[fair_weather]

When you get into the theoretical what ifs of WW2, that's when things get interesting.

In your theoretical operation Seawolve44, you're forgetting that taking that many ships to the West to help the Japanese, leaves the Atlantic wide open. Plus there's the possibility that with their taskforce could be ambushed and damaged on route. Gibraltar is in between them if they plan to go around Africa, and then there's Russia the other way.

The Uboat fleet would have to be bigger to warrant such a large dispatch of ships. A more possible and feasible move would be an invasion of Ireland and Britain. Logistics would be handled by the flagforce of battleships and the Graf Zepplin. The GZ would deploy paratroopers and bombers to the minor cities along the coast while the Battleships shell the mainland. Uboats would be used to ferry troops to captured harbours and go from there.

Or if they did something like a reverse Operation Overlord, they could do it. Take Europe like they did, ignore Russia for the time being, take France and prepare a strike fleet from the captured french ports. Don't bother making Uboat pens yet, Take Britain and go from there. After Britain has been captured they could take over some of the British assets. Now there's an interesting thought...