The divergence uses historical movement timings instead of a convenient storm. An earlier Home Fleet sortie could put Rodney, Valiant, Renown, Repulse, cruisers, and destroyers in the path of troop-laden German forces, while Warspite closes from the south. German U-boats retain their historical torpedo failures, leaving the invasion groups without a dependable way to stop the interception. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau are unlikely to both escape such a convergence, and the invasion could cost Germany capital ships, cruisers, destroyers, personnel, and the troops embarked in them.
Chapter · 49:18-56:06
A small timing shift that catches the invasion fleet
Moving Royal Navy movements by hours rather than days can bring a powerful Home Fleet force across the German troop convoys for Bergen, Trondheim, and Narvik.