Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Notable Point · 1:11:10-1:12:17

Earlier battleships and a different Denmark Strait engagement

More fully worked-up King George V-class ships could have changed the forces available for the Bismarck operation.

Alternate HistoryBattle Of The Denmark StraitHMS Duke Of YorkHMS HoodHMS Prince Of WalesIllustrious Class Aircraft CarriersImplacable Class Aircraft CarriersKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Naval GunneryNaval Procurement
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Notes

The proposed compromise would complete the Illustrious-class carriers while pausing the Implacables. It would also finish at least three King George V-class battleships, with the choice between pausing the other two and completing all five left open. Duke of York could have joined King George V and Prince of Wales earlier, reducing reliance on Hood. Earlier commissioning would also have allowed more time to understand and improve the operation of the 14-inch guns. The possible effect is a different deployment and engagement during the Denmark Strait campaign. The discussion offers no certain reconstruction of the battle's outcome.