Chapter 316 Disadvantages

"A fleet was spotted in the Tyrrhenian Sea?" Montgomery was stunned when he heard this, and then his eyes quickly fell on the map and asked, "The exact location?"

The staff officer looked at the telegram, then found a point on the map and replied, "Here, this is the data from half an hour ago!"

Montgomery looked up at Eisenhower, and both of them realized that the opportunity had come.

Although the Tyrrhenian Sea is only more than 100 kilometers away from Tunisia and is within the combat radius of the German 27th Air Wing, the three-point German fleet is about the same distance from Tunisia and Malta... So, when the German fighter planes received the intelligence and took off urgently to reinforce the Tyrrhenian Sea, it was probably too late, because by the time they arrived, the battle might have been over.

"Order 'L27'!" Montgomery ordered: "Continue to track the German fleet and report your position at any time!" (Note: "L27" refers to the British L-class submarine, an old submarine produced during World War I)

"Yes!"

"Order the Air Force to prepare for battle!"

"Yes!"

"Order the fleet to leave the port immediately!"

"Yes!"

...

Obviously, Montgomery wanted to do something big.

Montgomery's plan was very simple, which was to give full play to the numerical advantage of the British air force and divide the troops into two parts:

One part was purely composed of air force, that is, to sneak attack the German fleet in the Tyrrhenian Sea across Sicily.

Montgomery believed that this would severely damage the German fleet. This was based on Montgomery's understanding of German warships... To be precise, it was based on his understanding of French warships. For example, the "Dunkirk" class, whose main anti-aircraft firepower was dozens of 130MM caliber secondary guns, but its elevation angle was only 75 degrees, which made a large area of ​​airspace directly above the French fleet almost an air defense blind spot.

In response to this, the British Air Force can make corresponding targeted tactics, with fighters approaching the enemy fleet from high altitude, and then lowering their altitude to carry out low-altitude bombing when entering a blind spot... At this time, the British fighters almost do not need to consider the enemy's anti-aircraft firepower.

Then, Montgomery estimated that the German 27th Air Wing would be dispatched in large numbers to provide air cover for the fleet.

So the second part, that is, the mixed force of fighters covering the fleet took this opportunity to break through the Tunisian Strait with all their strength.

It can be imagined that the main force of the German Air Force was attracted to the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the German Navy suffered a heavy blow. With the British Army in control of the air, the German Navy would definitely be defeated by the British fighters and fleet.

If everything developed according to Montgomery's plan, the German Navy would be defeated before it could react to what was going on, and Raeder's dream of reviving the navy would be shattered at the first time.

But there will always be unexpected things on the battlefield. What Montgomery did not expect was that Qin Chuan was on the German Navy flagship "Dunkirk".

"I'm afraid you're too late!" Darlan smiled gloatingly and said, "I'd love to see you and my warships sink to the bottom of the sea under the British fighter planes!"

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, General!" Qin Chuan replied, "We can meet up before the British fighter planes arrive! Unless the British planes take off now... but you know, they need to make some preparations, such as refueling, loading bombs, and then taking off and assembling in the air. In this way, they will not be able to carry out the bombing for at least two hours!"

"I don't deny this, Lieutenant!" Darlan replied, "But I don't know if you realize that the French Navy is very special..."

"Are you talking about the air defense capabilities of warships?" Qin Chuan interrupted Darlan.

The French Navy is indeed very special, and there is a reason why its fleet has weak air defense capabilities... France thinks it has Britain, a naval power, as an ally in the Atlantic direction, so it doesn't worry about maritime threats at all. Therefore, its navy is mainly established and developed for the Mediterranean to protect the transportation lines from France to the colonies and to pose a threat to Mediterranean countries.

The distance between the Mediterranean is not far, and there are many islands in the middle where airports can be built. Therefore, many people think that it is unnecessary to use warships for air defense. France's fighters taking off from land can meet all the needs of air supremacy... Italy also considers this point, so like France, it thinks that aircraft carriers are completely unnecessary.

Although this point was later proved to be completely wrong, everyone thought so at the time.

This caused the performance of French warships to focus on protection and anti-sea, anti-ground firepower, and anti-aircraft firepower... When the British launched the "Catapult Plan", Darlan realized that a few outdated fighters and bombers taking off from the British "Eagle" aircraft carrier could severely damage the French "Richelieu" battleship, which is known as the strongest and most advanced in the world.

"Hmm!" Darlan replied: "It seems that you have realized this, so you should know... Even if your two ships can meet, it will be useless, it will only increase your losses!"

"That may not be the case!" After some calculations on the map, Raeder and his staff raised their heads with some relief.

"Let's wait and see!" Darlan said.

Raeder ignored Darlan and turned to Qin Chuan and said, "We will reunite at full speed, which will take about an hour and a half!"

"Do you have an air defense rehearsal?" Qin Chuan asked.

"Of course!" Raeder replied.

"Can I know how to do it?" Qin Chuan asked again.

Raeder was confused. He couldn't believe that Qin Chuan really wanted to teach the navy how to fight.

But because Qin Chuan pointed out the flaw in his exercise plan at a glance, he patiently replied: "The 130MM secondary gun is responsible for long-range air defense, trying to intercept enemy fighters outside the safety line. The 37MM anti-aircraft gun and 13.7MM anti-aircraft machine gun are responsible for close-range air defense inside the line..."

Darlang couldn't help laughing. He had suffered in this regard before, so he knew that this was not feasible.

Of course, Darlang would not explain the reason.

"I'm afraid this won't work, Marshal!" Qin Chuan said: "Enemy fighters will approach from high altitude and dive bomb when they enter the blind spot of our 130MM secondary guns!"

Darlang looked at Qin Chuan in surprise. He couldn't imagine that these words came from an army lieutenant.

"Wow!" Colonel Slain looked at Darlan's expression and said proudly: "General Darlan, the lieutenant hit the nail on the head. He is right, isn't he?"

"Whatever you think!" Darlan said: "Even if it is true, you still can't find a solution, right?"

Raeder turned his eyes to Qin Chuan. He suddenly realized that he really needed this army lieutenant to teach him how to fight.