How would the Royal Navy respond if Bismarck, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen sortied together?
Short answerIt would mass battleships, a battlecruiser, carriers, and escorts into an all-arms task force rather than fight in penny packets.
NotesThe scale of the German force determines the scale of the British response. The Royal Navy would not send isolated two-ship groups against four major surface combatants. King George V, Rodney, Renown, carriers, and every available escort would be assembled into a combined task force. The follow-up adds Hood, Prince of Wales, one or two carrier strike groups, and destroyers such as the Tribals, turning the encounter into a fleet battle. The Germans might inflict damage, though concentrated British gun, air, and torpedo power makes their destruction the likely outcome.