Author Topic: The Navy (RN) Won the Battle of Britian...Discuss (Read 1940 times)

Angus · « **Reply #90 on:** August 30, 2006, 05:29:20 AM »

Are you absoluely sure about this Milo?
Out of memory, I always thought the Med was a bit bloody.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #91 on:** August 30, 2006, 05:44:59 AM »

Angus, you are questioning the Malta convoys?

Yes civie, as opposed to naval, ships took a beating.

Angus · « **Reply #92 on:** August 30, 2006, 05:50:17 AM »

Yeah, well, the KM didn't get that many civilian vessels but racked up some tonnage of warships.
In a flash I remember the Glorious, the Hood, some Destroyers, and many ships that got hit, but again, the KM got a beating instead.
I recall no capital RN ship being sunk by the LW, but surely some DD's.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #93 on:** August 30, 2006, 05:55:34 AM »

The Suffolk in Norway.

It took some 80-90 sorties over several hours to put the stern awash, yet she still made port.

Momus-- · « **Reply #94 on:** August 30, 2006, 06:04:37 AM »

The huge difference between 1941-1942 Mediterranean theatre and a prospective 1940 operation in the English Channel is that in the Med the Luftwaffe was operating specialist maritime forces that simply didn't exist in 1940. Also, comparing RN losses over the course of an entire campaign to what would have been by definition a very short fight in the invasion area is not comparing like for like at all.

Angus,

I think what your book is referring to is the warning made to Churchill by Clement Atlee in autumn 1940 that resentment of the bombing in the East End of London might develop into more revolutionary tendencies. Whilst such resentment clearly existed, the bombing extended and in fact intensified well into 1941 without any real outbreak of revolutionary fervor, which I think demonstrates how unfounded, though perhaps understandable, such fears actually were.

Angus · « **Reply #95 on:** August 30, 2006, 06:34:02 AM »

CC, I know.
But try to imagine how intensive it could have been WITHOUT the RAF.
After all, Britain is a democratic country, so I'd say that Hitler's words there were not so far off.
And the Channel? Well, it's narrow waters, so the LW could mount several sorties a day. Would doubtlessly have been very ugly.
RN vs KM and LW? Well....ugly I'd say. Torpedo boats, Destroyers, Cruisers, Subs and capital ships jabos and Stukas all in the drink...

Angus · « **Reply #96 on:** September 07, 2006, 04:35:49 AM »

Ding.
This thread is alive again.
Just ran across the fact how long it takes to SWIM across the channel.
It's 20-26 hours.
Sort of a good input for realizing how short the distance is.
So, even if the Home fleet gets Ultra information about zeh schwimmer when he dips in they won't make it in time for interception if they start off at Scapa Flow.

Nilsen · « **Reply #97 on:** September 07, 2006, 04:47:51 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Angus

Just ran across the fact how long it takes to SWIM across the channel.
It's 20-26 hours.

Speak for your self fishy... ill take 48 hours on a calm day please, and have the coast guard ready with cpr.

Angus · « **Reply #98 on:** September 07, 2006, 05:35:51 AM »

I'd be fishfood in 48 hrs

Debonair · « **Reply #99 on:** September 07, 2006, 02:15:36 PM »

Nilsen, you're too close to the arctic.
normal people only have 24hr days available

Squire · « **Reply #100 on:** September 07, 2006, 04:51:46 PM »

Im sorry, who's going to swim across and invade England?

Did you have to volunteer?

Angus · « **Reply #101 on:** September 08, 2006, 03:16:06 AM »

Do you think the barges would be slower?
(That was my secret point)

thrila · « **Reply #102 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:36:57 AM »

Don't forget fewer than 10% of people who have attempted to swim the channel have been successful.

Angus · « **Reply #103 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:51:11 AM »

Is nobody getting the point?
A swimmer is faster across than the Home fleet from Scapa flow.
An oarboat is faster than the Swimmer.
A barge is faster than the oarsman.
A boat is faster than a barge.
A warship is faster than the boat.

End point of mine is that I belive that if the LW had total air superiority, and the Germans had launched the invasion at night, assisted by the Kriegsmarine, they would have pulled enough troops across for a foothold.
So, ?

Hawco · « **Reply #104 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:55:19 AM »

When I weas over in the UK 2 weeks ago, the BBC was interviewing the First Sea lord at the Navys open day, they asked him the same question
His reply word for word I can't remember, but it was along the lines of the RAF won the Battle, not the Navy.
Hope this puts this to bed...