantyne I though that it might shed a new light on the battle so was quite looking forward to it. Oh Dear, it started of with another presenter talking about Bismarcks 15" guns which according to her had a range of -wait for it, 10,000 miles! it went on to the sinking of the Hood where it was claimed that a shell that dived under her armoured belt and set off the explosion. Nothing was said about the subsequent battle with PoW and the fact that Bismarck had a large hole in her bow. Admiral Lutjens was praised as being on of Germany's top Admirals, but all we saw of him was sitting in his cabin writing and when told that on of the ships in pursuit was 'Rodney' could only say "she's got 16" guns and could do a lot of damage to us" before tuning back to hia writing desk! This lethargy carried on until he was shaken by the crash of the main armament opening up! The Swordfish attack on Sheffield was glossed over with nothing about the duff magnetic detonators with the presenters expressing incredulity that they could mistake a cruiser for a battleship. ignoring the weather conditions at the time and that the crews saw a ship where they expected it to be. In the final torpedo attack the presenter said that the crews were 'told' to target the propellers and rudders again ignoring the fact that the weather was awful and they were being shot at by most of Bismark's guns and just aiming at the ship was an almost impossible task. Finally, to close with the final battle it eems that KGV got all the camera action with poor old Rodney being left out to one side (like in 'Sink the Bismarck') but one shot shows Bismark's B turret beng blown over the side.Altogether, a very 'Rocky Doccy' made I suspect to promote the book by Mr Ballantyne. not one of his better efforts. I for one will not be buying it
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Re: Bismarck - 24 Hours to Doom

Post by RF »

I have now seen this ''documentary'' and as soon as it started I heard Prinz Eugen being described as a ''light cruiser'' and realised that I was listening to a complete ignoramous.

As a cruiser I think Prinz Eugen was something of a super heavy weight, especially in terms of tonnage, something like three times the weight of a genuine light cruiser....

And we haven't even got to the point of mentioning Bismarck.......
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