The British transport fleet in the Indian Ocean, like the transport fleet in the Atlantic Ocean, also has several frigates of several hundred tons. If a frigate discovers a submarine attack, if Germany participates in the attack, the number of submarines involved is greater than the frigates.
If there are not many, then it is hard to say how effective the attack by the submarine formation can be.
However, these two assumptions do not exist. The armed frigates of the British transport fleet did not discover the German submarine. Even if the German submarine was discovered, the British would not be able to escape the bad luck of being sunk. Because the German submarines have too many submarines.
This can no longer simply be expressed as a "wolf pack". Because Dönitz's wolf pack can only dispatch a few wolves or a dozen wolves at a time; and Dönitz's submarine formation this time has a total of 70 submarines.
It is a submarine, and it is an advanced submarine whose performance in all aspects is much higher than that of its contemporaries.
When ambushing the British transport fleet in the Lakshadweep Islands, each "Strange Dragon" only fired 2 high-explosive torpedoes, while the "Ghost Dragon" only fired 1 torpedo, and the battle ended; because firing more torpedoes would be equivalent to
What a waste. Besides, after two ambushes, half of the torpedoes carried by the entire submarine fleet have been consumed. If a few more are fired randomly, these submarines may not be able to return to Germany's doorstep.
According to the original plan, Dönitz's submarine formation was supposed to move southwest to the Chagos Islands after passing the Nicobar Islands, then move toward the island of Mauritius, then pass the southern tip of Madagascar and the Cape of Good Hope, and enter the Atlantic Ocean. However,
Because he wanted to pursue the British transport fleet, Dönitz had already deviated from his voyage of about 3,000 kilometers, which took about five days.
However, just because of these five days, Dönitz's submarine formation encountered unprecedented challenges.
The British transport fleet was sunk in the Lakshadweep Islands. One of the frigates escaped the torpedo attack, and at least 30 German submarines were also discovered to be involved in the attack. The British frigates sent this information directly to the British Embassy in India
Army Headquarters.
At this time, the British roughly learned that the number of submarines that the Germans had obtained from China was at least 30. Lieutenant General John Necobar was temporarily dismissed from the military in London because of this information and was asked to attack the Nicobar Islands.
Explain the tragic defeat and investigate its performance in the campaign.
At about the same time, the British also received information that Dönitz, commander of the German submarine force, had left Germany long ago and went to China to receive new submarines.
The convergence of intelligence from Germany and the Far East caused Churchill, the owner of No. 10 Downing Street, to drop three porcelain teacups from China.
"If this continues, the British Empire will be finished. You must come up with a plan to block Dönitz's submarine formation in the Indian Ocean and prevent them from returning to the North Atlantic!" Churchill said to the First Sea Lord, Navy
Marshal Rogers Pound roared.
"Your Excellency, the Navy Department has a preliminary combat plan, please approve it!" Marshal Rogers Pond immediately took out a document from his briefcase.
"Don't engage in so many so-called plans or actions. What I want is results. What the citizens of the British Empire want is the results of annihilating the enemy." Churchill said after reading the plan.
"Based on intelligence from India and our speculation, we have discovered that the Germans are located at a supply point on the east coast of Africa. Currently, our warships on the east coast of Africa are rushing there, and it is expected to be effective later." Rogers.
Pound said.
"Marshal, are you saying that the supply point serves this group of submarines?" Churchill suddenly became interested. If this is the case, it may not be an opportunity to completely wipe out the German submarine formation.
"Damn German submarines, damn Dönitz!" Thinking of this, Churchill cursed again.
"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister, it is a very small island about 80 nautical miles away from Port Louis. There are only a few hundred fishermen on the island. The strange thing is that the island is small but has very rich fresh water. More than ten years ago, a group of
Swedish adventurers and traders established a maritime supply station there," said Rogers Pound.
"Okay, very good. However, let the fleet not take action for the time being. Use our marines in Madagascar to quietly occupy the supply depot. What I mean, do you understand?" Churchill said.
"I understand, the Prime Minister wants to go fishing. I will make arrangements." Marshal Rogers Pound said.
This is the advantage of Britain and France, and the disadvantage of Germany. Britain and France have huge overseas colonies, while Germany lost all its overseas colonies after World War I. Even though the French mainland has been occupied by Germany, France still has huge overseas colonies.
overseas bases and troops, but the combat effectiveness of these troops is relatively poor; once France recovers, it will be difficult for the Germans to be its opponent.
Hao Yong's Fengqing Bureau has intelligence stations all over the world, but the intelligence station in Madagascar is weak. However, it has a powerful intelligence center in Mauritius with more than ten intelligence personnel. In addition, it also supports a team of about
There were about 100 Chinese armed guerrillas. At this time, Mauritius was a French colony, but the population composition of Mauritius was relatively complex. Among the total population of about 500,000, Indians accounted for almost 70%, and Chinese also accounted for 2%.
The total population is nearly 10,000 people. The Chinese, or Orientals, are Hao Yong’s natural cover for setting up an intelligence station.
Port Louis, Mauritius, is where the Bureau of Meteorology's intelligence station is located.
The British took advantage of Germany's five-day backing to create a time lag between Madagascar and Mauritius, and captured the Swedish supply depot before the German submarine arrived at the unknown island. If the German submarine had not known the situation and carried it in,
, then the British and French fleets will surround them, and Dönitz's submarine formation will be in great trouble.
Even though Dönitz's submarine was very advanced, at extremely close range and with the enemy in a state of combat, it was difficult for Dönitz to get any favors.
When the British operation began, the radio signals between Madagascar and Mauritius began to become busy. Initially, the intelligence personnel of the Wind and Weather Bureau did not pay special attention. Although they also monitored the British and French radio stations at any time, because
China currently has no special strategic goals in Mauritius, so this kind of monitoring is only routine.
However, the frequent electronic signals for two consecutive days still made the telegraph operators at the intelligence station nervous. They transmitted the special radio signals they received back to the headquarters of the Fengqi Bureau in Xiamen (for security reasons, the headquarters has always held the ultimate password).
The translator at the headquarters of the Bureau of Meteorology was shocked when he saw it. This was because the British were conducting an armed operation against the Dönitz submarine formation, and the location of the operation was on the unnamed island.
Regarding the friendly relations between China and Germany, the top management of the Fengqi Bureau was very clear that it was related to China's strategic interests. Therefore, Hao Yong immediately sent the intelligence to the General Intelligence Department of the National Defense Forces. After Zhang Guanglu received the telegram, he rushed to find Wu Aihua.
, reporting on the British conspiracy and the problems the Germans are now facing.
"Damn it, this trick from the British is so cruel!" Wu Aihua understood at a glance that it was impossible for the German submarine not to be fooled. However, even if the German submarine got information that the British wanted to deal with them, it would not help. Because,
The German submarine fleet itself needs to be replenished!
During World War II, Germany's U-shaped submarines could sail continuously for an average of 3,000 nautical miles at sea before needing supplies; while China's "Weird Dragon" and "Ghost Dragon", although much more advanced in performance, were only inferior to Germany in terms of supplies.
U-type submarines are slightly better and must be replenished once every 4,000 nautical miles. The unknown island south of Mauritius is the German supply station.
Submarine supplies mainly include fresh water and fuel, especially fresh water. The reason why later generations of nuclear submarines can sail continuously underwater for tens of thousands of miles or even half a year or a year without needing supplies is because the nuclear submarines already have seawater desalination devices. As for food
It really doesn't matter whether we supplement or not. A soldier only needs about 200 kilograms of food for a year.
"Is there any way to make up for it?" Wu Aihua looked at Zhang Guanglu and asked.
"The only way is to let Hepai Company's trade fleet to Mauritius and Madagascar wait for the German submarine formation halfway, and have our fleet replenish it." Zhang Guanglu thought for a while and said.
"However, our fleet is only 320 nautical miles away from the island of Mauritius. This distance is already within the reconnaissance range of British and French maritime aircraft. I am worried that if the fleet stops, it may be self-defeating." Zhang Guanglu added.
"How far is Dönitz from the unknown island?"
"There are still 1,300 nautical miles, and it will take at least 100 hours to reach the unknown island."
"Okay. Leave this matter directly to me. You don't need to worry about it for the time being, unless you receive a new order." Wu Aihua thought for a while, he had to personally solve this matter, which is equivalent to a test for future wars.
Bar.
"The Germans are really troublesome!" This was Wu Aihua's truest feeling at this time. Initially, when formulating plans with Dönitz to annihilate the British Far East Fleet, the British were given a time lag and they were unable to guard against them. However, Dönitz was unable to prevent them.
You should never provoke the British transport fleet again, because in two consecutive battles, the British could not only calculate the route of the German submarine, but even the speed, supplies, equipment, ammunition and many other things of the German submarine. The submarine
The "invisibility" of the formation is greatly reduced. Although the British were ultimately unable to pinpoint the exact location of the "Strange Dragon" submarine, others can completely determine the approximate location. As long as they know that you are about to resupply, or the furthest distance of resupply, can you still be trapped?
?
"Shen Ren, you immediately send a report to Dönitz and tell him about the British actions. If he can't find a solution, tell him to stay 200 nautical miles south of the Chagos Islands and don't move, and we will rescue him!"
After Zhang Guanglu left, Wu Aihua said directly to Shen Ren.