Next morning, in the Denmark Strait "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen" encounter and . The four warships engage in a gun duel, and a shell from "Bismarck" hits "Hood", slightly damaging her. "Bismarck‍" fires another salvo from her main battery and both sides watch as three shells hit the water near the "Hood". The fourth hits the vessel just below its main mast, penetrating through the thin deck armour; suddenly the ship's deck simultaneously disintegrates and explodes in a massive fireball, even blowing one of the turrets off into the ocean. Both sides are shocked and horrified at the devastation, as "Hood"s remains are enveloped by smoke. The captain of "Prince of Wales", John Leach orders the yeoman to send a message to Admiralty saying that "Hood" has blown up. Now "Prince of Wales" is alone and is fired on by the two German ships. The battleship fires back and manages to hit "Bismarck" on the bow. "Bismarck" fires back and hits "Prince of Wales" on the bridge, destroying it and leaving only two men alive. "Prince of Wales" is hit multiple times before it makes smoke and retreats behind it. Only one gun is left firing as Prince of Wales retreats.