British planners placed Nelson, Nigeria, and destroyers south of Iceland to catch raiders expected to retrace the Norwegian route. The disposition assumed the English Channel remained effectively closed to a German return. The later Channel Dash exposed the weakness in that logic when all three critical air patrols failed and the German group was not reported in time for overwhelming forces to intercept it. A sound geographic containment plan still depended on every patrol understanding and performing its operational role.
Notable Point · 1:23:18-1:24:54
Britain blocked the Iceland route but still depended on patrol discipline
Nelson, Nigeria, and destroyers guarded the expected return route south of Iceland, while the later Channel Dash showed how failed air patrols could undo such containment.