The Rise of the Third Reich

Before the four-plane formation led by Garland shot down the "Swordfish" torpedo bomber, a radio wave was sent back to the "Ark Royal" aircraft carrier from the "Swordfish" aircraft. Subsequently, Vice Admiral Whitworth, commander of Force G with the battlecruiser "Hood" as its flagship, immediately decided to launch an air attack. Knowing that the performance of British carrier-based aircraft was poor, Lieutenant General Whitworth decided to overwhelm the opponent with numerical superiority and risked all the carrier-based aircraft on the "Ark Royal" to form a fleet of 57 aircraft (including 3 "Swords"). "Fish" aircraft did not return from a reconnaissance mission, one of which had been shot down). Major Joseph Lee served as the offensive commander, and a three-aircraft formation (three "large" aircraft led by Lieutenant Johnson of the 803 Fighter Squadron) "gull") as the lead engine. The "Ark Royal" formation quickly climbed to an altitude of 3,000 meters and headed south to look for the German break-up fleet.

About 100 nautical miles behind Fleet G, Fleet F's "Hundred-Eyed Giant" also dispatched 15 "Swordfish", flying slowly southward. To the south of the German break-up fleet, the "Eagle" aircraft carrier of the British Fleet H also dispatched 15 "Swordfish" aircraft.

At the same time, nine German Fokker 99 aircraft also took off from the aircraft carrier "Seidlitz", forming a small attack formation and flying towards the British AB-1 formation less than 100 nautical miles to the northeast. . They had received orders in advance: Just hit them! This is because Lieutenant General Machar hopes to use the cannon of the "Scharnhorst" to kill tonight. Therefore, it is hoped that the Fokker 99 can damage as many British merchant ships as possible.

In addition, Lieutenant General Machar also sent a telegram to the submarine force lurking in the waters north of the Azores Islands, asking them to come immediately (a distance of nearly 400 nautical miles).

The first thing to be bombed was the British AB-1 escort fleet. The AB-1 fleet, consisting of more than 80 large merchant ships and 12 escorting cruisers and destroyers, was too large and occupied a large area of ​​​​the ocean. It was difficult to avoid detection. They are all difficult.

The nine Fokker 99s immediately dispersed, and in a formation of three aircraft, they launched an attack on three large merchant ships and succeeded quickly. One of the 10,000-ton bulk carriers named "Thames" was hit by an SC-250 (because it was attacking a merchant ship, the Fokker 99 did not carry armor-piercing bombs, but used a modified SC-250). A large oil tanker named "Bengali Princess" was hit by two SC-250s and burst into flames at sea. There was also a freighter called the "Helena" filled with steel that was hit by an SC-250.

News of the attack on the AB-1 fleet quickly reached Admiral Forbes's "Revenge" battleship.

"Admiral, Colonel Walburton Lee of the AB-1 fleet requested to disband the formation." Major General Phillips said to Admiral Forbes.

"Not allowed!" General Forbes rejected Colonel Walburton Lee's suggestion without hesitation.

"Admiral, the Germans are using a carrier-based dive bomber to attack the AB-1 fleet!" Major General Phillips reminded, "Colonel Walburton Lee reported that this aircraft is very accurate in bombing and can almost compete with Compared with our 'Big Gull', if we let them explode a few more times, the losses of AB-1 will be very large."

"It doesn't matter!" Admiral Forbes said, "We can bear it...and only by bearing such losses can we catch the German break-up fleet." He said solemnly, "The British Empire cannot allow an enemy nation to The surface fleet is roaming the Atlantic Ocean!"

Although German submarines achieved very huge results in September (because there were as many as 300 German submarines, British losses were more than double those in history), but compared to the British merchant fleet with a total tonnage of 21 million tons, In other words, the losses are still within the tolerable range.

Moreover, starting in October, the climate in the North Atlantic deteriorated, the activities of German submarines were subject to many restrictions, and British losses were reduced. Therefore, the British can still afford the loss of merchant ships...as long as the losses are valuable!

"Although we have more than a hundred combat ships," Forbes said, "as long as the opponent is determined to escape, we can only use 'Hood' and 'Ark Royal' to chase them. Because other battleships and aircraft carriers cannot catch up with them. , and the heavy cruiser will definitely not be able to defeat the 'Scharnhorst', but the 'Hood' and the 'Royal Ark' have no speed advantage and can easily lose track of their opponents.

If our carrier-based aircraft attack fails, then we will have to pay a huge price to keep them here...until tonight! "

"At night?" Major General Phillips shook his head, "But the German ship has radar."

The British also have radars and have begun to install them on warships. But they were still half a beat slower than Germany. The "Scharnhorst", "Seidlitz" and "Leipzig" all had "Metronome" radars. On the British side, only a few "air defense ships" are equipped with radars. In addition, the battlecruiser "Reputation" also has radars used for experiments (an experimental version of the famous 279 radar).

"I know!" said Charles Forbes. "It is precisely because the enemy ships have radars that they choose to stay and fight at night... There are so many injured and burning merchant ships on the sea. It is so easy to sink them, so why give up? ? The worst thing is to leave at full speed before dawn, with the cover of the Fokker Zero, we will lose them soon, right? "

"Following" is almost certain! You can imagine it from the fact that British reconnaissance planes were shot down one after another - this was the result of German surface ships using radar to guide the Fokker Zero attack!

If the British "Walrus" and "Swordfish" are wiped out, it will naturally be impossible to continue tracking. What's more, when planes can't take off at night, the vast Atlantic Ocean is pitch black. Where can I find German warships?

If we really achieve such a result, the British Empire, the world hegemon, will lose all face. Not only will international friends be shaken, but even the voice for peace within the UK may become louder.

…

"Garland, the radar has detected an unknown aircraft group! In front of you at 11 o'clock on the left, the altitude is about 3000, the distance is about 8000... Immediately occupy the 4000-meter altitude attack position!"

Adolf Galland heard Lieutenant Colonel Weiss's order from the earphone. This time the target is a British dive bomber! Although no one could tell the difference between torpedo bombers and dive bombers on the radar screen, Lieutenant Colonel Weiss still did not dare to neglect and ordered Garand's four Fokker Zeros to occupy high-altitude positions. At the same time, 12 Fokker Zeros were dispatched to occupy low-altitude positions to block the "Swordfish" aircraft. In addition, four Fokker Zeros also rose into the sky and hovered above the aircraft carrier in case of emergency.

"Everyone, protecting aircraft carriers and battleships is your top priority!" Lieutenant Colonel Weiss finally ordered loudly on the intercom, "I don't ask you to shoot down many enemy planes, just drive them away. You are not allowed to stay away from the fleet at any time. !do you understand?"

"Understood, Lieutenant Colonel!" Garland agreed, and then led his formation to fly to the designated airspace. He and his men were veterans of the Spanish wars, having also fought over Poland and over Scapa Flow. Of course, you won't get carried away with excitement as soon as you join the war - forgetting the primary task of protecting the fleet!

"Major, we found them, there are so many aircraft!" The wingman's voice soon came from the earphones, "At 12 o'clock, 1,000 meters below, they seem to be reorganizing!"

Major Garland looked over and immediately took a breath. It was a huge fleet composed of dozens of aircraft! Most of them are biplanes, probably the old-fashioned-looking "Swordfish". There are also about a dozen monoplanes that are climbing hard, as if they want to seize the advantageous altitude.

"We can't let them climb on top of us!" Garland roared, "Let's dive first and see if we can force them to throw away the bomb!"

4 versus 12, Garland is at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers. However, in terms of aircraft performance, the Fokker Zero is much better than the "Big Gull". So there is no problem in shooting down a few. The problem is that once these planes enter the dive position, the three warships on the sea will be in trouble.

The British also discovered Garland's 4-plane formation at this time, but they did not immediately throw them away and bomb them to escape. Instead, a three-machine formation was formed, dropped bombs, and then rushed forward, trying to entangle four Fokker Zeros.

"Don't fight with them!" Although Garland didn't see clearly whether the opponent dropped the bomb, his experience in aerial combat told him that the opponent would definitely not hang a bomb to die. "The remaining 9 are our target!"

As he spoke, he led his formation to use speed to bypass the three "Big Gulls" blocking the gun holes, and pounced on the nine "Big Gulls" forming a dive formation at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

The nine "Big Gulls" were startled by four Fokker Zeros, and then three more "Big Gulls" dropped bombs and rushed to block them. This time the distance between the two sides was very close. Garland did not choose to dodge, but ordered to fire.

Four Fokker Zeros fought against three "Big Ou"s, and the Fokker Zeros also occupied high altitudes. This was a battle without any suspense, and soon a "Big Gull" fell down dragging thick smoke. Garland did not pay attention to the remaining two "Big Gulls" and the three "Big Gulls" that were still slowly chasing behind. Instead, he went straight towards the six "Big Gulls" that had just formed a dive formation. These six "big gulls" seemed to be frightened birds, and they quickly dropped their bombs and fled.

A dive bomber attack was easily crushed by four Fokker Zeros. At the same time, 12 Fokker Zeros also launched an attack on 45 bi-wing "Swordfish" aircraft...