William Boyle 12th Earl of Cork: Encyclopedia II - William Boyle 12th Earl of Cork - World War Two: Baltic Offensive Plans: Project Catherine

William Boyle 12th Earl of Cork - World War Two: Baltic Offensive Plans: Project Catherine

When World War Two started, Lord Cork offered his services but was told there was nothing for him. However, on September 21, 1939, Winston Churchill recalled him to the Admiralty with quarters and a nucleus staff to undertake a study of a Baltic Sea offensive to take place by March of 1940. The proposed offensive was called Project Catherine.

This was a project dear to Churchill's heart, reminiscent of World War One plans to send a British fleet into the Baltic and land forces in conjunction with the Russians on the Pomeranian coast of Germany. This time however Russia was not an ally, and the goals were more modest.

The Admiralty plans division gave an immediate response to a September 6th querry from Churchill on a possible Baltic offensive stating that the operation justified detailed planning, but that Italy and Japan must be neutral for this to proceed and that the danger from air attack appeared prohibitive.

Churchill hoped that a British fleet in the Baltic could dominate the Sea, cutting off the flow of iron ore from Sweden and generally isolating Germany from Scandinavian trade. It would have the bonus of securing the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian trade for Britain and intercepting German seaborne trade with the Soviet Union.

In the first volume of his history of World War II, The Gathering Storm, Churchill described Lord Cork as "...an officer of the highest attainments and distinction...".

Lord Cork got to work immediately and presented his preliminary appreciation on September 26th. Both he and Churchill agreed that especially modified battleships were necessary, with extra protection against air and submarine atack. Since the timelines were too short for new construction, it was proposed to modify two or three of Britains oldest capital ships, the Revenge class battleships . Super bulges along the water line would protect against torpedo attack, while extra armour plating on the decks would provide protection against aerial bombs. The earliest time British dockyards could complete this work was the late spring of 1940.

Cork's preliminary study described the operation as hazardous, but perfectly feasible. It was assumed that he would be the fleet commander. He asked for a margin of at least 30% over the German fleet on account of expected losses in the passage through the narrow seas off Denmark. Three months supply of fuel was to be taken along as well as three 8" cruisers and two 6" cruisers, two flotillas of the newest destroyers , a detachment of submarines and repair ships and depot ships.

It was hoped that the presence of a powerful British fleet dominating the Baltic for three months would prompt Sweden to offer the British a naval base, or failing that, the fleet would withdraw before the fuel ran out.

However, Lord Cork's study also stated the absolute need to assemble his fleet and finish training by mid February of 1940. Since the modifications to the Revenge class battleships could not be completed by then, the project was cancelled as impractical. A growing appreciation of the danger to naval ships from aircraft dampened enthusiasm for a revival of the project, until events in Finland, Demmark and Norway in February to May of 1940 rendered the plan obsolete.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "World War Two: Baltic Offensive Plans: Project Catherine", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki