What if Sea-lion had worked?

[Saxondog]

OK guy's here's the deal, if the Germans had actually came straight on after Dunkirk and Sea-lion was a tactical victory how would that situation have changed the WAR? 5000 German troops and 250 tanks are on British soil. What happens next?

[littletankman]

Hi well there's was an experiment done in the 70s with actual surviving people who were involved in Operation Sealion on both sides . They played it out like a war game . And the Uk forces would of eventually won . I think a lot relyed on the RAF and the Royal Navy distrupting the Germans supply's crossing the channel. Im not sure this was directly after Dunkirk tho.

Andy

[Zen Badger]

If the Germans had invaded immediately after the fall of France I think they would have beaten the Brits easily(had the intitial landings been sucessful).

But, first off OKH had been caught almost as much by surprise by the speed of the French collapse as the Allies had and had made no preparations for a seaborne invasion at all.

After the Norwegian campaign the Kreigsmarine were in no condition to protect a fleet of invasion barges crossing the Channel at night from the depredations of a rampaging Royal Navy. So an Invasion would have been a very iffy proposition.

Given that those hurdles were overcome the invasion forces would've faced a disheartened, disorganised and badly equipped British Army still reeling from utter defeat in France. So the fight would've gone very much in the Germans favour.

And with the fall of GB, the war would've been very different.

[LMN118]

The 5000 troops are annihilated unless reinforced immediately.

It would not be the first time Britain has been invaded and everything from the terrain to the infrastructure would have been against the German forces. The previous invasions, and tactics used by the Germans favoured quickly moving units without logistical support not something that works well against isolated landmasses.

[Saxondog]

The Royal Navy did position three battleships at Rosyth in case the Germans did try to cross the channel in force. It should also be noted that the three ships were H.M.S.Nelson,Rodney and H.M.S.Hood. I understand why Nelson and Rodney were chosen their speed was limited to 25 knots at best. But they were also the most heavily armed Battleships with 9-16"guns. Hood maybe the fact that she was the largest battleship/cruiser in the world.

The only problem with this idea is the total lack of Anti-Aircraft fire power of these ships. The Nelson and Rodney were expendable,treaty battleships as they were. But if beached due to damage they would be able to fire the entire width of the channel at Dover narrows.

[littletankman]

I think Ive said this before . In the 70s a table top battle was done using all the original Sealion plans . And also the surviving comandors who were involved . The conclusion was that the Germans would get a toe hold but would eventually be trapped as the Royal Navey would stop the flow of re enforcements and supplys and the RAF would of attacked any planes trying to drop supplys or troops. The exercise showed initial German sucsess but in the end they would of been defeated . Even with the state the country was in . The Royal Navy and RAF causing the most issues to the Germans.

[Saxondog]

I agree that the Royal Navy would of been a force to contend with. Even the lighter unit like the Town class cruisers were a major problem for the Germans if committed to battle in the channel. They would of been a better force because of their speed and modern radars. So in the end the German forces would of been written off just like the Africa Corp.

SAX

[LMN118]

Quick question, where what was the landing points the Germans intended to use? I am presuming southern England or the Eastern coast.

Scotland is definitely out, the coasts here can be nasty.

[Johnf]

Hi guys,
Spot the armortek tiger.

http://www.jackbootsonwhitehall.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I do not think you can determine outcome based on a tabletop game. As has already mentioned the Germans were not ready to send an invasion force. If they took the gamble who knows?

[Saxondog]

Funny beyond words