Compared with the Army and the Air Force, the German Navy has always been in a very embarrassing position. On the one hand, they are valued by the head of state, but on the other hand, they embark on a development path that they do not believe in themselves.

On September 13, as soon as the war began, the German Navy's command center was in chaos. Compared with the army's expectations for war, the air force's confidence in the future, the German Navy's inferiority complex buried deep in the bone marrow under the shadow of the British Royal Navy, they were filled with fear of the upcoming war.

"We strongly suggest that the head of state start a war next year, but the bastards of the Army and the Air Force still made the head of state make an unwise choice." Redell complained to the commander-in-chief of the Navy at the complex naval drawings.

Denitz sighed helplessly. He worked overtime to supervise the manufacturing of submarines and frantically produce submarine troops, hoping that the German Navy could restore the size of the former submarine troops, but the sudden war still disrupted his steps.

He glanced at the map, pointed to Beihai and said, "I suggest that the surface ship formation go out to sea immediately! We cannot let the British Navy block the military port, as the aircraft carrier will be even more dangerous."

Redell frowned and said, "Do you think I don't want to go out? Two new aircraft carriers are being installed. If I don't wait for these two aircraft carriers to join the combat force, I will not have the strength to fight the Royal Navy at sea! Could it be that my fleet will go out and die?"

"I have deployed forty submarines and formed ten search formations to provide you with intelligence reconnaissance in the North Sea." Denitz said: "We cannot defeat the Royal Navy, but we can still try it out when avoiding the British main fleet on the sea."

"Sometimes I really envy your submarine force." Redel glanced at Denitz, then sighed and said, "Oh... I can't beat it, just dive into the water."

"It's useless to complain!" Dunitz smiled: "Notify the fleet to set off! After dealing with the British for a month, you will have another replenishment force!"

"What about Danze Corridor?" said Redell. "In the planned plan, the navy must support the combat operations in the coastal areas of Danze Corridor. We sent such a little force, can we do it?"

"The Head of State will understand us!" Dunitz clicked the map and said: "In order not to let the British team cut off the import of Swedish iron ore, our main fleet must maintain deterrence. Therefore, it is impossible to allocate more troops to participate in any cover operation."

"Well! Then I'll send a telegram to the squadron!" Redell nodded and said, "Order them to cover the army and start the action! Always do some superficial articles to block those who are making trouble."

"When I lead the naval fleet out, you will be in command of the base!" Redell stood up and said, "I will lead the fleet to avoid the British naval fleet based on intelligence. I hope that the first time I sailed in a state of war, there will be no mistakes."

"It shouldn't be," said Denitz. "Although our navy lacks training and combat preparation, there should be no problem with escaping under the cover of the air force, right?"

Dunitz looked at Redel, and then remembered what the Head of State said to him: Don't underestimate the British Royal Navy, it is a truly global deployment navy with absolute quality and quantity advantages. If you can avoid the early decisive battle, leave enough room for development for the German Navy, and find opportunities to surpass and defeat it in one fell swoop, the best strategy is.

"As the head of state," said Denitz after thinking about it, and said to Redel: "Send naval aviation troops to investigate the surroundings. If you encounter a single British ship, eat them! If there is a main fleet of the Royal Navy, retreat!"

"Fight guerrilla warfare at sea!" He pointed to Beihai and said, "I can't make it here anymore! Just retreat to the combat radius of the shore-based aviation force! Catherine and Dick will never see the navy suffer a loss!"

"General! The naval escort fleet has gathered outside the port." The adjutant walked over to report: "We should set off! The aircraft carrier Psme has set sail and Zeppelin leaves the port 15 minutes later."

"Don't worry! I don't ask for merit, but I want no mistakes! I have all the assets of the German Navy in my hand and will not be easily ruined!" Raidel signaled the adjutant to follow him, while solemnly saying to Denitz: "It's your side that makes people more worried! The head of state does not seem to pay much attention to the agreement on submarine warfare in international law. You should persuade him more to avoid irritating to the United States."

After saying that, he walked out.

On the afternoon of September 13, 1937, two hours after France declared war on Germany, 14 warships, including two aircraft carriers, left the military port and entered the cold North Sea.

"Long live the head of state! Report to the captain! The commander is calling!" A first mate walked to the captain of the German naval destroyer with a white big-brimmed hat, stood attentively and saluted, and handed the message to the captain.

The captain took the message, looked down, and immediately ordered: "All artillery is equipped with shells! Raise the combat flag! Polish the coast of Poland! Speed ​​up the speed!"

"Captain, the information obtained from the transport fleet a few days ago has been obtained. The Poles have set up new mines in the nearby waters... Isn't it? Don't speed up first?" The first mate was stunned for a moment, and then asked.

"What you said makes sense, so don't speed up first, move slowly along the coast, pay attention to adjusting the course, and do not enter the Poles' shore defense artillery range." The captain nodded and said.

This is a German naval task force with only three warships, one cruiser with two destroyers, and as support for the coastal operations in the Danze Corridor area, it was deployed offshore Poland. However, with the current situation of the German navy, if the aircraft carriers are not transferred as support, the rest of the warships seem to be difficult to adapt to this traditional naval role.

Because in traditional naval roles, ground support is handed over to battleships or heavy cruisers with large caliber naval guns. Those giant cannons with 381mm caliber and 280mm caliber can of course be able to face the enemy's defensive turrets on the shore with calm.

But now, in addition to the aircraft carrier, the German Navy has light cruisers and destroyers. Both of these small ships are only equipped with high-level dual-purpose cannons mainly air defense weapons. The largest caliber is only 150 mm, and most of them are only 88 mm guns. This caliber is too small to deal with shore defense cannons, so Redell could have moved at least 10 battleships, but only sent three pitiful ones.

Originally, the artillery caliber was not advantageous. If a warship wanted to attack the shore defense gun, it could only rely on speed and avoidance to fight sports warfare. It could use the high-speed zigzag movement to avoid its own losses as much as possible (of course, this is not a very reliable method, and it also affects its own artillery attack accuracy). However, the Poles deployed mines in nearby waters and cooperated with the shore defense gun for defense, which created a very difficult problem for the German fleet.

"Let's fire! Attack the port facilities!" Seeing the fleet command flag hanging on the cruiser and notify the two destroyers to attack with lights. All the guns of the destroyers heading in front pointed to starboard, the captain took a deep breath and ordered.

"Boom!" The 88mm guns spewed out flames. One destroyer had 5 88mm single-bar guns, and two had 10. In addition, the three 150mm single-bar guns on the cruiser, the scene of 13 guns firing still looked very grand.

The opposite side was very quiet. The black smoke rising from the shells hit the target could be observed with a telescope, but the counterattack of the shore defense artillery still did not arrive. So the three warships were getting closer and closer to the coast according to their own routes.

"I'd better hope that the Poles won't fight back." The captain put down his telescope and murmured. He was obviously a little confused about his warship doing such a not-so-suitable job. If he asked his warship to defend the air, he would feel more relaxed and comfortable.

The Poles obviously didn't want his idea to be as good as his wish. Soon, several floors of water splashed around the warship, accompanied by a huge explosion, which made the entire warship shake. In the fortifications near the port, the Polish large-caliber coastal defense cannon began to counterattack. Judging from the fact that one attack was near missing bullets, the quality of the defenders was obviously very high.

"Enemy artillery shooting!" Observer's loud report: "Nearly missing bullets!"

"Accelerate the evasion!" The captain still couldn't hold back because he was young: "Avoid sailing immediately! If the hull is hit by a large-caliber shell like this, it will be completely finished."

"Send a signal to the command ship! Let them change the waterway immediately! The enemy's artillery fire is very fierce! It is not suitable for destroyer attacks like us!" The captain thought for a while and added: "We also find a chance to escape."

"The left rudder is full! Heading north!" The adjutant loudly gave the captain's order: "Keep the artillery at the tail! Observe the sailors to take their place! Pay attention to the water surface! Avoid mines!"

"Attention! Enemy artillery shooting!" Observer reported again: "Nearly missing bullets!"

"Captain! The command ship sent a signal! They have begun to leave, I wish us good luck." The first mate glanced at the telegram report handed over by the communications soldiers. Perhaps because of the attack on the Polish coastal defense artillery fire, the flagship's flags and lanterns were in chaos since just now, so he had to rely on the slowest telegram to notify the news.

"There is a mine in front of you!" An observer reported loudly.

"Reduce the speed! The engine is reversed!" The captain shouted: "Which side of the port?"

"Star position!" the sailor replied loudly: "You can avoid it!"

"Continue to the left full rudder!" The captain gave the order.

The ship's speed suddenly slowed down, and it seemed that the power chamber had begun to reverse. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that they had avoided the mine.

"Candy shells!" the observer shouted loudly.

The hull trembled suddenly with the shout, and then a huge explosion came. As the shaking process, the captain's last consciousness was clearly imprinted in his mind: It's over! He was hit by a shell!

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Chapter completed!