On paper the two German ships might defeat the older British battleship, but Ramillies carried 15-inch guns and was built to absorb heavy fire. Engaging her would force the raiders to concentrate on a durable opponent while cruisers and destroyers maneuvered against them. Damage or delay could also compromise the wider commerce-raiding mission even after a tactical victory. The episode shows that convoy escort works by imposing operational risk and threatening the attackers' mission even when it cannot guarantee their destruction.
Notable Point · 2:57:27-2:59:02
How one old battleship could deter two German raiders
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau avoided a convoy protected by HMS Ramillies because defeating the escort risked damage, delay, and attack by the rest of the screen.