ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay
ORIGINAL: RangerJoe
Ferry assets? Please define what you mean.
They could again use river barges. They would have to be small enough to be craned onto flat-bed rail cars, then trailered to the sea by truck. But that would still make them big enough to handle that sea.
In other words, they could not handle much cargo. They could also not take much damage, especially if they were overloaded.
Planned the invasion well in advance? Why would they? The quick taking of France surprised the Germans, then they had to take Spain, so why would the German staff be planning this?
They've decided from the get-go that they will pursue a Med strategy. Plenty of time to plan - Barbarossa was done in less time.
Not true, Hitler wanted to attack the Soviet Union. Even Stalin understood this by his actions.
Would Romania even allow this movement through their country? Allow the use of their airfields? Not to mention Bulgaria!
Romania isn't necessary. Bulgaria is an Axis nation as of March 1, 1941. Yugoslavia is on the menu.
The moment Germany turned south, Turkey was preparing.
Anyways. the total distance between the Black Sea and the Med is only 380 kilometers or 235 miles long, with the Sea of Marmora being 280 kilometers × 80 kilometers or 174 miles × 50 miles. With mobile scouts calling in artillery and mortar fire, any vessels making the crossing would have a little difficulty. While mobile infantry and possibly armour forces could be rushing to defensive positions. Not to mention your average Turk with a firearm.
A fantasy. In fact, most of the Turkish force is in front of the Bosporus. It's all going to be trapped when these German divisions arrive in their rear at Istanbul.
You are the one in fantasy land. In Thrace, the Turkish Army had at least one infantry division, a Cavalry division with T-26 tanks and BA-6 armoured cars both of which could destroy any German tank at the time. Besides an armoured brigade, an infantry brigade an other units.
By the way, Istanbul is on the Bosporus. Just look at the map, please?
Since the vessels would have to come in by truck, those vessels would not be very large nor would there be that many of them. The forces that come across would most be infantry and they would be disorganized with little supply available.
Again, towed by trailers. They can be large enough - larger than a Higgins boat.. And there can be as many as can be gleaned from the rivers of Europe. A lot.
But not that many at one time and most of the barges would be larger than that. Much difficult to carry. Not to mention what the Turkish Air Force and Navy would be doing to them. Even a sub on the surface, not to mention civilian water craft pressed into service and armed. Much less a Battlecruiser with 28cm guns.
I suggest that you look at an actual map and the Turkish order of battle. Don't rely on a game.
; Julia Child
And yet the guy with the funny moustache got this part right. Well, more or less.
