Following the explosion, "Prince of Wales" was targeted by both German ships and disengaged from combat after seven direct hits, four by "Bismarck" and three by "Prinz Eugen", at about 06:09. During this brief engagement, "Prince of Wales" had also hit "Bismarck" three times, first striking the commander's boat and putting the seaplane catapult amidships out of action. The second shell passed right through the bow from one side to the other. The third struck the hull underwater and burst inside the ship, flooding a generator room and damaging the bulkhead of an adjoining boiler room, partially flooding it. The damage caused to "Bismarck" by these two shots allowed of water into the ship.