How would Denmark Strait differ if a Lion-class battleship replaced Hood?
Short answerBismarck would face a much tougher opponent, and wider multi-carrier successes could free additional British capital ships for the Home Fleet.
NotesA Lion-class ship replacing Hood would bring a more modern protection scheme and 16-inch guns to the Denmark Strait. The counterfactual then widens: earlier multi-carrier success at Taranto and Mers-el-Kébir might reduce Mediterranean demands and return more modern British capital ships to Home Fleet. The value of the argument is its emphasis on connected force-allocation consequences rather than one isolated tactical duel. The same relief could let Hood enter a delayed reconstruction in India, Canada, or the United States rather than remaining continuously committed.