The Allies had three Battleships (North Carolina, Washington, Duke of York), four Heavy Cruisers (Wichita, Tuscaloosa, HMS Norfolk, HMS Cumberland), and one Aircraft Carrier (Illustrious) along with several Light Cruisers and dozens of Destroyers with which to confront the Tirpitz Task Force.....which seems a fairly substantial force with which to confront the German unit.
The German Task force had one Battleship (Tirpitz), One Heavy Cruiser (Hipper), and two other Cruisers (Lutzow and Scheer), Ten Destroyers, and Nine U-Boats.
What was the head count of ships during the final shoot out with the Bismarck?