The Bismarck was active for only 8 months of World WarII. The Bismarck and an accompanying heavy crusier, the Prinz Eugen engaged with two British battlecruisers, the Hood and the Prince of Wales off the Denmark Strait in May 1941.  During the engagement, the Hood was destroyed but the Bismarck suffered damage from fire from the Price of Wales that forced the Nazi battleship to effectively end its operations.