Now, obviously with resources on hand for Heer, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe in OTL this was not possible. Although various measures were tried and some casualties were achieved the results were minor compared to massive force used in Operation Overlord.
This is more a food for thought rather than an attempt on timeline, but what if after the failure of submarine campaign against Allied shipping is recognized in April 1943 the GröFaz orders all attention of Kriegsmarine to be turned towards problem of invasion defense and the Grand Donut agrees? Even better, to stimulate competition GröFaz orders the Ol' Fat Bastard to do the same with all the resources except those designated for Air Defence of the Reich.
The task of defeating the Allied Armada is staggering. Operation Neptune deployed some 7000 naval ships and craft. Of these 864 were merchants and 4126 landing ships and crafts, for a rough count of 5000. Let's say that for defeat of the Overlord one needs to impact 30% casualties, or sinking or damaging some 1700 transport ships or crafts.
Possible measures which can be tried and introduced within short time are:
1.) Accelerating production of S-boats and concentrating them to Channel ports. This will require direction of Atlantic Wall construction to making shelters for these boats. As Atlantic Wall did not really contribute to anti-invasion defense (it was probably the most costly failure of a fortification system ever) this will have no practical effect.
2.) Introduction of Kamikaze pilots for Luftwaffe, using older models of fighters (Me-109 B-F). This requires thinking outside the box for Luftwaffe. As German Armed Forces were no strangers to suicide missions (witness use of U-boats) this may not be such a great leap of imagination as it seems. Results which can be achieved against Overlord should be greater than those achieved in the Pacific due to easiness of acquiring targets (no problem in finding the invasion area after it has begun) and sturdier construction of German planes compared to Japanese planes used in Kamikaze operations. In addition Germany possessed many former French military aircraft (such as Dewoitine D.520, MS-406, Curtiss-75, Bloch MB-150) and after September 1943, many former Italian military aircraft unsuitable for front duties, superfluous for training but useable for Kamikaze (Valkyrie?) duties.
3.) Concentrating all submarine construction effort to improving current crop of Type VII and IX submarines, construction of Type XXIII coastal submarine and leaving Type XXI to development level.
4.) Using Luftwaffe bomber units during anti-invasion duties merely for minelaying tasks, thus lessening their exposure for AA fire
I'm fairly sure even this and other measures will not be enough, but it wouldn't be an ATL challenge if it wasn't difficult.
This is more a food for thought rather than an attempt on timeline, but what if after the failure of submarine campaign against Allied shipping is recognized in April 1943 the GröFaz orders all attention of Kriegsmarine to be turned towards problem of invasion defense and the Grand Donut agrees? Even better, to stimulate competition GröFaz orders the Ol' Fat Bastard to do the same with all the resources except those designated for Air Defence of the Reich.
The task of defeating the Allied Armada is staggering. Operation Neptune deployed some 7000 naval ships and craft. Of these 864 were merchants and 4126 landing ships and crafts, for a rough count of 5000. Let's say that for defeat of the Overlord one needs to impact 30% casualties, or sinking or damaging some 1700 transport ships or crafts.
Possible measures which can be tried and introduced within short time are:
1.) Accelerating production of S-boats and concentrating them to Channel ports. This will require direction of Atlantic Wall construction to making shelters for these boats. As Atlantic Wall did not really contribute to anti-invasion defense (it was probably the most costly failure of a fortification system ever) this will have no practical effect.
2.) Introduction of Kamikaze pilots for Luftwaffe, using older models of fighters (Me-109 B-F). This requires thinking outside the box for Luftwaffe. As German Armed Forces were no strangers to suicide missions (witness use of U-boats) this may not be such a great leap of imagination as it seems. Results which can be achieved against Overlord should be greater than those achieved in the Pacific due to easiness of acquiring targets (no problem in finding the invasion area after it has begun) and sturdier construction of German planes compared to Japanese planes used in Kamikaze operations. In addition Germany possessed many former French military aircraft (such as Dewoitine D.520, MS-406, Curtiss-75, Bloch MB-150) and after September 1943, many former Italian military aircraft unsuitable for front duties, superfluous for training but useable for Kamikaze (Valkyrie?) duties.
3.) Concentrating all submarine construction effort to improving current crop of Type VII and IX submarines, construction of Type XXIII coastal submarine and leaving Type XXI to development level.
4.) Using Luftwaffe bomber units during anti-invasion duties merely for minelaying tasks, thus lessening their exposure for AA fire
I'm fairly sure even this and other measures will not be enough, but it wouldn't be an ATL challenge if it wasn't difficult.
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