At the end of 1940, the two "Tianjin"-class aviation ships obtained by the Germans from the Republic were officially delivered to the German Navy at the Navy Luoyuan Shipyard. Together with these two heavy aviation ships, two Kulun-class aircraft ships were delivered to the Germans.
Air Defense Cruiser and four 4,000-ton ocean-type destroyers. Major General Longsdorf, who has been carrying the "Earl of Spey" in China and has participated in some combat operations of the Republican Navy, became the first commander of the aviation fleet.
official.
Before the two aviation ships were equipped, the German Navy had sent nearly 10,000 naval officers and soldiers to China through Italy, undergoing advanced adaptive training.
With the intervention of Hermann Goering, two air ships purchased from Republic China were named the Air Force aces "Red Baron" and "Baron Richterhoven" during World War I and the Junker who had just passed away.
The founder of Sie Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the two air defense cruisers were named "Aachen" and "Vannamond".
The German Air Fleet has conducted more than two months of adaptive training in China, and the German Navy pilots who have never seen an aviation ship can also have more opportunities to conduct real deck take-off and landing and maritime attack training.
In March 1941, General Lukins led a German fleet composed of the "Schernhorst" and others to finally arrive in Singapore after great hardships. Here, he officially took over from Major General Longsdorf.
The command of the fleet.
The Military Commission agreed to the Navy's proposal to send a special mixed fleet to Europe to restrain the US Navy's combat plan. The 4th Fleet commanded by Sa Shijun was reorganized into the Atlantic Fleet.
The newly formed Atlantic Fleet includes 4 aviation ships, 3 battleships and 1 heavy cruiser, 6 air defense cruisers and 16 ocean destroyers. In addition, the German fleet includes 2 Tianjin-class aviation ships, 2 battlecruisers, and 2 heavy cruisers.
Cruisers and 2 air defense cruisers-class, and 4 ocean-going destroyers.
With current strength, the strength of the Sino-German joint fleet should be above the Royal Navy. Although the British surpassed the Sino-German joint fleet in terms of the number of battleships, there were only 4 aircraft of the Royal Navy.
Together, there are only about 200 aircraft, while the Republican Navy has 136 carrier-based aircraft for each Tianjin-class aviation ship.
In the era when aviation ships dominate the ocean, the Royal Navy did not pay attention to the development of aviation ships before the war, and now it has become very difficult to catch up.
Because he was familiar with the German Navy for a long time in Europe and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Atlantic Fleet to facilitate coordination of operations with the German Navy and the Italian Navy.
March 25, 1941. On the morning, the sun was shining.
Chaohui shone diagonally at the Batavian Naval Base, and the Atlantic Fleet and the German Special Mixed Fleet gathered in the harbor.
The flagship of the fleet commander Sa Shijun, who had just been promoted to Navy General, is moored on the anchorage, and the latest battleship of the Republican Navy "Huashan". Around the "Huashan", a Sino-German joint, including six-ship aviation ships, is assembled.
The main force of the fleet. The signal mast on the "Huashan" is hung with the signal flag of the "Whole Team". Warships are leaving the anchorage and entering the waterway under the towing of the tugboat.
On the dock, the Strait Guard Fleet, which was carrying out the Nanyang escort mission, and the naval officers and soldiers on duty at the dock saw off on the dock to see off their comrades who were about to go on the expedition.
On the Schanehorst, the German sailors lined up on the deck sang the German navy's war song "Going to England". Their deep singing was floating on the sea:
"We sang loudly today and drank the cold wine.
I'm about to leave. Let the wine glasses slim and make a crisp sound.
Let me hold your hand again and hold your fair hand.
Goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, goodbye, take care of me.
We are going to go to war, we are going to fight, we are going to fight England. England!
The battle flag has fluttered on the mast, and it symbolizes our invincible power.
We will win the championship and will not let the British be arrogant!
Let me hold your hand again and hold your fair hand.
Goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, my sweetheart. Goodbye, take care of me.
We are going to go to war, we are going to fight, we are going to fight England. England!
If I can't go back to you and sleep in that ocean.
Don’t cry for me, my girl, shed blood and sacrifice for the motherland is glory!
Let me hold your hand again and hold your fair hand.
Goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, my sweetheart, goodbye, goodbye, take care of me.
We are going to go to war, we are going to fight, we are going to fight England, England...ah hey!"
The huge fleet left Batavia, crossed the Sunda Strait, and entered the Indian Ocean.
Admiral Lukins and Major General Bonty, the commander of the aviation fleet, were invited to the "Huashan". The "Five Mountains" class battleship of the Republican Navy is very similar to the latest "Bismar" battleship of the German Navy, except that it is standard displacement.
Nearly 2,000 tons more than the Bismarck.
During this period, Britain, the United States and even the old colonial forces of France were eliminated by the Republican Army. The Republican Navy has always firmly controlled the sea control of the Indian Ocean. Except for some British and American submarines, few British and American warships dared to enter the Indian Ocean.
Three days later, the huge fleet arrived at the Republican base in Reunion, the South Indian Ocean, for supplies. Before entering the base, the Sino-German navies also conducted a joint military exercise.
The maritime assault and bombing training conducted by the Republican Naval Air Force allowed Admiral Lukins to finally see the powerful power and combat capabilities of the Naval Air Force.
"If I had known that the naval aviation force had such strong combat capabilities, and I wonder if I would have the courage to travel across the entire Atlantic Ocean with only four warships without air capabilities, fortunately we did not encounter enemy aviation ships along the way.
"The German Admiral said with lingering fear.
"Yes, surface ships that lack air defense capabilities are actually unable to perform the task of attacking ships. Due to the emergence of escort aircraft, the threat to the submarine forces is becoming increasingly greater." Navy General Sa Shijun said: "Who is it?
Whoever can control the ocean can control the sky.”
"I also feel that the German Navy is heading for a wrong path of development. General Denitz may lead the German Navy astray, but your head of state has been working hard to develop the submarine force. Relying on submarines alone can never grasp it.
Control of the ocean,” said Fang Minghao, who criticized Dunitz, the commander of the submarine force, who Hitler particularly admired.
"After the country arrives in Germany, I will give a detailed report on my feelings in China to Marshal Redel. The era of the sky dominating the ocean has arrived, and we need more aviation ships to be able to fight on the ocean." Lu Jin
General Si said.
"This is not an easy task. Your maritime strategy is quite chaotic, which will cause great confusion to your head of state. The German Navy should clarify its strategic goal, whether to defeat the Royal Navy, or just be satisfied with the merchant ships.
Attack.” Fang Minghao said that since the war started, the German Navy has no strategic goals at all because of its weak strength, which has also made Hitler's decisions confused.
This is a very pertinent advice. Not only Hitler, but also the German Navy itself has many problems. In comparison, the Italian Navy, which has a far-reaching national strength, has been developing much better than the German Navy.