Rebuilt battlecruisers could reinforce secondary theatres

Where could modernized early British battlecruisers usefully serve in a Second World War force?

Modernised Queen Mary- and Lion-type battlecruisers would be most useful in the South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, or Force H, freeing cruisers and newer capital ships for more demanding theatres.

The four reconstructed Splendid Cats would remain below the newest capital ships in combat value, yet Queen Mary- and Lion-type hulls could become useful force multipliers. New boilers could improve their performance, while stronger anti-aircraft batteries would widen the tasks they could accept. Stationing one in the South Atlantic or Indian Ocean could release County-class cruisers for the North Atlantic or Mediterranean. Force H could also use such a ship as a heavy escort against Italian cruisers and as another layer between its carrier and enemy capital ships. Extra hulls would ease the pressure on Hood and create maintenance time for first-line battlecruisers.