Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 2364 What a big lump of fat

At its peak, the Italian Navy had 7 surface ships, including 7 battleships and 285 heavy cruisers, and 116 submarines.

This is a huge fleet, but it is not powerful. Except for the three "Vittorio Veneto" class battleships, the remaining two "Count Cavour" class battleships, and two "Andrei" class battleships The "Adoria" class battleships are nearly 2 years old. Although they underwent a modernization upgrade in 2, they are warships from the last World War after all, and their upgrades are limited.

Of the seven battleships of the Italian Navy, only six can be dispatched. The battleship "Count Cavour" built in 1915 was sunk by the British army in Taranto three years ago. In 41, the Italian Navy sent the "Count Cavour" It was salvaged and restoration work did not begin until early this year.

The resources of the Italian Navy are seriously insufficient, and the progress of the repair work is slow. It has not been completed yet, and it cannot sail with the fleet.

"So, there are only six Italian battleships that can reach North Africa—" Eisenhower also coveted the Italian Navy, why not the free battleships.

"Not necessarily. The German army will definitely intercept along the way. It's hard to say how many warships will arrive in the end." Alexander said with a straight face. During the Battle of Sicily, the American army first entered Messina. to blame.

It's not all Alexander's fault.

Patton's performance in combat was better than that of Montgomery. The two were outstanding generals praised by the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Eighth Army is still dominated by British and Indian troops, with backward equipment and low morale.

The U.S. Army under Patton's command is all composed of Americans. Regardless of the level of equipment or logistical supplies, they are far superior to the Eighth Army, and it is normal to win the competition.

"Our air force in Malta can provide cover for the Italian navy." African Patton took the initiative, and Eisenhower and Alexander were quite surprised.

Southern Africans, like British Americans, are unprofitable and early risers.

Before the Battle of Sicily, Eisenhower and Alexander hoped that the Southern African Air Force could provide cover for the Allied operations, but Patton politely refused.

Now that Patton is proactive, then it must be the Italian Navy, there is something worthy of Patton's proactiveness.

The only thing of value in the Italian Navy is the three "Vittorio Veneto".

"Southern Africa suffered heavy losses in the war with Italy. We took Italian East Africa from Italy, drove the Italians out of the Abyssinian Empire, and recovered the Dodecanese and Greece. In the North African campaign, the southern African army He has also made great contributions, so His Majesty Victor Emmanuel III has agreed to hand over the three 'Vittorio Veneto' class battleships to the Southern African Navy as compensation." Patton has already communicated with Victor Emanuel III Manuel III agreed.

If Victor Emmanuel III wants to maintain his status after the war, he has to pay something. The warships of the Italian Navy are Victor Emmanuel III's only capital now.

Victor Emmanuel III was definitely unwilling to give in, but now he said nothing, and Barton didn't make much effort to get Victor Emmanuel III to agree to Barton's request.

Of course, this is not the final result. Even if Patton and Victor Emmanuel III reach an agreement, they still need the consent of the British, Americans, French, and even Russians.

"Huh, the three 'Vittorio Veneto' class battleships are all compensated to southern Africa, so what can we get?" Alexander was very dissatisfied, the appetite of the southern Africans was too big, and he took a bite of the fattest meat Bite away, Britain and the United States can only gnaw the bones.

This is not bad, the French and the Russians are not even willing to go to the bones--

What's more, there are Greeks watching eagerly in the corner.

To say that the damage caused by the Italians, Greece is undoubtedly the biggest.

"You still have two 'Andreas'—" Barton did not treat the British badly, "Andrea" is an improved version of "Count Cavour", and there is only one "Count Cavour".

"So, we can only get one 'Cavour'?" Eisenhower was even more dissatisfied, this is not distribution at all, it is simply alms.

The only "Cavour" left in the Italian Navy is the "Caesar".

The two "Andreas" and "Caesars", both of which are close to 30 years old, were given to the United Kingdom and the United States for free, and neither of the two navies wanted them. The British Navy and the US Navy do not lack battleships.

Now that the southern African navy wants to take all three "Vittorios", what is the purpose of the hard work of the United Kingdom and the United States?
"It's impossible. The United Kingdom should get at least two of the three 'Vittorios'. In the battle against the Italians, our navy of the United Kingdom contributed the most and suffered more losses." Alexander will soon have his own allocation Program.

"Can you defeat the Italians with the United Kingdom? Three Vittorios, at least one from each of our countries." Eisenhower also had his own plan.

"Hehe—" Barton sneered.

Eisenhower was dreaming. Regarding the poor performance of the US military in North Africa and Sicily, not to mention the "Vittorio", it was already for the sake of allies that they could give the Americans a "Caesar".

"Why don't we notify everyone and discuss this issue together." Eisenhower knew that the United States alone was powerless against southern Africa and the United Kingdom, so he deliberately muddied the water.

The United Kingdom has a long history of discussing the fate of third countries behind closed doors. At the Paris peace conference, Britain and France joined forces to eliminate the United States and formulated a final benefit distribution plan behind closed doors.

Now that France has been disqualified from participating in the discussions, southern Africa and the United States are eligible to participate.

Taking into account the relationship between southern Africa and the United Kingdom, Eisenhower hopes to expand the scale. The French and Russians will not join forces with the United Kingdom.

"There is no need to inform other people, they are not qualified to participate in the discussion." Alexander disagreed, France has been reduced to a second-rate country and has lost its right to speak in international affairs.

As for Russia—

That is a hostile camp, Americans, you have to be more sober.

"Gentlemen, please clarify a fact. I am not discussing with you again, but to inform you of the final plan." Patton's domineering side leaked, British people, you should be more sober.

"Marshal Patton, what do you mean?" Alexander and Eisenhower were dumbfounded at the same time.

Probably since the recovery of Greece, southern Africa has become accustomed to acting alone without the United Kingdom and the United States.

This is not conducive to the unity of the Allied forces, but it is in the interests of southern Africa. The joint operations of the southern African army and the British and American troops will spend far more energy on coordination than fighting the enemy.

To put it bluntly, it is a hindrance.

"I mean the Southern African Air Force, which is fully capable of protecting the withdrawal of the Italian Navy to North Africa." Patton said that it would be best if you didn't help, but I was afraid that you would be a disservice.

"Oh, our air force is also capable of protecting the Italian navy." Eisenhower was also angry. The current U.S. military is no longer the U.S. military during the North African campaign.

The 2nd U.S. Army fought at the Kesselring Pass, completely exposing the underpants of the Americans. At that time, other Allied forces were advancing triumphantly, even the Free French Army was invincible. Only the 2nd U.S. Army was overthrown by Rommel and lost face. lose.

In the Battle of Sicily, although the British and American coalition forces won the final victory, the heavy losses of the airborne troops made the victory of the British and American coalition forces much inferior.

What's more, the Battle of Sicily, no matter in terms of scale or significance, is completely incomparable with the battles that broke out on the Russian battlefield at the same time. Big blow.

"Come on, your air force can't even protect your own army." Barton didn't show face, this was too straightforward.

In the latter part of the Sicily campaign, if the Southern African Air Force hadn't dispatched a strategic bombing force, Patton and Montgomery might not have been able to break through Huber's line of defense.

Huber was not defeated, but retreated calmly from Messina after completing the evacuation task of materials and personnel. From beginning to end, the British and American navies did not block the Strait of Messina.

It's not that he doesn't want to seal it, Cunningham is also an experienced veteran, and he must know the importance of blocking the Strait of Messina.

The purpose of not blocking it is to reduce the German army's will to fight. If the German army's only retreat is cut off, then the German army's animal nature may become violent, and the British and American coalition forces will suffer greater losses.

"Marshal Patton, what you said is too inappropriate. In any case, you should learn to respect your allies." Eisenhower was very angry. He didn't slap people in the face, swear at them without revealing their faults, and don't go too far.

"Heh—" Barton sneered and said goodbye.

If you can't agree, don't talk about it. Anyway, even if the British and Americans don't help, southern Africa can handle it.

The time is really tight.

Like the situation faced by the French Navy, the Germans did not let go of the Italian Navy and demanded that the Italian Navy obey the command of the Italian Social Republic.

The commander-in-chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Bogamini, knew very well that within the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian Navy could not resist the Allied fleet at all. If the Italian Navy accepted the command of the Italian Social Republic, the Italian Navy would eventually be unable to escape the fate of annihilation.

Bogamini tried to ensure the independence of the Italian navy, but the situation in Italy was different from that in France at the time. The president of the French Vichy government, Pétain, cooperated with the French navy at the time to jointly resist the pressure from Germany.

The Italian navy did not have the cooperation of the Italian government. The Social Republic had a fat bald head as its president in name, but the outside world did not know whether the fat bald head was dead or alive. The so-called Social Republic had completely become a puppet of the Germans and could not protect the Italian navy at all.

After receiving a secret telegram from Victor Emmanuel III, Bogamini decided to lead the Italian Navy to North Africa.

At this time, Bogamini didn't know that Victor Emmanuel III had already lost the Italian navy.

The evacuation of the Italian navy is strictly confidential. La Spezia is about 1000 kilometers away from the destination Malta, passing through Corsica controlled by Germany, Sardinia controlled by Italy, and Sicily controlled by the British and American coalition forces.

Germany has an air force base in Corsica. If the Germans discover the actions of the Italian Navy, they will definitely dispatch the air force from Corsica to intercept the Italian Navy.

In order to cover the actions of the Italian Navy, the Southern African Air Force in North Africa, the Cyprus Squadron, and the Free French Navy were dispatched to attack Sardinia and Corsica.

"The navy and the air force must work closely together, with the air force bombing the airfields of Sardinia and Corsica, the navy attacking the ports, and the army forces ready to attack Sardinia and Corsica if the opportunity presents itself. If we can capture these two islands, we will completely seize the initiative in the Mediterranean region.” Patton has high requirements for troops, and the British and Americans should learn a little bit about what a landing operation is.

"Won't the British and Americans participate in our operations?" De Gaulle attended the combat preparation meeting, and after receiving Patton's answer, De Gaulle was greatly relieved.

"Great, we're free without the British and the Americans!"

This is what it says-

It was so true!

"Should we send airborne troops in the first wave of attacks to carry out airborne operations on the two islands at the same time? We have the ability--" Martin Mike, the commander of the Sixth Airborne Division, was murderous. The Third Army led by Patton had four of the [-]th Airborne Division, the other three are deployed in Spain, and only the [-]th Airborne Division is in Algiers.

The [-]th Airborne Division alone is severely understrength and cannot conduct airborne operations in Corsica and Sardinia at the same time. All the other three airborne divisions must be transferred over.

If that wasn't enough, assistance could also be called to Arthur's Fifth Army, which consisted of five airborne divisions.

This is thanks to the full support of the Najd Sultanate.

In the last World War, the Najd Sultanate sent seven cavalry divisions to participate in the battle, which was an important part of the Southern African Expeditionary Force.

In this world war, the Najd Sultanate sent an armored division and two cavalry divisions, and purchased 120 large transport aircraft at the same time. These transport aircraft were attached to the Fifth Army and accepted the command of Arthur. The strength is second to none among all the armies in southern Africa.

"No, no, we must be cautious in using the airborne troops. Our first wave of ground attack troops still has to rely on the Marine Corps." Mike Tolan actively challenged the battle. The Cyprus Squadron has the largest Marine Corps in southern Africa. Established, a total of 11 brigades, with a total strength of more than 10 troops.

"The Marine Corps can only be used to establish a beachhead, and we must use our armored forces to attack the fortified positions." The commander of the Fourth Armored Corps, Nelson Matthews, is the king of land warfare.

De Gaulle looked at the group of southern African generals who were actively asking for the battle, and his expression was extremely envious.

(End of this chapter)