Q&A · 3:02:04-3:03:00

A larger Dorsetshire needs more than a gun change

Changing Dorsetshire to 9.2-inch guns does not by itself determine her torpedo attack on Bismarck.

Question

Would a 9.2-inch-gun Dorsetshire have fired eight torpedoes at Bismarck?

Short answer

There is not enough information: gun caliber alone does not determine torpedo fit or tactics, so the alternative ship's size and full design must be defined first.

Notes

Changing Dorsetshire from eight-inch to 9.2-inch guns does not specify the rest of the alternative cruiser. Torpedo employment depends on displacement, speed, weapons fit, available tubes, and the ship's tactical position when Bismarck is engaged. The timing, range, and performance of the torpedoes would also determine whether more shots could hit before the battleship rolled over. A sound counterfactual must therefore define the complete ship, rather than using gun caliber alone to predict the attack.