The plan becomes a crackpot scheme once Britain is alert and organizing its defenses, even if parts of its execution could have been improved. Success depends on crossing without warning Britain, but the required fleet breakouts and battles make surprise impossible. A better-executed breakout plan therefore does not make the invasion strategically sound. The effort wastes French resources by attacking Britain where its island position and maritime system buy time for defense. A southeastern advance toward the Ottoman Empire appears as a more promising alternative to campaigns west against Britain or east into Russia.
Notable Point · 16:38-18:03
The verdict: warning time defeats the scheme
The closing verdict is that the invasion only works if Britain is surprised, while an alert Britain turns the scheme into a costly misuse of French resources.