Rodney's high-speed encounter with Gneisenau

Rather than remaining close to convoy HX 114 like a slower R-class escort, Rodney ranged outward as an active response force. Dalrymple-Hamilton withheld an extreme-range shot because a merchant ship lay near Gneisenau, allowing the German battlecruiser to accelerate away. German observations suggested the range did not open until Gneisenau exceeded roughly 26 knots, evidence that Rodney could be driven far above her usual quoted speed. The subsequent machinery attention demonstrates the cost of extracting that exceptional performance from an older battleship.