I love this thread.
I just wish that folks tearing apart and ridiculing Glenn239’s absurdities would expend the same effort in debunking some of the equally absurd (or, sometimes even more absurd) “Save the Empire/The UK does better” themed threads that inundate the board, drowning out much of the more interesting content.
I like the UK, but even I can say that some of those TLs are wanks. Anyway, this is more derails so I propose we try something else.
Would anyone who failed to push the attack on the gathering convoys of a Sea Lion be charged under the Articles of War and be treated much like an admiral Byng just without the execution, so they themselves be drafted as a penal troop to shorten their life expectancy ?
(Yes, I’ve been harping on about the Articles of War in my posts, 2/3 is a lot but I find the story ridiculous and important to understand British fighting culture).
The UK does better is hardly an unrealistic proposal - between bad luck, bad choices of political leaders and circumstances beyond our control most of the 20th Century was basically a UK-screw with even our best or brightest moments (standing alone in 1940, for example) basically coming back to do us hard and dry later on.
Making things slightly better for the UK is hardly as unrealistic as a successful invasion of the UK by Germany, even if some of the 'Empire lives on' stories sometimes go a bit far.
I think I made a mistake, I’m not saying they get a strike of nerves, I say they attack, have to return for some reason that isn’t viewed as acceptable (such as a gun being damaged) but is t grounds for LMF punishment, they would then proceed to the next book they could throw at them, the Articles of War, which to my knowledge carried life in prison for failure to do one’s best, but due to the dire situation would see them armed in an effective suicide posting.Yes, I'd imagine that a refusal to attack any German build up would be treated as LMF (Lack of Moral Fibre) and would cause administrative action (removal from post, loss of flying pay, posting to Bernbecula as OIC Rock Counting for RAF pilots for example) to be taken although I doubt there would be jail or worse (I'm not aware of LMF cases being jailed in WW2 although I'm not going to claim to be an authority).
The UK didn't really have 'penal troops' as we'd know them (Sven Hassel/Soviet human wave candidates) and punishments postings, ironically, often put the convicted man in a safer place (such as the aforementioned stint on some Scottish island counting rocks) but with a severe stain on their reputation which was still seen by much of society as a fate worse than death. The closest example I can think of would be Conscientious Objectors ending up as stretcher bearers rather than "combat soldiers".
My guess is not but only because I am assuming more than enough of the fleet would carry on and obliterate the German fleet that the few who turned back, assuming any did, wouldn't ruin the operation.I think I made a mistake, I’m not saying they get a strike of nerves, I say they attack, have to return for some reason that isn’t viewed as acceptable (such as a gun being damaged) but is t grounds for LMF punishment, they would then proceed to the next book they could throw at them, the Articles of War, which to my knowledge carried life in prison for failure to do one’s best, but due to the dire situation would see them armed in an effective suicide posting.
I'm just proud that so many people enjoyed posting in this thread that there are more mod posts than OP posts.Again, @Not James Stockdale, sorry for the interruption.
I'm just proud that so many people enjoyed posting in this thread that there are more mod posts than OP posts.
We keep it tiresome and unpopular so that no one commits it in a TL.It is a common trope on here that Sealion is a tiresome and unpopular topic, but the people who denounce it usually then go on to discuss it at great length.
Don't tempt Fate!We keep it tiresome and unpopular so that no one commits it in a TL.
Why not write a believable ATL where the Germans get curb-stomped! And the let them try and nit pick it apart with hand waveum abnausiam.
Spoilsport, Hipper!
I would get at least one R class battle ship into the channel to provide some real oomph to the RN gunline. The muzzle blast alone from an eight 15" gun broadside would eviscerate any barges within a cable or two!! I wonder what the gun elevation would be for the optimum blast zone on the water?