Now, if the convoy was heavily decimated with many escorts and ships sunk, what would be the impact on the Kriegsmarine's operations, if it wasn't disbanded? Could it raid the Atlantic in support of the u boats, North Africa and Japan and get its ships sunk, freeing up heavy Allied units by one year? Or would the ships stay at port to tie up more British and American resources before being sunk by aircraft and submarine raids or transferred to the Baltic in 1944/5 ?
Had Tirpitz been ready (with one glaring example when they didn't - the British were generally well ahead of the intellegence curve regarding German Captial ship movement) then expect a stronger covering force
At least a Carrier and a Battleship (Ideally a KGV) or 2
Also the British would love Tirpitz to come out and play - so that they could sink her!![]()
The artic situation was rather tricky for the British as they did not want their heavy ships in range of land-based air craft. In this battle, the weather was so bad that they dared it anyway, and then they probably would also know that both Scharnhorst and Tirpitz was available and consider a stronger covering force.
However, the secret of the success was the early hit on Scharnhorst radar. Not likely on both ships or maybe not even once if the Tirpitz is there. If the POD is an earlier upgrade, then Tirpitz is equipped with the accurate Dete radar and quite a formidable opponent in the stormy weather with its high stability. The early BB/cruiser engagements goes very bad for the British.
For the later battle with now to KGV's, the Germans would from doctrine run from such a battle, however, the OTL engine failure on Scharnhorst could have forced the battle which I really think would have been a tough call.
There'll be no surprise torpedo attack in this engagement.
The artic situation was rather tricky for the British as they did not want their heavy ships in range of land-based air craft.
The artic situation was rather tricky for the British as they did not want their heavy ships in range of land-based air craft. In this battle, the weather was so bad that they dared it anyway, and then they probably would also know that both Scharnhorst and Tirpitz was available and consider a stronger covering force.
However, the secret of the success was the early hit on Scharnhorst radar. Not likely on both ships or maybe not even once if the Tirpitz is there. If the POD is an earlier upgrade, then Tirpitz is equipped with the accurate Dete radar and quite a formidable opponent in the stormy weather with its high stability. The early BB/cruiser engagements goes very bad for the British.
For the later battle with now to KGV's, the Germans would from doctrine run from such a battle, however, the OTL engine failure on Scharnhorst could have forced the battle which I really think would have been a tough call.
There'll be no surprise torpedo attack in this engagement.
I get the impression you (like me before) have the wrong battle, this is the one in late 1942 that cost Raeder his job, Scharnhorst's final battle was in 1943.
Sorry, got the battles wrong.Its December......in the Arctic......what sort of aircraft are threatening them in almost total 24 hour darkness and conditions?
German radar seemed to be quite vulnerable to damage - in nearly every major engagement it seemed to fail. Not saying that it would fail in this instance but......
As for Scharnhorst's 'Engine Failure' was this of the 14" variety?
Lets face it if it was known that a major KM unit was available in Dec 1942 then at the very least one of the Revenges or a Standard US BBs would be with the Convoys and a powerful covering force would be operating in the area probably based around at least one KGV or South Dakota possibly more + a number of cruisers - at any rate a force far more formidable than Tirpitz plus 2 heavy Cruisers.
The early BB/cruiser engagements goes very bad for the Germans.....