The Rise of the Third Reich

October 10, 1939, 12 noon GMT. In the waters near Iceland, the weather has cleared up, but the wind and waves are still very strong, with almost level 5 sea conditions, and carrier-based aircraft cannot be dispatched at all - this is why the role of aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and North Sea battlefields is far inferior to that in the Pacific.

In addition, it is the long night period in the Arctic, and there are only 6 to 7 hours of daylight in the waters near Iceland. This also greatly limits the use of aviation - of course, in the summer when the wind and waves are less, "extreme daytime" weather will also occur near Iceland, which is very conducive to aviation activities.

"Lieutenant General, telegram from Wilhelmshaven headquarters, everything is normal in Reykjavik Port." Major General Leifman took the telegram from the communications staff, took a look at it, and then said to Lieutenant General Machar. "Are we going to call at Reykjavik as planned?"

"No, Scharnhorst and Seydlitz cannot take risks," Vice Admiral Machar said. "The main force of the British Home Fleet has also left the anchorage."

The main force of the British Home Fleet is now not concentrated in Scapa Flow, but is dispersed to several ports in northwest Scotland. The German He-111, Ju88, He-115 and Fokker Zero can actually be transported from Wilhelmshaven. They flew over for air strikes, but they had to fly over Scotland. The risk of being shot down suddenly increased by more than ten times!

The German bombers were unable to get there, but agents from the Central Security Bureau were quickly in place. Therefore, the news that the battleship of the British Home Fleet was going to sea was notified to the sailing battleship Scharnhorst on the afternoon of October 8.

"Let the 'Leipzig' show up to refuel, and then leave immediately." Lieutenant General Marshall said, "The Scharnhorst and the Seidlitz have enough fuel to go to the northwest waters of Ireland," said Maybe we can sink a few British transport ships."

In fact, the "Leipzig" light cruiser has a great endurance and can sail continuously for 6,200 nautical miles at cruising speed. However, it is still very meaningful to have it appear in Reykjavik Port. On the one hand, it can attract the attention of the British and cover the "Scharnhorst" and "Seidlitz"; on the other hand, it can also provide the British with An excuse to invade Iceland - this is almost a "win-win", Britain can get Iceland and the Faroe Islands, two large strongholds to cover the logistics line. Germany can take the opportunity to label the United Kingdom as a devil that destroys European peace and tranquility, and can also take the opportunity to bring Denmark under "protection". At the same time, it can also conclude "friendships" with "protective clauses" with Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. "Mutual Assistance Treaty" (for example, if Britain invades any of the countries, Germany will provide protection, and the other countries will provide financial and material assistance).

"What about the 'Leipzig'?" Rear Admiral Leifman asked, "Shall we let it go back?"

"No, set up a rendezvous point in the Atlantic Ocean near the equator," said Machar, "and send a semaphore to the 'Leipzig'."

Now the entire fleet is in radio silence - with memories of his past life, Hersman takes the unit's communications management very seriously. Radio silence must be strictly enforced during battles in which capital ships penetrate the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, the famous Enigma telegraph machine was suddenly replaced by regularly replaced cipher codes one month before the outbreak of the war. However, the German General Staff has not given up on the "Enigma". Instead, it will make targeted modifications after obtaining the Polish crackdown on the Enigma telegraph machine, and then consider restarting the Enigma. Problem with the grid code machine.

…

"Admiral, a German cruiser has entered Reykjavik Port in Iceland!"

The British Royal Navy's "Revenge" battleship received news that the "Leipzig" light cruiser entered Reykjavik Port at 5:30 pm on October 10 - this almost proved that the missing "Sharnhorn" The "Stern" and the "Sedlitz" have successfully entered the Atlantic Ocean!

"They broke into the Atlantic Ocean!" Charles Forbes gritted his teeth, "This is almost inevitable!"

The weather in Iceland-Faroe Islands has been bad for the past two days, and it only cleared up in the afternoon of October 10. But there were only three hours before dark, and there was no time to send a reconnaissance plane from Scotland. The British fleet in the waters near Iceland and the Faroe Islands was unable to release carrier-based aircraft to search for the enemy because of too strong sea waves.

"Admiral, what should we do?" Major General Phillips said, "Are we going to wander around like headless flies in the Atlantic Ocean?"

Now the three British fleets are almost wandering around!

Not only because of the bad weather, but also because the "Scharnhorst" and "Seidlitz" were traveling too fast. Except for the "HMS Hood" and the "Ark Royal", the other British battleships could not catch up at all. Even if they were discovered, it would be of no avail.

"No," Admiral Forbes shook his head, "It can't be like this... We can't look for them, we can only let them come up by themselves!"

"Admiral, you mean..."

"They are here to attack merchant ships!" Admiral Forbes said, "And our merchant ships can be prey or bait!"

"You want to use merchant ships as bait?" Major General Phillips reminded, "But the Germans have aircraft carriers, so they will definitely conduct reconnaissance first. If they find battleships and aircraft carriers participating in the escort, they will not rush over."

"No," Forbes shook his head, "We will not escort... The most important thing now is not the loss of merchant ships, but the capture of German battleships and aircraft carriers. Otherwise, sooner or later, our route will have big problems! Because according to intelligence, Germany People are still building more powerful battleships and aircraft carriers!”

He's right! Two "Scharnhorst" class ships and two "Sedlitz" class ships broke into the Atlantic Ocean, and the British could still cope with it. If two more "Bismarck" class ships were added, the British "HMS Hood" and the "HMS Hood" under construction The "King George V" class may not be able to withstand it. By then, the British Empire's maritime lifeline may really be cut off!

Historically, just the "Bismarck" breaking into the Atlantic Ocean caused the British Empire to break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the "Bismarck" did not have an aircraft carrier to escort it. If the Germans built the "Graf Zeppelin", how could the British "Swordfish" aircraft destroy its rudder with a torpedo?

And now, the Germans have two "Seidlitz" class aircraft carriers, as well as carrier-based aircraft that can compete with the "Spitfire"!

"We cannot allow the German surface fleet to continue to grow!" Charles Forbes said in a solemn tone, "Now there must be a decisive battle at sea... Rear Admiral, now let the convoys sailing in the North Atlantic report their positions. .

In addition, I ordered the formation of the escort fleet AB-1 (A is the first letter of Atlantic, and B stands for Britain, which means returning from the Atlantic to Britain), with heavy cruisers as the main escort. "

The Royal Navy of the British Empire is still the overlord of the oceans and does not need to use "radio silence" to hide itself. Therefore, radio waves were transmitted through the "Vengeance" radio station without any disguise.

…

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister! The German cruiser has entered the port of Reykjavik!"

Chamberlain was sitting in his office in a daze when he heard Churchill's excited voice. Then, the door to the office was pushed open, and Admiralty Churchill came in panting.

"The Germans are going to occupy Iceland!" said Admiralty Churchill, "This is obvious!"

Nonsense! Chamberlain thought to himself: No one would believe Churchill's lies. Germany is so far away from Iceland, how could it possibly occupy it?

"We must send troops to save the peace-loving people of Iceland!" said Winston Churchill. "We have two fleets near Iceland. They have dozens of combat ships and tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, including 2,000 Royal Navy personnel. Marine Corps officers and soldiers!”

The British Royal Marines are different from the marines of other countries. Some of them are stationed on ships in the form of detachments. When necessary, they can also disembark and fight. Although the combat effectiveness cannot be compared with the elite marines of other countries, there is no problem in occupying this Danish subsidiary country with a population of only a few hundred thousand.

In fact, as long as a heavy cruiser and a few destroyers enter the port of Reykjavik and fire a few symbolic shots, Iceland will definitely surrender.

"You can't fool anyone," Chamberlain looked at Churchill. "All Europe will regard us as invaders! Denmark, Norway, and Sweden will all fall to Germany!"

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have historically been on the same side and have always been pro-Germany. If Britain takes action against Denmark's dependencies first, not only will Denmark turn to Germany, but Norway and Sweden will also follow suit to a certain extent - they may not necessarily form an alliance with Germany immediately, but they will definitely strengthen their relations with Germany.

"Prime Minister!" Churchill said, "Don't hesitate...The German battleships and aircraft carriers have broken into the Atlantic Ocean! If we can't sink them, we must install two strong gates to the Atlantic Ocean! Iceland and France The Low Islands are such a gateway.”

"Where is the Home Fleet? What are they doing?" Chamberlain asked.

"They are preparing to set a trap for the German battleships and aircraft carriers!" Churchill said, "Admiral Forbes has ordered the merchant ships sailing in the North Atlantic to form a super escort fleet AB-1. AB-1 will be a huge bait. ! However, the AB-1 operation may not be successful. Controlling Iceland and the Faroe Islands and deploying aircraft there are necessary measures to defend the British Empire. "

Chamberlain sighed softly and nodded, "Okay, then we can occupy Iceland and the Faroe Islands...if the AB-1 operation does not succeed!"