David and Goliath
©1997 W.J. Lambert

An RNAS Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber from HMS Illustrious drops its single torpedo in an attack on the German battleship Bismarck in April 1942. Another Swordfish had dropped its torpedo and hit the giant dreadnought amidships with no effect against its heavily armoured hull. This last Swordfish crew, playing the role of "David", somehow found the only weak spot on the German "Goliath" when its torpedo struck the ship's rudder. It was a fatal blow. The massive battleship was unable to maneuver and eventually the rest of the British Royal Navy caught and sank her.

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