How would 1941 change if Nelson and Rodney helped destroy most of Germany's surface fleet and Germany suspended further surface construction?
Short answerMost remaining German surface ships would be outmatched, allowing Britain to refit damaged units and reinforce the Far East much more heavily.
NotesThis counterfactual begins with a dramatically reduced Kriegsmarine surface force. Nelson and Rodney combine heavy protection with 16-inch guns, making them exceptionally dangerous to cruisers or battlecruisers that cannot disengage. Ships damaged in the imagined British victory, including Hood, would enter refit rather than immediately redeploy. Other available capital ships could then move east, turning the historical Force Z commitment into something closer to a full Far East Fleet.