Am I allowed to mention the Graf Spee*... After that and the Bismark the German Navy's big ships were sent in to hiding (although, to counter that, no one can take anything away from the enormous contribution and valiance of the U-Boat force)...
*hides in aeroplane at very high altitude...
To be fair though, the mere thought of one of their ships putting to sea was enough to cause apoplexy throughout the Allied high command.