In World War II, Operation Rheinübung (Rhine Exercise) was the sortie by the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen, who left from Gdynia, Poland on 12 May, 1941.

Alerted by agents in the Swedish government, the British mounted an exceptional effort to sink the German flotilla. The ships took a brief refuge in Norwegian waters on 18 May, making a break for the Atlantic shipping lanes on the 22nd.

The obsolescent British battlecruiser HMS Hood and new battleship HMS Prince of Wales made contact with the Germans early on the morning of 24 May. The Hood exploded, all but three of her 1,417-man crew dying when a German shell detonated her magazines. The Prince of Wales continued to dog the Germans, reporting their position.

Leaking fuel and damaged by aerial torpedoes, the Bismarck made course for the French port of Ste. Nazarene (see Operation Chariot) while the undamaged Prinz Eugen began to raid the convoy lanes.

The smaller ship reached Brest on 1 June. British forces converged on the Bismarck hitting her with naval airpower that damaged her rudder. She was sunk on 27 May by her own crew, surrounded by British ships and unable to maneuver due to damage.