Chapter 196 Deutsche Patrol

Now, the pride of the German Navy is the Deutsche-class armored cruiser. This 10,000-ton-class warship powered by diesel engines is the most advanced warship before the new battleship is commissioned!

After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the three warships all set off from the German home port and started to sway in the Atlantic Ocean. In the last operation of looting the gold at sea, the three warships actually entered a state of combat readiness at any time, even if they risked and the Soviet Navy. The risk of firing, but also to protect their own actions.

And now, following new orders, two of the three warships, Deutsche and Admiral Scheer, have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea.

In the Atlantic, there are frequent storms, but in the Mediterranean, it is relatively calm. This flat climate makes some German sailors from the Atlantic somewhat uncomfortable.

On the Deutschland, Captain Luckins looked at the endless sea in the distance and was very emotional.

The Mediterranean Sea is also a very important place for Germany. The south here is Africa, the north is Europe, and many raw materials from Africa are transported here!

The German Navy must have sea power here!

"Report Captain, we are running out of fuel." Deputy Captain Lindeman told him.

In later generations, these two people are famous, they are the captain and vice-captain of the basesmarck, and now, the basesmarck is still under construction, and the two have partnered on the Deutschland.

The Deutschland uses diesel fuel and has a high endurance. However, they have been swaying at sea for more than two months after leaving the port, and the fuel, fresh water, and food on the warship have begun to run short.

"Meet up with our supply ships and signal to them," Luckins said. "We'll meet at Ibiza."

After speaking, Lukins added: "No need to encrypt the telegram."

Without encryption? The deputy captain was stunned for a moment. He saw a certain smile on Lukins' face and immediately understood.

After the German navy entered the Mediterranean in a mighty manner, it swayed for more than ten days and saw nothing! They didn't even win a battle, which is really boring for them!

Now, since there are no fighter planes, they can only create fighter planes on their own initiative, and Lukins has never lacked a sense of fighting.

Use unencrypted radio communications to deliberately reveal your whereabouts, so that the Air Force and Navy of the Spanish Republican Army will definitely come!

Just a few days ago, the Italian auxiliary cruiser Barletta was bombed by the Republican SB-2, resulting in the death of 6 people and the tragic consequences of injuring a large number of people, including the captain.

The Noodle Army's combat effectiveness is really too weak, not only on the ground, but even at sea, it is such a weak chicken!

When he heard the news, Lukins had already made up his mind to attract the Spanish Republican Army and beat them hard!

Now, after all, Spain did not directly declare war with Italy and Germany. The last time they bombed Italian warships, they quickly claimed that it was an accidental injury.

When the warships of the two countries approached the waters near Spain and blocked it, it aroused the extreme dissatisfaction of the Spanish Republican Army. Where did they accidentally hurt them, it was definitely intentional.

And now, since Lukins has made up his mind, of course he wants to fight a battle happily!

"Yes." Lindeman accepted the order and immediately went to give the order.

The 10,000-ton Deutschland, with its thick exhaust pipes emitting light blue smoke from diesel engines, headed for Ibiza.

The warship was sailing east, and at this time, the sun had reached the west, pulling the shadow of the Deutsches very long.

The time passed little by little, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon, and the Deutschland had successfully reached Issawi, while the supply ships were still on their way.

"Catapult carrier aircraft." Just before entering the dock, Lukins gave the order.

catapult!

In later generations, the steam catapult was a test of a country's industrial capabilities, and only the United States could build a qualified catapult, but now, to catapult a seaplane, only an ordinary hydraulic catapult is needed.

In the past, Deutsche was carrying He-60 seaplanes from Henschel, but now, it has been replaced by the newer monoplane Ar-196 seaplanes.

This is a carrier-based water reconnaissance aircraft designed and produced by the German Arado Aircraft Factory. In the competition, other companies are still using the old biplane layout, so this aircraft eventually won.

The Ar 196 uses a conventional lower wing layout. The wing is an all-metal structure, and the fuselage adopts a welded steel pipe structure. The biggest difference from the land aircraft is that it is equipped with two buoys.

When the seaplane takes off, it is carried out by ejection, but when it is landing, it can only land on the water and then be recovered by a crane. Therefore, the buoys are necessary. At the same time, there is a 300-liter fuel tank in each buoy. , supply oil through the oil pipe on the front support.

The Ar 196 has good maneuverability both in the air and on the water. After it was finalized, it became the standard configuration of the German Navy. All battleships and heavy cruisers were equipped with this seaplane. On the Deutschland, there were two.

Now, after receiving the order, the pilot Ludwig, who had been ready for a long time, sat in his cockpit, and behind him was his old partner, the observer and rear seat gunner Lucas.

"Please take off." Ludwig shouted in the radio. At this time, the BMW 123K radial 9-cylinder engine in front of him had made a huge roar, the accelerator was fully opened, and the engine reached an astonishing 960 horsepower!

This seaplane is deeply loved by the German Navy because of the high thrust-to-weight ratio brought by its excellent engine!

The streamlined shape of Ar 196 reduces air resistance, allowing this aircraft to reach a speed of 310 km/h at an altitude of 4,000 meters, making it unmatched by the same level of carrier-based water reconnaissance aircraft.

For example, the British Royal Navy's "Sea Fox" can only reach 200 km/h, and the US Navy's OS2U "Kingfisher" can only reach 265 km/h.

Not only does it have advantages over seaplanes, but even most biplane fighters are not as good as it is.

In addition, his practical ceiling reached 7,000 meters, a level comparable to some bombers and fighters in the late World War II.

catapult! Following Ludwig's request, a huge push back came, and the hydraulic catapult ejected the plane from the side of the Deutsche in just a few seconds!

Feeling lightness all over, Ludwig gently moved the lever to climb.