Chapter 1732: The Threat From the North Sea

Chapter 1732 Threat from the North Sea

It has been a long time since Tirpitz came to the Kaiser's camp. Since the end of the Baltic Sea Battle at the beginning of the year, the German High Seas Fleet has entered a long rest period. In addition to the submarine force still maintaining a high dispatch frequency, the main fleet generally also Just to support the landing activities along the coast of the Baltic Sea. The energy of the entire fleet is focused on adapting to the new sea and air situation. The training of the German High Seas Fleet aircraft carrier unit is nearing completion, and the land-based aviation is gradually in place. When Crown Prince Ruprecht takes charge of the navy again, it will be the time for the final battle between the High Seas Fleet and the British Grand Fleet!

You can't blame the High Seas Fleet for its inaction. From a strategic point of view, as long as the North Sea transportation line can be guaranteed, the minimum goal of the German High Seas Fleet will be achieved. As for killing the British Grand Fleet? Before the British shrank in the offshore, with the support of the Royal Navy Air Force, they just couldn't come out. The High Seas Fleet at that time was not capable of fighting the big fleet with bombs. Therefore, it was in line with the situation at that time that the capital ship detachment of the High Seas Fleet maintained a low load, but when the North Sea blockade was re-established, everything was different.

"Tirpitz, the blood vessels of the empire are once again under serious threat. The British have re-blocked the passage of the North Sea. This time, they even detained the merchant ships of the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. The British fleet and aircraft Active in the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, every day, the empire loses supplies in the tens of thousands of tons. At this time, we need the High Seas Fleet. The fleet built by the Empire with a lot of funds should definitely not be an existing fleet. , We have achieved a brilliant victory, and now, we are going to break the British blockade again." The Kaiser took a deep breath and said: "So, I order the fleet to attack immediately!"

"Your Majesty, this may be very difficult. The third battleship detachment and the associated light cruiser detachment are cooperating with General Mackensen in launching an offensive in the Gulf of Finland. The aircraft carrier detachment is training in the Baltic Sea. The second battleship detachment is conducting this year's routine on the berth in the port of Kiel. Maintenance, in a hurry, we can't get the fleet together at all." Tirpitz was shocked, he thought that the Kaiser would let the fleet attack, but he didn't expect that he would ask for an immediate dispatch.

"Excuse! Complete excuse!" the Kaiser's angry roar echoed in the hall. "You cowards, you are cowardly, you are avoiding war!"

"Your Majesty, you can't insult the High Seas Fleet like this, we have paid our efforts and blood for the strength of the empire!" Tirpitz said.

Tirpitz is very aware of the current situation in the empire. Although, like Wilhelmshaven, it is only an exception that there is not a single foreign ship carrying goods docked in one day. On the second day, six more American ships arrived Wilhelmshaven sent at least 40,000 tons of various materials. However, it has become an indisputable fact that Germany's material pressure has increased. In this winter, because of the collapse of Russia, under various chances and coincidences, Germany fought against the Allied Powers on the Eastern and Western Fronts, and even the Transcaucasus Front! Especially on the western front, the desperate efforts of the British brought a certain amount of pressure to Germany. At this time, the input of materials was only about 45% of the previous level, and the consumption was already greater than the import volume.

How can this make the German high-level not anxious? !

Anger can't solve the problem. After a period of wrangling, Tirpitz promised the Kaiser that he would try his best to arrange the German High Seas Fleet to attack. In fact, although Tirpitz has the rank of marshal, he is not on the front line General, the real battle will fall on Scheer, Hipper and others!

As the commander of the High Seas Fleet of the German Navy, Scheer is not as good as Crown Prince Ruprecht, but he still pays attention to the situation in the entire North Sea, especially when the chains in the North Sea are getting tighter and tighter recently. Investigative forces have also begun to focus on important areas in the north such as the Shetland Islands!

After more than a day of sailing, the U145 submarine commanded by Captain Dönitz finally arrived at the exit of the North Sea. As an ace captain, this was Dönitz's 12th attack, and eight of them were circumnavigated through the North Sea. Line of England into the Atlantic Hunting Area. It can be said that he is fully familiar with the situation here, and this time, his goal is not to enter the Atlantic Ocean to hunt down British merchant ships, nor is it to cooperate with the camouflaged cruiser to hunt down the British auxiliary cruiser. Instead, act as a "spectator" scouting the blockade force around Shetland.

Don't think that this task is very simple. Since a month ago, the loss rate of German submarines entering the Atlantic Ocean from the North Sea has risen sharply. In less than a month, 8 submarines have been lost. According to the analysis of relevant departments, these The submarine should have been destroyed by a three-dimensional offensive composed of camouflaged cruisers and seaplanes. And it is inferred that in the Shetland Islands, the British have at least one fleet of more than 150 aircraft to cooperate with the auxiliary cruiser squadron.

Now the pressure on German submarines has increased greatly. You must know that the maneuvering of submarines in this era is almost based on water navigation. Not to mention World War I, and even in the early days of World War II, German submarines spent more than 90% of their time on the water. , And now, with the connection between the Shetland Islands and Norway as the central axis, a 300-kilometer-wide aviation warning zone makes German submarines extremely uncomfortable! Because in this area, there will be a large number of seaplanes conducting investigations during the day, so that submarines dare not show their heads at all!

And if the underwater cruising speed of the submarine passes through such an area at a speed of about 5 knots, it will definitely not work within three days! What? Is this the right way to calculate? How can you run 120 nautical miles a day at a speed of 5 knots? Please, the battery life at a speed of 5 knots is very short, and you have to float up and charge for a few hours. Of the 8 submarines lost last month, at least 5 were killed while recharging!

Therefore, at present, German submarines can only sail at night if they want to pass through this area. After all, aircraft are not capable of anti-submarine at night. However, what the Germans can think of, how can the British not think of it? At night or in bad weather, the British will greatly increase the number of auxiliary cruisers and anti-submarine destroyers. Although the British are unable to build a minefield that blocks the entire North Sea exit, it is still possible to deploy mines in some areas, so , Relying on mine nets and a large number of anti-submarine destroyers made it dangerous for German submarines to sail at night. Faced with this situation, the German High Seas Fleet immediately came up with a countermeasure.

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