Editing Battle of Britain (section)

===Channel battles===
The ''[[Kanalkampf]]'' comprised a series of running fights over convoys in the English Channel. It was launched partly because Kesselring and [[Hugo Sperrle|Sperrle]] were not sure about what else to do, and partly because it gave German aircrews some training and a chance to probe the British defences.{{sfn|Bungay|2000|p=122}} Dowding could provide only minimal shipping protection, and these battles off the coast tended to favour the Germans, whose bomber escorts had the advantage of altitude and outnumbered the RAF fighters. From 9 July reconnaissance probing by [[Dornier Do 17]] bombers put a severe strain on RAF pilots and machines, with high RAF losses to Bf 109s. When nine [[No. 141 Squadron RAF|141 Squadron]] [[Boulton Paul Defiant|Defiants]] went into action on 19 July six were lost to Bf 109s before a squadron of [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricanes]] intervened. On 25 July a coal convoy and escorting destroyers suffered such heavy losses to attacks by [[Junkers Ju 87|Stuka]] [[dive bomber]]s that the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] decided convoys should travel at night: the RAF shot down 16 raiders but lost 7 aircraft. By 8 August 18 coal ships and 4 destroyers had been sunk, but the Navy was determined to send a convoy of 20 ships through rather than move the coal by railway. After repeated Stuka attacks that day, six ships were badly damaged, four were sunk and only four reached their destination. The RAF lost 19 fighters and shot down 31 German aircraft. The Navy now cancelled all further convoys through the Channel and the cargo was sent by rail. Even so, these early combat encounters provided both sides with experience.<ref>{{harvnb|Deighton|Hastings|1980|pp=154–183}}</ref>