Q&A ยท 1:49:00-1:49:22

What USS North Carolina could change at Denmark Strait

Adding a modern American battleship greatly worsens Bismarck's odds while leaving open the possibility of Hood still suffering a fatal hit.

Question

How likely is Hood to survive Denmark Strait if USS North Carolina is also present?

Short answer

Her chances improve because Bismarck faces much more firepower, although the same fatal hit could still occur.

Notes

Adding a North Carolina-class battleship gives the British force more than half again as much heavy firepower in this estimate. Bismarck would have more targets and incoming fire to manage from the opening of the action. Hood could still suffer the same unlikely fatal hit, so the counterfactual does not guarantee her survival. It does, however, make the overall position far more dangerous for the German battleship.