Q&A ยท 52:02-52:48

Why hunting a crippled Nelson would not repeat the Bismarck chase

The Royal Navy had practiced withdrawing damaged capital ships under fire, so an Italian pursuit could become another fleet battle rather than an execution.

Question

Could the Regia Marina hunt a torpedo-damaged Nelson as the Royal Navy hunted Bismarck?

Short answer

It could try, but British experience recovering damaged capital ships would make the pursuit a much more dangerous fleet action.

Notes

A torpedo-damaged Nelson south of Italy would invite pursuit, but the resemblance to Bismarck would be superficial. The Royal Navy had repeatedly extracted damaged ships during the Mediterranean campaign and knew how to organize cover under fire. Destroyers sometimes paid heavily during such withdrawals, yet the larger capital ships were often saved. An Italian hunt could therefore draw the Regia Marina into a prepared British fleet action rather than isolate the crippled battleship.