What follows if Bismarck sinks Prince of Wales and survives while Rodney and Ark Royal are torpedoed?
Short answerBritain is expected to continue fighting, press construction, strengthen anti-submarine measures, and make the surviving Bismarck a priority bombing target.
NotesThe scenario assumes Bismarck also sinks Prince of Wales at Denmark Strait and survives, while U-boats torpedo Rodney and Ark Royal. A damaged Bismarck is expected to head home, and the extra British losses would complicate deployments to the Far East. Ark Royal's torpedoing is distinguished from the additional counterfactual losses because it also happened historically. Britain is expected to continue fighting and press construction, with larger depth-charge outfits on destroyers as another possible response. Blame for Prince of Wales could fall on the King George V class's 14-inch armament, encouraging 16-inch Lions or a proposed rearming of Anson and Howe with nine 15-inch guns. A participant's suggestion to reverse the construction freeze is corrected because the freeze had already ended by May 1941. Bismarck and her port would also become priority bombing targets.