AHC: Nazi invasion of the Isles of Scilly

"In military terms Scilly was under-prepared for the Second World War. Civilian preparations were well in hand - gas masks and stirrup pumps had been distributed, air-raid sirens installed and shelters built in 1939. However, in the summer of 1940 the islands were defended by just one Independent Company of troops, with their HQ at Star Castle, and there were no anti-aircraft defences and no significant naval presence." https://books.google.com/books?id=IOkqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66

A Scilly Sealion?!
 
Ok any invasion of Scilly will end one way....uder the threat of heavy fire from Royal Navy guns followed by Royal Marines.

Now some type of surprise raid for propaganda reasons that's interesting.
 
Ok any invasion of Scilly will end one way....uder the threat of heavy fire from Royal Navy guns followed by Royal Marines.

Now some type of surprise raid for propaganda reasons that's interesting.

I'm wondering if even that would be possible without it turning into a reverse Dieppe...
 
"In military terms Scilly was under-prepared for the Second World War. Civilian preparations were well in hand - gas masks and stirrup pumps had been distributed, air-raid sirens installed and shelters built in 1939. However, in the summer of 1940 the islands were defended by just one Independent Company of troops, with their HQ at Star Castle, and there were no anti-aircraft defences and no significant naval presence." https://books.google.com/books?id=IOkqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66

A Scilly Sealion?!

I noticed the part about Scilly may have been still technically at war with the Netherlands at the time. Maybe the Dutch invade? :)

Oh, have the Germans invade from U-boats. Or maybe a damaged U-boat crew "invades".
 
Not the pub!!!

Will this just be the European equivalent of the Japanese taking the Aleutians?
I could see it as a sort of diversion in preparation for the unmentionable sea mammal, that forces a British response, drawing assets from.where they're actually needed
 
I could see it as a sort of diversion in preparation for the unmentionable sea mammal, that forces a British response, drawing assets from.where they're actually needed

Falmouth fairly close a major port/naval base during WW2 massive natural harbour. Got a big artillery complex overlooking bay, just need a reason to attack it other than justify Scilly raid.
 
Wasn't the capital protected by some old 9.4 and 7.6 inch mounts from French pre-dreadnoughts? I guess trying to come at the port that way would have been a bad idea but yeah the anti-aircraft defences were negligable.
 
The best I can say for it is that's it not quite as suicidal as the plan to invade the Isle of Wight.

It's a long way from France for the Luftwaffe (Brest - Scilly Isles is nearly 100km longer as a round trip than the Calais - London trip which had Bf-109s struggling) and you're still left with the same old problem for Germany - the Royal Navy exists and exponentially outclasses the Kreigsmarine.
 

Nick P

Donor
Was there a decent airfield, or good flat spot for building one?

St Mary's Airport was typical of the era - a long flat field with some buildings in a converted farm. Opened in August 1939. Shouldn't be impossible for some Ju-52 to land there (in British Airways markings?) or for a force of Fallschirmjager drop in to take the place first.
We can expect the local Home Guard and any visiting UK military units to take a serious interest. ;)

The WW2 defences are listed here- https://www.military-history.org/articles/war-zone-four-hundred-years-of-military-history.htm Any attack would have to be pre-August 1940 or the air raid not happen.
 
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