The ship was launched on Feb 21, 1939 and completed for service on Oct 1, 1940. By this time World War 2 had already been fought for a year. After a trip to USA, she covered the Lofoten raid (March 1941) and Atlantic convoys before becoming flagship of the British Home Fleet in April 1941. In May 1941 she led the chase of the German Bismarck and saw action for the first time. Through 1941-42 King George V took part in numerous search and escort operations in the Atlantic. In May 1943 she went to the Mediterranean taking part in all the big naval operations covering the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy.