Combined carrier groups hunt German surface raiders

In this counterfactual, the pairs hunting German raiders could become groups of four capital ships backed by fast carriers. Two British-Japanese squadrons could each contain two Kongos, a King George V-class battleship, and a Renown-class battlecruiser. An available Hood offers further choices of formation, while American participation could support another squadron. Paired carriers divide the work between British night reconnaissance and strikes and Japanese daytime searches and attacks. Older battleships such as Warspite and Valiant could secure Icelandic approaches and important convoys, freeing the fast formations to manoeuvre. Any German sortie in these circumstances is expected to face repeated air attacks before a surface engagement.