"Is this what the new German aircraft carrier looks like?" Cunningham asked his chief of staff Spruins with a frown.

"It's the strange-shaped aircraft carrier. I heard that it was changed from the French Dunkirk, but I didn't expect it to be changed to this." Spruins pondered for a while and said, "After repeated reconnaissance, the reconnaissance plane confirmed that the squadron of the ship and the Richelieu were the core of the mission. It was not the German main fleet, and at least the reconnaissance did not find any discoveries."

Cunningham sighed and stopped talking. Everyone around him knew why he sighed: the former overlord of the Four Seas, the British Empire, has now fallen to the point where the route is not even controlled. A few years ago, they were encircled and suppressed the Bismarck. Now they are nothing more than adding another aircraft carrier, but the entire route is cut off.

A staff officer asked in confusion: "Sir, since you have discovered it, why doesn't China Airlines use heavy bombers to bomb? I can understand that the shore-based attack aircraft cannot reach it. Can 4 heavy bombs not work?"

"It was dispatched to bomb once, but this guy can run 27 knots. It's useless to have a horizontal bomber at high altitude. If it reaches a low altitude, the enemy's carrier-based aircraft and air defense firepower are very fierce..."

This reckless bombing caused the Army Airlines to lose at least 19 bombers. Taking advantage of the opportunity of overhaul, Richelieu received a moderate degree of transformation in Italy. In addition to updating the radar, the focus was on strengthening the air defense fire. The Richelieu naval gun firepower was concentrated on the front deck, and the rear deck was almost a platform layout was very conducive to strengthening the air defense firepower. German workers removed three triple-mounted 152mm high-level dual-purpose guns that were originally arranged in three-point arrangement on the rear deck, six double-mounted 100mm caliber anti-aircraft guns and all anti-aircraft machine guns arranged on both sides of the hull. They replaced them with 12 128mm dual-mounted electric anti-aircraft turrets consistent with the German air defense tower, and 48 40mm Bofos anti-aircraft guns and 8 dense arrays. The firepower density was outrageous.

The Richelieu, who embarked on the journey again, worked very well with the near-explosion fuse, especially when Rulin's 128mm anti-aircraft gun erupted, it was a metal storm. A b-17 or b-29 would be defeated as long as one round was hit. If the bomb drop height was low, the dense array on Richelieu and Dunkirk would start to go crazy. This round of air strike only hit Richelieu a 500-pound high-explosion bomb, which was drizzling for the thick-skinned battleship. Dunkirk only hit 2 near-explosion bombs, but the combined efforts of the two ships and the destroyers and fighters on the side killed a total of 13 heavy bombers. In addition, 6 bombers struggled to return to the base, but were forced to be scrapped due to the excessive damage.

Faced with ineffective bombing with a loss rate of 10%, Land Airlines was unwilling to try such a futile offensive again.

Cunningham, who had been studying the photos for a long time, asked: "What's the use of this strange deck?"

"The experts have two opinions. One believes that setting up an oblique deck like this will help speed up the release speed of carrier-based aircraft and release the two decks together; the other believes that such a layout will help enhance the combat capability of the aircraft carrier, and that the other one can work after one is scrapped."

"I think about it to do 1-2 such warship tests. Although the Germans always do something strange, I have to admit that some of their goods are still good, such as those water reconnaissance and ship reconnaissance, which are not on the same level as us." Cunningham's complaint was mean, but it hit the nail on the head. The seagulls or kingfishers used by the US Navy were all served in service before the 1940s. They were slow and clumsy, and could only be used as anti-submarine aircraft. As for ship reconnaissance, what is this thing? Isn't this what SBD should be used as?

"Water reconnaissance is already in sight. Curtis has developed the SSC-1 water reconnaissance aircraft with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and a maximum speed of more than 500 kilometers per hour, almost as fast as F4F. The Navy has impatiently placed 500 orders and is expected to be put into service in batches next spring. As for ship reconnaissance... it is said that it is still being tendered, after all, the enemy has not been launched for a long time." Speaking of ship reconnaissance Spruins, he looked ashamed. At first, F4F could not catch up with the ar-372, but after f6F, he could not catch up with the ar-352 of the enemy, which made the fleet extremely annoyed. The hot feeling was even more painful than a slap on his face.

"As for this new-looking aircraft carrier, I personally think we will not imitate it in the short term. First, its specific value is unknown now, and not every innovation will bring good results; second, time is not allowed to do this. The Germans can use a battleship to slowly change it, but the Essex-class is mass-produced. How can I stop and transform it? It is better to start a few more with this time..."

Cunningham was convinced by Spruins. The key is that the British are poor and have little ambitions, and everything depends on the Americans. Roosevelt said that East Churchill would not dare to go west. He clearly remembered that shortly after he took office, the two countries swear to fight Azores. As a result, nearly half a year passed in a flash. Not only was the plan to attack Azores, but the British-Canada route was in danger. At this time, the Bermuda and Falkland Islands had another problem.

In addition, it was so dazzling. Although he was theoretically commanding all British and American fleet aircraft carriers, he had to listen to Americans in major policies. Don’t mention this feeling of frustration. So even though the Brave, which was flying the Rice Flag of the British Empire, joined the formation this time, Cunningham refused to transfer the flagship to Brave, and still guarded the much smaller Unicorn. The reason he gave this time was that the other party was a new ship and the running-in was not mature. Who can tell the actual idea?

"Sir, the fleet reorganization has been basically completed. It can set sail on November 3. Admiral Ingersoll's artillery formation will be set out one day ahead of us. This time, the Joint Conference will give us two tasks: to eliminate the enemy's breaking squadron, restore the English-Canada route, drag the enemy's main fleet and prevent it from reinforcement of the Falkland Islands, and annihilate it if there is a chance."

"So which of these two tasks is more important?"

“Equally important.”

"This is impossible!" Cunningham shook his head, "I can give a counterexample now. If the main force of the German fleet goes south quickly at this time, should we resume navigation or intercept it?"

"Intercept!"

"The interruption of the English-Canada route is still inevitable. Do you want me to split a part of my strength to fight the enemy's fleet?"

Spruens was speechless. It was impossible to divide the troops. Now the main fleet does not have a significant advantage over the axis main fleet. If they divide the troops, they are afraid that they will not be able to take advantage of the situation. But he knew what the real intention of the Joint Association, especially General Jin, was the latter, who was not keen on restoring the British and Canadian routes. If the president had not given the death order, General Jin would not care about Fatty Qiu's life and death. But this statement cannot be said in front of Cunningham, and the Navy is also "political correct".

He had no choice but to explain: "The Joint Conference has assigned us six escort aircraft carriers, hoping that we can effectively exert their effectiveness."

"Do you have a good idea?"

"We initially plan to use these six escort aircraft carriers as bait, and then prepare to eat the enemy's small fleet of debris. If the German main fleet comes to rescue, we will hit the main force and fight a battle. If we don't come, it is acceptable to eat one aircraft carrier and one new battleship." Spruins hesitated for a long time and finally said, "Take a step back and say that even if we fight both sides with the Germans, it's okay to have two aircraft carriers in service next month, and there will be the Franklin in January. We are more expensive than the Germans."

Cunningham and a group of British staff were speechless, but they had to admit that this is the fact. Now American tyrants are using the consumption method to compete with the Germans as parties and pass by the Bermuda Islands in person. They know very well what the so-called "Bermuda Victory" is.

"In this way, we must take a little risk and get close to about 1,500 kilometers from Azore." Cunningham stopped in front of the chart, "If we don't enter the Azore threat circle, the enemy will not make up our minds to fight this battle with us."

"I think it's OK." Spruins nodded, "Now the German main fleet is very cunning. He hides in the Azore air defense protection circle and cannot come out. He can't stare at me. He must take a little risk, but he can't get closer."

Just as the British and American fleets were ready to leave the port to fight, Mashar's fleet had completed various materials, equipment and personnel replenishment in advance. The folded wing b-219c was effective in this battle, winning unanimous recognition from the fleet, and realized the overall replacement. Each aircraft carrier added 6-8 carrier-based aircraft, and the ar-352 also won numerous praises. The fleet introduced 12 again, and the entire axis fleet reached 18. The original water reconnaissance spared some of the energy to undertake anti-submarine missions. The ju-198 responded well on the Dunkirk. After conducting targeted adaptation training on the Azore, the carrier-based aircraft pilots also believed that this was a good aircraft, especially the function of dive bombing and torpedo attack.

The cautious Mashar did not dare to adopt all of them, and still adopted the policy of small steps and fast running, only allowing all attack aircraft on the Skyhawk to be replaced. The carrier-based aircraft with foldable wings on the modified Skyhawk aircraft carrier will eventually be equipped with 4 Ar-352, 28 B-219s and 32 Ju-198s (plus 8 spare aircraft). If this battle verified that the ju-198 can bear the heavy responsibility, he will suggest that the domestic comprehensive adjustments be made.

This is one of the three suggestions put forward by the fleet. The first of the other two suggestions is about carrier-based fighters. The pilots reported that the F6f seems to be increasingly difficult to deal with, and urgently demanded that the domestic update and better fighter aircraft be provided. Mashar believes that the B-219 that continues to be repaired cannot bear the heavy responsibility. There must be brand new carrier-based fighter jets. He knows that the Ministry of Military Affairs has not yet concluded whether the next generation of carrier-based aircraft adopts the purple electric or the Fiery Wind reform, but he believes that no matter which one is better, whoever is better or worse, just go on the ship first to verify it?

Another suggestion is about cross-platform long-range tactics. Based on the practice of Dunkirk, he has a new understanding. (To be continued.).

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Chapter completed!