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Re: Did RAF Prevent Operation Sealion?
IMO it was the Royal Navy that was the crucial element that forced Operation Sealion to be cancelled.
Even with RAF Fighter Command still operational, the Luftwaffe could have tied them up and kept them busy enough during the invasion.
The Germans were going to use unsuitable flat-bottomed river barges, towed along on heavy cables by ships as transports for their invasion troops and equipment.
All the Royal Navy would have to do was use its Battleships and Cruisers to bombard the german fleet at range and sent some of its destroyers into the midst of the barges at flank speed, travel on a parrallel course close to the barges and let the destroyers wake do the rest.
The Royal Navy could also have used its fast moving destroyers to steam up behind the slower moving german tow vessels cut across the german's wake, thus severing the tow lines to the un-powered barges, leaving the barges to just float around helplessly.
This would result in losses for the British Destroyers doing this but would mean a greater loss in regards to men and equipment for the germans
Germany simply did not have a large enough Navy and suitable landing vessels to pull Operation Sealion off IMO.
Cheers,
Dave
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