How would Scharnhorst and torpedo-boat escorts fare against a balanced task force built around a battleship and carrier?
Short answerThey would be overwhelmed under any of the proposed tactical choices because the opposing force has decisive strength across every major category.
NotesThe hypothetical German force consists of a Scharnhorst-class battleship with its original 11-inch guns and Type 1935 and Type 1937 torpedo boats. Its opponent has a fast capital ship, a carrier, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and sixteen to twenty-four destroyers. Those destroyers amount to two or three flotillas before the carrier and cruiser strength is considered. For these specified forces, the answer treats the imbalance as overwhelming under every tactical option offered by the question.