During the raiders' return, Tovey strengthened the force south of Iceland with Hood and Queen Elizabeth alongside Nelson, Nigeria, and destroyers. That deployment guarded the route British planners expected German ships to use on their way home. Admiral Hipper or Admiral Scheer had little chance of escaping this concentration because neither could outrun Hood or defeat the battleships. The Royal Navy had turned a geographic expectation into a layered blocking force.
Notable Point · 1:32:35-1:33:28
Tovey reinforced the Iceland blocking force
Hood and Queen Elizabeth reinforced Nelson and Nigeria south of Iceland, creating a blocking force that Hipper or Scheer could scarcely survive.