Q&A · 55:21-56:52

Why the Luftwaffe could not easily suppress British shipyards

Weak bomber procurement and difficult routes to western shipyards limit Germany's response to continued British construction.

Question

Would continued British warship construction cause the Luftwaffe to concentrate more heavily on shipyards?

Short answer

Not substantially in this initial assessment: the Luftwaffe's bomber limitations and the geography of western yards make a larger campaign difficult.

Notes

The Luftwaffe is poorly equipped for a sustained campaign against British shipyards. Its procurement priorities favored increasing aircraft numbers and left the bomber program comparatively weak. Harland and Wolff in Belfast requires a flight across or around Britain, as do difficult approaches to western Scottish yards and the Liverpool area. Eastern and southern yards are easier to attack, while raids on the western yards demand a special effort. These limitations make a major increase in raids unlikely in this initial assessment.