Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:34:53-3:35:24

Could Germany launch Sea Lion while fleets were in Asia?

Sending the main naval coalition east would not remove France, British land forces, or Germany's invasion logistics problem.

British ArmyCoalition WarfareGermanyHome DefenceOperation Sea Lion
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Question

With so many Allied fleet units in the Far East, could Germany launch Operation Sea Lion?

Short answer

No easy opportunity appears: France, invasion logistics, a mobilized coalition, and a large British home garrison still stand in the way.

Notes

Germany could not exploit the Asian deployment with an easy invasion of Britain. It would first have to defeat France, assemble the shipping and supplies for an amphibious operation, and face a coalition already mobilized for war. Britain would not send every land formation or resource to the Far East. A large home garrison would remain, so the movement of major fleet units does not create an undefended island.