Battle of the Third Reich

Lieutenant General James F. Somerville stood on the tall bridge of the aircraft carrier Royal Ark, looking anxiously at the clumsy and ugly biplane on the deck. Deck crews are making final preparations for these planes before take-off.

The ammunition hand in white overalls and an orange life jacket lay on the deck again to check the safety bolts of the torpedo hanger, and then extended his thumbs to the bomber in the cabin.

"Before that, we have never used aircraft carriers to attack military ports. These aircraft are too slow and vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire, sir." Lieutenant Colonel Scout, the aircraft carrier captain, whispered behind Somerville Said.

"This is the order of the wartime cabinet, and the Royal Navy must obey." Somerville slightly tilted his head and prevented his subordinates from continuing to discuss the matter. He had heard too many similar remarks along the way.

This battle, from the formation of the fleet to the formulation of the plan, is said to have only taken two days from beginning to end, completely breaking the Royal Navy's usual combat procedures. In the eyes of some veteran naval generals, it is simply a farce.

But behind this plan was Churchill, the War Department, and the entire wartime cabinet. No one, no British can have the courage to say no to these people.

When Britain was trapped deeper and deeper in the quagmire of this war, it was time to face the disaster of extinction. The wisdom of British politicians seems to have been sublimated in the crisis of national annihilation. They used their rich political experience and legal skills to quickly concentrate the power of the entire UK into a handful of elite politicians. In a way that has never been greater in British history.

With the enactment and passage of the Imperial Defence Law, the wartime cabinet and the prime minister obtained the absolute power to be able to demand and even decide at will on any British citizen and foreigner living on British territory, even at will.

Because every British citizen swears allegiance to the king. The National Defense Law clearly stipulates that when His Majesty the King in order to maintain public safety, defend the country, maintain public order, or effectively carry out any war that His Majesty may participate in, or in order to maintain the indispensable supply or labor of public life, His Majesty the King The subjects should treat themselves, their labor. Their property was disposed of by His Majesty the King. The King of England obtained the right to requisition any personnel, materials, industrial and mining enterprises in the British territory, to control the property of every subject, and to kill every British life. As the king’s chief minister and de facto national leader, the British Prime Minister also obtained the same power at the same time, as long as he and his wartime cabinet resolution passed, any order issued from Downing Street and the War Department, all The execution must not be compromised, even if this order is ridiculous and unreasonable.

What is dictatorship is real dictatorship. But it was so justice, sounding, reasonable, and legal. The political wisdom of the British barbarian was vividly exerted at this time.

While Hitler was still fighting with his generals and chaebols, Mussolini was still entangled with a bunch of royalists and nobles, and he was busy with the corner of the wall. Tojo also While scratching his head to balance the various contradictions between the young and the elders, the army and the navy, the emperor and the chaebol, the so-called model of democratic politics, the cornerstone of the free world, and the prime minister of the British Empire have become a more realistic than the above. Deserved dictator.

In the original history, Churchill had a life of storms throughout World War II. He relied on the power captured by the Wartime Cabinet by the National Defense Law. He was free to intervene in any work he thought was beneficial to the war, to requisition land and factory mineral resources, and to mobilize funds at will. Requisition personnel, order the factory to produce the equipment he wants, order the police to arrest any dangerous person he thinks, and pardon the criminal at will. Arbitrary orders were issued, and no one but the King of England could stop them. And in most cases, the king has no right to interfere with it.

In the end, when the war ended and the relevant provisions of the National Defense Law became invalid, Churchill was immediately thrown out of the altar, not only kicked out of the government, but even kicked out of politics. Churchill's angry curse was that the British were all ungrateful villains, but why the British are so unscrupulous, drink one and peck it out, it's not a cold day, Churchill is not a saint, every one he does The foolish and ridiculous decision of the British people is in the eyes, just dare not speak.

To give a real example, during World War II, the British would be arrested and fined for feeding birds with bread slices in the park, because Churchill ordered that they should not feed animals with food that humans can eat, and that pets can only use waste residues, even the Japanese. Can play such a heart-wrenching maniac.

When Somerville was called by Churchill to his semi-underground shelter at Downing Street, Somerville, who was commanding the entire fleet, was able to sweat with a tense forehead. Although there were also reasons for poor ventilation in the basement, he was indeed in Churchill felt an indescribable pressure in front of him.

At this time, Churchill was like two people when he had just taken over the Prime Minister's authority to establish a wartime cabinet. His skin was slightly pale due to long hours of working underground. Alcohol and cigars made him look much older. The sides of the original round and tight cheeks were already slack and sagging, obvious folds appeared on the neck, and huge eye bags , Unhealthy gray-blue between the corners of the eyes and the nose, only the eyes under the raised eyebrow peak still maintain his sharp and tenacious.

"Lieutenant General Somerville, you have now been appointed Commander of Fleet H. This is your letter of appointment." Churchill did not have any politeness, and put a document directly on the table.

Somerville was caught flat-footed, which was totally unruly and violated the tradition of the Royal Navy. This appointment should be made by the Naval Command, not the Prime Minister. However, this was the time of the war, and Churchill had the power to appoint, dismiss, promote, demote, and expel any British official at will.

"You are going to Plymouth by plane now, your fleet is waiting for you there. This is a very difficult task, Alexander recommended you to me, I hope you will not disappoint me and the Secretary of the Navy. This is the combat plan, You can take a look first." Churchill pushed a folder, then put the cigar on the side of the ash tray, opened the crystal bottle on the table, poured a glass of whiskey, and spread his hand to Somerville.

"Ah, thank you, Prime Minister. Sorry, I don't drink alcohol at work." Somerville's respectful lowered body expressed gratitude.

"Now is the critical moment. I have been working for thirty-two hours without rest. I have to rely on these things." Churchill was also polite and took a sip from the glass.

"General Summerville is now the life and death of Britain. The Germans are gathering their transport ships and troops. Landing may happen at any time." Churchill gently put down his glass and picked up his cigar again.

"I have got the exact news. France has been in peace with Germany. Everything we see is performing now. The French have betrayed us and they are no longer credible. What I am most worried about now is that the French Fleet, this is a maritime force sufficient to reverse the entire war situation. Once Germany obtains these warships, they will be able to suppress the Royal Navy from their overall strength. For Britain, this is a disaster."

"But Your Excellency, I have seen this plan. We have never made a similar attempt. Although I have commanded the fleet, I have never been exposed to aircraft carrier tactics. In addition, the aircraft carried out a torpedo attack on the battleship. We just conducted some exercises. And the experiment, although the effect looks good, but has not been tested by actual combat, I doubt the effect of the attack. If the expected results are not achieved. We will face an enraged fleet, where there are two battleships and two A cruiser, with our existing ship firepower. It is difficult for us to make additional strikes. So, I think this plan is a bit risky." Somerville said hesitantly.

"This is a plan made by the Ministry of War. It is an order I personally gave. General, all you have to do now is obey the order. If you are unwilling to execute it, please propose it immediately, then I can change someone else." Churchill sank. Dangerous cold light flashed in the face and eyes.

"No, Your Excellency, I don't mean that. Of course I will obey your orders. Please be assured." Somerville nodded hurriedly in affirmation.

"Well, I believe you can do it." Churchill changed his sympathetic face as he patted the table. "This plan is the key to reversing the current unfavorable situation. We must avoid falling into the situation I mentioned earlier, we must preemptively. I also know that with our current strength, we want to completely disarm the French Navy, whether it is Both technically and in terms of strength are difficult to do. So what we can do now is to weaken him as much as possible and reduce the threat to a point where we can bear it.

You also know that the Germans have concentrated their power. They have gathered hundreds of thousands of ships in Calais. Their navy has stormed into the North Sea. Their air force is raging over the United Kingdom. They bombed our City and factory. Now, their army is about to land on our sacred island, our homeland will be burned, our women and children will be slaughtered, and I absolutely cannot allow this to happen.

Now, the only way to defend our last line of defense is to rely on the Royal Navy. I believe that the Royal Navy will not disappoint me. Like the countless crises that Britain has encountered for hundreds of years, the Royal Navy will once again dominate the victory of the war. negative.

Germany has concentrated their naval power and gained the upper hand in some areas. Therefore, we must also gather all our naval forces and guard our straits.

I decided to transfer most of the ships in the Mediterranean fleet to their homeland. In the Mediterranean, they can only do nothing. Our army and air force have enough capacity to guard Egypt and the Suez Canal. More colonial forces are being assembled. In addition to deterring the Italians, the Mediterranean fleet can only consume power in vain, and the British Empire now needs these forces.

Of course, we did not give up the Mediterranean easily. I will keep a small fleet there to show our existence. When the crisis in Britain has passed, we still have to return to the Mediterranean. In order to prevent the Mediterranean fleet from being obstructed and harassed by the French fleet on the way back to the homeland, we must attack the French resident warships in the African colonies. Even if they can’t sink, at least they will be injured, at least for a few months. Won't trouble us. We are in control of Gibraltar, and we can return to the Mediterranean at any time until the threat of German landing is resolved.

By next year, we will get four new aircraft carriers and two newest battleships. We will get more destroyers and transport ships, planes and tanks and artillery from the United States. Germany will no longer threaten us, and by that time, it is our turn to counterattack. You know, during the Boer War. . . . "

Somerville can’t remember when Churchill’s long talk ended. Anyway, there was a bunch of memories of the past, and the last thing I heard was almost nonsense. "It should be whiskey." Somerville thought when he walked out of the shelter.

"General, time is up, you can order the plane to take off!" Lieutenant Colonel Scott's voice recalled Somerville back to reality.

Somerville looked down at his watch and nodded in reply: "Order them to take off."

The prepared electric bell rang and the flight commander on the deck looked towards the bridge and saw the takeoff signal begin to flash. He quickly waved the command flag in his hand.

The long-awaited pilot of the swordfish torpedo machine pushed the throttle stick forward. The aircraft engine began to roar wildly. The pilot stared at the tachometer and released the brake after reaching the take-off speed. The huge bi-wing torpedo machine began to be on the deck. On the fly, five or six meters away from the bow of the ship, the wheel left the deck, and the plane turned to the left, tilting the fuselage and slowly climbing.

The take-off procedure has been repeated week by week and everything is proceeding in an orderly manner. After two years of hard training, the pilots of the Navy 818 and 806 aviation teams have been very familiar with the biplane that they are driving. The entire take-off process was flawless. Unexpectedly smooth.

The group circled around the aircraft carrier, waiting for the last swordfish to take off and join the formation. The group began to turn. Forty-eight swordfish torpedo planes were arranged into four neat inverted V formations, toward the dark Flying off the coast of Africa.

Somerville silently stood on the observation deck beside the bridge and looked at the distant fleet. The neatly arranged red and green navigation lights flickered in the dark night sky, and soon disappeared into the night on the edge of the sea line. In the middle, he exhaled slowly, turned and walked into the bridge. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and faster!