Operation Catherine was a proposed Baltic Sea offensive by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy to be undertaken in early 1940.
Churchill proposed a substantial naval squadron: three Revenge-class battleships, an aircraft carrier, five cruisers, two destroyer flotillas, submarines and supporting auxiliaries.
[2] As well as cutting off German iron ore supplies, Churchill anticipated that the show of force would encourage the Scandinavian nations to join the war against Nazi Germany.
[citation needed] The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Dudley Pound opposed the plan for several reasons.
[citation needed] Despite those cogent arguments and widespread opposition, Churchill continued to push hard for Catherine.