Chapter 974 Nimitz's Counterattack (7)

"Alarm lifted..."

"Sir, the enemy reconnaissance plane has been driven away."

"Still haven't caught up?"

"No." The aviation staff shook his head awkwardly, "F4U is faster than F6F. Today we were just a little bit away from catching this German reconnaissance plane."

"But after all, we didn't catch it, didn't we?" Nimitz smiled faintly, "It seems it's still not fast enough."

The inability to catch the Axis reconnaissance plane has almost become a headache for US Navy fighter pilots. At any altitude, the speed of the F6F carrier-based fighter commonly used by the US Navy is not as fast as the Ar-352 used by the German army. Even if it is improved to the F6F-5 model, it can't keep up with the speed of the Ar-352, and it is repeatedly defeated.

Because of this, the Navy made up its mind to improve the F4U day and night, and finally used the faster main carrier-based fighter. It was thought that this time it would definitely beat the German reconnaissance plane, but it was unexpected that the Ar-352 was also constantly improving.

After the BMW 901 series engines matured, the Ar-352, which had a remaining interface, took the opportunity to upgrade and replaced it with a new 901 engine with a turbocharger. The normal horsepower output is 2,400 horsepower, and it can reach 2,700 horsepower after taking drugs (only lasting 15 minutes). The improved new model is called Ar-452, which is more than 60 kilograms heavier than Ar-352. The maximum speed is increased from 637 kilometers/hour to 649 kilometers/hour (6,000 meters above sea level), and the emergency speed under drug state is increased from 671 kilometers/hour to 688 kilometers/hour.

The range is slightly reduced. The maximum range is reduced from 3,000 kilometers to 2,700 kilometers without auxiliary fuel tanks, and from 5,000 kilometers to 4,500 kilometers with auxiliary fuel tanks. After comprehensive consideration, it is believed that it still exceeds the performance of the previous generation.

Although the maximum speed of the F4U exceeded 710 kilometers per hour, that was achieved at high altitude. At about 6,000 meters, it just exceeded the normal level flight speed of the Ar-452. When the German pilot activated the MW50 drug system and forcibly increased the power, causing the aircraft to emit a cloud of green smoke, the F4U could not catch up again.

Smith was quite embarrassed that he could not catch up with the reconnaissance plane, but he did not know that this was the most successful pursuit - in the past, American pilots had not even forced the Germans to use the drug system.

After the US fleet was exposed in the Recife area, in order to have a chance for the Germans to bite the bait, Nimitz deliberately swaggered towards El Salvador, with anti-submarine exercises, air defense training, and a Z-shaped anti-submarine route. It took 4 days to travel less than 700 kilometers, but in the end it was all in vain. The expected German fleet did not appear at all. He had no choice but to let Hewitt's transport fleet enter the port to unload the cargo, and he continued to lead the main fleet to stay in the open sea.

German reconnaissance planes came three times in four days, but there was no news of any enemy fleet. El Salvador and Recife dispatched hundreds of B-29s every day to perform reconnaissance missions, and the farthest distance was as far as the coast of West Africa and the La Plata River. In Rio Port, more than a dozen transport ships were seen leaving the port and heading towards Argentina, but the German fleet was still not found - the fleet with three aircraft carriers and three battleships seemed to have disappeared invisibly. Several aircraft were lost for this, all of which were shot down by the Ta-152H - the B-29 could not fly as fast as the Ar-452, and a single soldier would die if caught by the Ta-152.

"Including this time, this is the fourth time the Germans have conducted reconnaissance. I bet that the reconnaissance plane just now is definitely not a carrier-based aircraft, but a land-based aircraft deployed in Rio." Smith scratched his head in distress, "Do you think they will go around South Africa and return home via the Suez Canal?"

"I don't think so. The Germans are playing hide-and-seek with us. They are stalling for time."

"Delay?"

Nimitz smiled bitterly: "They are waiting for the reinforcement fleet from the mainland to arrive in Brazil. There are at least 4 fleet aircraft carriers and 5 battleships there - this is a very cunning opponent, and he knows our weaknesses well."

Everyone knows what the American weakness is - time.

Originally, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's idea, they did not intend to fight before sufficient army forces were deployed in place. Even if the American Republic had actually been established, the United States intended to endure and buy time for the next stage of defense. By the same token, Truman knew that Churchill's coup was ill-intentioned, but in order to stall for time and prevent the two aircraft carriers from falling into the hands of the Germans, he still supported the other side.

But both wishes were ruthlessly shattered: the British coup took away Marshal Pound, Task Force 101 and 100,000 US troops; the Brazilian coup took away the army divisions and related aviation units stationed in Brazil. Germany's support for the Dutra regime broke the worst expectations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, forcing them to jump directly to the front, which led to the introduction of Nimitz's offensive plan.

After finally getting the opportunity to attack, the target to be attacked disappeared again, which made Nimitz feel as sick as eating a fly.

"If the enemy doesn't come, we will go." Nimitz pondered for a long time, made up his mind, and ordered, "Take a batch of landing craft to pretend, we will go out to Santos to land and see if the Germans will come. I don't believe he can hide to the ends of the earth!"

"Sir, General Patton sent a telegram."

"George? What did he send me a telegram for?"

"Dear Admiral Chester William Nimitz: I am very happy and relieved to hear the news that you led the Atlantic Fleet to fight in Brazil..."

The title and content at the beginning are quite satisfactory, but what he said next is very annoying: "...Can you find me a group of ships to send me, the Dahong 1st Division and the 1st Cavalry Division to land in Rio? We are in Guyana. I have been squatting with Venezuela for more than half a year, and my buttocks are almost covered with calluses. We came to South America to fight, not to bask in the sun in Venezuela. If this continues, I will go crazy. I will go to Rio to beat up the Germans! Wherever I go!”

Seeing such "vulgar" words, Smith immediately blushed and scolded: "This George is so outrageous..."

Nimitz didn't care about Patton's foul language - this guy was a ruffian, and whoever fought with him would lose. What he cared about was why the Joint Chiefs of Staff didn't let Patton fight in the war. The Joint Chiefs of Staff had clearly discussed the military policy in South America. Patton was in charge, and Clark was in charge of politics. Now that the political situation was obviously corrupt, it was time for the military commander to shine. Why would you rather let Patton squat in Venezuela than come to Rio to fight?

"Send a telegram to General Turner and politely ask him to ask the Army why George is not allowed to fight?" Nimitz considered, "This is not necessarily consistent with the solution we originally discussed."

"What about George?"

"Call him back. We are unloading the goods. Let me think of a way and get back to him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

Turner, who received Nimitz's inquiry telegram, did not dare to neglect, and directly asked Marshall about the situation. Who knew that Marshall was also very angry about this, saying: "Who doesn't let him fight? It's because he disobeys orders and is messing around! "

After in-depth questioning, Nimitz finally understood the whole story: Marshall did intend to transfer Patton to the Recife area to command the troops, but Patton proposed to let the 1st Red Division and the 1st Cavalry Division go with him, which required Marshall to agree. However, now that the equipment and supplies of the two divisions were insufficient, he wanted Patton to go to Recife to take office first, and then transfer to Recife or El Salvador after the supplies of the two divisions were replenished.

But Patton thought there was no need to go to such trouble and just use planes to transport troops from Venezuela and Guyana to El Salvador. As for the equipment - "Just use the batch on the Hewitt ship." The problem was that this batch of equipment was for other divisions. Patton thought it didn't matter and asked the others to wait. "We have been waiting in Venezuela and Guyana for so long. Even if we come first, it is our turn! Besides, the combat effectiveness of the First Red Division and the First Cavalry Division has been strengthened through South American adaptation. It is obvious that More suitable for the first batch to enter the battle."

Of course he would be happy if he followed Patton's request, but the other troops would also go crazy. After careful consideration, Marshall, who was deeply afraid of causing instability to the troops, did not dare to adopt Patton's suggestion. He even transferred Patton to Recife to take office. The order was also held in hand, leaving Eisenhower to coordinate.

I thought that this thorn would retreat and restrain himself, but I didn’t expect that Patton, who had never changed his nature, actually stabbed Nimitz with a stick. If Nimitz dared to agree to his request, Patton would really dare to lead his troops to the army tomorrow. Make an appointment to log in.

Can the Army still play like this? A group of naval staff officers in the Atlantic Fleet looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

"Nonsense!" After holding it in for a long time, Chief of Staff Smith finally squeezed out a word through his teeth - he thought this was the most appropriate comment on Patton's move.

"I don't think so. Although George's temper is a bit impatient, his nature is not bad. He is a rare army general who has ideals and dares to fight. Moreover, he has experience in dealing with the Germans." Nimitz sighed, "You Do you know how the Army people explained their temporary standstill in Brazil during the Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting?”

"How to explain?"

"The German army has relatively strong combat effectiveness. We should concentrate on more than three times the strength advantage, and at the same time gain air superiority in order to launch an attack calmly."

Smith was drinking water. When he heard these words, he almost spit out the water in his mouth. He swallowed it with difficulty and said with a strange expression: "This... the Germans have at least 6 million troops. According to the army, it is a 3-fold advantage." In order for them to win, they need to raise 18 million troops?”

Nimitz spread his hands: "So you also saw that yesterday I asked for Army volunteers to land in Rio. Not a single general signed up. They all said they had to wait for orders from their superiors - who is their superior? Isn't it Clark? "?"

"But he didn't express his position. He only said that he wanted to discuss it further."

"After much discussion, an army division in Rio was defeated by the Germans. If the Japanese regiment (422nd Regiment) hadn't fought desperately to block and respond, this division would have been captured." Thinking of the large amount of military supplies stored in Rio and equipment fell into the hands of the Germans, especially the aircraft and large quantities of fuel and ammunition at the suburban aviation bases. Nimitz felt annoyed and slammed the table.