The Rise of the Third Reich

It was two American submarines that discovered the main forces of the 2nd and 3rd European Combined Fleet leaving their home ports of Brest and Gibraltar. American submarines have always been stationed near these important German-controlled ports in the Atlantic Ocean, including Brest, Gibraltar, the Azores, Cape Verde Islands and Port of Belém.

Although the American submarine's underwater endurance and speed are not as good as the German Type 21 submarine. But when they adopt tactics such as slow underwater sailing (2-3 knots) or static lurking, they can still persist at periscope depth for a long time and are difficult to detect.

However, this cautious reconnaissance method is difficult to obtain accurate and detailed information. In many cases, the number of enemy fleets can only be judged by observing the smoke column emerging from the water antenna, and it is difficult to find out the specific fleet composition.

"The number of ships leaving the port of Brest exceeds 100, and the number of ships leaving Gibraltar is even greater, more than 200 ships." Lieutenant General Callaghan analyzed, "In terms of quantity, the German fleet leaving Gibraltar should be It includes transport or landing formations, and the target should be Guyana.

Since the Germans have sent at least six Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers to the Pacific, the Grand Fleet departing from Brest and Gibraltar will not be followed by too many fleet aircraft carriers.

In addition, the distance from Brest and Gibraltar to Guyana is more than 3,000 nautical miles. If we take the anti-submarine route, it is about 5,000 nautical miles. It will take about 250-300 hours to reach the theater at a speed of 16 knots to 18 knots. "

"10 days?" Halsey thought for a moment and asked, "Can the landing formation complete the unloading operation within 10 days?"

"No." Lieutenant General Callahan shook his head, "I'm afraid it won't be completed in 20 days. The dock facilities in Georgetown Port are completely destroyed, and it is not a natural port in the first place. Now the landing formation can only unload through beach operations, which is very efficient. It’s very low.”

Ship unloading operations are divided into two categories: port operations and beachhead operations. The former is faster in unloading ships. If the port facilities are good, all the equipment and personnel of a Marine Division can be unloaded in a few days. The latter is troublesome. Personnel, equipment, supplies, etc. have to be sent to the beach by landing ships or barges. There is no unloading equipment. They can only rely on the power and manpower of the vehicle to carry out the operation. I don't know how efficient it is. Unloading ships at ports is many times lower.

Moreover, beachhead operations generally take place in a state of war, and the landing formations are unloading ships despite all kinds of enemy firepower!

Since the beginning of the landing operation in Georgetown, it has been continuously hit by various enemy firepower from the air, sea and underwater, so it has been very difficult.

In addition, when the U.S. Marines who landed on the Georgetown beach began to advance about 15 kilometers inland along the Demerara River, they began to encounter stubborn resistance from the German army.

The battle line was spread out on both sides of the Demerara River, and artillery fire from both sides continued.

Although the U.S. Marines on land were supported by naval guns, the location where the fierce battle took place was more than 20 kilometers away from the waters where U.S. heavy cruisers could move at sea. The accuracy of the naval guns was greatly reduced, making it difficult to hit the German firepower points scattered in the dense forest.

The German army, which relied on dense forests to hold on, showed strong jungle warfare capabilities and was obviously a specially trained "jungle force."

Moreover, the German army actually deployed a small number of long-range, large-caliber artillery in the inland areas of Georgetown. Although the number was limited, they fired very accurately, causing certain losses to the attacking U.S. Marine Corps. The two sides are now locked in a stalemate in a large area of ​​tropical rainforest. If reinforcements cannot be received in time, there may be some variables in the battle on land in Georgetown.

Therefore, the fleet transporting reinforcements has now left Port of Spain and will arrive in the waters near Georgetown in a few days.

Obviously, the 31st Task Force cannot abandon the landed Marines and retreat to the Caribbean Sea unless it is absolutely necessary.

Moreover, the decisive battle with the main force of the European Combined Fleet in the waters near Guyana was originally part of the "God of Freedom" plan. Simultaneously send troops from the Pacific and Atlantic directions, mobilize the main force of the European combined fleet, and then find opportunities to kill some of them, thereby gaining Atlantic sea power!

Of course, a decisive battle at sea, especially a decisive battle with a surface fleet, must be fought with absolute certainty - there can be no surprises with the nine super battleships currently owned by the U.S. Navy!

It doesn't matter if the aircraft carrier sinks a few, because the US military's battles in the Atlantic are now mainly fought within the protective circle of shore-based aircraft. If we want to go on the defensive to defend Trinidad, it doesn't matter whether we have an aircraft carrier or not.

Anyone who knows something about aviation knows that shore-based is definitely more cost-effective than ship-based. Apart from anything else, you can save a lot just by training pilots. Moreover, for the same large series of aircraft, the performance of shore-based models must be higher than that of ship-based ones. Ship-based model. Therefore, once the US military shrinks its defense of the Caribbean Sea, the aircraft carrier will be of little use.

But they cannot lose their nine super battleships, at least not too many. Because as long as they are still built, the Germans will not dare to land in Trinidad easily - as long as an "Iowa" class or "Soviet" breaks through to the vicinity of the German landing site, the Germans' landing operation will immediately become A disaster with huge casualties. If a battleship leads cruisers and destroyers into a landing site, its power cannot be matched by a few submarines.

If all nine super battleships get there, then the world war might be over...

Therefore, during the "God of Liberty" operation, Halsey used his battleships very carefully, always placing them under the protection of a large number of destroyers and shore-based aircraft - Halsey led the battleships to attack in order to prevent The battleships of the European Community Fleet led cruisers and destroyers to break through and attack the American landing formation.

And in order to prevent being raided by German high-altitude bombers such as the Ju288 and Me264 carrying remote-controlled missiles, Halsey also carried 10 escort aircraft carriers equipped with "disposable Spitfires", and 20 "Disposable Spitfires" could be attacked at any time. Mounted on catapult.

"The current location of Task Force 56?" Halsey thought for a while and suddenly asked about Task Force 56 in the Pacific.

"In the Pacific Ocean about 600 nautical miles east of Lima." Lieutenant General Callahan immediately walked to the chart table, picked up a baton and lit a small wooden boat in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. "They have a voyage of about 2,500 nautical miles from the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands. If anti-submarine issues are not considered for most of the voyage, it can reach the Windward and Leeward Islands in 100 hours."

"Give power to Admiral Nimitz," Halsey nodded. "We now need the eight 'Essex' class aircraft carriers of the 56th Task Force."

Mobilizing the aircraft carriers of Task Force 56 to participate in the battle in the Atlantic is also part of the "God of Liberty Plan". Similarly, in the "Andes Plan" there is also a plan to mobilize battleships from the Atlantic Fleet - the Panama Canal is in the hands of the Americans, allowing them to quickly deploy battleships between the two ocean fleets. Of course, such favorable conditions must be fully utilized .

"Admiral," Vice Admiral Callahan did not immediately draft a telegram to the U.S. Pacific-Atlantic Fleet Joint Command, but reminded Nimitz in a low voice, "There must be German submarines lurking in the Gulf of Panama. These submarines are difficult to I’m afraid there’s no way to drive them away.”

In other words, in about 2 days (it is more than 1,200 nautical miles from the current position of the 56th Task Force to the Gulf of Panama, and it takes almost 2 days for the aircraft carrier to travel 24 knots), the German army will have a high probability of passing through the enemy lurking in the Gulf of Panama. The Type 21 submarine discovered that the US aircraft carrier was transferred to the Atlantic battlefield through the canal.

"So what if we discover it?" Halsey laughed and said, "The initiative now is actually on our side! If the German fleet dares not come, then British Guiana will be ours... This means that we are in the Atlantic Ocean The defense line has advanced another 500 kilometers. If they come, they will have to fight against our superior forces!"

"Admiral, the German fleet has more than one option for targeting the waters near Guyana." Halsey's chief of staff, Rear Admiral Callahan, was not as optimistic as his boss. "They can also head for Bermuda or Newfoundland."

"Bermuda? Newfoundland? Hahaha..." Halsey smiled even more happily, "That's really what I wish for! If the Germans really make such a stupid move, then God bless the United States."

Is it a stupid move? Major General Callahan was a little skeptical.

Halsey continued: "Dennis, do you think the people in the Joint Chiefs have never been worried about Germany attacking our east coast?" He paused, "In fact, they are very worried. Ever since the Germans had some nuclear fission bombs, , Admiral Leahy, Admiral King and Admiral Marshall never slept peacefully, and the defense of Newfoundland and Bermuda was the biggest concern of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... They are now deployed in Newfoundland and Bermuda. The number of fighter jets in the islands, as well as the Norfolk base near Bermuda (the home port of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet), as well as all major cities on the east coast, exceeds 10,000, and they are all P47, P51, P61, F6F and F4U with superior performance! Wait for the model.

In addition, the Army also deployed an army group on Newfoundland and an infantry division on Bermuda. The navy also built 12 armored forts on the island and placed 36 large-caliber artillery pieces. So it is impossible for the Germans to occupy there! "