Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien in 1940 Kriegsmarine Commander of Submarines Karl Dönitz devised a plan to attack Scapa Flow by submarine within days of the outbreak of war. Its goal would be twofold: firstly, that displacing the Home Fleet from Scapa Flow would slacken the British North Sea blockade and grant Germany greater freedom to attack the Atlantic convoys. … [Read more...]
Maritime Monday for February 20, 2012: Alas Poor Yorck; The Raid on Scarborough
What is naval power for? There is no permanent answer. Unlike land-based military might - designed for the conquest of human-occupied territory - sea power has had different functions at different times. In the 19th century, the purpose of "gunboat diplomacy" was to offer a mobile deterrent…. In the first world war (and in the second) the aim was to prevent or deliver … [Read more...]