Chapter 380: Hunger Action (4)

Sir Charles Forbes came to the Prime Minister's Office early in the morning to report to Churchill what happened last night. "Mr. Prime Minister, patrol boats and fishing boats heard signs of large-scale German aircraft activity last night." Because the few radars were deployed near the English Channel to guard against possible German air raids on the British mainland; therefore, radars were not deployed in the north and northwest of the UK, and the existing radar detection range was limited, so these radars did not detect the German actions last night.

However, even if radars were deployed in the north, they might not be able to detect Mosquito bombers.

You must know that the radars during World War II were not the advanced models of later generations (for example, the CW radars of later generations, the principle is the Doppler principle, as long as the moving objects can be detected. Advanced performance, as small as a bird ten meters away can react), at this time, the British air detection radar can only detect large metal objects in the sky.

Electric and magnetic fields propagate in the form of waves. When they are irradiated on the metal surface, in addition to direct reflection, the skin effect will also occur because metal is a good conductor of electricity. The current density inside the metal increases, and most of it is concentrated on the metal surface, which makes the metal a secondary radiation source, thereby generating electromagnetic waves to radiate outward, enhancing the intensity of the reflected wave.

Wood is a poor conductor of electricity, so the secondary radiation generated is naturally very small, and the radar intensity is much weaker. In addition, wood has a lower density than metal materials, so a large part of the radar wave will directly penetrate it without echoing, which makes the echo signal weaker. If not enough echo signals are received, it may be directly filtered as clutter, making it difficult to distinguish the target.

More than 80% of the Mosquito bomber body is made of wood. The radar of the original time and space is almost helpless against it. It is often necessary to send out an air defense alarm only after it has flown within the range of sight.

Churchill, who looked haggard, took a closer look at the result report. "So they went around these waters and then returned? What do you think?" The Germans would never do meaningless things, they must have done something.

"Although there is no definite evidence yet." Charles said. "But I suspect that the Germans may have dropped mines. We haven't received any damage reports yet because the German minefields have not yet been formed."

Churchill nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I also think they laid mines. These despicable bastards want to completely trap us." Germany's submarine forces and high seas fleet are active in the North Atlantic, causing heavy losses to the British transport fleet. The transportation line is the lifeline of the British Empire. Now the British Empire is like being strangled by the neck, and even breathing is becoming more and more difficult.

After a few fierce curses, Churchill's attention returned to the report. "We can't let their minefields form. Mobilize all available ships and personnel to ensure the smooth flow of the main waterways of various ports." Although he knew that the German mine-laying operations would continue, Churchill did not mention the idea of ​​intercepting the German aircraft fleets that laid mines. After the failure of the last night bombing of Calais, the British also knew that the German army had a very strong night fighter force. "We only need to protect a few important ports, and we will give up other ports. Do you understand? The same is true for minesweeping. We will transfer ships and personnel that can do minesweeping to ports that are protected by key protection. If the Germans want to lay mines in other ports, let them lay mines."

Charles nodded. "Yes, Prime Minister, I will arrange it as soon as possible."

Just as Charles left, the secretary knocked on the door and came in, and saw that he had a strange face and reported. "Prime Minister, the Germans are holding a press conference and said that they will release a group of prisoners of war and let them return home to visit their families."

"What?!" Churchill opened his mouth. "What do they mean?" His first thought was what conspiracy the Germans were playing again? Now he had to admit that the German crown prince was so cunning that it made people grit their teeth. His grandfather William II was crazy from time to time, and his father Prince Oscar was idle all day long. How come he became a cunning guy like a fox? !

Of course, the secretary didn't know what Churchill was thinking, so he quickly explained. "The Germans said that out of humanitarian considerations, they will release some prisoners of war to visit their families in batches for two weeks. After two weeks, these prisoners of war must report back to the prisoner-of-war camp."

"And let them report back to the prisoner-of-war camp on their own initiative?" Churchill was a little amused. What a psychopath! Who wants to go back voluntarily after leaving the prisoner-of-war camp? Are they used to being a prisoner or something. "What if they don't go back?" The Germans can't send people to catch them back, right?

"The Germans said that such family visits are in rotation, and every prisoner of war has a chance. But if any prisoner of war who returns to visit his family does not return to the prisoner-of-war camp on time, the subsequent activities will be cancelled."

"..."This trick is really bad. If anyone doesn't want to go back, he will become the public enemy of all prisoners of war and their families, and who knows what kind of revenge he will suffer.

Although he was worried that Germany had other conspiracies, now the whole world knew about it. If the British government refused to allow these prisoners of war to return home, what would the public's reaction be? It was simply unimaginable. Churchill could only pinch his nose and express his welcome for these prisoners of war to come back to visit their families.

Germany was very efficient. More than 100 prisoners of war selected from various A-level prisoner-of-war camps were first sent to the neutral country of Sweden, and then boarded a Swedish passenger ship to Edinburgh, England.

Watching the passenger ship slowly dock at the pier, the crowd that had already gathered at the pier suddenly became agitated and rushed to the pier.

As the prisoners of war walked down the gangway one after another, there was a cry on the dock.

"Dennis!" A middle-aged couple rushed forward and hugged the young man who had just walked down, tears streaming down their eyes. "Dennis, mom and dad thought they would never see you again in this life!"

The family of three hugged each other and cried, and after a while, the middle-aged man wiped away his tears. "Let's go home quickly."

The three of them squeezed out of the crowd with difficulty and got into a somewhat shabby car. The father drove, and the mother and Dennis sat in the back seat.

The mother was still in tears, holding his arm tightly, as if he would disappear if she let go. "Dennis, you suffered in the prisoner-of-war camp, right?"

Dennis was a soldier after all, and he gradually calmed down, with a comforting smile on his face. "No, Mom. I'm doing fine there. That's because I worked in Dad's factory before and learned some machine tool skills." Although I've heard before that "more skills are better than less, and more skills open up more paths", I didn't expect to experience this truth so deeply in the POW camp. It's a bit ironic when I think about it.