 A notable point in 771s wartime history was that they started the chain that led to the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck.The Commanding Officer of HMS Sparrowhawk, Capt Henry Lockhart St John Fancourt, RN, had been ordered to identify and sink the Bismarck at the earliest opportunity.The two squadrons of Albacore TSRs he had did not have sufficient range to attack the battleship whilst in harbour.