On 18 May 1941, the German battleship and heavy cruiser began Operation Rheinübung by breaking into the Atlantic to raid shipping. After sinking the battlecruiser "Hood" and damaging the battleship during the Battle of the Denmark Strait, "Bismarck" shook off her pursuers and headed for the French Atlantic coast. "Ark Royal", "Renown", and "Sheffield"—accompanied by , , , , , and —were dispatched to the Atlantic on 23 May to search for the battleship. On 26 May, a Swordfish from "Ark Royal" located "Bismarck" and began to shadow her, while the Home Fleet was mobilised to pursue.