WI battlecruiser HMS Tiger gets a refit and battles through WW 2?
- Thread starter Logan2879
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Any thoughts on the battle itself. I've mixed it with OTL, but with the RN forces approching at less of a steep angle allowing them to bring all their guns to bare sooner (which would increase accuracy). The formation for the RN forces is also basically the same, the Hood leading (as she's basically the most combat ready ship) then the brand new and un-worked up PoW and Tiger astern. I was tempted to put her at the front but that could be viewed as criminal, putting a ship that simply is the weakest capital ship in RN service in the lead against a modern and much larger opponent. Which is why the Tiger's plodding along at the rear. I've kept the number of hits down, the weather on the day was miserable as were the gunnery conditions for the RN ships on the approach, but once the range drops the hits do start to go up but not massively so.
Well, presuming Norfolk and Suffolk are shadowing Bismarck as OTL, she is likely to run right into them
With POW and Tiger closing in Bismarck is in a trap, and if Hood kills PE in time, she could join the fight if she can catch up
Consider this, however.
When it came to fighting Lutzens had a tendency to go for the older ship
At DS he went for Hood
And at Bismarcks last stand, he went for Rodney(big mistake!)
So he might try to take out Tiger, as it is pretty clear she's no cruiser
So far the discussion has completely neglected the other 13.5" gunned capital ship in the Royal Navy that survived until WW2 besides HMS Iron Duke. HMS Centurion lasted long enough to be scuttled as a block ship for the Normandie landings.
Simply because, they are too slow.
An Iron Duke is about as useful in WW2 as a Revenge, which were useless(not completly, but nearly)
Although it is a little bit more flexible..
Hood had 15" v 14" and Rodney had 16" v 14" so I think you could suggest they are the more dangerous ship especially as the age means they should be fully worked up and good shots.
I don't think this applies to a 13.5" tiger in company with them, we are talking about a 639.6 kg shell v 721 kg, 879 kg or 929 kg shell (14"/15"/16")
I think Iron duke unmodernised taking over from HMS Rawalpindi or HMS Jervis Bay might make a good story...
As per OTL the Norfolk and Suffolk are still shadowing the Bismarck and are to her North West (ish, don't have a map). The Hood's engaging the Prinz Eugen but has suffered damage to her machinery that will stop her joining a high speed chase unless the Bis suffers machinery damage as she can outrun both the other RN vessels both of whom can do about 28 knots, probably less in heavy seas whilst the Bismarck's good for 30 knots and with visibility deteriorating she's going to leave the RN vessels behind. And neither of the CA's would challenge her without some support.
Don't forget the Bismarck is down to 5 guns so she can't really split her fire (three aft, 2 forward)
I was thinking that she could be still in 6 gun gunnery training ship mode and without the 6" guns. So 6x13.5" and 4x4" or 3" with much reduced crew.
Why bother if she gets new engines she would get back her old guns and they are in store. The middle turret might give you a bit more but unless you totally rebuild her hull I don't think you get much. The full extra rebuild anyway would and should be on a R as its much better....
If the Tiger was being used as an equipment test bed for the KGV.That would give her the latest in radar and fire control.
Considering this Wake-Walker could decide that he had a chance if he engaged the Bismarck with the Norfolk and Suffolk and tried to get close enough for a torpedo attack.