I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 754 I Have Tried My Best

The World War was a great reckoning that not only destroyed the four major empires, but also exposed Britain's weaknesses and made people have a clearer understanding of the strength of the British Empire.

The Royal Navy is still the most powerful navy in the world, but this "most" is no longer exclusive to the Royal Navy and is facing strong challenges from the United States and Russia.

Russia has once again proved with its strength that the name of "European Gendarmerie" is well-deserved. As long as it is on land, no one can be Russia's opponent.

When the world's most powerful army meets the world's most powerful navy, is Russia's spear sharper, or is the Royal Navy's shield stronger?

As the "Oly" accelerated towards the British destroyer fleet, the button to end the peace was in the hands of Andrew Cunningham, commander of the destroyer division.

Andrew Cunningham was born in 1883 and entered the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth at the age of ten, starting his naval career.

Andrew Cunningham made many military achievements during the World War and became the commander of the destroyer division last year.

"Alexander called, no firing unless necessary."

Chief of Staff John Tovey delivers the latest orders from Alexandria.

"Fuck it!"

Cunningham blurted out.

This order is really inhumane.

Such ambiguous wording is most taboo in military orders.

What kind of situation can be called "necessary"?
If firing occurs and a conflict breaks out between Britain and Russia, who will be held responsible?
Will Commander Roger Keyes of the Mediterranean Fleet take the blame for Cunningham?
Most likely not.

Roger Keyes was born in 1872, just like George. He had a very rich resume. While traveling in Brazil in 1892, he participated in the uprising of the Brazilian Navy and launched a coup.

In 1900, Roger Keyes joined the Eight-Nation Alliance in invading the Qing Empire.

During the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, the Russian fleet mistakenly attacked a British fishing boat while passing through the English Channel. This was also Roger Keyes's doing.

During World War II, Roger Keyes led his troops to attack the German submarine base at Zeebrugge, achieving partial success and thus becoming famous.

During the Russian Civil War, Roger Keyes advised the British government to intervene in the Russian Civil War.

To put it bluntly, it is taking advantage of someone's misfortune.

"Order all ships not to open fire under any circumstances."

Cunningham's orders were very different from Roger Keyes'.

If the Royal Navy scores 100 points, the Russian Navy will score at least 60.

If the Russian Army fights 100, the British Army might only be in single digits.

This is where Kusyazov’s confidence comes from.

Don't listen to the media exaggerating Britain's strength. During the Russo-Japanese War, the fleet was no match for the shore-based artillery, and now it is even less able to do so because of the emergence of the air force.

After the end of the Balkan War, Britain upgraded the anti-aircraft firepower of all its warships. However, this did not fundamentally solve the problem because aviation technology was also improving. Today's aircraft are more advanced than those during the Balkan War.

What’s even more frightening is that the Royal Navy has always been wary of Russian submarines and doesn’t even know how many submarines Russia is equipped with.

Russia's submarine force performed very well during the Russo-Japanese War and also performed well during the Balkan Wars.

Now that Russia has acquired German submarine technology, it has become even more powerful and threatening to the Royal Navy.

It is said that experts look at the doorway, while laymen just watch the excitement.

Even if the Royal Navy was praised to the skies, its battleships could not enter the Suez Canal.

It is even more impossible to drive ashore.

In this year's Russian autumn exercises, the Amur Military District has been equipped with amphibious armored vehicles.

The Russian Mediterranean Fleet used a new type of torpedo to attack the target ship, hitting 6 out of 6. If this is true, the Royal Navy will face a catastrophe once the war breaks out.

Since the invention of torpedoes, stability has not been a problem. While the hit rate is impressive, it may also misfire when hitting the target. Therefore, until now, Britain still regards battleships as the truth.

It would be understandable if the Russians inflated the data.

If the Russians didn't add water, they would really hit 6 out of 6 -

impossible.

In Cunningham's view, the Russians' performance was not only amateurish, but also reckless and arrogant.

But it was this unreasonable style of play that left Cunningham at a loss.

If a real fight breaks out, a British destroyer could severely damage civilian ships with just one shell.

If a collision really happens, the destroyer with a smaller displacement will suffer heavy casualties even if it wins.

Faced with the aggressive "Oly", the restrained "Barkley" destroyer took the initiative to approach and tried to force the "Oly" to change course.

The Russians were indeed amateurs. There was no one on the deck of the Buckley, and all the sailors were in combat positions.

The deck of the "Oly" was crowded with Russian officers and soldiers who were watching the fun and were not afraid of falling into the sea.

Seeing the "Barkley" approaching, the Russian officers and soldiers on the deck of the "Oly" began to curse loudly and use foul language. Two non-commissioned officers even carried a basket of tomatoes out of the kitchen and asked the Cossacks to smash them for fun.

For Russians who play Russian roulette, it's just a game.

Seeing the two ships getting closer, the Russian officers and soldiers on the "Oly" not only did not leave, but were eager to give it a try.

Cunningham was shocked. He thought that these Russians were probably planning to join his forces.

Boarding is a tactic from the Age of Sail, often used to subdue smuggling ships.

In modern naval warfare, boarding the ship is no different from jumping into the sea to commit suicide.

Question: If a Russian soldier falls into the sea and drowns, whose responsibility is it?
Given the character of the Russians, it must be the Royal Navy's responsibility.

"Let them go—"

Cunningham sighed.

"What about our mission?"

John Tovey's face was full of bitterness. It is true that the arrogant are afraid of the stupid, and the stupid are afraid of the desperate.

"We have tried our best. We took the initiative to avoid it because we don't want to provoke a war between Russia and the British Empire."

Cunningham is not afraid of being held accountable, and the British Empire has its own national conditions.

The biggest feature of the UK is that officials do not have to be held responsible for mistakes, and the phrase "I have tried my best" is always a panacea.

Russians never make excuses for failure. Even when the Tsar committed suicide after being defeated in the war, Russia did not complain. It tried to get back the ground it had lost.

When the news reached the League of Nations that the League of Nations army had bravely broken through the blockade of the British Mediterranean Fleet and successfully entered the Canal Zone, Nicholas the Younger was furious and proposed to reward those relevant personnel who had performed outstandingly.

Nicholas the Younger believed that the first credit should go to the British commander Henry, because Henry gave a stirring speech before the League of Nations army took action, which greatly boosted morale.

Regardless of whether Henry was willing to accept the award, Balfour was so angry that he was hospitalized for treatment.

Little Nicholas was helpless.

Another person is hospitalized. Can you find a fresher excuse?

(End of this chapter)