Have you ever heard of the British attack on Taranto? The British invented the tactics later used by Japan. I'm pretty sure the British were well aware of the capabilities of that strategy.
Did the american exercises include the use of torpedo-bombers? IIRC the fleet problem in question involved air strikes flown from Lexington and Saratoga primarily against ground targets (Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks, etc...), with a few straffing runs against Ford Island and ships at anchor there. It did demonstrate that a carrier-based air assault on Pearl was possible, but didn't simulate the actual circumstances of the Japanese attack, such as the use of torpedo-bombers. The problems with a torpedo-bomber attack on Pearl Harbour (shallow water and such) would not actually be solved until Taranto, although if pressed a solution might have been possible earlier.
And your point is?
Not really on the topic, and not really the kind of problems a POD or two cant handle.
First, a POD or two with perfect hindsight and filled with inept Brits maybe can handle that.
OTL the Germans already achieved very much if you take into consideration the limited amount of time & resources they had to build up a military apparatus.
Secondly, how was my reply off topic?
Strangely enough there were three people replying after me (Astrodragon, DCC and Tyr) with a reply which implied pretty much the same as mine;
the Germans only had limited resources to spend and if they spend more on your idea's, they've got less to spend on the things which actually made them win the war in the West in '40 amongst others.
Were theirs all off topic too?
IMHO it's kind of childish and ill-mannered to pretend a reply is off-topic if you don't like it because it doens't fit your idea.
Well the only way to get the RN to be obliged to come out and fight the Luftwaffe would be for the Luftwaffe to continue to attack the airfields during the Battle of Britain and secure air dominance over SE England. Then have the Germans attempt their landings which most likely fail but the RN takes a pounding so much so that the British sue for peace.
Well the only way to get the RN to be obliged to come out and fight the Luftwaffe would be for the Luftwaffe to continue to attack the airfields during the Battle of Britain and secure air dominance over SE England. Then have the Germans attempt their landings which most likely fail but the RN takes a pounding so much so that the British sue for peace.
Okay. Lets go.
The Royal Navy in this case is sortieing in full force against the unspeakable sea mammal. This means about four battleships and battlecruisers, a carrier or two, and assorted (numerous) escorts. This task force's location is unknown beyond rough generalizations to the Germans until they enter the channel, at which point it is to late, because the invasion convoys are doomed. They probably lack the range to make an intercept far out, anyways. The british fleet is covered by CAPs flown from the carriers and by fighters from groups 11 and 12 (and 13 when it sorties from Scapa Flow). The germans are going to be attacking pretty much without fighter cover, since the 109s dont have the range for combat operations until the home fleet is almost on top of the kriegsmarine. The intercepts have to be made against a moving fleet in the open seas, with 100% effectivness (even a few destroyers will be enough to defeat the landings).
Pray tell, what chance do you give the german torpedo-bombers under these circumstances?