I, U-556, hereby declare before Neptune, Lord over oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, brooks, ponds, and rivulets,
that I will provide any desired assistance to my ally and Lord, battleship Bismarck,
at any place on the water, underwater, on land, or in the air.
Signed: U-556, Parzival of The Seas
At the bottom, U-556 made a drawing of herself towing her Lord Bismarck back to port.
Until Azur Lane introduced U-556, we all think Prinz Eugen was the closest to Bismarck. Now we're all wrong. Also, to prove to Kadokawa that Azur Lane can make you cry.
00:00, (wind) north-west 5, seaway 5, rain squalls, moderate visibility, very dark night. Surfaced. What can I do for Bismarck? I can see star shells being fired and flashes from Bismarck's guns. It is a terrible feeling to be near and not to be able to do anything. All I can do is reconnoitre and lead in boats that have torpedoes. I am keeping contact at the limit of visibility, reporting the position, and sending directional signals to call up the other boats. 03:52: I am moving around on the east side to the south, in order to be in the direction of the activity. I soon reach the limit of what I can do in view of my fuel supply. Otherwise I won't get home. 04:00: The seas are rising ever higher. Bismarck still fighting. Reported weather for the Luftwaffe.
00:00, (wind) north-west 5, seaway 5, rain squalls, moderate visibility, very dark night. Surfaced. What can I do for Bismarck? I can see star shells being fired and flashes from Bismarck's guns. It is a terrible feeling to be near and not to be able to do anything. All I can do is reconnoitre and lead in boats that have torpedoes. I am keeping contact at the limit of visibility, reporting the position, and sending directional signals to call up the other boats. 03:52: I am moving around on the east side to the south, in order to be in the direction of the activity. I soon reach the limit of what I can do in view of my fuel supply. Otherwise I won't get home. 04:00: The seas are rising ever higher. Bismarck still fighting. Reported weather for the Luftwaffe.
00:00, (wind) north-west 5, seaway 5, rain squalls, moderate visibility, very dark night. Surfaced. What can I do for Bismarck? I can see star shells being fired and flashes from Bismarck's guns. It is a terrible feeling to be near and not to be able to do anything. All I can do is reconnoitre and lead in boats that have torpedoes. I am keeping contact at the limit of visibility, reporting the position, and sending directional signals to call up the other boats. 03:52: I am moving around on the east side to the south, in order to be in the direction of the activity. I soon reach the limit of what I can do in view of my fuel supply. Otherwise I won't get home. 04:00: The seas are rising ever higher. Bismarck still fighting. Reported weather for the Luftwaffe.
Historical, too, the captain of the U-556 wrote that EXACT letter with that EXACT drawing (except that it was from the crew, not the ship herself) to the captain of the Bismarck after Bis' captain lent her ship's band for U-556's launch ceremony.