[Tallguy]

If the Royal Navy sails around Ireland, they ride themselves right out of the battle.

Not for the heavier fleet units, which were based up north anyway. I'd rather send my BB's flying around Ireland than have them run the mine/Luftwaffe gauntlet in the Channel. I'd leave the channel to the CL's & DD's of the Royal Navy. OTOH, the Scharnhorst & Gneisenau managed to run the channel and get away unscathed.

[PzLdr]

I think the Germans would have mined both side of the projected invasion corridor. And there would probably have bee air recon to the west so the germans would have had notice of the heavies [maybe even a U-boat scree]. Plus, your proposed deployment leaves the Germans with heavier guns against the lighter British units [18 X 11":Scharnhorst and Gniesenau, 12 X 11" Admiral Scheer and Luetzow, total 30 X 11"; and secondary armament on the above and heavy cruisers of 5.9" guns, and main armament on German destroyers -superior to all British destroyers, equal, almost to all British light cruisers].

The other problem the British would have faced is that in the Channel, the Germans would have had interior lines, and could re-deploy east to west much faster than the British could get around them.

[PzLdr]

I think the Germans would have mined both side of the projected invasion corridor. And there would probably have bee air recon to the west so the Germans would have had notice of the heavies [maybe even a U-boat screen]. Plus, your proposed deployment leaves the Germans with heavier guns against the lighter British units [18 X 11":Scharnhorst and Gniesenau, 12 X 11" Admiral Scheer and Luetzow, total 30 X 11"; and secondary armament on the above and heavy cruisers of 5.9" guns, and main armament on German destroyers -superior to all British destroyers, equal, almost to all British light cruisers].

The other problem the British would have faced is that in the Channel, the Germans would have had interior lines, and could re-deploy east to west much faster than the British could get around them.