Hood surviving Denmark Strait and still suffering severe damage

A slight change in the timing of Hood's manoeuvres is offered as one way to avoid the fatal magazine detonation. Survival would still leave a substantial risk of severe damage and a lengthy repair. Cruiser attacks from another direction would force the German ships to choose between approaching torpedo threats and the British capital ships. Splitting Hood and Prince of Wales while keeping the cruisers together would create three separate approach angles. Hood's protection is judged inadequate for simply absorbing repeated Bismarck hits, so greater tactical freedom would not guarantee an undamaged return.