The amphibious plan places much of Germany's fast liner capacity inside the convoy that is trapped in the Channel. Its destruction therefore removes not only troops and warships but a major part of the German merchant fleet. Britain, by contrast, retains the world's largest merchant marine because the short conflict never develops into the historical U-boat campaign. German yards can build replacements, but postwar maritime trade begins from a severe competitive disadvantage.
Notable Point · 2:21:30-2:23:13
The troop convoy also destroys Germany's merchant fleet
Requisitioning Germany's liners for the Channel operation turns a naval defeat into a commercial-shipping disaster while Britain's merchant marine avoids the historical U-boat campaign.