Q&A · 3:17:24-3:18:31

Two modernized Tigers against Scharnhorst

A surface-action counterfactual compares combined heavy-gun weight, speed, and radar fire control rather than gun count alone.

Question

How would HMS Tiger and a sister ship fare against a Scharnhorst armed with four triple 11-inch turrets?

Short answer

If modernized to about 30-33 knots with radar-directed 14-inch guns, the two Tigers would control the range and overwhelm Scharnhorst's twelve 11-inch guns.

Notes

Two Tigers would bring sixteen 14-inch guns against Scharnhorst's twelve smaller weapons. A comprehensive modernization gives them enough speed to choose the engagement distance and radar direction to exploit their battery. The pair would probably penetrate and defeat the German ship despite its heavier numerical broadside count.