Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:45:20-2:45:28

Could Prince of Wales return for a Tirpitz rematch?

Her Far Eastern commitment makes a timely return to European waters unlikely.

Bismarck Class BattleshipsFleet DeploymentGerman Battleship TirpitzHMS Prince Of Wales
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Question

Could Prince of Wales return to fight Tirpitz and face another Bismarck-class battleship?

Short answer

Probably not; she is unlikely to return from the Far East in time.

Notes

Prince of Wales is the centerpiece of the surviving ABDA fleet and is unlikely to return to European waters in time for another encounter with a Bismarck-class battleship. The Far Eastern concentration needs her command facilities, speed, and heavy guns through the projected February-March carrier campaign. A Tirpitz rematch therefore does not fit the deployment timetable developed in this scenario.