Since the 20th century, with the advancement of shipbuilding technology and the advent of the era of internal combustion engines, the arms race between the navies of major powers has become increasingly fierce. Before the last world war, the direct manifestation of the battle between Britain and Germany was the maritime arms race, which eventually led to a war and formed the current world pattern.

Thirty years later, the main theme of maritime war evolved into the pattern of Germany and Austria fighting against the United States and Britain, and the Americans replaced the British and became the protagonist of the other side of maritime hegemony. Although the Japanese Navy had good strength, due to the limitations of resources and industrial capabilities, it was actually unable to truly compete with these old maritime powers. So when the war came again, the two major military groups fought the powerful fleets again to fight for the only place to win the place...

In the North Atlantic Ocean about 70 nautical miles southeast of Iceland.

After completing the tactical turn, the Austro-Hungarian fleet commanded by Admiral Luca Wagner, commander of the North Atlantic Joint Fleet of the German and Austrian Navy, turned the bow southwest again, preparing to block the enemy's reinforcements from North America. Two "Joint Force Class" and two "Austrian" battleships, two "Romanian Class", two improved "Zepplin" and two "Von Golden" and "Attila" a total of six aircraft carriers. Almost all the main battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the European fleet are in full swing.

After the battle began, the entire fleet wandered around the southeastern Iceland for three days. The attention of the US Air Force in Reykjavik was attracted by the German landing forces and fought in the air with the German fleet commanded by General Lukins. At present, most of the fighter jets equipped by the US Air Force cannot compete with German fighters except for the P40s, and the Germans' losses were far less than that of the US Air Force.

This is the predetermined ambush point, about 280 nautical miles away from Reykjavik. If the reinforcements of the US fleet arrives, they can immediately launch an attack on the enemy.

The German Atlantic Fleet led by Admiral Oscar Kumetz set off from Biscay Bay and rushed to the battlefield. General Kumetz's flagship "Shihezhou" was sailing on the black water at full speed. The bow of the ship was filled with white waves, and finally entered the sight of the Austro-Hungarian fleet.

The arrival of the German fleet further enhanced the strength of the ambush fleet. No matter what, warships join the fleet, it is always very popular. At present, Admiral Luca Wagner, the entire German-Austrian joint fleet, is responsible for overall command. In the next three days, two special mixed fleets circled the sea area and turned, and the weather at the sea was getting better and worse, constantly changing. Behind the Austro-Hungarian fleet, Admiral Oscar Kumetz led the main force of the German Atlantic Fleet composed of the "Prince Albert", the "Fokker" aircraft carrier, the "Martyr Hindenburg" battleship, the "Mox", and the "Luzov" heavy cruiser.

Due to the deterrence of the US Atlantic Fleet, Germany and Austria did not dare to take the risk of sending their main fleet to the Pacific battlefield. In fact, the main German and Austrian forces based on the Norwegian coast and the Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar, which were based on the mission of blockade of Britain at sea, these two offensive fleets had almost nothing in the past year and had also become an "existence fleet".

There was drizzling drizzle on the sea, but the wind and waves were not heavy. The US fleet was lined up toward Iceland, and the battleship "North Carolina" was flying the flag of Admiral Ingram, the commander of the fleet. In the dark sky after the rain, the fragments of sunset began to shine with golden light behind the clouds.

The entire American fleet bypassed the Cape Recha Peninsula and entered Farkshaw Bay.

Under the order of the Fleet Chief of Staff Major General Hewitt, the signal flag fluttered and rose on the signal mast of the "North Carolina": the whole group lined up into Keflavik Bay!

This huge special-mix fleet changed its position very quickly and broke down in line outside Keflavik Port. The fleet's aircraft carriers, the latest fast battleships, cruisers, destroyers, minesweepers, and auxiliary ships were all arranged strictly in the Gulf of Iceland more than 3,000 miles away from the United States in accordance with air defense formations.

Due to the previous rain, no German reconnaissance planes were found, but after the fleet was stationed, Admiral Ingram immediately ordered a meeting on the flagship. On the dizzy sea surface in the evening, a black motorboat with a blue-bottomed naval flag was flying with the naval flags carrying the generals. Through the surging sea water of the white waves, he sailed to the North Carolina to attend the meeting.

After a while, the naval generals in hard khaki uniforms were already sitting on both sides of the long green table in the conference room in the stern cabin of the North Carolina. Colonel Hank, the army intelligence officer stationed in Iceland, and the air force representatives also rushed over.

Fleet Chief of Staff Major General Hewitt stood in front of a huge North Atlantic waters with a teaching stick, telling the latest information received in the past few days. The situation was obviously unfavorable to the Americans. The s-123 and s-42 submarines found reinforced German-Austrian fleets about 150 nautical miles southeast of Iceland. It was obvious that the enemy's strength was almost twice that of the US fleet.

The air force aircraft stationed in Iceland have consumed nearly half of the battle in a week. The Germans are stepping up the construction of field airports in northeastern Iceland. Some of their army fighters have begun to enter the island. Judging from the current situation, it is impossible to drive the Germans out of here. The Germans are much closer to this place than the United States. In the past ten days, another army division has landed on the island. The Germans have reached 70,000 German troops in Iceland, while the United States has only one 24th Infantry Division and a Marine Brigade, with half the troops less than the enemy.

Next, Ingram talked about this military operation, and he loudly read out the order issued by General Ingnoll, the commander of the Atlantic Fleet. The main force of the Atlantic Fleet was ordered to cover and support the troops stationed in Iceland, "to expel the threat of the German fleet as much as possible, but to preserve the fleet as the primary goal." He read out these instructions smoothly. It was obvious that the Fleet Commander did not want to fight a desperate battle with the Germans now, and the US Navy was not ready, especially when its strength was at a clear disadvantage compared to the enemy.

General Ingram frowned and said that the situation was very unfavorable to him. In this naval battle, the outcome depends on four factors: the comparison of troops between the two sides, the combat command of both sides, and the other two are strategic: the overall strategic and geographical factors.

Without doubt, Iceland is crucial to the maritime situation of the warring parties, but its location is much closer to the Norwegian coast than North America. A decisive battle with the German Navy here will soon be able to send reinforcements from Europe, which is definitely not conducive to the US Navy.

In general, even if the US Navy is doing its best now, it is not enough to compete with the German and Austrian fleet in full. Judging from the current situation, it is wise to give up here temporarily. However, this involves domestic personnel factors and also involves the ideas of General Jin, the commander-in-chief of the Navy.

In the year after the war began, the German and Austrian fleet won victory at sea. On the Southeast Asian battlefield, the Japanese Navy lost five major aircraft carriers, which led to the fall of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. MacArthur put the blame for the fall of the Philippines on the navy, and now allies, including Australia, are in a panic atmosphere.

On the Russian battlefield, the Axis coalition was launching an attack on the Soviet army across the board, and Zhuashvili was struggling to support it and repeatedly threatened that if the United States did not launch a counterattack against Germany and Austria, he would make peace with the Axis powers alone. It is hard to imagine that if the Russians lost their restraint, the Americans could resist the Axis powers alone.
Chapter completed!