AHC: Successful French Expedition to Ireland

Succeed as in they arrive or Succeed as in they drive the British out of Ireland.

Arrival just means they need to set off on a different date.

Driving the British out... well...

Even if 15,000 men arrive the British will make it a priority to cut off Ireland so a supply line will be tricky. If they start living off the land the Irish could turn aggressive. Meanwhile an outraged Britain sends every available solider to Ireland and we see something resembling Oliver Cromwell's expedition into Ireland, only with a few dead Frenchmen too.

It would take a great deal of luck and skill for the French to 'win', and even then its likely to be a pyrrhic victory as you know the British will be back sooner or later.
 
I think your best, and as the previous poster seem to prove only bet, is to get the French force to act as a kind of nucleus. You disperse some of the french soldiers with some of Tone's revolutionary's and have them train them, drill them, etc...

If it work you have a real franco-irish force wich can stand a fight and would maybe be supported by the population.
 
I think your best, and as the previous poster seem to prove only bet, is to get the French force to act as a kind of nucleus. You disperse some of the french soldiers with some of Tone's revolutionary's and have them train them, drill them, etc...

If it work you have a real franco-irish force wich can stand a fight and would maybe be supported by the population.

yeah that was what I was thinking about.
 
Even if 15,000 men arrive the British will make it a priority to cut off Ireland so a supply line will be tricky. If they start living off the land the Irish could turn aggressive. Meanwhile an outraged Britain sends every available solider to Ireland and we see something resembling Oliver Cromwell's expedition into Ireland, only with a few dead Frenchmen too.

Doesn't that leave England quite vulnerable? I mean, how do the English know that the attempt to seize Ireland isn't merely a feint? If the British fleet is tied up blockading Ireland and all the available forces are sent there, how can they respond to any attack on other British interests?

It makes a lot more sense to simply cut off the French supplies and wear them off, giving it time, until the French have no choice but to start living off the land.

I have a question: how important were for England the resources produced in Ireland?
 
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I have a question: how important were for England the resources produced in Ireland?

Not that much important ressource wise but strategicaly prevalent.

From Ireland you could easily land an army in britannia west coast, an hostile ireland will force the brits to retain a huge fleet in the sea of ireland just to be safe.

With the fleet they need to keep in the channel the royal navy risk to start to be a bit strain and would not be able to protect their communications lines and colony as well then usually.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Given a "national" Irish rising, presumably the Franco-

Given a "national" Irish rising, presumably the Franco-Irish forces could be supplied with food, water, and some wagons, draft animals and horses; not sure about things like powder and shot, however.

How much manufacturing was there in Ireland in the 1790s, especially in places where the rebels and their allies could take without a destructive fight?

I presume Dublin would be the center of the British garrison, so whatever is operating there is probably not available, at least without a siege.

Anyone know?

Best,
 
Honestly I don't think the expedition was ever expected to actually defeat the British. They were meant to force Britain to reenforce Ireland and draw troops and resources away from French interests.

Just forcing England to send a few thousand extra men to Ireland would probably be counted as a successful expedition on the French side. If they never actually had to fight the British in Ireland then even better.
 
It was discussed a bit there, some time ago.

Basically, the general agreement is while french presence in Ireland cannot hold, but that it may have indirect consequences on the ongoing war and Irish independence movement.
 
Honestly I don't think the expedition was ever expected to actually defeat the British. They were meant to force Britain to reenforce Ireland and draw troops and resources away from French interests.

Just forcing England to send a few thousand extra men to Ireland would probably be counted as a successful expedition on the French side. If they never actually had to fight the British in Ireland then even better.


Hmmm, I think the diversion part might be true but I do think they hoped that it will give the Tone rebellion what it need to became a credible treat to british rule in the emerald island. Of course the expedition was not enough to militarily win by themselves, but it could drasticaly change the political state of things.
 
Given a "national" Irish rising, presumably the Franco-Irish forces could be supplied with food, water, and some wagons, draft animals and horses; not sure about things like powder and shot, however.

How much manufacturing was there in Ireland in the 1790s, especially in places where the rebels and their allies could take without a destructive fight?

I presume Dublin would be the center of the British garrison, so whatever is operating there is probably not available, at least without a siege.

Anyone know?

Best,

So the best success that may arise out of a scenario like this is "French forces help Ireland become enough of a nuisance for Britain that they can't concentrate forces when France attacks Britain"?
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Maybe - one possibility is if the Franco-Irish succeed

Maybe - one possibility is if the Franco-Irish succeed, it may be enough to cause a political settlement in Britain.

Long shot, but certainly in the realm of the possible.

Best,
 

Germaniac

Donor
It will certainly affect the French commanders reputation, even if it is only partially successful Hoche will continue to gain favor in the republic, while I don't see him rivalling Napoleon, if he doesn't die he could be in line for a position of Marshall of France.
 
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