Republic of China game

Page 616

Therefore, Kimmel ignored Colonel Jim's proposal at all. He knew that his chief of staff did not want to die, and he wanted to stop the Germans as far away as possible!

After a while, Kimmel and Jim quickly walked into the command post wrapped in thick reinforced concrete at the foot of the mountain.The war room was already a busy scene. Most of the staff officers probably knew their fate, and now they were all pale. Some of them deliberately yelled at the phone to hide their fear.Only one army colonel looked normal, standing in front of a map, wondering what he was thinking.Kimmel recognized the man as the chief of staff of the Bermuda Army Corps, Colonel James Van Fleet.

……

"James, have you thought of any good ideas?"

Kimmel walked up to Van Fleet and found that the army colonel on the other side was looking at a chart of the Atlantic Ocean.So he asked with a smile.

"Time, Mr. Lieutenant General, America needs time, and our job is to buy her time."

"I know that, aren't we doing it now?" Kimmel replied with a shrug.Although the command of Bermuda belongs to the navy, the entire island defense plan was formulated by the colonel.Van Fleet's strategy is to delay time. He turned several major islands of Bermuda into fortresses densely covered with trenches, barbed wire, minefields and various artillery fortifications, and deployed tens of thousands of mines around these islands. .In short, spare no expense and go all out to strengthen the defense force of the island. One more day is a day.

"Mr. Lieutenant General, I think of a way." Van Fleet smiled slightly, pointing to Europe on the map and said with a smile: "The Germans are thousands of miles away from their logistics base, while the United States is only 560 miles away from us. That is It is said that there is no way to replenish the aircraft lost by the Germans in Bermuda immediately. Only the aircraft carrier can be driven back to Europe, and our losses can be replenished in just a few hours!

Therefore, we should immediately send a fighter group to lure the German carrier-based aircraft to attack!It is cost-effective to fight a war of attrition with them, even if it is 3 for 1.I have roughly calculated the total number of German carrier-based aircraft. They only sent about 10 large aircraft carriers this time. The total number of carrier-based aircraft that can be carried will not exceed 700. Among them, the Fw-190C is only 200 to 250 at most. .If the 300 F4U, P-38 and P-39 fighters on Bermuda can consume 100 Fw-190Cs, our US-British combined fleet will be able to attack.Moreover, it only takes a few hours for the fighter jets lost on Bermuda to mobilize reinforcements from the United States to replenish them. "

"But our SBD Dreadnought and TBD Devastator can't reach the German fleet 400 nautical miles away, and the A-20 and B-25 don't pose much threat to them." Kimmel replied shaking his head.

"No, Mr. Lieutenant General, let's not take the opponent's surface fleet as the main target, we just consume the opponent's fighter jets." Van Fleet said with a sneer, "If the radar of the German army detects that there are 300 American aircraft What will they do when they are approaching? Should they immediately send carrier-based aircraft to intercept it, or first find out if the opponent has dive bombers or torpedo planes?"

At the same moment, on the aircraft carrier Friedrich the Great, the flagship of the German-Italian Combined Fleet, Admiral Raeder, Commander-in-Chief of the German-Italian Combined Fleet, also received a combat proposal submitted by Admiral Lu Stein, Commander of the B Fleet.

Lu Steyan's plan is very "traditional", which is to use the battleships of the German and Italian Combined Fleet to launch a night attack on Bermuda!He suggested using three "Zhenyuan"-class battleships, two "Richelieu"-class battleships, and two Italian Navy "Vittorio Veneto"-class battleships to form an assault fleet to take advantage of the darkness of October 10. Taking cover, head towards Bermuda at 26 knots.In this way, it will be able to approach Bermuda in the early morning of October 30, and then use the powerful firepower of 10 super battleships to completely destroy the US military airport on Bermuda to seize air supremacy in the waters near Bermuda.

Raeder closed the plan in his hand, nodded with satisfaction, and said to the chief of staff beside him: "Eric, I have approved Lusteyan's plan. Send a power call to Marshal Paul Lefer of the Italian Navy and ask him to Assignment of the battleships Vittorio Veneto and Littorio to the command of the German B-Fleet..."

Chapter 0933 opens the door of the United States ([-]) Bermuda's trap

April 10, 26:3 p.m.

In the Atlantic Ocean, the flagship of the First Task Force of the US-British Combined Fleet, the aircraft carrier USS Liberty.

Admiral William Halsey, the commander of the First Task Force of the US-British Combined Fleet, is now standing on the platform on the second floor of the Liberty Island, frowning and observing the naval air crew who are training on the deck.The actions of these young people are too unfamiliar, probably they have only stayed on this aircraft carrier for less than a month in total, right?Joining the navy is only 1 months at most... I really want to find a chance to train these people well, instead of rushing to send them to the battlefield!And this aircraft carrier, which doesn't look like the paint has even dried out, should also undergo a good sea trial.

It took the guys at Bethlehem Steel Shipyards less than 11 months to turn a 20000-ton luxury cruise ship into this 23000-ton USS Liberty aircraft carrier.Although such a speed can be called a miracle, behind this miracle there are many shoddy manufacturing, quality, and design layout problems.Moreover, this aircraft carrier was handed over to the Atlantic Fleet without even conducting the most basic sea tests!Admiral Ernest King recruited a group of novices from nowhere, together with the pilots transferred from the Pacific Fleet and a group of officers and non-commissioned officers, he finally started the aircraft carrier, and then let himself take it out to fight with him. The Germans are at war!There is nothing more irresponsible in the world than this. It is simply a joke about this precious aircraft carrier and the lives of more than 1600 Americans!

What makes Halsey even more angry is that Admiral Ernest King, the commander of the US-British Combined Fleet, and Admiral Leahy, the US Chief of Naval Operations, also rejected his correct suggestion of "protecting the ship against the enemy". He must be driven from the Norfolk base to the Atlantic to fight the Germans.

"Admiral, a telegram from the Norfolk base." The voice of Rear Admiral Welch, the chief of staff of the fleet, dragged Halsey out of his thoughts.

"Find the German?"

The United States has long received information that the German-Italian joint fleet has left Gibraltar to attack, and it is almost time to arrive near Bermuda in the next two days.The Bermuda Islands are the gateway to attack the east coast of the United States. Almost all senior U.S. Navy officials believe that the Germans will first take Bermuda, then go south to the Caribbean Sea, open up links with Panama under Japanese control, and finally use the Central American corridor as a base to make Germany strong The army sent to the land of the American continent.

However, on the issue of how to defend the east coast of the United States, the top U.S. Navy has two different opinions. The two believed that the defense of the United States should start with the defense of the Bermuda Islands. Only by maintaining this "gateway" that is only more than 900 kilometers away from the east coast of the United States can German fascists be kept out of North America.Moreover, defending Bermuda would also protect the continental United States from Luftwaffe bombers.

However, the front-line generals of the US Navy represented by Halsey and Struance did not agree to place the battlefield of the decisive battle around Bermuda.The reason is that the strength of the combined fleets of Germany and Italy far exceeds that of the combined fleets of the United Kingdom and the United States!According to reliable information, Germany now has at least four Friedrich the Great-class heavy aircraft carriers, as well as 5 to 6 medium-sized aircraft carriers with a tonnage of 25000 to 18000 tons, and several large 10000-ton light aircraft carriers. The fleet can put up to about 850 carrier-based aircraft into the battlefield near Bermuda.

The Anglo-American Combined Fleet now has only one Liberty-class converted from a merchant ship (Freedom), two British Glory-class (Indomitable and Formidable), and four medium and large aircraft carriers such as the British Ark Royal, In addition, there are several light aircraft carriers that can't carry many aircraft at all. They have a total of more than 300 carrier-based aircraft, which is less than one-third of the Germans!

As for the comparison of battleship strength, Britain and the United States are even more at a disadvantage. Germany and Italy now have a total of 7 super battleships with an empty displacement of more than [-] tons.On the other hand, Britain and the United States only have one Colorado and one King George V in the Atlantic Ocean, which are still somewhat combat effective. The rest of the battleships are all outdated, and have no other effect except to increase the record of the cutting-edge battleships of Germany and Italy. .Therefore, Admiral Ernest King, commander of the Atlantic Fleet of the US Navy, exchanged views with Admiral Cunningham, commander of the British Canadian Grand Fleet (the other side of the combined Anglo-American fleet), and decided to avoid the Anglo-American conflict. The battleships of the United States and the German and Italian battleships confronted each other, and pinned their hopes of defending Bermuda on the aircraft.

At the beginning of September, the top naval officials of the United Kingdom and the United States formulated an extremely complicated joint combat plan.There are two key points in this battle plan. One is to defend the Bermuda Islands, using the Islands as a bait to attract the German and Italian fleets and consume the strength of the German and Italian fleets; In a certain sea area, while waiting for the German and Italian fleet to attack the Bermuda Islands with all their strength, use carrier-based aircraft to launch a surprise attack.For the absolute secrecy of the raid plan, only a handful of people, such as the highest levels of the British and American navies and Halsey (First Task Force) and Phillips (British Admiral, Commander of the Second Task Force) who commanded the raid fleet, knew the entire plan. Full details of the plan.Now, even Lieutenant General Kimmel, who was ordered to defend the Bermuda Islands, does not know that the main force of the British and American navies is now lurking in the Atlantic Ocean 9 to 300 nautical miles west of Bermuda.

"Yes, Admiral, a secret message from the Norfolk base." Major General Welch handed a telegram to Halsey.At present, the entire First Task Force is in strict radio silence, and can only passively receive telegrams, and cannot actively send telegrams.Moreover, the Anglo-American Naval Command in Norfolk also specially activated a brand-new secret code to communicate with the first and second task forces, and there is no possibility of it being deciphered by the German side.

"The Germans have reached the waters 400 nautical miles east of Bermuda. The Norfolk base said that Lieutenant General Kimmel has ordered Bermuda to dispatch shore-based aircraft to attack them." Welch marked it on the chart. Discover the exact location of the German fleet.

Halsey also walked to the chart platform at this time, stared at it for a while, shook his head and said: "It's too far away, it's too early for Kimmel to dispatch the plane now, our SBD Dauntless dive bomber and TBD Devastator torpedo bomber The voyage is not enough."

Welch smiled and pointed to the wall clock on the wall, "Admiral, it is already 3:15 p.m., and it will be dark in three and a half hours at most."

Halsey looked up, and it was already 3:15 in the afternoon. He actually stayed on the outside platform for more than three hours just now, which is a bit unbelievable.

"Admiral, there is another telegram from Norfolk." Welch took another telegram from the communication staff at this time, glanced at it and handed it to Halsey. "Admiral Jin and Admiral Cunningham ordered that my first task force advance to the waters 100 nautical miles southwest of Bermuda. It must be in place before 3 o'clock tomorrow morning and be ready to dispatch carrier-based aircraft! In addition, radio silence Hold until 3am tomorrow morning."

"Okay, since the orders are all down, let's execute them." Halsey shook his head slightly, he was not sure about tomorrow's decisive battle.Although the Navy has just got a very good fighter F4U Corsair, this fighter has a Pratt & Whitney R2800 radial engine, which can produce a maximum of 2000 horsepower!Let the F4U fighter have a speed of 650 kilometers per hour and a range of 1600 kilometers, and its performance is comparable to the latest model of the German Fw-190.But this fighter, like the USS Liberty aircraft carrier, is suspected of being a premature baby...

……

The flagship of the combined fleet of Germany and Italy, the heavy aircraft carrier Friedrich der Grosse.

Kanfuku Kengoro and Hannah Reich boarded the aircraft carrier in a speedboat bearing the Friedrich der Grosse mark around 4:30 p.m.Although he had observed the largest aircraft carrier in the world at a distance not too far away, when he actually boarded this warship with an empty displacement of 50000 tons, he was still amazed by its atmosphere and delicacy. shocked.A 50000-ton warship can be built so meticulously that every detail is perfect, just like a Swiss watch, not a floating steel city.

Kengoro and Hannah were invited by Commander-in-Chief Raeder to enjoy a German-style dinner on the Friedrich der Grosse. At the same time, they were also invited by the Italian Admiral Paul Lefer, two Italian admirals , and a Russian admiral.

The place for the dinner was in the super luxurious officer's room of the Friedrich der Grosse, and the food was also very rich, including delicious German pickled pork knuckle, uncooked steak, seafood soup with a lot of cream, the most rare There are still some yellowed green vegetables, which are probably brought on board when leaving Gibraltar.In addition, several bottles of German Heinkel Champagne were served.A phonograph placed in the corner of the officer's room was still playing brisk music. The atmosphere was very relaxed and happy, and there was no smell of gunpowder at all.

Probably because of the jet lag caused by the westward journey, dinner started early at 5 pm.Everyone sat in the pre-arranged seats, chatting and laughing with each other casually in low voices.The talk was nothing more than the ongoing world war, and the Italians and Russians were full of sweet talk and compliments on the Germans as if they had planted the swastika on the roof of the White House.

"Mr. Ganfu." After listening to the compliment for a while, Raider suddenly called Ganfu Kengoro's name.

"Your Excellency Marshal," Gan Fukengoro hurriedly put down the pig's hand, wiped his mouth gracefully with a white silk handkerchief, stood up and bowed slightly to Raeder, "What are your orders?"

"The battle that will determine the fate of your Great Japanese Empire will start after dawn tomorrow." Raeder smiled, and got straight to the point. He said, "I have ordered Admiral Lustein to command seven battleships, one aircraft carrier, three 7 heavy cruiser, [-] light cruisers and [-] destroyers attacked Bermuda overnight."

Speaking of which, he probably wanted to test the Japanese naval elite in front of him, and asked, "Mr. Ganfu, can you guess the intention of this move?"

Gan Fukengoro rolled his eyes, and the situation map of the Bermuda sea battle appeared in his mind at once. After some deduction, he quickly understood Raeder's real purpose.Gan Fu looked at Marshal Raeder with a look of surprise, and lost his voice: "Your Excellency wants to use seven world-class super battleships as bait to attract aircraft carriers from the United States and the United Kingdom! Such a skill is really admirable!"

"That's right." Raeder nodded with a smile, his eyes showing admiration, "You guessed right, this naval battle between us and the Americans is to use each other's bait to lure our opponents into the bait. The bait of the Americans is Bermuda Islands, and my bait is the seven best battleships in the world!" He nodded slightly at Ganfu, and said with a smile, "However, bait alone is not enough, you must have a trump card!"

"Your Majesty understands the meaning of Your Excellency Marshal." Gan Fu's expression has become extremely solemn, "785 warriors from my kamikaze special attack brigade (20 commanders of the special attack team who have lived enough have also joined the ranks of death) You can fly the missile to attack at any time! And every special attack team member will use the greatest determination to die with the US warship!"

Raeder smiled and raised his wine glass, "Then, on behalf of the Third Reich of Germany and the great German head of state, I wish the kamikaze warriors 'Long Luck' (these four words are spoken in blunt Japanese)."

Of course, the martial arts of those kamikaze players will not last long, but Gan Fu will not care about these things with a German marshal whose eyes are above the top.They held such a dinner for themselves, and even learned a sentence of Japanese, which is really big enough.It is estimated that those kamikaze players who stayed on the missile cruiser should also have received a rich dinner, right?

Gan Fu raised the wine glass in front of him and drank it down in one gulp, then stood at attention again.Just as he was about to say some beautiful words that came out of his mouth, he saw a German navy lieutenant commander push open the door of the officer's room and hurried to Raeder, and said something in a low voice.The marshal, who was still proud of his face just now, actually showed a dignified expression, nodded slightly to the officers of the four countries present, and said: "The radar has found about 300 American planes flying towards us. All German officers, please go back. Go to your posts and prepare for battle.

Marshal Leifer, Admiral Karlov, Lieutenant Assistant Gan Fu, please follow me to the island of Frederick the Great to watch the battle.Please don't worry about your safety, our German Naval Air Force is confident enough not to let American planes approach. "

When Gan Fukengoro followed Raeder into the spacious combat command center of the Friedrich der Grosse for the first time, two Fw-190C fighter jets had already taken off on the flight deck outside, and the elevator on the flight deck One after another, fighter jets were lifted onto the armored deck from the fully enclosed hangar, and 38 Fw-190Cs took off from the Friedrich der Grosse in a short while.At the same time, the other three "Great"-class aircraft carriers of the German-Italian combined fleet, Charlemagne, Wilhelm the Great, and Otto the Great each took off with 38 Fw-190Cs, and the other six medium-sized aircraft carriers each took off. Twenty Fw-190C fighters were released.A total of 272 of the best fighter jets of this era, under the command of the radar on the surface ship, roared towards the American fleet that was still 60 kilometers away.

However, what happened next was a little unexpected. According to the news sent back by the fighter pilots in front of the radio station, all fighter jets got up to attack that day. There were about 120 P-39s and about 100 P-38s. There are about 80 US Navy F4 fighter jets, but not a single bomber!Co-authoring these Yankees came all the way to play air combat with German pilots.

Since the U.S. planes did not try to get close to the German fleet that had long been prepared to form an air defense formation on the sea, the entire air battle was carried out out of the visual distance of Gan Fu and others. He, Marshal Leifer and Admiral Karlov The others just learned about the situation of the air battle through the report of the fleet communications staff... This fierce battle lasted for about an hour, and finally Marshal Raeder announced in a high-pitched voice that the victory of the air battle belongs to Germany!According to him, more than 180 American planes were shot down and the rest fled, while only 21 German planes were lost.

But when the Friedrich der Grosse began to take back the planes, Kanfu Kengoro was surprised to find that only 28 Fw-190C fighter jets returned.In other words, 10 Fw-190Cs were shot down in the air battle just now. If the "Great Emperor" class aircraft carrier is used as a unit, the loss rate is as high as 26%.Obviously, the Germans must have suffered a lot this time. They concealed their losses, and the Americans already have fighter jets that can fight against the Fw-190!

"It seems that the Germans are unlikely to end the history of the United States of America within 6 months! In this way, Japan's national status will not be too long." When leaving the aircraft carrier Frederick der Grosse and boarding the speedboat Ganfu Kengoro didn't know what was going on in his heart, and suddenly began to feel a sense of loss.If the United States and Germany are tied, then the fate of Japan's demise is certain!And what about myself, a North Korean spy who has been lurking in the enemy camp for more than ten years?After the demise of Japan, where should we go?

Chapter 0934 opened the door of the United States ([-]) dead

Under the cover of night, in the southeast of Bermuda Islands, 7 super battleships formed a double formation, surrounded by more than 20 cruisers and destroyers, and dazzling white beams of light continuously swept across the sea, illuminating the surroundings of the fleet as if it were daytime.The current German navy is not afraid of the capital ships of the British (Canada)-American combined fleet at all, but is worried about being ambushed by British and American submarines.Apart from American and British (Canada) submarines, what could threaten the most powerful battleships in the world?

In the tall bridge of the battleship Bismarck, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps, and Major Hans Rudolf, the communications staff officer, walked quickly under the suspicious eyes of everyone. "Admiral, a battle report from the Friedrich der Grosse."