One of the things that I have never heard anyone advance here is the possibility of using an invasion fascade to lure the Royal Navy and the RAF into battle.

Suppose the Germans landed airborne forces and a first wave of amphibious forces. They then commit the Luftwaffe and the Kreigsmarine to destroying the responding planes and ships. Boats cross the channel pulling barges, but barges full of decoys. The only real troops are the first wave and the paratroopers. Germany commits to fully supplying this smaller force so that they can contiue to harry the defenders and make them believe the invasion is on for real. They also commit to bringing them back if at all possible. Everyone in England scrambles to rise to the challenge. The Royal Navy rushes everything they have to the defense. Now the target-rich environment is in the other player's court. Mines and torpedo boats as well as planes take their toll on the Royal Navy. Goering gets his wish of having the RAF come up to fight because they believe this is a last ditch effort to save their homes. The divisions in place around the country scramble to respond revealling their real strength. Could this have been a workable scheme to draw out the British forces and damage or cripple them?

__________________
PEOPLE SLEEP PEACEABLY IN THEIR BEDS AT NIGHT ONLY BECAUSE ROUGH MEN STAND READY TO DO VIOLENCE ON THEIR BEHALF. GEORGE ORWELL