The Royal Navy entered January 1942 reeling from its capital-ship losses. Hood, Barham, Prince of Wales, and Repulse had all been lost during 1941. There was no realistic prospect of replacing that strength soon. Any remedy proposed at the start of 1942 therefore had to work around a battle line already depleted by the previous year.
Chapter · 1:18-2:20
Royal Navy losses created an immediate capital-ship shortage
The losses of Hood, Barham, Prince of Wales, and Repulse left the Royal Navy without a quick way to restore its lost heavy strength.