Germany's worst case: the first wave caught at sea

In this counterfactual, British forces recognize the preparations when Germany begins laying large minefields and respond with aggressive minesweeping and mobilization. A late-September crossing could then meet Revenge, Hood, Nelson and Rodney, four light cruisers, 57 destroyers and roughly 20-28 torpedo boats. Aurora is suggested as one of the cruisers, with some uncertainty, and the destroyers possibly include a couple of Tribals. Even a German commitment of available capital ships and pre-dreadnoughts would face much greater firepower while protecting hundreds or thousands of barges and tugboats. Damage sustained during the Norwegian campaign restricts the availability of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Radar-assisted gunnery on suitably equipped British ships would add to the danger in this reconstruction. The first wave could be destroyed before any later wave followed.