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Channel dash - May 1941

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 7:32 am
by RF
Given the length of time that this forum has now been running it is perhaps surprising that no one has come up with the possibility of Rheinubung being launched by passing the Bismarck into the Atlantic via the English Channel in May 1941.

The Germans would have the advantage of total surprise in a daylight run, no heavy ships to oppose Lutjens plus full Luftwaffe air support.

Any comments?

Re: Channel dash - May 1941

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 9:58 am
by alecsandros
Interesting idea,

I thnk Raeder favored a direct Atlantic mission - meaning attacking convoys before BS/PE going to Brest. Otherwise, the mission would have been a transfer of forces, without putting pressure on the enemy (a fact that Raeder explicitly demanded from Luetjens).

If such a plan was executed, there were chances of success, but not so many as during the historical "Cerberus".