Britain could absorb the loss of a G-class destroyer more easily than Germany could lose Admiral Hipper, and even damage could remove the cruiser for months. Glowworm also reported Hipper's position and brought a stronger British unit into the hunt. Had Renown been slightly nearer or faster, it might have caught the cruiser. A lost Hipper could then have changed the orders given to Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during the Norwegian campaign. The possible consequences for HMS Glorious remain counterfactual, but the chain shows why a doomed destroyer's attack could still offer a favorable strategic exchange.
Notable Point · 2:00:31-2:05:17
Why Glowworm's sacrifice still had tactical value
The loss of a destroyer is weighed against the chance to damage or expose a German heavy cruiser that the Kriegsmarine could not readily replace.