Battle of giants: Iowa Vs Bismarck

  I think you have it the wrong away around with Bismarck and Tirpitz Lordroel.  Tirpitz wasn't ready to sail at that point.

  Option a:- if we had a encounter in May 41, say Bismarck gets past the RN without a fight and then runs into a USN force including say one Idaho class, one heavy cruiser and some supporting DDs then a conflict starts by accident?  Say the Germans in bad visibility mistake the ships for a RN force or their closing in on a convoy when they detect the US forces close by and start firing because they think its a RN escort. 

  I think that battle would probably be won by the Bismarck because its newer and larger than the US BB and ditto with the accompanying CA.  However the fact the US would have better trained men, the German navy having been expanded so rapidly and of course sheer luck would be important, especially who gets in the 1st big hit.  Plus the US force would announce the position of the Bismarck and after such an incident both RN and USN would be hunting it down while it could also suffer enough damage to make catching it a decent possibility.

  If there's more than one Idaho there then unless the Bismarck gets very lucky its likely to suffer defeat.  Although especially once its against more than one BB its likely to seek to break away and with its higher speed unless that's seriously impeded they should be able to do so.  Although again it would have assorted ships seeking to hunt it down.

Option b:- a later clash between the Tirpitz and say a N Carolina or S Dakota class - as the Iowa's weren't commissioned until 43 and are likely to be sent to the Pacific.  Especially since by this time Tirpitz is basically stuck in Norway.  In this case the USN ships are smaller but probably have a better electronic and radar suite and have a distinctly heavier armament, especially if their using the super-heavy shells.  Again it would depend on luck and also what other ships would be about as unlikely a modern USN BB would be on its own in mid Atlantic.  I would say the US would have the edge, albeit either side could lose or suffer a phyrric victory with the winner being so badly damaged its either lost, not worth repair or in the Tirpitz's case unable to escape the inevitable pursuit. 

  Either way its effectively an allied victory strategically as Germany has so few capital ships and especially since option a) brings the US into the war earlier with massive butterflies or b) removes Tirpitz earlier and hence it doesn't tie up so many allied forces deemed as heavy escorts for the Murmansk convoys.  Also, assuming the old German big ships go the same way then once Scharhorst is sunk the RAF isn't spending such considerable resources in seeking to destroy Tirpiz in harbour.

  Anyway my initial thoughts.

  Steve

  If in the May 41 period, hence including a CA with the USN forces as well.  [Assuming the three BBs and three CAs 1bigrich mentioned would be operating in pairs with some DDs accompanying each.]