Tovey could deploy Nelson, Rodney, Repulse, cruisers, and destroyers, a force that would have been extremely dangerous to the German pair. Yet uncertainty over sightings south of Iceland allowed Lütjens to reverse course, report by aircraft, and try another route. German tanker support then gave the raiders endurance that the Second Pacific Squadron had lacked on its voyage to Tsushima. The episode shows why combat superiority could not compensate for an incomplete contact picture across the North Atlantic.
Chapter · 1:37:47-1:45:24
The breakout exposed Britain's interception problem
The Home Fleet possessed overwhelming combat power, but uncertain sightings and the raiders' movements kept it from forcing battle.