Chapter 769： U.S. aid is coming (part 1)

Romania seized the island of Cyprus, completely exposing the territories of Britain and France in the Middle East. This naturally made Britain and France worried about this, and France had to deal with the pressure of Germany and Italy, so it didn't even want to deploy troops for reinforcement, and even waited for the more than 60,000 French troops in Syria to be transferred back to the country. Therefore, the defense of the Middle East basically falls on the British army.

In the face of Romania's aggressive attitude, the British side is also under great pressure. On the one hand, he needs to deal with the needs of facing France across the sea, and on the other hand, he has to deal with the Romanian attack in the Middle East.

Churchill felt a headache for this. The German army's combat capabilities are well known, and the Romanians don't seem to be much weaker than Germany, plus an Italian.

Although the Italian army does not look strong, its navy and air forces are still very effective. According to the French Navy’s report, in their small-scale battles with the Italian Navy, their combat capabilities are not weaker than their French counterparts at all, so France has not been confident of winning the fleet decisive battle at present. Only small warships can be used to consume their combat power first, but it is not known who consumes who.

In the air force, France is also the most say. They did not gain much advantage in the battle with the Italian Air Force. Its main fighter, the MS.406, is still in a disadvantageous situation in the battle with the MC.200 fighters of the Italian Air Force.

One thing that needs to be mentioned here is that although the current Italian air force is affected by the fragmentation of the aviation industry. But no matter how someone secretly helped. The Italians are not complacent, so their aviation industry has also developed.

The simplest example, the MC.200 fighter aircraft, which should have been put on the battlefield in 1940, was successfully developed in early 1939. Moreover, the maximum speed of the aircraft is 510 kilometers, and the low-altitude dogfight and climb are both good. The only thing that is almost the same is its firepower. It is too weak to be equipped with two 12.7 mm Breda-Safat machine guns.

Faced with the increasing pressure from the Axis Group, Churchill, the British Prime Minister, is even more devastated.

"Beaverbrook, how is the current production situation of the Spitfire?"

In the meeting room of the Prime Minister's Office, Churchill asked about the fighter plane as soon as he opened his mouth.

Beaverbrook, the Minister of Aircraft Manufacturing, took a look at the documents in front of him and replied. "Currently, the Spitfire can only achieve the production scale of two squadrons per month. After the start of the new plant in Coventry, the production capacity can be increased to four and a half squadrons."

After Churchill heard this, he shook his head and said. "This is not enough. The battles in the Middle East and in France tell us that the current hurricane can't fight the German BF109, Romanian RF20, and HF201. In addition, I heard that the Romanian HF201 was jointly developed with the Japanese. Entangled together."

Beaverbrook remembers this, because at the time this fighter appeared in the air strike at Alexandria, he also specifically asked the intelligence department to pay attention to its specific situation.

"It seems that after the Romanians received assistance from the Soviet Union for the Far East, the relationship between the two countries broke up, and Romania quickly went to Japan. I heard that in order to improve the relationship between Romania and Japan, Romania deliberately produced a new type of air cooling. The engine is used in the development of a new aircraft. Our intelligence personnel in Japan have inquired that this new aircraft is called Type Zero in Japan, and it is a carrier-based aircraft developed, but from the perspective of the use of Romania, this aircraft Has a great voyage."

"This is exactly what I worry about. Judging from the current situation, my aunt can only compete with the Spitfire. At present, our enemy already has thousands of these new fighters, and we only have less than one thousand. This will make us lose air supremacy. In this case, the result will be catastrophic."

Here, Churchill told everyone present about the possible consequences. No one thought that the beloved Great Britain would suffer such consequences, so the expressions of the people present became tense.

Churchill was very satisfied with the effect of his words, so he continued to ask. "What is our next issue?"

"It's a telegram about the defenders on the other islands of Malaysia asking for help. They said in the telegram that the island's various materials are insufficient, and the island is currently inadequate in air defense capabilities. Italian aircraft are now bombing every day."

When Churchill heard about Malta Island, he was a little bit unhappy. The location of the island is extremely advantageous, otherwise it would not have been previously selected as the home port of the Mediterranean fleet. However, with the development of science and technology and the growth of the Italian navy, I felt that I was too close to Italy, so I moved to Alexandria.

But now, the island of Malta is indeed a bit uncomfortable for the UK. Because of the loss of the Mediterranean fleet, it loses its control over the seas of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this case, it is somewhat unrealistic for the fleet to provide supplies and equipment to the island of Malta.

At present, the supply of supplies and transportation equipment to Malta is protected by France. After the British drove the material fleet to Tunisia, France provided warships and aircraft escorts. France is also quite willing to have a nail in the Italian waters, nailing it behind it to make it uncomfortable.

It's just that France lost a bit too much after transporting to the island several times. According to French statistics, the average loss rate for transport to the island of Malta is as high as 27%. This is too exaggerated. One **** fleet was lost in four transports. France, which has a big business, can't stand it either, so France is becoming more and more unwilling to transport.

In fact, the United Kingdom can't stand it, but Malta's status is too important, and it is most easy to just clenched your teeth. There is also a voice in the country that the island of Malta has become a bleeding mouth in Britain and France. We should no longer put precious materials on this small island, but should use it where it is more needed.

The emergence of this kind of voice is just that it is currently unable to interfere with British policy.

In fact, in Churchill's heart, he was in favor of giving up the island of Malta. At present, the island of Malta can no longer play its role, because the current British and French naval forces are not enough to protect the island.

It's just that Churchill didn't mention this idea to anyone, because this plan would be a huge blow to him. Without letting go, he surrendered a strategic location to the enemy, and the prime minister was afraid he didn't want to do it.

So he is now in a dilemma about the island of Malta, but he has to find a way. "How is the current communication with France?"

Sir Dudley, the First Secretary of the Navy, replied. "At present, France has agreed to **** the next fleet, but from the next time France hopes to have our own fleet escort, they can provide aircraft protection."

"These French guys!"

After Churchill heard Sir Daddley's words, he couldn't help complaining. It's just that other assistance to Ma must go on, I saw him speak. "Then this time the transport fleet is a bit bigger."

"Okay, Prime Minister."

What Churchill meant, how could Sir Dudley not understand.

"By the way, what does General Wavell say at the moment?"

When Churchill spoke, everyone sat up straight, because this is the most important motion today.

Aiden, the Secretary of the Army, said. "At present, General Wavell has returned to Egypt with his troops in view of the capture of the island of Cyprus. He is currently deploying defenses on the coast of Egypt and Palestine. However, he currently lacks armor and anti-aircraft guns, so he hopes that the country can support it. His material Churchill frowned upon hearing Aiden's words. Because the main British forces are currently in the homeland, and in order to land at any time

France has the best equipment. Therefore, Wavell’s Middle East Legion’s materials are completely inferior to the local army. Of course, this also involves another topic, and that is the lack of British military capabilities. It is pitiful to say that the production of weapons at the Skoda factory last year was equivalent to that of the United Kingdom in one year.

Although this proves the scale of Skoda, it does not prove the low capability of British military industry. After the war broke out, the problem brought about by the large-scale army expansion was the shortage of military materials. Of course, Britain and France can also import from the United States, but the United States, which has not been mobilized, has limited production capacity, and the United States itself is also preparing for military expansion, and how much can it provide to support Britain and France.

Therefore, the decision made by the British side is to give priority to ensuring the local forces. As for the Middle East, it can only belong to the second demand. But now General Wavell's complaint came.

Churchill thought for a while. Just as he was about to speak, the door was opened with a bang, and his secretary walked in with a telegram with a look of excitement.