What would follow if Bismarck sank both Hood and Prince of Wales, then returned to Germany for repairs?
Short answerBritain would face pressure to replace the lost capital ships, probably advancing the Lion class, while the RAF would target Bismarck's repair base. A surviving Bismarck could later join Tirpitz in Norway.
NotesThis counterfactual assumes that Bismarck sinks Prince of Wales after Hood and then escapes to Germany despite the nearby British forces. Losing both capital ships would humiliate Britain and increase pressure to restore the Royal Navy's strength. The Lion class would become a more urgent construction priority. Bismarck's repair base would also be a likely target for a major RAF bomber raid. If she survived those attacks, a deployment alongside Tirpitz in Norway would become plausible.