Recently, the curator of Battleship New Jersey, Ryan Szimanski, posted on Rebel Research about a hypothetical fight between USS TEXAS (BB-35) and BISMARCK. This is his take on it.
"Could TEXAS Have Fought BISMARCK? I don’t think this scenario is as far-fetched as it is made out to be. American warships on neutrality patrols sailed out beyond the limits of where they were supposed to be.
The Coast Guard Cutter Modoc got within visual range of Bismarck shortly after the Battle of the Denmark Strait.
In addition, may have even helped Illustrious’ swordfish find the German ship to make their attack. This is to say the US were probably not just letting the enemy sail by. And would have at minimum reported her position to the British.
TEXAS and NEW YORK were both at sea in the Atlantic when BISMARCK sortied. TEXAS and 3 destroyers were operating well east of the 30 degrees west longitude western hemisphere demarcation line. Moreover, even crossed BISMARCK’s track less than two days before the German ship would be there.
Meanwhile NEW YORK and another 3 Destroyers were heading out to sea to relieve TEXAS. In addition, passed through the German area of operations after BISMARCK was already past but almost ran into PRINZ EUGEN. Had TEXAS and BISMARCK run into each other in low light conditions. Lutgens likely would have mistaken her for a British Revenge class battleship and opened fire. TEXAS would have responded and radioed a position report.
BISMARCK wins the engagement if they fight to completion. But in North Sea visibility, you don’t see ships firing beyond 13 miles so gun range doesn’t matter.
In conclusion, both ships take hits, but BISMARCK is too damaged to continue raiding. Lastly, the US enters the war in Europe early and Pearl Harbor never occurs."
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