Why Renown was ordered away from Bismarck

Could HMS Renown have intercepted Bismarck?

She was ordered not to; Bismarck probably had the advantage, although Renown was tough enough to make the result uncertain.

Renown was ordered not to intercept Bismarck. Her aggressive crew might nevertheless have attempted an engagement had the ships come close enough for the order to become a practical decision. Bismarck probably held the advantage in a stand-up fight, but Renown's reconstruction, fire control, and proven toughness make the outcome less than automatic. The episode distinguishes an officer's willingness to fight from the Admiralty's responsibility to keep a battlecruiser out of the wrong role.