Prinz Eugen
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. In the afternoon of 24 May, Admiral Lütjens, ordered "Prinz Eugen" to break away from the battleship "Bismarck" and operate independently against the enemy's merchant shipping. "Prinz Eugen" and "Bismarck" separated at 18:14 that evening. "Bismarck" was sunk by the concentrated effort of the Royal Navy on 27 May 1941 while "Prinz Eugen" arrived safely at Brest, France on 1 June 1941.