INVASION THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 4

INVASION THREAT

SUCCESS DISCOUNTED HITLER'S SLIM CHANCE THE NAVY AND AIR FORCE BY COMMANDER ItOGER B. GIBB, R.N. (retired) Can Germany invade England? Millions of Germans are quito positive about the correct answer, and so are millions of Englishmen. But, their conclusions are not quite the same! Let us see what we can learn from the map. If we look at the English Channel we will notice that it is about 100 miles wide at the western approaches, and narrows to about 25 miles at Dover.. The south coast of England is about 300 miles in length and contains a number of exceedingly powerful naval bases and harbours, among which are Falmouth, Devonport, Portland, Portsmouth, Dover and Sheerness. Their opposite numbers, so to speak, on the French coast, are Brest, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Dieppe, Boulogne, Calais and Dunkerque. Several of these had been rendered almost useless by the Allies and Germany before the fall of France. They have been well basted since by our Air Force and Naval Forces. It is, indeed, questionable whether the ports nearest to us—Boulogne, Calais and Dunkerque —are in a fit state to be used ; and, if they are, whether it is possible for anything floating to remain sp.for more than a short time should they manage to gain entrance to these ports. Added to which the shallow water makes navigation difficult and dangerous as we know well ourselves. Evenly Distributed Bases Our own bases are fairly evenly distributed along the south coast, with the exception of the stretch between Dover and Portsmouth, and are easily navigable and strongly defended. The attempts to immobilise these have failed signally, and attacks upon our aerodromes have been a failure. Then Germany has the nse of the Belgian and Dutch ports, which we did our best to block and destroy before we evacuated them. And, of -course, she has the Atlantic Coast ports of France, hor own bases in Germany, and those of Denmark and Norway from which she can try to send hor invading vessels. From Brest to Ireland is about .300 miles, and the average distance from German, Danish and Norwegian ports somewhere in the region of 450 miles. Disposition of Heavy Ships Generally speaking England is excellently supplied with harbours on all coasts, although her naval bases are widely spread on the east and west coasts. Nevertheless the numerous smaller harbours form suitable refuges for minesweeping, patrol and escort vessels; and cruisers, destroyers and submarines can operate from bases such as Harwich, Sheerness, The Humber and so on. Our he,ivy ships use Bosythe, Cromarty, Scajpa Flow x and other bases. Their disposition jvill be such as ;to give

the most powerful and ready support to the screens of cruisers, destroyers, submarines and other craft. The vigilant and searching eyes of the reconnaissance machines of the Fleet Air Arm will act in concert with the naval units and, between them, daily and nightly—in heavy gales or peaceful calm —watch the seas and the air above them for enemy craft.

Britain has great naval superiority over Germany. It will be interesting to see whether Italian naval units will attempt to co-operate, and whethor they will be able to escape from the Mediterranean. There are about four million men under arms in Britain, including the Home Guard. Presuming this force is properly equipped with modern weapons it is clear that any invading force would need to be of considerable strength, and able to land and operate heavy tanks and guns. Germany is known to be massing troops, collecting transports and getting ready flat-bottomed fast craft for crossing the narrow seas. The heavy equipment requires big transports to handle it. A large force will need an immense fleet of ships. Germany has lost many transports off Norway, about one-quarter of her mercantile marine has been captured or sunk, and much of the remainder is tied up in neutral harbours. Added to which she lost about one-third of her navy off Norway. The Speed ol Convoys

If we assess tho speed of her convoys of heavy transports to bo about 20 knots, it will take them about 24 hours to get over from Germany, Denmark or Norway. For at least half of that time they are liablo to be spotted by reconnaissance craft. The flat-bottomed vessels will trust to their speed to cover the much shorter distance, averaging from 20 to 30 miles, and will hope to got across in, say, from two to eight hours; These vessels will bo lightly armed and armoured, and should be a gift for our destroyers and patrol craft, in which, you may be sure, will' bo officers and men whos£ burning desire will bo to get at closo quarters with the enemy. Tho heavy transports, once reported by our reconnaissance machines, will bo given their first and last experience of what it means to be handled by the British Fleet. And the fleet will be supported by tho Boyal Air Force. Just Like Napoleon

To sum up, it is apparent that Hitler's famous invasion cannot come off unless and until lie lias command of the air and command of the sea. And, having lauded, he must keep his lines of communication open to obtain his supplies of guns, tanks, equipment, men and stores. If he does not succeed in this, then it is hard to see how any attempted landing can end in anything but disaster. Paradoxically, if he does destroy our Air Force and Navy, there is no longer any need for him to invade us. It would seem, therefore, that, no matter what preparations Germany makes (she can fill Europe to the brim with soldiers armed to the teeth), while ,wo have an Air Force and our Fleet, Hitler can go on whistling 011 the wrong side of the little patch of silver sea, which lies between us and troubled Europe, just like Napoleon did over a century ago.!