Thank you Duke, I believe the accepted fate was that she suffered a magazine explosion while on the the way down. The center section, main turrets and superstructure are scatted for miles, the only closest large object near the bow and stern is an aircraft catapult which were located at the stern.
During at attack the crew released the, I believe the port anchor, in an attempt to keep her somewhat upright. The captain was attempting to make shallow waters but was nowhere near it, she sank in 3000 meters.
The Japanese torpedo belt theory was a less armored bulge with the standard hull armored thickness behind it, I guess theory was to detonate the torpedo prior to the force reaching the hull. The bulge was actually much thinner that ours was, hence depicted in the build using aluminum from a can. That just acted to concentrate the force of the explosion. It was an attempt to increase protection without adding massive weight.The Germans in contrast, like ourselves, used a heavily armored bulge which absorbed much of the explosion. As the Bismark was capsizing, some of the reports said most of her belt was just dented from the airborne torpedoes.
The Japanese torpedoes were extremely good with massive warheads an this is what one sub launched torp did to the torpedo belt of the North Carolina in the Solomon's.
