Hood and PoW crossing the T of Bismarck and PE

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paul.mercer
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Hood and PoW crossing the T of Bismarck and PE

Post by paul.mercer »

Gentlemen,
Looking back over the topics we have discussed many times the 'what if' factor in the Denmark Strait battle, including what would have happened if Hood had made her turn earlier and not been hit and what would have happened after.
I have often wondered what the result would have been had both Hood and PoW completed their turn and successfully 'crossed the T' of PE and Bismarck and opened their broadsides. In that event PE (as leading ship and being again mistaken for Bismarck) would have faced the full force of a combined 18 heavy calibre guns and must surely have been hit early on and either sunk or so badly damaged to take her out of the battle. In those circumstances, what would Lutyens do, would he continue to fight or use his speed to turn around disengage?
Bill Jurens
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Re: Hood and PoW crossing the T of Bismarck and PE

Post by Bill Jurens »

The tactical situation as it transpired on the 24th, would have precluded any chance at crossing the German "T" unless the Germans themselves chose to execute some maneuver to enable it that to occur, which was unlikely, as the Germans had little to gain in a ship-to-ship shootout, especially in a tactically inferior position.

Had the Germans actually been 'cut off' so to speak, my guess would be that they would have turned back and abandoned the breakthrough effort completely, or at least delayed the situation somewhat so another attempt could be made.

But all of that is, of course, mere speculation...

Bill Jurens
dunmunro
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Re: Hood and PoW crossing the T of Bismarck and PE

Post by dunmunro »

paul.mercer wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:29 am Gentlemen,
Looking back over the topics we have discussed many times the 'what if' factor in the Denmark Strait battle, including what would have happened if Hood had made her turn earlier and not been hit and what would have happened after.
I have often wondered what the result would have been had both Hood and PoW completed their turn and successfully 'crossed the T' of PE and Bismarck and opened their broadsides. In that event PE (as leading ship and being again mistaken for Bismarck) would have faced the full force of a combined 18 heavy calibre guns and must surely have been hit early on and either sunk or so badly damaged to take her out of the battle. In those circumstances, what would Lutyens do, would he continue to fight or use his speed to turn around disengage?
The KM also seems to have suffered from mistaken identities and certainly aboard Prinz Eugen they were in doubt as to whether they were facing cruisers or battleships. If Lutjens thought he was fighting cruisers he would probably press the engagement.
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