Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Norwegian Naval Battles

"The British navy will soon be overwhelmed! How can there be any spirit to take care of the mess in Norway!" Akado waved his hand and said, with a look of contempt hidden in his blue eyes. He is still very satisfied with Raeder's political vision and loyalty, but Raeder has always advocated the cautious use of the naval fleet, which made Akado feel that he is a bit too timid.

Moreover, it is impossible for the navy to have reinforcements in a short period of time. The other two Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers are still in the dock. The anti-submarine model lacks the basic capability of independent combat.

Of course, Akado also realized the shortcomings of the fleet's over-reliance on aircraft carrier capabilities, and ordered the naval shipyard to build four artillery-type cruisers and 12 destroyers. The main gun has basically the same firepower as the British and American destroyers of the same period. Its role is to serve as an assault ship and a ship for close protection of the aircraft carrier, in order to avoid interference from the opponent's small ships.

In fact, there is this role in the German Navy, but there are too few of them. Germany has three Lützow-class armored ships. These warships were built in the first naval renewal plan. But it can compete with cruisers. These warships were originally used as assault ships for sneak attacks, but now they are used as "large destroyers" along with the German Navy's High Seas Fleet. Their following also prevented the High Seas Fleet of the German Navy from being driven away by several enemy cruisers at night.

The main gun of this armored ship has a caliber of 283mm, which is enough to deal with any British destroyer and cruiser, and its speed of up to 26 knots is a breeze to accompany the aircraft carrier. In addition, it can install a large radar system that cannot be installed on the destroyer. The distance of 37 kilometers near the aircraft carrier also gave Lütjens a lot of peace of mind.

None of these three warships participated in the battle off the Netherlands, because at that time they were undergoing refitting in Wilhelmshaven, adding and refitting anti-aircraft gun systems, and installing high-power radars. It can be said that this battle in the Norwegian Sea is their first battle after the refitting is completed.

Akado looked at the embarrassed Raidel, sighed and continued: "General Raider, the combat missions that the Imperial Navy needs to perform in the future will be more difficult and dangerous. When the enemy is engaged in a decisive battle at sea, how can I hand over a larger fleet to you?"

"Führer! I... I will transfer Lütjens back from the Norwegian waters! Are we leaving a few warships in Norway to defend against British interference?" Raeder just pulled himself together for a few seconds before revealing Contrary to his cautious nature: "If the British navy lands in Norway, destroys port facilities, interferes with iron ore production... then we will not lose more than we gain?"

"Even if the British land in Norway, do you think my H Group Army and the hundreds of planes of the Air Force are just for display?" Akado laughed: "General Weicks will take them to the sea. The action is at most just sending us some prisoners of war,

Impossible to succeed. "

"Since the head of state is so determined, I will order the implementation of this plan immediately after I go back!" Raeder nodded, agreeing with Akado.

This is also the reason why Akado insisted on using Raeder, the supreme commander of the navy. Although Raeder's combat command ability is average, he is very loyal and obedient. It can be said that as long as Akado insists on things, he will eventually do it. There is such a person who has never had a problem with political alignment and is watching the scene in the highest command structure of the navy, and Akado has endured the defect of his mediocre ability.

"Also! The Air Force's secret plan is about to be implemented! General Catherine, this plan is not only a tactical plan, but also a strategic plan. Once this plan is successful, it will completely change the morale comparison between the enemy and us. Do you understand? "Akado looked at his beloved subordinate Catherine again.

Compared with Raeder's weakness of poor loyalty, Catherine and Dick are undoubtedly the Rommel and Guderian of the Air Force. These two people are both capable and loyal to Akado. It really made Accardo sigh for the abundance of German talent pool.

"My head of state, the plan is being implemented in full swing, and soon you will receive a report on the success of the operation." Catherine replied immediately.

Now that the issues that need to be finalized have been confirmed, Akado will leave the two of them to have lunch together. For dinner, Akado will meet with a large group of politicians and high-ranking officials, and he has already booked it out, so he told Anna that he might rush Don’t go back——Here’s a friendly reminder, what the man said may not come back, please ladies translate it into “don’t come back”.

...

And at the same moment when Akado held the meeting, in the icy waters of the Norwegian Sea, Germany's huge high seas naval fleet was moving slowly.

"Bell!" Suddenly, a rapid alarm rang through the interior of the Imperial aircraft carrier, and all the crew members were running to their combat positions. Just a few minutes ago, a reconnaissance plane more than a hundred kilometers away passed An intelligence report was returned, and more than three British naval combat ships were discovered.

Lütjens did not dare to be careless, and immediately ordered the entire fleet to enter a first-level alert state. All crew members must be in place, and immediately took off the reconnaissance plane to confirm all directions of the entire fleet, so as not to miss the main fleet of the Royal Navy.

The combat staff is urgently checking all kinds of intelligence information, some of which come from the British mainland, and the news clearly states that the main fleet of the British Navy was still in the port a day ago and there is no sign of attack; some are from the submarine force, reporting that they did not find the British on the route. The case of large fleets.

"General! According to the intelligence analysis, it is impossible for the main British fleet to appear in this position. Several intelligence channels have also proved that the British navy has not left the mainland." A staff officer frowned and said: "This should be just a British squadron."

"Report! General, the Air Force's reconnaissance plane has reconfirmed the size and movement of the targets in the warning area." The Air Force Liaison Officer put down the phone in his hand and said to Lütjens: "The enemy has five destroyers, which are sailing at high speed. Now, this speed is not the speed of a large-scale fleet."

"Order all aircraft carriers to take off 5 planes each. The Empire and Zeppelin take off from the Stuka, and the Bismarck and Tirpitz take off the FW-190 fighter jets to form a bomber formation and attack the destroyer fleet." Lu Tejens drew a circle on his chart with a surveying tool, then frowned and ordered: "The rest of the planes, mount bombs and torpedoes, and prepare for the second wave of attack."

"Report, General. The radars of the destroyers in other directions were turned on to confirm that no suspicious targets were found." At this time, the naval staff confirmed the information transmitted by other ships, and said: "I have ordered two destroyers to enter the core of the fleet for anti-submarine warfare. , and the rest of the ships maintain their positions and continue to be vigilant."

"Very good!" Lütjens saw that 20 planes had formed a flight formation in the sky and flew towards the target, so he nodded and said, "Continue to send reconnaissance planes in other directions. The sea area is absolutely safe!"

"Yes! General!" The staff officer saluted and took orders.

At this time, the atmosphere on the warship became less tense. Because of the attack distance of the carrier-based aircraft, the fist-to-meat mode of shelling each other with giant cannons in the past has become a long and uneventful wait.

"Help me make a cup of coffee." Lütjens said to the adjutant following behind him: "I will wait for the results in the lounge next door. If there is any news, come and inform me immediately."

"Follow orders! General!" The adjutant nodded his head and retreated.

Soon the aviation unit flew over the target, and found that the British fleet that came to provoke this time looked like a decoy. These five British destroyers are all relatively old World War I destroyers. Their own anti-aircraft firepower is very weak, and because of their age and design problems, their speed is not as fast as that of German destroyers.

It is hard to imagine the mood of the German pilots after seeing these destroyers. The FW-190 fighter jets carrying rockets and small bombs began to climb, because they suspected that this was a trap and the British fighter jets were ambushing around. They found nothing after a few minutes. Spot any traces of the RAF.

The Stuka bombers began to test the attack, and it took only one round of dive to blow up an old British destroyer in two. The British fleet was unwilling to fight and began to retreat. However, the Luftwaffe, who had found out the truth, did not give these destroyers any chance. Under repeated attacks, these British destroyers were soon sunk or caught fire.

A Norwegian naval battle that should have been huge turned into a one-sided massacre. The British Navy did not sink any German ships this time, but was sunk a full 5 destroyers. The British surface ships off the coast of Norway were wiped out as soon as they appeared, which seems to prove once again that the German Navy is not what it used to be.

Half an hour later, the news of the complete annihilation of the British fleet returned together with another 20 planes rushing to reinforce it, and none of the dozens of planes sent out for reconnaissance found any suspicious targets, and the battle was truly over. Although it was only a small victory against the destroyer, Lütjens still celebrated with a bottle of champagne on the bridge according to tradition.

While everyone was drinking champagne, a telegram from the Berlin Navy General Staff came from afar. The above content made Lütjens restrain his smile and gave the order for the fleet to go south. The content of the telegram is very simple: The Supreme Command of the Empire ordered to implement the "Power Cutoff Plan".