Suffolk had been badly damaged by an air raid on Scapa Flow in 1940 and was repaired and fitted with the latest radar sets in 1941. In May, Bismarck sailed from Norway with Prinz Eugen for the North Atlantic and a cruiser force went to try to locate her. Norfolk was the senior ship in the Bismarck chase but Suffolk had the better radar and was in the lead to have a clear view and located Bismarck. When Hood and Prince of Wales attacked Bismarck, Suffolk retained contact and continued to shadow even when Hood had been sunk. Unfortunately, whilst keeping out of range of Bismarck's guns during zig-zagging, Bismarck went behind the pair of cruisers into Suffolk's blind spot and escaped.