Hood Refitted

Here is a good article on what might have happened to the Hood had she not been sunk in the Battle of the Denmark Straits. There were pre war plans to refit her and among other things strengthen then armour.

http://www.hmshood.com/ship/history/LargeRepair/Refit42.html

 

Thanx, it might be useful.

 

I think then the Hood would have been much more prepared to face the Bismarck. And indeed it might have ended there, since the Hood and the Prince of Wales had a much greater combined fire power than the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen.

 

The Salvo that sunk the Hood went right through the deck plates amidships at the perfect angle for maximum penitration. Even with improved deck armor this direct hit would have been devastating, it might not have broken in two, but it still would have taken the Hood out of the fight.

The Blue Max

 

You have just said it, Blue Max. It was ALL about LUCK.

 

Refitting the Hood and other older ships was an option the British could have taken if they had decided to build only three of the new King George V class battleships instead of five. Anson and Howe, which were only completed in 1942, would have been cancelled.

That way Hood, Repulse and the two unmodernised Queen Elizabeth class battleships Barham and Malaya, could all have been refitted to the standards of Renown and Warspite respectively, between 1937 and 1940.

The Royal Navy would have been better off in the short term but worse off in the long term under this plan.