Chapter 1210 1211 The naval battle in the plan
There is a huge Atlantic map hanging in the British naval base in Canada, which marks the approximate location of each British warship and the scope of the entire anti-submarine network. These things are very confidential information, but for those who can enter and exit here, they are not anything worth keeping confidential.
"The Battleship of the Wicked is on standby in the waters west of Iceland. In order to prevent the German Admiral Marshal Redel from approaching Iceland again, it has the fleet composed of the battleship of the USS Nelson, which is unable to move." A naval staffer stood in front of the naval commander-in-chief Admiral Dudley Pound and pointed to a squadron on the map and said.
At any time, wealth is a kind of capital. At least after 100 years of hard work, the accumulated wealth of the British Navy is not comparable to that of the German Navy, a brokerage like an outbreaker.
Although the battleship troops of the Royal Navy suffered heavy losses in the Battle of the English Channel, the British government immediately drew reinforcements around the world and reorganized a large-scale battleship main fleet.
Including the USS Nelson and the USS Wicked, the British Navy still has more than 4 battleships on the Atlantic Ocean. The German Navy, which won the Battle of the English Channel, still only has three battleships, Admiral Raidel, Ukraine and Belarus.
Although there is already a big gap in absolute strength between the two sides: at least the German Navy has an absolute advantage in the number of aircraft carriers. However, in terms of the tonnage and number of naval ships, Britain is still the former powerful maritime overlord, with unquestionable strong strength.
"A modified Essex-class aircraft carrier from the United States is coming. With our Ark Royal aircraft carrier, the fleet's air defense should not have too many problems." The staff member pointed to the waters west of Iceland on the huge map with a long instruction stick and stated to his superiors: "With the cover of the roadbed aircraft deployed in Greenland, if the fleet is in danger, it can immediately go north to escape."
"This is simply a mess!" General Dudley Pound carried his hands behind his back and looked down on the action plan given by the Americans. He worked hard to maintain the former overlord of the British Royal Navy in order to retain the last hope of making a comeback for Britain. Now the Americans actually encouraged him to let his navy go all out. Isn't this kidding him?
The calm and old general of the British Royal Navy stared at the huge chart, thinking about how to avoid the risk of encountering the German Navy to the greatest extent: "Let my fleet carry out large-scale escort at this time. Are the Americans planning to give the Germans the last trace of blood to the British Royal Navy as a peace gift?"
"God of General! Things may not be as bad as you think." The consultant looked at the document of the US Navy's coordinated operations in his hand and said: "The main force of the US Atlantic Fleet will also join the escort fleet. Even if the Germans dare to come, they will not be able to gain any advantage."
"Two days ago, the German Navy's high seas fleet disappeared!" Dudley Pound looked at his subordinates and said with a little regret: "If they were not for our operation, why would they dispatch such a huge fleet? 7 aircraft carriers! A total of 7 ships! There were no one of them available!"
Hearing this, the British staff member showed a disapproval. The German fleet often disappeared for no reason, and either appeared in Gibraltar or entered the central Atlantic to test it out for a while. In short, the specific movements of the German navy cannot be confirmed. After all, the German ships never stopped training in sea after sufficient fuel.
A few days ago, the Germans took advantage of the relaxation of security forces on the east coast of Britain and the United States and drove a fleet to attack the transportation routes on the east coast of the United States. Now this is the time when the Germans are most unlikely to move. So when they get the news that the entire German navy is dispatched again, more people think that the German army is confusing the Allies, or another sneak attack on the east coast with a large number of troops.
"God of General! But His Majesty the King has already agreed to the Americans that if we do not dispatch the fleet, it may affect the ally relations between the two countries." The staff officer finally took out his tried-and-true weapon. After all, mentioning this can make Dudley Pound surrender.
Sure enough, the calm old general sighed, then walked towards the gate of the command center with his hands behind his back: "I will personally command this naval battle on the Royal Ark! Since His Majesty the King appointed me as the commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy, I have the responsibility to use every warship in the right place!"
On the afternoon of August 14, one warship after another set sail in the British Royal Navy anchorage in Canada. The Ark Royal aircraft carrier set sail again with the battleship Ramirez. Following the two battleships was the Queen Elizabeth battleship that came from the South Atlantic Ocean.
On August 15, the US Essex-class aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin, modified after the Atlantic Ocean sea conditions, joined the fleet, accompanied by a modified escort aircraft carrier just transferred to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as several escort destroyers.
On the bridge of the Ark Royal aircraft carrier, Dudley Pound showed a bitter smile on his face. He knew that no matter whether the Royal Navy can win the war in the end, this ocean no longer belongs to Britain. The powerful productivity and technology that has already reached the gap make it difficult for the Royal Navy to maintain its dominance. Whether it is the German Navy with updated technology or the US Navy with stronger production, it is no longer the enemy that Britain can face calmly.
"Send a signal to the USS Franklin aircraft carrier! Let them adjust the radio frequency! Keep the communication open!" After a bitter smile, Dudley Pound had to continue to fulfill his duties as commander-in-chief of the Allied Atlantic War Zone Navy. He quickly issued various orders, quickly integrated American warships and adjusted his fleet to the best state.
"General!" The staff officer stood behind Dudley Pound, stood attentively and saluted: "The transport fleet will reach its designated location in 40 minutes. 2,000 tons of aviation bombs, 5,000 tons of aviation fuel, plus 200 spare engines, more than 1,700 ground crew members, 40 senior engineers, and 700 air force backup pilots and commanders are all on the transport ships we protected."
"Very good! Keep the destroyers outside the fleet vigilant! Try to drive out German submarines in nearby waters! We don't want to expose our position too early!" Dudley Pound waved his hand and ordered his subordinates. The sky above the ocean in front of him was rare, and there was no big waves on the Atlantic Ocean. Everything seemed to be so smooth, so smooth that it made Dudley Pound feel uneasy.
Britain had no way to reject the United States' joint action plan. After all, in the end, this plan was planned to be a cost-effective combat operation that Roosevelt planned to strengthen the United States' determination to continue fighting. Compared with the United States, Britain, which had lost all its strength, was more afraid that the United States would withdraw from the war. Therefore, in order to stabilize the American war faction, His Majesty the King of Britain agreed to this "decisive battle action" of the Royal Navy without thinking.
In order to ensure the success of this operation, the Ark Royal and Franklin, two aircraft carriers, and even the escort aircraft carriers, were equipped with the latest Navy P40 Rolls-Royce engine improved fighter jets. These aircraft are much more advanced than the British aircraft, and at least they will not be brainlessly massacred by German carrier-based fighters.
On the bridge of the US Navy Franklin aircraft carrier, a US Navy officer looked at the sea outside the glass window with a serious expression. As a senior US officer who volunteered to participate in this operation, he knew the true meaning of this operation.
"When war is mixed with political purposes, it becomes less pure." The captain stared at the turbulent sea water and murmured: "This is a battle that is beneficial to the United States regardless of victory or defeat, but it is not certain for the United States' ally Britain. General Dudley Pound, it depends on whether you can win this battle and lead the ending in a direction that is beneficial to Britain."
For the United States, even if it cannot win this war, it is a very important thing to weaken Canada and Britain's strength. If the European battlefield is really not done, at least it will make Canada, which is entrenched above the United States, more advantageous to the United States. So no matter whether this naval battle will break out and what end, the Americans are already invincible.
Just 70 kilometers north of the British Isle of Britain, a huge fleet was sailing silently, one after another, splitting the waves and rushing towards their targets with a desperate aura.
The flagship Imperial, Zeppelin followed by the Bsme, then the Tilbitz, the Dragon, the Great Germany, the Prussians, and the three battleships scattered on both wings of the fleet, and a huge formation of more than 80 warships from the German high seas fleet, under the cover of land-based fighter jets, heading towards the waters west of Iceland.
Lütjens put down the telescope in his hand and looked at Marshal Redel standing beside him. Without saying a word, they were in a decisive battle to decide the belonging of this ocean. Everyone was nervous about everything that was about to come.
Chapter completed!