Chapter 1174
"Your Excellency Commander. Emergency telegram! General Thomas's fleet is under siege!" Jericho, who hadn't even gotten off the ship after returning to the Shetland Islands with the fleet, just took a nap for less than 2 hours in the fleet commander's room outside the door. There was a rapid knock on the door and a slightly flustered sound.
"Well, what happened again?" Jericho, who was asleep, pressed his temple, intending to make himself awake. But when he heard the words Thomas Fleet, Jericho, who was still a little confused, instantly awoke. He could feel a chill rushing directly from the tail bone to his head, and then buzzed. It's as if someone poured a big pot of ice water on his head in summer! Jericho jumped out of bed in shock!
"What's the situation?!" Jericho walked to the door with a few steps faster than his age, and snatched the telegram from his subordinates. This telegram was sent by Thomas when he was fighting his opponent. The situation at that time was not as bad as the latter. However, it was mentioned that at least 8 German fast battleships had met him, and after the fierce exchange of fire, Jericho I realized the seriousness of the problem.
"The entire fleet is ready to set off immediately." Although he did not know the situation very well, Jericho knew that with the current strength of the Thomas fleet, 5 queens and 2 battlecruisers would deal with 8 or 9 capital ships of the other side. It is absolutely impossible to beat!
And in judging the combat habits of the German fleet, the opposing commander would never make a seemingly even battle. In line with the theory that it is a fool to take advantage of it, this time, in order to deal with the Thomas fleet, the opponent is likely to be the main force! The other half of the German fleet does not yet know where it is hiding! In the current situation, Thomas can't afford to walk around. If he waits for the other German warships to arrive, wouldn't he be beaten up? !
"General, I’m afraid it’s too late for us to rush over now. It will take about half an hour for the fleet to start the fire, and if we are to rush to the battlefield, it will be at least 3 hours later! At that time, we’ll probably even give It's too late for Thomas to collect his body!" Lieutenant General Charles Madden, Chief of Staff of the Grand Fleet, apparently also received the news, and he said to Jericho who hurried to the control tower.
"Then you mean that you can't let us watch the most elite fleet of the Royal Navy be killed by the Germans?! That is the only fast force we can rely on. Without them, would we have to Can't rely on Invincible these guys?" Jericho roared to his subordinates very rarely.
“It’s better to rely on us than on land-based aircraft or submarines in the water. Perhaps there will be some submarines in the nearby fighting seas. Even if these submarines cannot effectively supply the opponent, they will definitely make the opponent hesitate." Lieutenant General Madden explained.
In fact, this is also a no-brainer. Although both sides have done a waterborne aircraft carrying torpedoes to attack surface ships, they have also achieved some results. But this small-scale scattered attack is not a threat to the main fleet. It is true that the air defense firepower of warships in this era is less reliable than the anti-ship firepower of aircraft. But which battleship does not have several seaplanes? Not to mention the world’s top fleet like England and Germany. It’s really a shame that the main force goes out without a few seaplane motherships!
Although the seaplane can't beat a normal fighter jet, isn't it easy to catch you with a torpedoed seaplane? For general seaplanes, it is good to be able to fly 100 kilometers after the torpedo is hung. And the vertical climb performance is hardly expected.... It is sufficient to deal with the current small-scale scattered seaplane lightning strikes.
"As you said. We can't watch the Thomas fleet being destroyed," said Lieutenant General Madden, looking at the hesitant Admiral Jericho.
"Well, I don't have the right to mobilize the shore-based aviation department. I will contact the Navy Department. As for the submarine force's operations, I will also arrange for someone to coordinate. I hope Thomas can support us until we arrive. That's it." Jericho said.
Half an hour later, the large fleet, which had just returned to the port for less than 8 hours, went out to sea again, heading for the battlefield in the southwest direction. Prior to this time, the British fleet also sent a clear report, telling the Thomas fleet that the large fleet would soon arrive in the theater. As if afraid that the Germans would not know. And the prince's evaluation of this telegram is also very simple, just a bluff! In other words, there is no silver three hundred taels here!
Just as the Jericho fleet set off, the British Admiralty also received this bad news. The British, who had been rushing into medical care, also had their ideas on the air force and submarines. Although it felt that it was not very useful, it was better than nothing. Good thoughts are thrown into the battlefield. And this time the British were decisive enough. Without enough torpedoes and torpedo planes, the British put 500-pound bombs on various bombers... Although it is incomparable with the 4,000-pound bomb that the Americans experimented with with the V1500 after the war, it has to be said that even if a 500-pound battleship is thrown on a battleship, it is a threat. Of course, the premise is that you can hit it!
"Brother, go! Those big guys in Thomas Fleet are still waiting for us to save!" A British soldier said after two 500-pound bombs were fixed on O-400 bombers photographed about to board. The pilot of the plane said jokingly on his shoulder.
"Although we may not be able to achieve results, but at least we will not be beaten. If the German air defense is as bad as ours." The pilot said half-seriously jokingly.
Ever since, the world's first large-scale land-based air force attack on the sea kicked off in a vague way. Although this attack can be regarded as catching the ducks on the shelves, although the largest organized attack unit this time is only half a squadron. But I have to say that this action of the British has opened a new era. More than three-figure twin-engine bombers, four-engine bombers, and various seaplanes took off from Forth Bay and surrounding bases. They flew scattered to the battlefield, although a considerable part of them dropped the bombs when they could not find the target. In the sea, but the behavior of the British has somewhat changed the situation on the battlefield!
At the same time, the sharks hidden deep in the seabed also began to maneuver toward the battlefield. In order to reach the battlefield faster, many of them chose to sail on the water. And this battle is far from over, and will continue!
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(End of this chapter)