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WW2 Maritime Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
WW2 Maritime Quizzes, Trivia

WW2 Maritime Trivia

WW2 Maritime Trivia Quizzes

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53 WW2 Maritime quizzes and 635 WW2 Maritime trivia questions.
1.
  WW2 Japanese Aircraft Carriers   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The Imperial Japanese Navy was at the forefront of naval aviation after World War I, completing the first dedicated aircraft carrier. Their carrier fleet was the main striking force in the Pacific during World War II. What do you know about these ships?
Tough, 15 Qns, Reamar42, Dec 03 23
Tough
Reamar42 gold member
Dec 03 23
138 plays
2.
  Leyte Gulf - Death of a Navy   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
For three days in October 1944 the US Navy and the remnants of the Imperial Japanese Navy engaged in a titanic struggle for mastery of the waters around the Philippines.
Tough, 15 Qns, mstanaway, Oct 27 16
Tough
mstanaway
1865 plays
3.
  About the Bismarck   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Quiz about the short life of the Battleship Bismarck.
Average, 15 Qns, bowsoljah, Sep 08 16
Average
bowsoljah
4782 plays
4.
  World War II's Famous Ships   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short quiz on some of World War II's most famous naval warships. Good luck! :D It will be in the format of "I am/was" and you have to select the right warship in order to continue.
Average, 10 Qns, MastahCheef117, Jul 24 15
Average
MastahCheef117
1533 plays
5.
  The Battleships of WWII   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Just a little quiz to test your know-how on the big-gunned ships of WWII.
Average, 10 Qns, experten45, Feb 15 23
Average
experten45
Feb 15 23
3557 plays
6.
  War Beneath the Waves: U.S. Submarines   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is a quiz about the U.S. Navy's undersea warriors during WWII: the submariners. Do you know what it took to become a submarine sailor during history's greatest conflict?
Average, 15 Qns, daver852, Aug 22 15
Average
daver852 gold member
438 plays
7.
  US ships in WW2   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Match the ships to the correct description!
Average, 10 Qns, TysonNg, Nov 22 17
Average
TysonNg
Nov 22 17
430 plays
8.
  The US Fleet    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on the ships and aircraft of the United States Navy during the Second World War. Hope you enjoy.
Average, 10 Qns, F6FHellcat, Jul 14 18
Average
F6FHellcat
Jul 14 18
330 plays
9.
  Name the Ship   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Here you will find a general description of famous warship who were involved in some way in the Second World War. It's up to you to figure which one it was from the information I will feed you. Good luck, I think this is a tough one!
Difficult, 15 Qns, rachelene, Feb 11 13
Difficult
rachelene
4118 plays
10.
  US Aircraft Carriers in WWII   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The carrier changed the nature of naval warfare for ever. It made the battleship obsolete and increased the striking power of a task force. This quiz is about the US carriers used in WWII.
Average, 10 Qns, beterave, Mar 28 11
Average
beterave
951 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Where is it believed HMS Hood was hit that caused the massive explosion?

From Quiz "Sink the Bismarck!"




11.
  The Royal Navy's Early War (1939-41)   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Royal Navy played a major role in ensuring that Britain withstood the onslaughts of Nazi Germany and her allies. This quiz is about the ups and downs of those key naval actions in the early years, when Britain stood alone. I hope you enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, JJMcGiver, Apr 26 19
Tough
JJMcGiver
Apr 26 19
203 plays
12.
  World War II Maritime Disasters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some of the many WWII maritime disasters and near misses.
Average, 10 Qns, deadmeat, Nov 18 05
Average
deadmeat
2230 plays
13.
  Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers and Destroyers   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A quiz about destroyers, aircraft carriers and cruisers which served in World War II.
Difficult, 15 Qns, Pappy84, Feb 24 10
Difficult
Pappy84
1915 plays
14.
  USS Yorktown Sinking   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Yorktown was a ship that was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in World War II. Take this quiz and find out her history.
Average, 10 Qns, titanic97, Apr 01 20
Average
titanic97
Apr 01 20
930 plays
15.
  HMS Bulldog   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The sixth RN vessel to bear the name of the scrappy, tenacious British bulldog was a destroyer that served throughout World War II. Here are a few questions about that ship.
Average, 10 Qns, spanishliz, Mar 08 20
Average
spanishliz editor
Mar 08 20
211 plays
16.
  U-Boat: The Silent Hunter    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The German U-boat had every merchant and naval seaman living in fear as they stalked convoys like hungry wolfs, fired their torpedos and slipped away, silently into the deep. This quiz is a broad look at the dreaded U-boat.
Average, 10 Qns, bertho, Nov 30 06
Average
bertho
1681 plays
17.
  The Battle of the Atlantic    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
"... the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril."- Winston S. Churchill
Difficult, 25 Qns, iron2, May 13 08
Difficult
iron2
819 plays
18.
  German WW2 Warships    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Okay, a quiz on German World War II warships. I'll give you dates, events, etc. and you name the ship.
Average, 10 Qns, deadmeat, Oct 27 12
Average
deadmeat
3200 plays
19.
  10 Questions: Sink the Bismarck! Multiple Choice Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about the famous battleship Bismarck. It was one of the most feared battleships in the German navy in WWII. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, titanic97, Jul 15 14
Average
titanic97
1458 plays
20.
  WWII Naval Action: I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz mainly on German World War II warships.
Average, 10 Qns, swordofmia, Nov 11 06
Average
swordofmia
1121 plays
21.
  The Real USS Enterprise CV-6    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Quiz about one of the US Navy's greatest warships to sail the Earth's oceans. The quiz deals with events the ship experienced during World War II.
Average, 10 Qns, bowsoljah, Apr 19 13
Average
bowsoljah
1484 plays
22.
  Japanese Battleships of WWII    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short, fairly straightforward quiz on Japanese battleships that served in the Second World War. Enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, sparticus44, Sep 28 08
Tough
sparticus44
671 plays
23.
  Sink 'Em All: The Story of the USS Wahoo    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is about the USS Wahoo (SS-238), perhaps the most famous of all U.S. submarines during WWII. If you are not a submarine buff, it will probably be very difficult.
Tough, 15 Qns, daver852, Sep 08 14
Tough
daver852 gold member
218 plays
24.
  World War II at Sea    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is a general quiz about some of the main ships of World War 2 (Allied and Axis) and their history.
Difficult, 15 Qns, matthewpokemon, Jan 30 10
Difficult
matthewpokemon gold member
1224 plays
25.
  The Ultimate Sink the Bismarck! Quiz   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Bismarck was one of the largest battleships of WWII. If it had been allowed to menace Allied convoys, who knows what damage it might have done.
Average, 10 Qns, beterave, Aug 01 16
Average
beterave
809 plays
26.
  Dutch Navy in World War II   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the Dutch Navy in WWII for all you quiz buffs.
Tough, 10 Qns, DutchWWII, Nov 18 06
Tough
DutchWWII
601 plays
27.
  Iowa Class - America's Last Battleships    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Iowa Class battleships were the last of the great battleships in the U.S. Navy. Conceived as the ultimate naval weapon system, their actual use differed significantly from that original concept and morphed into a 21st century combat platform.
Tough, 10 Qns, MicjealS, Jun 24 12
Tough
MicjealS
341 plays
28.
  HMS Ark Royal, Hermes and Illustrious, etc.    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short quiz about Royal Navy aircraft carriers in WWII.
Average, 10 Qns, deadmeat, Jul 24 15
Average
deadmeat
1031 plays
29.
  Big Naval Guns: II    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I thought that Big Naval Guns was a good quiz and decided to add a second part. Enjoy! As in Big Naval Guns I, in this quiz, I will give you a vessel name and you will give me the caliber of the vessel's main armamnent.
Average, 10 Qns, swordofmia, May 10 10
Average
swordofmia
948 plays
30.
  HMAS Sydney (II) Sinking    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The sinking of the HMAS Sydney brought the reality of WW2 home to the shocked Australian nation. How much do you know about this tragic event?
Average, 10 Qns, stredman, Aug 15 20
Average
stredman gold member
Aug 15 20
191 plays
31.
  Davids and Goliath    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
13th December 1939 saw one of the last naval engagements fought before radar and aviation revolutionized war at sea.
Average, 10 Qns, mortifer, Nov 09 13
Average
mortifer
1318 plays
32.
  The Kriegsmarine #2    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is about on the history of the German Navy in World War II - the Kriegsmarine.
Very Difficult, 15 Qns, tirpitz44, Nov 12 05
Very Difficult
tirpitz44
763 plays
33.
  U-Boats: Germany's Underwater Menace    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The U-Boat almost turned the tide for Germany during WWII. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, beterave, Mar 11 11
Average
beterave
436 plays
34.
  Battleships    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about battleships of the world throughout history, concentrating on the World War II time era.
Difficult, 10 Qns, whitee62, Sep 23 12
Difficult
whitee62
1698 plays
35.
  Royal Navy Losses In World War Two    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Royal Navy ships lost during the 2nd World War.
Average, 10 Qns, deadmeat, Sep 12 16
Average
deadmeat
2224 plays
36.
  World Warships in History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Questions pertaining to Navy ships of different countries.Some questions are about ships from WW I.
Tough, 10 Qns, gamesrfun2222, Feb 13 10
Tough
gamesrfun2222
1901 plays
37.
  The Imperial Japanese Navy    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
(aka Kancolle trivia lol) Imperial Japan's Navy was undeniably powerful on the eve on the Pacific War. After the near-flawless victory at Tsushima, it's not hard to see why Japan took pride in its navy.
Difficult, 20 Qns, Panzer_V, Apr 17 18
Difficult
Panzer_V
Apr 17 18
177 plays
38.
  The Kriegsmarine #1    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is based on the history of the German Navy in World War II - the Kriegsmarine.
Very Difficult, 15 Qns, tirpitz44, Jan 04 06
Very Difficult
tirpitz44
685 plays
39.
  WWII Naval Action: II    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Part II of World War II Naval Actions.
Tough, 10 Qns, swordofmia, Dec 14 13
Tough
swordofmia
930 plays
40.
  US Aircraft Carriers I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about US aircraft carriers that served in WWII.
Difficult, 10 Qns, ABW, Mar 24 07
Difficult
ABW
1427 plays
41.
  USS Massachusetts    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How well do you know do you know the American South Dakota class battleship USS Massachusetts?
Tough, 10 Qns, Dense_Electric, Nov 10 04
Tough
Dense_Electric
610 plays
42.
  The War at Sea -Tipping Point-Dec '41 to Dec '43    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz about the RN at War when it faced it's biggest challenges in the Atlantic and Med from Dec 1941 through to Dec 1943. The war was at a tipping point and the war at sea was critical to overall allied victory.
Tough, 10 Qns, JJMcGiver, May 07 19
Tough
JJMcGiver
May 07 19
161 plays
43.
  The USS Indianapolis    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Humans were the main course for sharks during this ordeal.
Average, 10 Qns, blakey, Mar 27 11
Average
blakey
1263 plays
44.
  Die Kriegsmarine    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A test of your knowledge of the German Navy and U-boat arm.
Average, 10 Qns, experten45, Oct 26 11
Average
experten45
1095 plays
45.
  Allied Amphibious Vessels of WWII    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is dedicated to the landing vessels of WWII and the brave "Sandscrapers" who manned them. These vessels helped win WWII in Noth Africa, Europe and the Pacific. (Due to ongoing modifications during the war, crew, cargo and armament may vary.)
Average, 10 Qns, stevroll, Mar 21 09
Average
stevroll gold member
344 plays
46.
  Britain's Worst Maritime Disaster    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Inspired by the bravery of the survivors and by the TV programme 'Home Ground', this is a tribute to Britain's worst maritime disaster.
Difficult, 10 Qns, deadmeat, May 11 08
Difficult
deadmeat
982 plays
47.
  WWII and Postwar Warships    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
In this quiz, I will describe a famous warship of the World War II or post-war era, and you will have to choose what ship is being described.
Difficult, 20 Qns, massachusetts32, May 14 16
Difficult
massachusetts32
1822 plays
48.
  German Raiders of World War II    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Auxiliary Cruisers - or Hilfskreuzer - of the Kriegsmarine.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, tirpitz44, Nov 29 05
Very Difficult
tirpitz44
1054 plays
49.
  The U-boat War    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about German U-boat successes in the Second World War.
Tough, 10 Qns, DutchWWII, Mar 16 13
Tough
DutchWWII
525 plays
50.
  Submarines at War - WWII    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
This is a test of your knowledge of submarines (actually, they should be called submersibles) during World War Two. It includes questions about various nations' submarine activities.
Tough, 25 Qns, malomente, Aug 16 09
Tough
malomente
898 plays
51.
  American Submarines of World War II    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A simple quiz about American submarines in World War 2. A few simple questions, mixed with a few harder questions.
Tough, 10 Qns, 8_T_1, Aug 21 15
Tough
8_T_1
173 plays
52.
  World War Two - Aces of the Deep: Germany    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It takes a special kind of soldier to serve on a submarine, especially so in the German U-boats of World War Two. Once you put to sea, you had a 80% change of staying there - forever.
Difficult, 10 Qns, MrRadt, Apr 10 14
Difficult
MrRadt
205 plays
53.
  Gunboat 658    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is based on the book of the same name by one of the crew - L.C.Reynolds, DSC.
Difficult, 15 Qns, tnrees, Oct 13 08
Difficult
tnrees
353 plays

WW2 Maritime Trivia Questions

1. This class of two carriers, the "Shokaku" and "Zuikaku", were two of the newest units commissioned before Pearl Harbor. Which ship was lost at Midway?

From Quiz
WW2 Japanese Aircraft Carriers

Answer: Neither

The sister ships "Shokaku" and "Zuikaku ", both commissioned in 1941, displaced 32,000 tons and carried 72 aircraft. Both fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, 1942, but both ships were in port in Japan during the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. The two sisters were the main fleet carriers for the Japanese Navy until 1944. "Shokaku" was sunk in June, 1944, by a U.S. submarine during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, while "Zuikaku" was sunk by aircraft in October, 1944, during the Battle off Cape Engano.

2. In which ocean did the HMAS Sydney sink?

From Quiz HMAS Sydney (II) Sinking

Answer: Indian Ocean

The HMAS Sydney sank in deep water (about 2468 metres, 8097 feet) approximately 207 kilometres (128 miles) west of Steep Point on the Western Australian coast.

3. Launched in 1930, the B-class destroyer, HMS Bulldog (H91) spent some time during the 1930s enforcing an arms blockade during which conflict, which preceded the outbreak of World War II?

From Quiz HMS Bulldog

Answer: Spanish Civil War

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), Great Britain and France established an embargo on the supply of arms to both sides of that conflict, though not always successfully. Ships of the Royal Navy, including HMS Bulldog, cruised Spanish waters as part of the attempt to enforce the blockade. The three incorrect choices all took place, or began, in the following decade, after the Second World War had begun, and in two cases, after it had ended.

4. Which modern destroyer (Fubuki-class) built in the interwar period is the only one that sank before World War Two?

From Quiz The Imperial Japanese Navy

Answer: Miyuki

Miyuki (Deep Snow) was the fourth Fubuki-class destroyer. In 1934, she collided with Inazuma, an Akatsuki-class destroyer, off Cheju Island in Korea. At least five crewmen on Miyuki were lost as she sank, while Inazuma, her entire bow severed, picked up the survivors and was towed to port by cruiser Nachi. Shirayuki (White Snow) was the second Fubuki-class destroyer. She was named after one of Emperor Hirohito's horses. As the Japanese flagship in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, Shirayuki was sunk by air attack on March 3, 1943. Murakumo (Massed Clouds) was the fifth Fubuki-class destroyer. After attempting to rescue survivors from cruiser Furutaka following the Battle of Cape Esperance, Murakumo was sunk by Allied Aircraft on October 12, 1942. Isonami (Surf) was the ninth Fubuki-class destroyer. She was sunk attempting to rescue survivors from the sunk Penang Maru by USS Tautog on April 9, 1943 in Indonesia.

5. Which American submarine sank the most tonnage according to Japanese records?

From Quiz American Submarines of World War II

Answer: USS Barb

The Barb sank a total of 96,628 tons in World War II. Her victories include the aircraft carrier Unyo, the raider cruiser Gokoku, numerous cargo ships, and a frigate. After the war, the Barb was sold to Italy.

6. It is January, 1943. The United States Navy needs hands to man its rapidly growing submarine fleet. What was one trait all American submariners had in common?

From Quiz War Beneath the Waves: U.S. Submarines

Answer: They were volunteers

Although life on a submarine is rough if you are six feet tall or more, there were no maximum height regulations; you rapidly learned to duck your head when going through hatches or navigating the engineering spaces. There was no requirement that one be a native-born citizen, or even a citizen at all; many stewards were Filipinos. And many, if not most, submariners were in their teens when they made their first patrol; the youngest to die was only 15. But one thing all submariners had in common is that they were volunteers. The U.S. Navy has never forced anyone to serve on a submarine against his will.

7. What type of submarine was the Wahoo?

From Quiz Sink 'Em All: The Story of the USS Wahoo

Answer: Gato Class

Wahoo was one of 77 Gato class submarines built during WWII. Twenty of these ships were lost in action against the Japanese. The Gato class was the largest class of U.S. submarines, and included some of the most famous of all the submarines to participate in WWII. The Wahoo was laid down on June 28, 1941 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, launched on February 14, 1942, and commissioned on May 15, 1942.

8. On 25 November 1941, the HMS Barham was sunk in the Mediterranean sea, north of Sidi Barrani, Egypt. The U-boat and commander responsible were?

From Quiz World War Two - Aces of the Deep: Germany

Answer: U-331 (Hans Dieter Freiherr von Tiesenhausen)

The HMS Barham was on route to engage an Italian convoy when she was attacked by U-331 and struck in quick succession by three torpedos fired at less than 800 yards. While rolling over her magazines exploded and the ship sank rapidly beneath the waves with 860 of her crew.

9. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, how many US carriers were lost?

From Quiz US Aircraft Carriers in WWII

Answer: none

The US Fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor lost no carriers during the attack on Pearl Harbor. This fact came back to really haunt the Japanese because future US operations centered around a carrier task force.

10. Which battleship was the Bismarck's sister ship?

From Quiz Sink the Bismarck!

Answer: the Tirpitz

The Tirpitz was the Bismarck's sister ship. Unlike the Bismarck, it never was allowed an opportunity to sail into the Atlantic and menace Allied shipping.

11. The Athenia was the first British ship sunk in WWII. What kind of vessel was the Athenia?

From Quiz U-Boats: Germany's Underwater Menace

Answer: a passenger ship

The SS Athenia was a passenger ship. She was torpedoed by U-30 on 3 September 1939.

12. The USS Utah, sunk at Pearl Harbor, was what kind of ship?

From Quiz World War II at Sea

Answer: Florida Class battleship

By the time of Pearl Harbor the Utah had been relegated to target practice by the US Navy. It was left sunk as a memorial, like USS Arizona. The Utah was commissioned by the US Navy on August 31 1911 and was obsolete at the outbreak of World War 2.

13. Which class of Japanese battleship were the first to be constructed using material and weapons entirely sourced from Japan itself?

From Quiz Japanese Battleships of WWII

Answer: Fuso class

IJNS Fuso, and her sister IJNS Yamashiro, were completed on the 8th November 1915 and the 31st March 1917 respectively.

14. What was the original armament of MGB 658?

From Quiz Gunboat 658

Answer: AA gun-40mm pom pom, B and C- two twin half inch machine guns, X- twin 20mm Oerlikon, Y- hand operated six pounder and two twin .303 Vickers machine guns on the bridge.

A six pounder is a 57mm gun. Six lbs is about 2.5 kg. The A and Y guns were replaced by semi automatic six pounders and the half inch guns by 20mm Oerlikons. They got the two new six pounders in time for what Reynolds described as the final round.

15. How many combat capable U-Boats were in commission with the Kriegsmarine (KM) at the outset of WWII?

From Quiz The Battle of the Atlantic

Answer: 57

A few notes about this number. First and foremost, "in commission" does not mean operationally capable, and the situation in this regard was not good. The KM's figures show a total of 16 operational type VII's, five type IX's and one of the two type IA's. Of the 35 type II's in commission, the 6 type IIC's were working up or training, and only 16 of the IIA's and IIB's were crewed up for war. In six months of war, the KM lost a total of ten of their sea-going subs, the types VII and IX. As a result of these losses, a severe strain was put on the training flotilla's (type II's) to maintain a (nominal) combat capability. The type II U-Boat was an ideal training and coastal machine, but far from suitable for service on the open seas. Hitler had long promised Admiral Raeder that war with the UK would not come until at least 1942 or '43. The pace of submarine production had been steady, but far from a priority thus far. This was all to change... N.B. My source for all information pertaining to U-Boats in this quiz will be uboat.net (the "absolute" online authority in the field) unless noted otherwise.

16. Which ship was torpedoed by the U-30 under the command of Lemp on 3rd September 1939?

From Quiz The U-boat War

Answer: Athenia

This passanger ship was torpedoed by the U 30 in the Atlantic Ocean. 112 people died. This torpedoing led to a cry of outrage in the world. The logbook of the sinking of the Athenia was altered by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy).

17. One US carrier was often called "Unlucky I" or "Decrepid" by the crews of other navy ships. What was its real name?

From Quiz Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers and Destroyers

Answer: USS Intrepid

USS Intrepid was often called "Unlucky I" or "Decrepid" by the crews of other carriers because of several accidents and heavy damages during her service.

18. In what state was the Yorktown constructed?

From Quiz USS Yorktown Sinking

Answer: Virginia

Yorktown was built at the Newport News Ship Building Firm located in Newport News, Virginia. The keel was laid on May 21, 1934 and the ship was launched nearly two years later.

19. When was the keel laid for the Bismarck?

From Quiz Sink the Bismarck!

Answer: July 1, 1936

The Bismarck was ordered by the German navy on November 16, 1935 and the keel was laid on July 1, 1936. The ship was built at the Blohm & Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, Germany. It would become the largest and most feared German battleship on the high seas.

20. Which Dutch destroyer participated in the Battle of Cape Bon?

From Quiz Dutch Navy in World War II

Answer: Isaac Sweers

This destroyer was only half completed when it was towed to England in May 1940. It participated in the Battle of Cape Bon in the night of 12th-13th December 1941. In this battle the Isaac Sweers together with the British destroyers Sikh, Legion and Maori destroyed the Italian light cruisers Alberico da Barbiano and Alberto di Giussano. (Cape Bon is the north-east point of Tunisia and the Allied victory was important in the battle to hold Malta).

21. Name the caliber of HMS Warspite's main armament.

From Quiz Big Naval Guns: II

Answer: 15

The HMS Warspite was used in many battles including the ending of the Battle of Narvik and the bombardment of D-Day. She was a Queen Elizabeth class battleship. She was commissioned in 1915 and was decommissioned in 1945 after the war ended.

22. Who was the admiral in charge of the Bismarck?

From Quiz WWII Naval Action: II

Answer: Admiral Luetjens

Admiral Guenther Luetjens (1889-1941) had joined the German Navy in 1907. He was decorated with the Knight's Cross (of the Iron Cross) for bravery in Norwegian campaigns. In accordance with German traditions, Admiral Luetjens went down with his ship.

23. The official German designation for a pocket battleship was a 'Panzerschiff'. What the standard English meaning of 'Panzerschiff'?

From Quiz WWII Naval Action: I

Answer: Pocket Battleship

The most famous of Panzerschiffe was the Graf Spee, which lead a massive merchant destruction campaign which was eventually put down by Allied surface action. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) had placed severe restrictions on the German navy. Among other things, Germany was not allowed to have any warship of over 10,000 tons. Hence the emphasis on building rather small ships with massive firepower.

24. Name the commander of the U-Boat that sank the liner Laconia in September 1942.

From Quiz The Kriegsmarine #2

Answer: Korvettenkapitän Werner Hartenstein

On September 12 1942, U-156, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Werner Hartenstein, torpedoed and sank the 19,695-ton British liner Laconia in the South Atlantic. The liner was carrying over 2,700 people, including 1,800 Italian prisoners of war. Amazed to hear the Italian voices among the survivors in the water, Hartenstein immediately began rescue operations, turning his boat into a floating hospital and exposing her to great danger. He radioed for assistance, both from other U-boats and from any nearby vessels, promising to cease hostilities if not attacked himself. Admiral Dönitz sent two U-Boats, U-506 (Kptlt. Erich Würdemann) and U-507 (Krvkpt. Harro Schacht), the Italians sent the submarine Cappellini, and the French sent three warships. Heading for a rendezvous with the French ships, the U-Boats had hundreds of survivors both on board and on their upper decks, and were towing chains of overcrowded lifeboats and rafts behind them. On September 16, an American B-24 bomber, operating from Ascension Island, flew over the scene, and although its pilot could see the rafts and lifeboats, as well as the large Red Cross flags draped over the U-Boats guns, he inexplicably omitted to report that fact and was instructed to attack! This inexperienced pilot, one Lieutenant James Harden - was so keen to bag his first 'kill' and make a name for himself, that he disregarded what he could clearly see was a rescue in progress, and pressed ahead with his bombing runs, later claiming to have sunk both U-156 and U-506 - a 'feat' for which he was subsequently decorated. He made several runs, killing and maiming dozens of people and forcing the Germans to cut the lines to the lifeboats and submerge immediately, drowning many and leaving hundreds once again struggling in the shark-infested waters. Nearly 2,000 people lost their lives in 'The Laconia Incident', victims of torpedoes, drowning, sharks, thirst and 'hero' Harden's bombs. The bombing of U-Boats so obviously engaged in a humanitarian rescue, prompted Dönitz to issue the controversial 'Laconia Order', which made it clear that they were no longer to take part in any rescue operations, but were to leave survivors in the water, an order for which he was found guilty at the War Crimes tribunals after the war, and spent nearly twelve years of his life in prison.

25. The captain of which German warship signalled the International Red Cross to recommend to the British government that the captain of the British ship he had just sunk, be awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery?

From Quiz The Kriegsmarine #1

Answer: Captain Hellmuth Heye of Admiral Hipper

Kapitän zur See Hellmuth Heye of the 14,000-ton heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, was so impressed by the astonishing and, some say, reckless bravery of Lieutenant Commander Gerard Roope of the 1,345-ton destroyer HMS Glowworm, in tackling a ship ten times the size of his own, and somehow managing to ram her, off Norway in April 1940, that he contacted the ICRC, in what was the first case in British history of such a recommendation coming from the enemy! The second case was that of Oberleutnant zur See Klemens Schamong of the U-468, who, having survived with only a pitiful six others to tell the tale of the bravery of Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg - the New Zealand born pilot of a Liberator bomber that sank his boat with 42 of her crew off West Africa in August 1943, in pressing home that attack - still had the extraordinary generosity of spirit when picked up by a British naval vessel, to make the recommendation that be awarded the Victoria Cross. Both Commander Roope and Flying Officer Trigg were posthumously awarded the VC after the war.

26. The commander of which Hilfskreuzer subsequently became a rear- admiral in the Bundesmarine?

From Quiz German Raiders of World War II

Answer: Atlantis

Bernhard Rogge - the highly respected captain of the Atlantis - ended the war as a vice-admiral and joined the newly formed Bundesmarine in 1957, with the rank of rear-admiral. He died at the age of 82, in 1982.

27. What was the the first US Navy aircraft carrier?

From Quiz US Aircraft Carriers I

Answer: Langley

This ship was built originally as a fleet collier named Jupiter. It was converted to a carrier in 1920.

28. What was the size of the ship's main battery?

From Quiz USS Massachusetts

Answer: 16"

Fourteen inch guns were on the USS Arizona, which was built in World War 1, and sunk at Pearl Harbor. Fifteen inch guns were placed on the German battleship Bismark. The powerful 18 inch guns were mounted on the IJN Yamato, the biggest, most powerful battleship ever. The USS Massachusetts supports nine 16 inch guns, like all American battleships of her era.

29. The Admiral Graf Spee was known as a "pocket battleship" in Britain, but what was it known as in Germany?

From Quiz The Battleships of WWII

Answer: Armored ship

The Graf Spee was known as a "Panzerschiff" in Germany, or armored ship. In the order of battle on both the Allied and Axis side, the "Panzerschiffe" were classified as battleships, but in reality, they were heavy cruisers of an exceptionally powerful type.

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