The story Through the early days of World War II. Tirpitz, Even the Bismarck and her sister ship, will be the most powerful battleships in the European theatre of World War II. Until it can escape to inflict damage on the cargo shipping which was the lifeblood of the British Isles the British Navy must detect and destroy Bismarck. While staying beyond the array of Royal Navy warships, with eight 15 inch guns, it had been effective at ruining every ship in a convoy.