Q&A · 3:54:03-3:55:11

Swapping Denmark Strait and Guadalcanal's battleships

Two American fast battleships are expected to strengthen the Allied position at Denmark Strait, while the reverse substitution changes the Kirishima outcome less.

Question

What happens if the British capital ships at Denmark Strait exchange places with the American battleships that fought Kirishima off Guadalcanal?

Short answer

The American pair would make Denmark Strait much worse for the Germans, while the action against Kirishima is expected to change less. The worked-up King George V-class comparison also concerns Denmark Strait.

Notes

Replacing the British pair at Denmark Strait with the American fast battleships from the Kirishima action is expected to produce a much worse result for the German force. Having two modern fast battleships available together is central to that assessment. A separate comparison suggests that two fully worked-up King George V-class ships would also make a major difference at Denmark Strait. The reverse substitution against Kirishima is expected to change the outcome much less, without a detailed reconstruction of that battle.