The Home Guard made Sea Lion a war of delay and local resistance

The Home Guard was not simply the comic stereotype of Dad's Army: many members were First World War veterans defending terrain they knew intimately. They expected to hold long enough for their families to escape and for younger regular troops to respond, making delay rather than independent victory the central purpose. Fixed positions, restrictive terrain, and SOE stay-behind plans would have made an advance and occupation costly. Together with a Royal Navy prepared for a 'death ride' into the invasion fleet, these measures meant Operation Sea Lion required far greater preparation and support than Germany intended to provide.