Operation Sealion

Zachary · Post by **Zachary** » 10 Aug 2002 02:20

What would have happened if the Germans invaded England in 1940? Would they capture London or be slaughtered on the beaches? Would Operation Barbarossa been carrioed out?
Best Regards,
Zachary

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 02:30

They would have to have air superiority to counter the British navy before they did anything or they would be slaughtered. I also believe that they were very short of barges and landing craft, and you know How the Brits are on defense. With air superiority I would say maybe, withou...forget it.

LT

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 04:22

Hi everyone,

I don't remember where I had read it, but they were proposing to put 88s on landing barges to defeat the English ships.

The invasion would probably be an initial airborne assault then the landings.

The German forces would probably suffer very heavy losses.

- Linlu

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 04:32

I read the same thing with the 88's.

Lt

Phil D. · Post by **Phil D.** » 10 Aug 2002 04:34

I would bet the Germans would get butchered in the Channel, due to the RAF, because of the failure to gain air support in the Battle of Britain and RN, because the Kriegsmarine was primarily a U-Boat navy, as opposed to the RN, which was mainly a surface fleet, as well the extremely slow speed of the barges which would make them sitting ducks. I recall from a soucre that the barges would take more than a day to get across the English Channel. Even if some troops could get ashore, it would probably be next to impossible to make another two trips across the channel, just my two cents.

Phil

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 04:44

Hi all,

I think the thing about the 88s is from Keitel's memoir, not sure though.

BTW, what did the barges look like? Were they pulled by tugs?

- Linlu

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 04:55

I'm pretty sure they were like barges with flat decks and no real structure above the hull.

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 05:19

Hi all,

The panzers equipped with snorkels look a little weird. Were they launched from a transport ship or do they actually swim across the Channel?

Also, the British built lots of obstacles against gliders and air transports...it would have been pretty hard to launch an air assault too.

- Linlu

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 05:33

They would have to be let off close to shore(panzers) or the rough channel water would do them in for sure.

LT

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 05:35

Plus, not sure but I don't think they had anything to provide extra bouyancy, just good for small rivers and such, so they would have to come off of barges very close to shore

LT

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 05:51

Hi Lawrence and all,

I was just wondering if the Germans had any landing vehicles like the Allies did on D-Day.

- Linlu

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 05:56

No, I don't think so. I never really looked into it before but if you could find out what ships they used to land in Norway, they would be the same. That was in 40' as well

LT

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 05:59

G'day all,

Didn't they use several cruisers and destroyers to land troops? They should really have developed some good landing crafts.

- Linlu

Lawrence Tandy · Post by **Lawrence Tandy** » 10 Aug 2002 06:01

They probably would have if they were in a position to make amphibious landings as the war progressed...and that early in the game they truly were not ready for a world war.

LT

Linlu · Post by **Linlu** » 10 Aug 2002 06:04

Hmmm...its 1:03 am, I guess its G'Morning!

That is quite true. The Allies did experiment at Torch and Dieppe.

- Linlu