How a German carrier changes British employment

British doctrine already expected carriers to operate with escorts, aircraft patrols, and heavier ships nearby. A known German carrier would make it still less likely that Courageous would be detached for anti-submarine work or that Glorious would be sent home alone. The loss of Glorious departed from that doctrine because aircraft should have been airborne and a cruiser should have accompanied the destroyer escort. Had reconnaissance found Scharnhorst and Gneisenau earlier, the carrier could have withdrawn, launched a strike, and summoned nearby British capital ships.