Chapter 392： tense situation

I have to admit that the strength of the US Navy is still very strong. As early as before the dreadnought was born, the U.S. Navy built a total of 24 pre-dreadnoughts of level 7 and became one of the world's three major navies. In order to deter Japan, the U.S. Navy also organized the Great White Fleet to tour the world to demonstrate the strength of the U.S. Navy.

It's just that after the British and German dreadnoughts were built and put into service one after another, those old-fashioned pre-dreadnoughts became obsolete overnight. As a last resort, the United States had to start building dreadnoughts and began to catch up with the British and German navies.

So far, the U.S. Navy has built 12 dreadnought ships of the sixth level. And there are still many warships on the berth, which are under intense construction.

This also makes the strength of the US Navy rank third in the world. It's just that, compared with the British Navy and the German Navy in the top two, the gap is a bit big.

When a large number of American merchant ships were detained by the German Navy, and there were American civilian casualties, all sectors of American society were angry. They have asked the U.S. government to express a tough attitude to Germany, asking Germany to apologize, compensate for losses, and so on. At the same time, the U.S. government also hopes to find a way to go down, so it requires the U.S. Navy to send a fleet to **** merchant ships. In addition, this has another purpose, which is to test Germany's determination. Provide a reference for the next step of the US government.

"General Fletcher, you should understand what your Excellency means. This time, our navy escorting the merchant ship is not really going to break into the no-go zone of the Germans. Of course, if the Germans don't intercept it, We can try it. However, the possibility of this is very small. Therefore, we must try our best to avoid the situation of misfire with the Germans." Minister Daniels told Franz Fry, commander of the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet Admiral Che said.

Admiral Fletcher nodded: "Your Excellency, I understand what you mean. Although such an order makes people feel a little aggrieved, who makes our strength so far behind the Germans? If we If our navy were stronger, the Germans might not dare to be so unscrupulous. Our people would not die at the hands of the Germans."

"Yes, General. Your Excellency the President has approved a new round of warship construction plans. In a few years, we will have more powerful battleships in service. By then, we will no longer have to be afraid of the Germans." Minister Daniels said.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Minister." Admiral Fletcher replied.

"Minister, what if we are attacked by the Germans? We must fight back, right?" Admiral Fletcher asked.

Secretary Daniels thought for a while, and then said: "If the Germans attack first, then of course we can't just sit still. I think His Excellency's order is that we can't provoke a conflict, and we can't fire the first shot. However, if the Germans attack If we dare to attack, we can naturally fight back. However, I think the Germans should not be so bold."

After receiving the authorization from Minister Daniels, Admiral Fletcher was relieved. If you just get beaten and don't fight back, it would be too boring. Of course, Admiral Fletcher also knows that the strength of the German navy is very powerful, far from being able to resist the US Navy. Therefore, it is naturally the best to be able to avoid misfires.

"General, this time is up to you. May God bless us!" Secretary Daniels said.

"God bless America!" Admiral Fletcher said firmly.

On February 22, 1915, the main force of the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet set off from the Norfolk Naval Base and sailed into the Atlantic Ocean. This time, the Atlantic Fleet of the U.S. Navy can be said to have assembled all the main battleships of the U.S. Navy, including two "Nevada-class" battleships, two "New York-class" battleships, two "Wyoming-class" battleships, and two "Flo" battleships. Rida class' battleships, two 'Delaware class' battleships and two 'South Carolina class' battleships. The United States has built a total of 12 dreadnought ships of the sixth level, all of which are here. Among them, the "Nevada-class" battleships and the "New York-class" battleships are equipped with 356mm main guns. The other warships are equipped with 305mm main guns.

In addition to these capital ships, there are also a large number of cruisers and destroyers, bringing the number of warships in the entire fleet to more than fifty. There is no doubt that this is already a very large fleet. Apart from the United Kingdom and Germany, the other countries may not be able to gather so many warships.

The U.S. Navy made a big move, which immediately aroused the vigilance of the German side. The Minister of the Navy, Marshal Earl Tirpitz, Chief of Naval Staff Marshal von Pohl, Commander of the High Seas Fleet, Admiral Reinhard Scheer, and Imperial Crown Prince Qin Tian were all called to the office by William II.

"Everyone, the American fleet has left the port. There are twelve cutting-edge battleships, plus other warships, more than 50 large and small ships. I want to know, what are the Americans going to do? Do they want to go to war with the empire? ?” William II looked gloomy.

Although the strength of the U.S. Navy is not strong, the current main force of the German Navy is used to suppress the British Navy. If the U.S. Navy goes to war with the German Navy at this juncture, it will inevitably restrain part of the German Navy's strength. It will even have a certain impact on the entire battle situation. In that case, the situation would not be very good for Germany. What William II hopes most now is to defeat Britain and France and win this war, and he doesn't want to make extra troubles.

"Father, in my opinion, the Americans sent their fleet to sea just to express their attitude. Therefore, we don't have to be afraid of them at all," Qin Tian said.

"Oscar, what if there is any conspiracy between the Americans and the British?" William II was obviously not completely relieved.

"Father, we will order the break-off fleet to intercept the Americans. If they dare to trespass in the no-fly zone, then we will launch an attack and eat this fleet of the US Navy in one fell swoop. After losing this fleet, the Americans At the same time, the main force of the High Seas Fleet also went out to sea and approached Scapa Flow, so that the main force of the British Navy did not dare to act rashly." Qin Tian said.

"Once a fight breaks out, can our fleet be strong enough to deal with the American fleet?" William II asked. Although William II knew that the German Navy's fleet was very strong, the main force of the fleet was approaching battlecruisers. And the battleship of the US Navy is the famous turtle battleship.