Answer: The phrase "watching the Bismarck fire at British aircraft off Greenland" refers to the observation of the German battleship Bismarck attacking British aircraft in the area near Greenland. It suggests that someone was witnessing the event, possibly through binoculars or another form of visual observation. The Bismarck was a notorious German battleship during World War II, and its attacks on British ships and aircraft were a significant concern for the British military. The observation of this event could have been made by a military or civilian observer, and it indicates that the individual was able to witness the event as it occurred.
Explanation: The phrase "watching the Bismarck fire at British aircraft off Greenland" refers to the act of observing the German battleship Bismarck firing at British aircraft in the vicinity of Greenland. The sentence suggests that the observation was made by the crew of the US Coast Guard cutter Modoc. This event occurred during World War II, when the Bismarck was engaged in a naval campaign against the British Royal Navy. The sentence implies that the Modoc was stationed in the area and was able to witness the attack as it unfolded. The observation of this event would have been significant because it would have provided intelligence to the US military about the activities of the Bismarck and its movements in the region.