I know sealion has been discussed in depth previously, and I have read a lot of those discussions explaining it was not possible. In particular I have read this:
http://www.flin.demon.co.uk/althist/seal1.htm
which explains the massive problems the Germans encountered just getting the troops off the barges in daylight.
Anyway, I have a particular scenario I would like someone to explain. Could the Germans have won if the following had happened:
Britain decided it would be fun to test how good their ground forces alone were, so decided not to use their navy or air force for a while.
Germans did their night-time landings at whatever success rate is likely.
Germans knew that the RN and RAF could be deployed at any time, so didn't change any tactics.
I specifically want to know how the land battle would have gone, assuming that the Germans had air support while the British didn't.
Was there any time in Sept 1940 or thereabouts that the Germans could have won if the British had given them a sporting chance by standing down the RN and RAF? Were the British ground forces good enough to beat back whatever Germans managed to arrive? Would the Germans have been able to get resupplied? Would they have been able to get any heavy weapons? Assume that both the British and the Germans fight to the last man, and that both sides fought at normal competence, no supermen.
Actually, assume that the RAF is flying to defend the oil refineries so that there is no alternative way for the Germans to win - they have to use their ground forces, with air support, in a force on force battle.
How would it go down?
If it is conceivable that the Germans could have won under those circumstances, would it be possible for them to have won if they also didn't bring their air force, so that it was just ground forces vs ground forces?
From what I have read of the problems with the barges, the Germans would have arrived so slowly on the beaches that the beach defenders would be able to pick them off piecemeal, and even be able to take their weapons.
I'm interested in the actual Sealion plan, not some alternative. With the actual British forces available at that time. The only change being Churchill's curiosity about the competence of his ground forces.
I believe the Home Guard outnumbered the maximum Germans that could be landed 10:1 and the British (and Canadian, Australian and French???) Army outnumbered the maximum Germans 2:1 plus had far superior weaponry. But I don't want to assume that the Germans miraculously land all their troops simultaneously, I want to know what would have happened under a realistic landing scenario. Would they have all been wiped out on the beach in the first few hours?
http://www.flin.demon.co.uk/althist/seal1.htm
which explains the massive problems the Germans encountered just getting the troops off the barges in daylight.
Anyway, I have a particular scenario I would like someone to explain. Could the Germans have won if the following had happened:
Britain decided it would be fun to test how good their ground forces alone were, so decided not to use their navy or air force for a while.
Germans did their night-time landings at whatever success rate is likely.
Germans knew that the RN and RAF could be deployed at any time, so didn't change any tactics.
I specifically want to know how the land battle would have gone, assuming that the Germans had air support while the British didn't.
Was there any time in Sept 1940 or thereabouts that the Germans could have won if the British had given them a sporting chance by standing down the RN and RAF? Were the British ground forces good enough to beat back whatever Germans managed to arrive? Would the Germans have been able to get resupplied? Would they have been able to get any heavy weapons? Assume that both the British and the Germans fight to the last man, and that both sides fought at normal competence, no supermen.
Actually, assume that the RAF is flying to defend the oil refineries so that there is no alternative way for the Germans to win - they have to use their ground forces, with air support, in a force on force battle.
How would it go down?
If it is conceivable that the Germans could have won under those circumstances, would it be possible for them to have won if they also didn't bring their air force, so that it was just ground forces vs ground forces?
From what I have read of the problems with the barges, the Germans would have arrived so slowly on the beaches that the beach defenders would be able to pick them off piecemeal, and even be able to take their weapons.
I'm interested in the actual Sealion plan, not some alternative. With the actual British forces available at that time. The only change being Churchill's curiosity about the competence of his ground forces.
I believe the Home Guard outnumbered the maximum Germans that could be landed 10:1 and the British (and Canadian, Australian and French???) Army outnumbered the maximum Germans 2:1 plus had far superior weaponry. But I don't want to assume that the Germans miraculously land all their troops simultaneously, I want to know what would have happened under a realistic landing scenario. Would they have all been wiped out on the beach in the first few hours?