I'm interested to find out how people would assign the Fighter Command squadrons in this kind of scenario. Lets say the RN forces are coming from the Humber, Sheerness/Harwich and maybe from the west as well, how many squadrons will be needed to fly patrols?
The other thing that interests me is what the weather is doing - if the weather is overcast then the effectiveness of aircraft on both sides is going to be diminished
The earliest I can see an invasion is Sept (probably later in the month) - looks like mixed weather during that period - I'll post the daily weather from the below web pages
Ideal tidal conditions for a landing during the month were 10th -12th Sept and 23rd-25th Sept
Found a good resource where a chap has detailed the weather as well as as many air activities as possible during the period of the BoB
Sept 1940 starts on page 5 and I have taken the following information from this excellent link by a poster called Coast - none of this work is mine
1st September 1940.
The country was under cloudy patches for most of the morning with some sunny periods. Temperatures were a little higher than average, with the cloud burning off about midday giving way to fine and sunny conditions.
2nd September 1940.
Anti cyclonic weather starts with areas of early morning mist and scattered fog inland giving way to clear skies, which continued for the rest of the day. Temperatures were again higher than average. Cloud drifted in from the North Sea later in the afternoon in Northern England and Scotland.
3rd September 1940.
After early morning mist, especially in low lying areas, the south and southeast saw a warm and fine day with some haze in many Channel areas. In the north, most areas had low cloud and drizzle with scattered heavy falls along the northeast coast and southern Scotland.
4th September 1940.
Southern England was fine and warm, skies were mainly clear with occasional cloud. The Channel areas remained fine with good visibility. The north of England and most of Scotland had rain periods with some heavy falls and strong winds.
5th September 1940.
After a clear night, the morning period all over Britain was clear with good to excellent visibility and temperatures slightly above average. Cloud increased over the eastern coast north of East Anglia during the afternoon. The north of England and Scotland had 60% cloud cover, which increased during the afternoon although this was high cloud with no rain. The Channel areas remained clear and fine for most of the day.
The day proved to be an ideal day for combat, the weather was clear with only a slight breeze. Conditions for flying were ideal, although Fighter Command were praying for rain and inclement weather. Dowding wanted some breathing space, some respite for the fighter airfields, especially those of 11 Group. Just a few days would relieve the pressure on the British pilots.
6h September 1940.
The fine weather of the previous days continued with the cloud in the north dispersing overnight and bringing fine weather to all areas. Temperatures were a little lower, but still slightly above average.
7th September 1940 The start of the Blitz
High cloud early giving way to light cloud but remaining fine throughout the south. Channel areas had early morning haze which quickly disappeared leaving clear skies. Temperatures were normal. The north had mid to high level cloud with good visibility.
The British War Office and Air Ministry were advised that after consultation with the meteorological office that the tides and moon favoured a date between the 8th and 10th of September for the commencement of the German invasion. A meeting that was called by the British Chiefs of Staff and was to commence that day at 5.30pm to discuss whether or not the "Alert No.1" should be issued. At this stage, Dowding and Park had no idea as to the change in tactics that the Luftwaffe was to implement later this day.
8th September 1940
After a clear night, clouds developed over most of Britain and remained at 80% for most of the day. Although cloudy, the day remained dry with only far northern Scotland getting a shower or two. Temperatures were a little cooler because of the cloud cover but this cloud broke up late in the afternoon.
9th September 1940
Cloud overnight becoming showery with the thunderstorms in the east. Rain periods in the west while the north and Scotland remained cloudy but dry. Showers cleared from Channel areas by midday.
10th September 1940
Clear during the early hours but cloud moved in from the North Sea during the early morning and this gave rain over most areas during the day. The low cloud and periods of heavy rain over Northern Europe stopped any form of Luftwaffe air activity and any operations planned against England were cancelled.
11th September 1940
Heavy cloud cover dispersed overnight giving way to a fine day in most areas, occasional cloud and some local showers in the midlands and the north with the exception of the English Channel and south-eastern England where cloud continued.
12th September 1940
Cloud cover in all areas and showers turning to rain for most of the country. Low cloud persisted over the Channel areas and most of the south coast had showers that were heavy at times. The bad weather was another welcome break from the campaign on both sides.
13th September 1940
There was no sign in an improvement in the weather, and it remained unsettled with rain in all areas. In the south and east there were a few breaks in the cloud giving sunny periods. Over the Channel, the heavy cloud and rain gave way to lighter, higher cloud during the day. The weather was by now, severely hampering enemy operations.
Weather conditions seemed to be closing in and with a deteriorating situation; it appeared that any chance of a successful invasion was out of the question if Hitler could make up his mind. Already, the date previously set for Operation Sealion, September 11th had been postponed, and Hitler had said that he favoured September 24th as the most likely date. But if the situation continued as it was, it would be an impossibility for the barges to cross the Channel should the expected winds, prevalent at that time of the year, accompany the heavy cloud and rain squalls.
14th September 1940
Again no sign in an improvement in the weather, and it remained unsettled with rain periods and thunderstorms in all areas. Over the Channel, the heavy cloud and rain gave way to lighter higher cloud during the day, but the showers persisted.
15th September 1940
The largest ever German formations over London and southeast, in two big raids. Mainly broken up by 24 Fighter Command Sqns operating on this day 70 years ago, since known as:
Battle of Britain Day.
Heavy cloud and rain periods overnight cleared and the forecast for the day was fine in most areas with patchy cloud. No rain was forecast but some areas had an odd shower. The fine conditions of the morning gave way to incoming cloud although it remained dry. Cloud was stratocumulus providing about 8/10ths cover at a height of 5,000 feet. Wind was slight and from the northwest.
16h September 1940
There were much cooler conditions coming in from the North Sea. Most areas had heavy cloud cover and rain in all districts that was heavy at times.
17h September 1940
Overcast with squally showers with drizzle and low cloud
18h September 1940
Conditions were similar to the previous day except that the low to medium cloud that brought the rain periods disappeared. The day was bright and clear although the squally winds would continue.
19th September 1940
Heavy cloud continued throughout the day and rain periods, heavy at times were experienced over much of Britain. The Channel areas had very low cloud base with early morning fog and mist patches in coastal districts.
Waking up to a rather dismal and damp morning, it was obvious to many of the British pilots that it was certainly not going to be a day that one should be up there in that dull grey murk and they hoped that the Luftwaffe would see it in the same way. They were not going to be disappointed. Radar stations along the Channel coast were idle, the CRT screens blank.
20th September 1940
The morning was reasonably fair with scattered cloud with showers by midday, which continued throughout the day. It was another of those mornings where there was an abundance of blue sky and scattered cloud, but the radar screens at the south coast radar stations were totally clear.
21st September 1940
The day opened to scattered cloud although along the Estuary and the River Thames as far as London there was considerable haze. Once this cleared, most of the south was fine with scattered cloud but by midday cloud had started to build up. In the north there was cloud with sunny spells but it remained dry
22nd September 1940
The day opened to many fog covered areas and a mist layer remained for most of the morning period. During the afternoon visibility had increased lengthy sunny periods, but the heavy cloud rolled in late in the afternoon and many areas especially in the south experienced periods of rain.
23rd September 1940
Mist and fog patches in most areas giving way to a mainly fine day. Some patchy cloud, but mainly fine weather over most areas.
24th September 1940
Mist and fog patches were widespread in most areas especially over the French and British coastlines during the morning. Mist or haze was prevalent for most of the day, with high cloud clearing by late afternoon
25th September 1940
Overcast with thunder and rain generally, clearing later with showers in the South East.
26th September 1940
Generally fine, clouding up in the South later in the day
27th September 1940
Fair in the extreme south and southwest. Cloudy in the Channel with light rain over southern England.
28th September 1940
Generally fair but cloudy in the channel
29th September 1940
Generally fair all day with some cloud in the middle of the day.
30th September 1940
Fair with light cloud.