Iron Cross

On the British-Canadian route in late October, a US merchant fleet was heading to Great Britain under the protection of an escort force. No one could remember how many times this year the transport force had traveled from the North American continent to Great Britain. They only remembered that their number was NG-215. Since Germany took control of the Azores, the North Atlantic route has become increasingly unreliable. The HX fleet number in the early Atlantic War has gradually given way to a new number, NG, which means from Newfoundland to Great Britain.

The specific itinerary of the NG route is to start from Newfoundland, Canada, first head north to Greenland, then sail east until it reaches the same longitude as Iceland, then turn south to the mainland of Great Britain. This route is more than 1,000 kilometers farther than the original route from Newfoundland to the UK, but it is the safest way - only in this way can you avoid the dangerous radiation circle of 1,000 nautical miles in the Azores.

Now the Azores is a plague zone that all British and American sailors fear. Initially, in order to save some time, the sailors only avoided the Azores at a distance of about 800-1000 kilometers. They thought that the enemy would not easily discover the fleet and intercept it, but they did not expect that the combined attack aircraft and Ju-188 bombers deployed there had an unusually large coverage area. With the assistance of the Fw-200C Atlantic Vulture, they repeatedly intercepted merchant ships. Finally, they were forced to do nothing. The fleet route became farther and farther, and the detour became larger and larger.

However, taking this route can only avoid the aircraft on the Azores at most, but cannot avoid the endless German submarines. Almost all cargo ships departing from the United States or Canada have encountered submarines. Whether it is the S-type anti-submarine route or the escort system, it can only partially solve the problem of excessive losses, but cannot fundamentally solve the losses-the anti-submarine capabilities of Britain and the United States are increasing, and the scale and performance of German submarines are also increasing.

British and American naval experts estimate that Germany has at least 1,000 submarines. After the Mediterranean Sea completely became the Axis Sea, at least 80% of the submarines were deployed in the North Atlantic. This estimate is obviously slightly higher. The total number of German submarines has not yet exceeded 700, but the 70% ratio is estimated very appropriately. In addition to the Seawolf deployed in the Atlantic Ocean, the remaining 30% of German submarines are active in the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic, where relatively speaking, there are much fewer results.

The second estimate of the United Kingdom and the United States on German submarines is that the enemy has invested in new models, and the number accounts for at least 15% and is gradually increasing. This new model refers to the XXI type, which is a submarine that is truly born for disrupting trade, not a submersible warship. Its underwater diving speed can reach more than 17 knots, which is not only far faster than traditional submarines, but also faster than ordinary merchant ships. The British and American transport forces continue to take the S-shaped anti-submarine route and cannot avoid it at all. Instead, it will allow submarines to seize the opportunity to shorten the distance and snipe.

The XXI submarine also has a complete snorkel and silencing measures. Ordinary escort warships can't catch it at all. Most of the time, destroyers can only rely on sonar positioning and then launch hedgehog bombs for anti-submarine warfare, but the underwater high speed of the XXI submarine makes this method fail repeatedly - if the destroyer is not fast, the speed of its hedgehog bomb launch cannot keep up with the submarine's maneuvering; if the speed is fast, the sonar cannot be used due to the noise interference of the hull itself. Aircraft can also be used for anti-submarine warfare during the day, but for the XXI class, which can dive to a depth of more than 100 meters, it is simply looking for a needle in a haystack.

In order to overcome the influence of this type of submarine, British and American experts finally concluded that they should not take the evasive route. Freighters, mainly Victory, should rush straight at the highest speed in dangerous areas. Even if they suspect they will encounter submarines, they should not waste time launching anti-submarine operations. They can just rush through. As long as they sail for a day and a night to cross the Azores black hole blockade, the fleet will be safe. This suggestion seems absurd, but it turned out to be beneficial. The losses of the British and American fleets began to decline, because when the XXI was not in power, other submarines could not get an ideal torpedo launch position in the face of high-speed cargo ships.

However, this advantage was not obtained for a long time. With the rapid launch of the German XXI class, the loss rate of the Anglo-Canadian route began to rise steadily again. Most of the time, the figure was stable at 25%, and it soared to 30% in extreme cases (combined with a round trip, the ship loss rate was 40-50%). Such heavy losses would have stopped long ago, but Roosevelt, who knew the importance of Great Britain, thought after painful thinking that no matter how heavy the losses were, this transportation route must be maintained unless the Axis sent a surface fleet to completely cut off the route. The Allies must win the tonnage war. After all, the losses of German submarines were also consumed in the continuous anti-submarine process, and building a submarine and training enough sailors was definitely more troublesome than building a cargo ship.

This is the tacit tonnage war between the two sides: Is the transportation tonnage of the American tycoon greater or the anti-submarine tonnage of the German overlord greater? This head-on approach was what made Dönitz and Hoffmann feel most helpless.

In order to win the Atlantic transport war and avoid repeating the failure of strategic bombing due to heavy casualties, Roosevelt issued a series of decrees under the advice of his think tanks:

1. A cash reward of $500 was issued to seamen who successfully completed a transatlantic transport, with a minimum of $500, which was cumulatively issued based on rank, experience, and number of times. In 1943, $500 was not a small amount (1 ounce of gold was only $35, and $500 was equal to 405 grams of gold). Many people were willing to fight for this high reward;

2. The cargo ship prepares enough lifeboats and supplies. Once the ship is attacked, it immediately escapes to save its life. Generally speaking, German submarines are more chivalrous and will not attack lifeboats. After dawn, the escort ship will rescue the lifeboats. In order to speed up the escape, the United States A 100-ton diesel engine-powered speedboat was urgently developed, which was deeply loved by sailors - nicknamed the Shelter;

3. If the cargo ship is attacked midway, the escaping sailors will be rewarded after arriving in the UK (or Greenland), and they will not have to take a dangerous cargo ship on the return trip. The US Strategic Transport Team will fly them back home;

4. If you are unfortunately captured, please cooperate with the German side and take care of yourself. The United States will exchange other civilians with Germany;

5. If you are unfortunately killed in action, in addition to the reward, an additional pension will be paid, which will be implemented in accordance with the military regulations.

The somewhat funny-sounding policy is very targeted. The sailors have maintained high morale. There is a steady stream of middle-aged uncles willing to join the ocean shipping to earn the $500, and the prisoner exchange promised by the U.S. government is also being implemented - in After the "Loyalty Decree" continued to be promoted, Germans were imprisoned in concentration camps one after another, which was used to exchange sailors (none of which involved active personnel), and Portugal was happy to act as a broker. Of course, Hoffman had no choice but to allow the exchange of civilians, because after the promulgation of the Jewish nation-building plan, the exchange business of Jewish residents plummeted. Since he was the head of Germany, and the Voice of Europe repeatedly broadcast to encourage Germans and Italians to resist the United States The government has indeed achieved results, so it has to take these German families back and make proper arrangements.

So the Atlantic Tonnage War continued in an atmosphere where both sides couldn't stop. Since Hoffman was going to make an emergency landing in the UK, he had to tighten the rope around Fatty Qiu's neck. In addition, he needed to cooperate with Machar in the battle. The aircraft carrier break-up fleet was formed and went into battle for the first time, and its first opponent was NG-215.

"Damn..." A shrill broadcast sounded, and the escort aircraft carrier Casablanca immediately went into chaos. Captain Richmond, the captain and commander of the escort formation, smashed his fist on the railing and cursed, "It's so annoying again. Atlantic Inspector!”

Atlantic Inspector is the nickname given to the Ju-290C by British and American naval officers and sailors. Usually after this thing appears, German submarines or attack aircraft groups will follow closely, so there is a nickname that reflects the emotion more - "The Plague God" The power of the Atlantic Supervisor is so significant that he is the first target of attack by escort aircraft carrier aircraft. Sailors often joke with each other or swear: "If I tell lies, I will hit the Atlantic Ocean as soon as I go out." Inspector!"

"Tonight is destined to be another difficult night." Although the formation has two latest Casablanca escort aircraft carriers and two Borg-class aircraft carriers, Richmond knows very well that at night, the carrier-based aircraft will not be of much use, and the escort aircraft carriers Or the cargo ship's huge size will become the first obvious target.

"The target is determined, a large fleet, with 23 Victory-class cargo ships, 4 escort aircraft carriers, and 6 destroyers. The center is located in the AS91 sea area, the route is 84 degrees, and the speed is 14 knots..." Facing the approaching carrier The Atlantic Inspector turned around and climbed away gracefully, sending out the collected information as he retreated - a cat and mouse game he had become very skilled at.

"Sir, the enemy fleet has been spotted. It looks very fat..." On the Dunkirk, the confidential staff officer handed the telegram to the formation commander, Major General Hintz.

"How far away are we?"

"About 600 kilometers."

Hinz nodded and looked at the time. It was exactly 2 o'clock in the afternoon. According to the opponent's interception speed, the distance between the two sides at 4 o'clock would be about 450 kilometers. It was a very ideal striking distance. After the fight, you could still escape under the cover of night. The remaining small fish and shrimps are left to the submarine force.

"The reconnaissance aircraft is ready immediately and will be released in 15 minutes. Pay attention to the 300-kilometer sea area around the search target; the attack aircraft has completed preparations for attack to prevent Americans from fishing. The fleet is currently moving forward at full speed." Although the target is tempting, Hintz is calmer, just in case. What about the British and American main fleets following behind? The fleet is used to break diplomatic relations, not to confront the enemy head-on.

At 2:15, four Ar-352s (Caiyun Kai) took off into the sky and quickly rushed towards the target...