On 16 May, Lütjens reported that Bismarck and Prinz Eugen were fully prepared for Operation Rheinübung; he was therefore ordered to proceed with the mission on the evening of 19 May.
5月16日，吕特晏斯报告俾斯麦号和欧根亲王号已为莱茵演习行动做好了充分准备，因此他下令于5月19日傍晚继续展开任务。