On March 15, 1941, at dawn, a formation of six Chinese and German cruisers was slashing waves at a high speed of more than 20 knots towards the northern coast of South America, quickly passing through the sea. The morning star gradually disappeared between the sky, but the sky was
It is still dark. On the bridge of the flagship "Earl Spee", you can only see the hazy gray figures of the friendly ship on the sea less than 2,000 yards away from it.
Although we are in tropical waters, the sea surface in the early morning still makes people feel a little cool.
Major General Longsdorf stood on the bridge with a cigar in his mouth, looking proud. Compared to the embarrassing situation where he led the armored ship to fight alone in the South Pacific and fled everywhere two and a half years ago, today
The situation is just the opposite.
Go out to repay the German captain's "Earl Spey" who led the "Earl Spey" in the Republican military operations against Australia and Japan. The Chinese gave up the position of the fleet commander to Longsdorf, and for this "heart"
Longsdorf could only understand it. To be honest, the "armored cruiser" of the Republican Navy with a displacement of about 20,000 tons is more suitable to serve as the flagship of the entire fleet.
Brigadier General Votag was standing next to Longsdorf with a cup of coffee. Due to the butterfly effect, these two German naval generals who had been killed in battle in another world history are still alive and are still fighting side by side.
Not to mention it is a miracle.
Looking out from the bridge, the other warships in the fleet were still vaguely unable to see clearly, but the general outline could be distinguished, and the waterline in the horizon had already appeared white.
"It's another good weather today, do you know? This is the second time I have used naval guns to attack enemy ships in more than two years!" Longsdorf said, looking at the sea water that had gradually become lighter, "Really
Some miss the wonderful times when bombarding the enemy with ship guns!"
"Have you participated in many battles in China? Don't you have the chance to use naval guns?" said Brigadier General Votag, who was promoted from the fleet of the Blüchel to the chief of staff of the cruiser. This is a naval general, in Norway.
During the battle, he commanded the Blüchel to approach and then aimed directly at the shore fortress of Bergen. In this era, he had better luck. The Bergen port was not equipped with the equipment in the Narvik Fortress.
Although the Blücher was still damaged, it was not sunk.
"We can't get the opportunity to fire the naval guns. The Chinese and Japanese fight at sea are all sea and air operations hundreds of kilometers apart, including their heavy battleships, and they can only watch them.
.Only, anti-aircraft artillery has the opportunity to open fire and intercept enemy fighter jets. Enemy fighter jets rarely break through their air defense circle. In this regard, the Easterners are far ahead of us and the British!
"Major General Longsdorf said: "In the future, except for attacks on the other side, naval guns rarely show off their power on the sea!"
At this time, the sea surface began to light up, and the sea water gradually changed from black to dark green. The warships 1,500 yards from front to back could see each other clearly. The dark gray hull was passing through the sea. A faint light appeared in the sky.
The red.
"Now start sending reconnaissance aircraft to search for the target!" Major General Longsdorf issued an order. According to the agreement, two reconnaissance aircraft will be sent by "Earl Spee", "Prince Eugen" and "Yuefei" each.
, search the sea surface at the same time.
On the rear deck of the "Earl Spee", two "Albatross" seaplanes have been installed on the catapult at the stern. Under the reflection of the sky, the silver-gray fuselage has a clear outline. "Earl Spee"
"As he stayed in China for a long time, the Aladdo sea reconnaissance aircraft he had originally equipped was replaced with an "albatross" seaplane equipped by the Republican Navy, which was slightly more advanced than the German aircraft.
The "Earl Spey" sent light signals to the two warships in front and behind it, indicating that they would send reconnaissance planes to take off.
"The 'Prince Eugen' and 'Yuefei' have received our signals. They will send planes to air within ten minutes!" The signal officer reported to Major General Longsdorf.
"Very good, start preparing now. Ten minutes later, our reconnaissance plane will start to take off!" Longsdorf nodded and issued the next action order.
In the cabin of the reconnaissance aircraft fixed to the catapult, the pilot was constantly repeating the flight commander's command and performing operations.
"Close the electric door!"
"Close the electric door!"
"Come on!"
"Come on!"
After the auxiliary personnel on the deck were pushing the propeller for a few turns, the aviation commander shouted again: "Immediate!"
"Ignite!" The pilot pressed the start switch after repeating the command.
The propeller is rotating slowly, the engine begins to run, and the rotation speed of the propeller is getting higher and higher.
After a while, the aviation commander made a takeoff gesture. Immediately afterwards, the plane was thrown into the air outside the hull by a mechanical catapult device. After a slight drop, the seaplane began to climb and over the fleet.
Hovering, waiting for the next plane to form a flight formation together.
At this moment, the sky had become bright and the sea water began to turn blue. Major General Longsdorf stood on the bridge and watched the fleet smoothly dispatched six reconnaissance planes to start searching in three directions of the coast.
"Order the fleet to remove the morning combat state, change the speed to 15 knots of cruise state, and each ship is converted to third-level combat preparation!" As the fleet commander, Longsdorf issued an order to remove the combat state, so that half of the officers and soldiers may return
I went to the cabin for rest.
Then the low whistle sounds of warships as they lifted the battle sounded from the sea.
Major General Longsdorf and Brigadier General Votag continued to stand on the flagship bridge and looked at the ocean to the west, "Today is a good day!"
"It's a great time for us to make achievements!" Brigadier General Votag said, handing the coffee cup he had drunk to the orderly soldiers behind him, and lit a cigarette.
"General, the breakfast is ready. Are you going to the restaurant or someone to deliver it to you?" At this time, the logistics officer on the ship appeared on the bridge.
"Let's go to the restaurant, anyway, nothing will happen in a while!" Longsdorf said, "We'll go there in a while! Report anything to me immediately!" He said to the on-duty consultant in the war room
Said.
Half an hour later, when Major General Longsdorf returned to the war room again, his expression became bright again. More than half an hour of rest had already made the general, who had long been used to the hard work at sea, recovered his strength.
“Is there nothing new?”
"Yes, General!" replied the officer on duty, "but there was a telegram sent by the submarine force that I just received, and was about to send it to you."
Longsdorf took the telegram from the officer on duty, which wrote in scribbled handwriting that the latest telegram was received. The telegram was found three hours ago by a German submarine cruising on the southern sea area of French Guiana.
The British fleet was traced, but the target information was soon lost.
Major General Longsdorf walked to the chart table and gestured on the chart with his feet, "In this sea area, the British merchant ship actually ran a highway of more than fifteen knots, which was really unexpected! Then they
Now it should be in this sea area and has been sailing close to the coast."
"Order the reconnaissance aircraft to focus on reconnaissance in this area!" After judging the target's position, Longsdorf then ordered to adjust the flight direction of the reconnaissance aircraft.