Bismarck -class battleships were a class of World War II German battleships, consisting of one ship, the lead ship Bismarck . The ship was named after the 19th-century German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. One of the reasons for her fame was the sinking of HMS Hood, pride of the Royal Navy during the Battle of the Denmark Strait in May 1941. Subsequently, under the command of Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, a "Sink the Bismarck" campaign was launched. Three days later, the Bismarck was sunk after being attacked by aircraft from HMS Ark Royal and torpedoes from several destroyers of the Royal Navy.