I agree that the demise of the KM in a one sided Jutland will open up
many options for the RN - amphibious landings, coastal raids, what have
you. I am not sure that the British would be too happy to undertake
amphibious ops after Gallipoli, and there is little indication that
they would be far enough along in solving the many tactical/doctrinal
problems needed to generate a successful landing and sustain it.
Additionally in close in waters U Boats could be highly effective
against the logistic train of ships needed to supply the landing.
As for escorts for convoys with destroyers sent from the HSF - not
many IMHO. The butt kicking in an ATL Jutland does not diminish the
sumarine threat. Any time the fleet leaves a protected anchorage they
will need destroyer protection, and patrols around where ever the fleet
is will be required. The RN learned about how vulnerable unescorted
large ships could be the hard way - any HSF sortie (whether to raid a
coast or cover landings) will require escorts.
I can't speak to how long it would take the RN to crack a new German
code, however IF the Germans rotate more frequently and/or the blank
spot(s) occur at the right time it could cause problems.
Lastly I agree the only way Germany wins or gets some sort of status
quo end to the war is for the USA not to get involved. Zimmerman has
bad clams for lunch the day before he was going to send the dumbest
tlegram ever sent? US flagged ships are treated by U Boats wiht board &
inspect, although combatant ships are sunk as OTL?? Warm up the
butterflies. (IMHO USA not getting in to WW1 is not ASB territory, it
took ermany doing everything wrong to make it happen)
|
