Tirpitz accompanies Bismarck in Operation Rheinubung

[Karl Heidenreich]

I agree with Bgile. Under the circumstances of this hypotethical scenario the alllies had no reason whatsoever to believe they are facing something exceptional (and maybe they weren´t, let´s face it).

And, RF, I don´t agree with Hood. The British had the tendency of sending that old lady to the Mediterranean on a common basis. And she had several serious mechanical problems with her boilers, her turbines, her condensators, so don´t get me wrong... but the chances of something evil happening to her are not so wild.

[lwd]

RF,

I think the Allies would consider two BBs and two CAs to be approximately equal to two German BBs and two CAs.

yes but would the allies want an equal contest? I suspect the British considered the PoW roughly equal to Bismark that's why the Hood was there.

[Bgile]

RF,

I think the Allies would consider two BBs and two CAs to be approximately equal to two German BBs and two CAs.

yes but would the allies want an equal contest? I suspect the British considered the PoW roughly equal to Bismark that's why the Hood was there.

I understand, but the statement was the existing force needed to be "at least their strength". One always wants superior force when possible.

[Legend]

I think for this I have to agree with Karl. The English would have sent the Hood back to the Med to keep down the Italian navy and to support the Allied invasions.

So, at this point in the war, we (the US) have joined, and we are now able to send our own warships out to protect the convoys. What, relatively modern, US BB's were in the Atlantic in the middle of 1942?

[Bgile]

I think for this I have to agree with Karl. The English would have sent the Hood back to the Med to keep down the Italian navy and to support the Allied invasions.

So, at this point in the war, we (the US) have joined, and we are now able to send our own warships out to protect the convoys. What, relatively modern, US BB's were in the Atlantic in the middle of 1942?

Historically, that would be USS Washington.

[RF]

RF,

I think the Allies would consider two BBs and two CAs to be approximately equal to two German BBs and two CAs.

But not superior.

[lwd]

I think for this I have to agree with Karl. The English would have sent the Hood back to the Med to keep down the Italian navy and to support the Allied invasions.

So, at this point in the war, we (the US) have joined, and we are now able to send our own warships out to protect the convoys. What, relatively modern, US BB's were in the Atlantic in the middle of 1942?

Historically, that would be USS Washington.

Well South Dakota, Indiana, and Massachusetts were also in the Atlantic going through their shakedown cruises during the spring and summer of 42

Would POW and Repulse really have gone to the Pacific if both Bismark class BBs were still servicable?

[Legend]

I have to say: YES, if we really joined the war at that point, then the Royal Navy is not alone, and we send our BBs out. With the USN on thier side I really think they would be comftorable as they could be in a war with letting two off to the Pacific...