So, this is a far fetch idea, but bear with me here.
During WWII, between 1942 to 1944, Adolf Hitler ordered the construction of an extensive system of coastal defenses and fortification on the coastal areas of Nazi-Occupied Europe. It was built as a way to deter Allied invasion (Mainly British at the time) into Europe, and it stretched from Nazi-Occupied France to Nazi-Occupied Norway.
Now returning to pre-1900, during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically the War of the Third Coalition, Napoleon had plans to invade Britain itself, in order to defeat them. This wasn't a new idea, as there were three other planned invasions beforehand, but Napoleon built upon those previous ideas. However, what made Napoleon call off these plans was the fact that British Navy dominated the seas, and any planned invasion needed to get rid of the British Navy. That ended up never happening, as the French Navy (And Spanish Navy) failed to compete with the British, all culminating in 1805 with the Battle of Trafalgar, which decimated the Franco-Spanish Fleet. Napoleon would try again afterwards with the Atlantic Campaign of 1806, but this also failed. In the end, Napoleon resorted to fighting the British economically, by creating the Continental System, which was ineffective and even hurt France and its allies (Some of whom, still or went back to trading with Britain)
What if, instead of trying to compete with Britain on the seas in preparation of invading the island nation, Napoleon played it defensively and built-up fortifications on the coast, while making some of their allies (Spain, Batavian Republic, Denmark-Norway) to do so as well, creating a series of coastal forts to combat the British Navy.
How could this possibly go? What would it take to create these series of coastal forts?
During WWII, between 1942 to 1944, Adolf Hitler ordered the construction of an extensive system of coastal defenses and fortification on the coastal areas of Nazi-Occupied Europe. It was built as a way to deter Allied invasion (Mainly British at the time) into Europe, and it stretched from Nazi-Occupied France to Nazi-Occupied Norway.
Now returning to pre-1900, during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically the War of the Third Coalition, Napoleon had plans to invade Britain itself, in order to defeat them. This wasn't a new idea, as there were three other planned invasions beforehand, but Napoleon built upon those previous ideas. However, what made Napoleon call off these plans was the fact that British Navy dominated the seas, and any planned invasion needed to get rid of the British Navy. That ended up never happening, as the French Navy (And Spanish Navy) failed to compete with the British, all culminating in 1805 with the Battle of Trafalgar, which decimated the Franco-Spanish Fleet. Napoleon would try again afterwards with the Atlantic Campaign of 1806, but this also failed. In the end, Napoleon resorted to fighting the British economically, by creating the Continental System, which was ineffective and even hurt France and its allies (Some of whom, still or went back to trading with Britain)
What if, instead of trying to compete with Britain on the seas in preparation of invading the island nation, Napoleon played it defensively and built-up fortifications on the coast, while making some of their allies (Spain, Batavian Republic, Denmark-Norway) to do so as well, creating a series of coastal forts to combat the British Navy.
How could this possibly go? What would it take to create these series of coastal forts?
