Expedition to Europe

Before 1930, no one realized that aircraft carriers would replace battleships.

Even if someone has a keen eye, he will be ridiculed as being whimsical.

In original history, Americans were the first to realize the role of aircraft carriers.

During the peacetime between the two world wars, the American "Lexington" and "Saratoga" became the new toys of the U.S. Navy. During fleet exercises held by the U.S. Navy, the "Lexington" and "Saratoga" "Saratoga" provided a lot of experience in the operation and use of aircraft carriers. The two sister ships also often carried out "attacks" on each other to test the application theory of aircraft carriers.

During the 9th Fleet Exercise in 1929, the "Saratoga" carried out a daring operation. At that time, the "Saratoga" separated from other warships in the fleet and simulated attacking the enemy defensed by the "Lexington". In the Panama Canal, the simulation results proved the flexibility of aircraft carriers in combat and showed that air raids could reverse the entire war situation in a short period of time. This also led to the emergence of the US Navy's tactical thinking of using aircraft carriers as the core of the fleet.

Of course, what appeared was just an idea, and the Americans did not put it into practice. The Americans really took action after the "Battle of Pearl Harbor", when all the battleships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged. This gave the Americans An opportunity to truly implement fleet construction with aircraft carriers as the core.

This is where Qin Zhiyuan plays a role. Lanfang does not need to explore ideas for building an army at the expense of a fleet. Qin Zhiyuan can escort Lanfang Navy and ensure that Lanfang Navy construction is always on the right path.

This guiding role can be described as priceless. Therefore, the manpower, material resources and money saved are not the most important, so the time saved is precious.

Lanfang was founded only a few years ago, but the British have been developing their navy for hundreds of years. Among the major powers of the same era, even the United States, which has been established for the shortest time, has been established for more than a century. Lanfang wants to catch up with the pace of imperialism, and he does not know what to do step by step. If we have to wait for any number of years, we can only stick to the path of leapfrog development.

Fortunately, Qin Zhiyuan was there to escort him.

"Four ro-ro ships, four 'Sishui-class' ships, plus four old-fashioned aircraft carriers, there are twelve ships in total, which is basically enough." Antonio did not dare to question Qin Zhiyuan's decision, and made his own small calculations .

The "Five-Nation Naval Convention" also stipulates the total tonnage of aircraft carriers. The total tonnage obtained by Lanfang is 125,000 tons, which is exactly the total tonnage of four "Sishui-class" aircraft carriers, which means that after four "Sishui-class" aircraft carriers "With the aircraft carrier in service, Lanfang will no longer be able to have more aircraft carriers.

According to the plan of the Lanfang Military Department, after the four "Sishui-class" ships are put into service, the existing four old double-deck aircraft carriers will be dismantled. Qin Zhiyuan now has a new plan. These aircraft carriers may be able to avoid being dismantled. destiny.

It is not easy to retain it. The British have always been eyeing Lan Fang. If they find that Lan Fang has not dismantled the old aircraft carrier as planned, the British will definitely launch an attack, and there will probably be a war of words.

Qin Zhiyuan is not worried about this. If it can't be dismantled, he will dismantle it. When Xie Rundong and others use the "Si Shui Class", they will find the gap between the "Si Shui Class" and the old aircraft carrier. By then, if Xie Rundong keeps it, it will be an aircraft carrier. Xie Rundong probably doesn't want it. .

Therefore, ro-ro ships are king. The ro-ro ships that Qin Zhiyuan plans to build are not four, but twelve. However, this plan cannot be explained yet. Qin Zhiyuan must also take into account the thoughts of the army and air force generals. If he wants As a good parent, Lanfang must hold a bowl of water levelly.

"We can't just focus on aircraft carriers. We must continue to build destroyers and submarines. Aircraft carriers are used for decisive battles. The most widely used ones are destroyers. Our destroyers can now produce two per month. This intensity is not enough. , the production of destroyers must be increased, and by the year after next at the latest, the three major fleets must have enough destroyers available for use-" Qin Zhiyuan thinks more and takes a longer view.

Lanfang's current most advanced destroyer is the "Brave-class". The 3,500-ton Brave-class can run at a speed of 35 knots and is equipped with 150 mm naval guns, depth charges, torpedoes, and a large number of anti-aircraft weapons. Generally speaking, Lanfang's destroyer is a multi-purpose destroyer. Its main task is to escort aircraft carriers, but it can also undertake diplomatic breakup, anti-submarine warfare, and a certain degree of shore support.

The caliber of the artillery is indeed a bit smaller, but it is enough. After all, the destroyer's opponent is not a battleship. There is no need to carry a heavier turret. Light weight and fast running are the main development directions.

There are still remnants of "giant ship cannon" in Antonio's mind, and when he talks about destroyers, his face becomes bitter: "Your Majesty, the 'Brave-class' is indeed easy to use. The caliber of the ship's guns is starting to be a little smaller. I think it must be equipped with at least 203 mm. Cannon, this can match the tonnage of the 'Brave Class'."

"Just 150, it's enough." Qin Zhiyuan remained unwavering.

If equipped with a 203mm naval gun, the "Brave-class" will become an out-and-out cruiser. The "Brave-class" planned by Qin Zhiyuan requires hundreds of ships. It can be justified as a destroyer. If it is hundreds of cruisers, it will definitely There's the beginning of an arms race.

"We still need more submarines. We have four fleets on the sea, so we also need four fleets under the sea. Only in this way can we effectively ensure the security of the sea." Antonio did not hesitate and immediately brought the topic to submarines.

Submarines played a big role in the establishment of Lanfang Navy. In the early days, Lanfang Navy only had submarines and destroyers. The status of submarines once surpassed all ship types. Qin Zhiyuan attached great importance to the development of submarines. Lanfang's "Swordfish" Class" submarines are also known for their advanced technology and reliable performance.

"You don't need too many submarines, just enough. We now have 'Legion-class' battleships and 'Sishui-class' aircraft carriers. The role of submarines is too single, and the existing scale is enough." Qin Zhiyuan was still relatively sober.

The current situation is different from when Lanfang first founded the country. There are battleships and aircraft carriers that can show off their power, and no one is willing to shrink under the sea and be a sea rat.

Missiles have not yet appeared these days, and the only weapons on submarines are torpedoes. Torpedoes were still a bit of a threat to warships during the World War, but in this era when active sonar is widely equipped, the role of submarines will become smaller and smaller.

Unless there is a breakthrough in missile technology, which is estimated to be thirty or forty years from now.

Lanfang does not need many submarines, but it does not mean that other countries do not need them. The last time William III visited Lanfang, William III asked Lanfang to help Germany cultivate more submarine soldiers.

Qin Zhiyuan agreed to William III's request. Compared to Lanfang, Germany was facing pressure from Britain and it was unrealistic to develop large battleships such as battleships and aircraft carriers. Submarines were the most suitable naval equipment for Germany.

"This won't work, that won't work either-" Qin Zhiyuan's repeated blows finally made Antonio start to complain with a sad face.

"Compared to the Army and Air Force, the Navy has made enough moves during this period. Your task now is not to add more warships, but to ensure that the existing warships can exert their maximum combat effectiveness. Let me put it here first. The warship is given to you. If something goes wrong in the training and the warship cannot exert its due combat effectiveness and cannot play its due role, you all should be careful -" Qin Zhiyuan continued to fight and completely eliminated Antonio. ambition.

Read the original article in Liu#9@书/吧!

On the second day after the "Surabaya" aircraft carrier was put into service, the Lanfang Mediterranean Fleet was officially established at the La Maddalena military port in Sardinia.

The commander of the Mediterranean Fleet is Tan Xueheng, the former deputy commander of the Vladivostok Fleet. This is also a senior qualification of the Lanfang Navy. He has participated in the World War and the War with Japan. He has rich experience and deep qualifications. He is a senior qualification of the Lanfang Navy.

The "Ninghoku" battleship has become the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. This former Japanese Navy "Kirishima" battleship has undergone a large-scale upgrade. Its current tonnage is 35,000 tons, and its equipment retains four twin-mounted 356 mm main gun, canceled all 152 mm secondary guns, and replaced it with forty 40 mm anti-aircraft guns and sixty 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. The air defense capability is unprecedentedly powerful and can be compared with the "Legion-class" battleships that are about to enter service.

The Mediterranean Fleet is not equipped with aircraft carriers. In addition to the battleship "Ningbei", the Mediterranean Fleet is equipped with six latest "Brave-class" destroyers, six old-fashioned Vickers-class destroyers, and 12 "Swordfish-class" destroyers. Submarines, plus other auxiliary ships, the Mediterranean Fleet has nearly fifty ships of various types. In the Mediterranean region, it is the largest naval force after France and Italy.

Judging from the paper data, the strength of the Mediterranean fleet is indeed not very strong. Whether it is battleships or destroyers, although they are more advanced, their numbers are far inferior to those of the French and Italians.

However, if you take into account the two aviation wings that have just been deployed on Sardinia, Sardinia's strength cannot be underestimated. Let alone the sea, at least the sky in the Mediterranean belongs to Lanfang.

The commander of the air force deployed in Sardinia is Liang Lishan, the former commander of the Ningbeigang Air Force. Most of the fighters of these two wings are earlier models of "Eagle Falcons", with only a small number of "Thunderbolts", and the bombers are all "Eagle Eagles". The production of "Kangaroo" is insufficient. In addition to being deployed in Lanfang, it is only deployed in the Moon Bay Islands. Sardinia is not even ranked.

Considering Lanfang's opponents in the Mediterranean, it is enough to deploy the "Eagle Falcon" and "Eagle Eagle". The Italians are still equipped with three-wing or bi-wing fighters, which are not comparable to Lanfang's single-wing fighter. Liang Lishan does not even need With all the troops deployed, an air wing can occupy the skies of Italy.

Qin Zhiyuan did not attend the founding ceremony of the Mediterranean Fleet. Qin Zhiyuan had returned to Penglai Island to inspect the electric car designed by Nikola Tesla.

After coming to Lanfang, Nikola Tesla's role became increasingly important.