A broader British attack at the Denmark Strait

If Holland had deployed his ships at the Denmark Strait to use their strengths, which British capital ship would be lost first?

Neither need be lost quickly if the British force splits Bismarck's fire and coordinates cruisers and destroyers to create multiple threats.

Hood could use speed and independent manoeuvre while firing her 15-inch guns, leaving Prince of Wales to fight a sustained action with her 14-inch battery. The latter's expected advantage in rate of fire depends on the guns working properly. Bismarck would then have to choose between competing threats or divide her fire. Bringing the cruisers into the action would further complicate that choice. Holland's concern about interfering with coordinated gunfire is described as a defensible application of doctrine still in force, although much of the Royal Navy had moved away from it. Tovey's willingness to commit every available asset provides the contrasting approach.