Battle of the Third Reich

The buzzing of the aircraft engine came from the horizon, the sky was clear and cloudless, and the field of vision was very good. The British fleet’s anti-aircraft lookout soon discovered the incoming German fleet in the telescope lens.

"Azimuth 030, more than fifty, it is a single-engine aircraft!" The lookout reported loudly. The two rangefinders of the air defense command post have locked the orientation of the German fleet. The rangefinder began to measure the height and distance of the enemy aircraft, and then reported the measured data to the various air defense gun positions by telephone.

As the flagship of the local fleet, the Kent is equipped with a verification type of the carrier-based air-to-air search radar that is being developed. This unfinished Meepo radar can only simply detect the position and distance of the enemy aircraft. The accurate altitude of the aircraft is detected, and the data error is very large, which simply cannot reach the standard that can be used as a reference for fire control.

The air defense system on the Kent was a headache for Tovey. As a treaty-type heavy cruiser with careful calculation of tonnage, the British navy designers did not leave her much room for modification. This heavy cruiser lacks enough deck space to house more air defense platforms.

With the advancement of aircraft technology, the threat from the air is no longer a joke. Since 35 years, the Royal Navy has begun to upgrade the air defense firepower of its ships. The problem with treaty-type cruisers like the Kent class is very common, and naval experts are scratching their heads.

The final solution formulated by the experts for the Kent class heavy cruiser is to remove the torpedo launcher of this class heavy cruiser, and install the third and fourth anti-aircraft artillery in the place where the launch tube was originally placed. However, the Kent is precisely the only warship of this class that has not been dismantled. Therefore, the anti-aircraft firepower is the weakest among the ships of the same level, and can only rely on an eight-unit table tennis gun on each side of the bottom of the bridge to be responsible for air defense.

This rough and seemingly powerful eight-unit 40mm anti-aircraft gun, as the main anti-aircraft gun of the Royal Navy, fully proved its value in the battle with the German Air Force. The blood of countless naval soldiers proves that it is completely a bluff.

This thing seems to have eight barrels, and it seems that it can be fired one after another, causing continuous anti-aircraft firepower. But in fact it is not the same thing at all.

Because the barrel of this artillery is so short that it has a very pitfall of initial velocity and an unusually strange trajectory, why did you choose a barrel of only one and a half meters for an anti-aircraft gun? Explain that the more reliable one is that the navy ordnance bureaucrats who keep money are advocates to be diligent and frugal. The two million rounds of two-pound artillery shells left over from the Royal Navy Armory in Curry cannot be wasted.

Therefore, this kind of advanced anti-aircraft weapon with a relatively high degree of automation is equipped with a short ridiculous barrel. The result of the reduction in initial velocity is too close range and curved trajectory. The projectile has a large spread surface, and it is impossible to continuously and accurately track a target. As a result, the original design of the eight barrels alternately firing to maintain firepower continuity was canceled. In order to ensure the target is hit, the firepower density thrown in one shot can only be increased. Use quantity to make up for the lack of accuracy. The eight-unit ping-pong gun turns into eight barrels and fires shells at the same time. The firing rate of each barrel is two rounds per second, and only a barrage of scattered bullets can be shot, not the kind of bullet wall originally designed.

Moreover, the size and weight of this artillery are too large, relying on the motor for rotation and pitch, and the movement of the gun mount is sluggish, making it difficult to keep up with the current trajectory of the new aircraft. Since the fire control radar that can improve the efficiency of the ping pong gun has not been successfully developed at this time, all the aiming commands still rely on manpower. It can be said that this artillery is not only capable of ammunition. Other indicators have been unable to cope with the existing air strike mode.

The Kent’s anti-aircraft gunner pulled the handle to point the ping-pong gun to the side. The single-barrel 20-millimeter Erie air cannon and the 40-millimeter Bofors anti-aircraft gun were distributed on the top of the main gun turret and on the sides of the hangar. Can be fired at any time after reloading. The Royal Navy officers and men watched nervously the German fleet that was slowly approaching. Waiting for the arrival of the first dive attack.

The high-level dual-purpose guns on the outer destroyers and light cruisers have begun to fire one after another. A series of black and gray bullets have exploded in the distance, and a series of bullets are suspended in the air staggered up and down. Slowly drifting.

Tovi was very disappointed with the performance of the peripheral air defense firepower. Although the direction of the bombardment was very accurate, the distance and altitude were very erratic. Several consecutive rounds of violent launches, not to mention shooting down the enemy aircraft, even the edge of the aircraft group did not touch To.

The German aircraft maintained a neat formation and slowly approached the British fleet steadily. At this time, including the Kent, the four warships in the core area also began to shoot into the air with secondary artillery. A 102 mm high-explosive grenade exploded a huge cloud of smoke in the air, shooting hundreds of broken shrapnel at high speed around.

The German fleet did not waver at all, still maintaining its original course, flying towards the top of the British fleet.

"They seem to be climbing?" Tovey was very puzzled about this. The German fleet was flying very high. The initial estimate was about 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers. Without telescopes, only a group of small black spots of ants can be seen. Especially now the sky is covered with dotted black and gray anti-aircraft bullets. Without careful identification, even the shadow cannot be found.

The German fleet was in the air, and they easily flew over the outer air defense circle. At this time, the seemingly fierce air defense firepower of the British Air Force perfectly explained what is called external strength, middle stem and bluff. Tovi felt that his stomach was swollen and his body was weak. .

"They're about to dive! They're about to dive!" a sergeant who was close to collapse shouted. At this time, the Kent's navigation bridge was in a panic. Except for a few anti-aircraft machine guns, the weapons on the battleship all hit the highest elevation angle, but facing the target almost vertically overhead, the gunners said that they were helpless and could only stay dumb. Waiting for these deaths to attack.

"These planes are not Stukka! It is impossible to dive and attack at all! The ship's left rudder is 60 degrees! Start evading maneuvers! Order the formation to disperse and pay attention to the course of each friendly ship." Tovey pushed away the captain. Over the steel helmet, he held the fence of the nautical bridge. Orders were made loudly to the panicked officers and men.

"The Germans are just above our heads! They have passed the Cumberland!" the deputy captain reported with a telescope.

"They didn't dive, maybe they wanted to attack the Queen Elizabeth. They ordered each ship's anti-aircraft guns to concentrate their firepower and cover the Queen Elizabeth with all their strength." Tovey lowered the telescope. Wipe the tears stimulated by the sun with the back of the hand.

"They flew past the Queen... Where are they going to go?" The deputy captain looked at Tovey suspiciously.

"Unbelievable, did they fly away like this?" Tovey was also puzzled.

The German fleet seemed to have not seen the British fleet at all. They lined up neatly and straightly flew over the British fleet. They disregarded the bombardment of the British fleet. General Tovey felt a kind of never before. The humiliating attitude of the German fleet was like a slap in the face of the Royal Navy.

"Order the ships to stop shooting! Re-form the formation. Pay attention to the formation order and form an air defense formation." Tovey twisted his swollen neck and walked to his commander's seat, leaning on his back and sitting down. A series of orders were given to the fleet staff.

"The radar continued to search the surrounding area, being careful to turn the German fleet back again. This is not impossible. Order the ships to check the ammunition balance and report the loss. Give me a cup of coffee." Tovey frowned. Turned over the seat and carefully looked at the chart on the chart table.

"Anyway, the fleet's whereabouts have been exposed. Perhaps soon there will be countless German planes rushing to us, the fleet is in first-level combat readiness, we now need air cover, why there is no news over London!" Tovi Asked the assistant adjutant loudly.

"The last contact was fifteen minutes ago, and the command again ordered everything to proceed as planned. The air cover troops have already started and we will be able to meet them soon."

"Sir! Report from the radar room. A large fleet in front of us is crossing the route and flying towards the British coast!" The deputy captain reported.

"Huh? How many planes are there, **** Germans." Tovey took a cup of coffee from the serviceman.

"The radar operator reported a large number, and he couldn't count so many spikes."

"Incompetent RAF, Dowding should be sent to the Tower of London for beheading! Even if you can't defeat the enemy, at least you should fight to the end and let the enemy pay the corresponding price. A soldier should do his best to defend the country and the people, if necessary , Even if you sacrifice your life. At this time, the cabinet allocated a lot of resources and manpower to the Royal Air Force, but Doutin gave us such a answer. The German aircraft over the UK did whatever he wanted. Instead, he only allowed his plane to circle around the city of London, sitting on the German plane and burning the English rural towns one by one. I really doubt our air cover...not good."

Tovi shook his hand holding the coffee, and the coffee swaying from the edge of the cup ran down his wrist and dripped onto the straight military pants.

"Damn it!" Tovi suddenly stood up and put the cup on the chart table. The serviceman quickly handed the white rag hanging on his arm.

"Immediately send a report to London to report what we found. The Luftwaffe dispatched a large aircraft group, which may be directed at our air cover troops and let them immediately issue a warning, otherwise it will be too late!" Tovey wiped with a rag Pants, said loudly to the staff.

"Follow the order, sir." The staff paid tribute to Tovi and quickly turned and ran down the nautical bridge.

"Hopefully I guessed wrong. Now our air cover may be in trouble. Although I didn’t have any hope for those guys from the beginning, we can save a lot of trouble with them. We are in danger now. Everyone must be vigilant. I want each of you to keep your eyes open and carefully search every inch of the sky and the sea. We will be attacked at any time." Tovi threw the rag back to the serviceman and then walked to the front of the bridge , Picked up the telescope.

"Order the avant-garde destroyer to move forward five kilometers again, and the Riande and Ajax fill up the space, and Berwick and Campbell pay attention to the observation of the right wing...

"The destroyer found the enemy ship! At two o'clock, five nautical miles away, seven small ships! Sailing along the French coast."

"Identify the type of enemy ship." Tovey looked up at the reported position with his telescope and vaguely saw a shiny white dot on the sea level. It should be the splash of the bow.

"How did you find out so close?" Tovey asked angrily.

"The other party's volume is too small, and the hull also seems to have been camouflaged, which is difficult to find in the distance.

"It's a German torpedo boat. They might want to go around behind us, did they order the destroyer to drive away." The chief of staff of the fleet suggested to the side.

"Nice, I ordered Napier and Nerissa of the 23rd destroyer detachment to drive out, um... let the Glasgow follow up and cover the two destroyers, the sailors on both ships were recruits, and the captain was Novice. May need some support. Order them to chase for up to ten minutes, and then immediately return to the formation."

Tovey was very touched by the German torpedo boat. He was one of the destroyer captains he valued most. Just two months ago, the destroyer under its command was attacked by two German torpedo boats at night, and finally sank into the North Sea with 170 subordinates. The whole ship survived five people. Two of them were also captured by German torpedo boats.

The structure of the German torpedo boat is solid. The horsepower is strong and the action is fierce. In the straits, the British fleet patrolling at night is often launched. If it is not because the total number is too small, and the crew has insufficient experience, otherwise the results will definitely not be so little.

If Tovi has air support in his hand, the aircraft is the best weapon against them. But Tovey had only a bunch of warships in his hands, so he could only drive those torpedo boats away.

Tovi had been entangled with the Italian torpedo boat several times in the Mediterranean. These speedboats will follow the fleet far away and compare the position, course, speed, type and number of the fleet. Every move is reported to the headquarters, and when there is a chance, they will come together to harass and attack, which is really annoying.

Of course it is better to sink them if possible, but German torpedo boats can reach a speed of more than 40 knots, and the steering is flexible, as long as they want to run.

Tovi stood by the bridge, watching the two destroyers and a light cruiser quickly turn away from the formation, and then rushed towards the German torpedo boat with full horsepower.

"In three hours, we can reach the target sea area. Even if the Germans find us now, their fleet is too late to evacuate. They may send a fleet to intercept... Sending a message to London, we need Dover. The latest information from the coastal observation post, whether the opposing fleet is still in port. Whether the German navy’s warships have been dispatched. We have been dispatched for 14 hours, and there is no useful information.

Now that our fleet has been exposed, I have absolutely no idea what is waiting for us. Tell London that if I don’t give us the latest information, I will interrupt this mission and lead the fleet back, and I will bear all the responsibility. I feel very bad now. We are now charging towards the enemy with blindfolds, and the Germans have seen us clearly, and the admiralty cannot even support the simplest intelligence. I can't sacrifice the last remaining power of the British Royal Navy's local fleet so inexplicably. I'm responsible for my subordinates. "Tovey said angrily to his chief of staff.

At this moment, there was a huge roar in the distance. "Nerissa exploded!" the bridge lookout yelled loudly.

Tovey and a group of naval officers hurriedly rushed to the side of the bridge, each looking up at the telescope, and saw that a huge smoke column on the sea in the distance was dissipating. The stern was slowly raised, the propeller and rudder were already out of the water, the main engine should still be running, the propeller blade was vainly slashed in the air.

Tovi saw that the Napier in front of the Nerissa was slowing down and seemed to be preparing to turn around and rescue the friendly ship. The Glasgow, behind the Nerissa, has deflected the bow, evading the destroyer that has been out of control.

"Is it shelling or torpedo?" Tovey asked to the watchman.

"I don't know, there is no warning at all. The boat suddenly exploded like this. I guess it might be a torpedo. The water column splashed high and exceeded the mast of Glasgow." The watchman was frightened by the tragic scene, and his voice trembled. Reported to the commander.

Tovi wanted to continue to ask for details, and suddenly there was a loud noise in the distance, this time the Napier. Just in an instant, like a volcanic eruption, a huge water column rose from the sea, wrapping the first half of the poor destroyer in it, only showing a small sharp bow, and the erupting water column was wrapped around it. The bow of the destroyer slowly lifted her from the sea, and people could see the red hull under the waterline. The next few hundred tons of seawater slammed down with gravity, smashing the poor destroyer back into the sea, and the entire bow was pressed into the water.

Then, in full view, in front of the commander of the British Royal Navy's local fleet, accompanied by a gruesome harsh noise, the Napier broke from the bridge position into two pieces, and the second half of the hull began to fly fast. Tilt, after a few seconds, the whole turned over, revealing the red bottom of the ship, and the front half of the hull floated diagonally on the surface with two main guns.

"My God, **** Christ, it was a mine! The Germans laid minefields there! Those torpedo boats were a **** bait, oh my God." Captain Kent wailed loudly.

"Send Nestor to rescue the people who fell into the water, let them not come close, put the lifeboat. Order the Glasgow to stop the boat immediately..." The voice did not fall, the sea roared again, and this time, it continued to ring. Twice. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and faster!

ps: I apologize to everyone first. I have revised some words again. I used to do a lot of housework and had a lot of pressure. I didn’t proofread it seriously. It’s about 1 am in the morning. I made some rough revisions. I hope everyone is satisfied.