The Rise of the Third Reich

"There are at least 9 large fleet aircraft carriers, 9 super battleships, and an unknown number of Independence-class light aircraft carriers and escort aircraft carriers. In addition, there are at least a few more in the Windward Islands, Borean Islands, Puerto Rico Island and Trinidad Island. Thousands of various shore-based aircraft...at least on paper, the Americans have an overwhelming advantage!"

Admiral Redl looked at the report from the 10th Submarine Group that had just been forwarded by the Atlantic Front Command, and his face became extremely serious - U-2511 under the 10th Submarine Group had discovered 8 large-scale submarines with its periscope three hours ago. The fleet aircraft carrier, escorted by dozens of destroyers, sailed into the western entrance of the Panama Canal. If you include another large aircraft carrier that passed through the canal before (the USS Enterprise), the number of large fleet aircraft carriers of the US military in the Atlantic reaches at least nine.

The European Combined Fleet currently has only five large fleet aircraft carriers in the Atlantic Ocean: Zeppelin, Peter Strasser, Prussia, Bohemia and Austria.

In terms of having super battleships, the Americans have at least 9 in the Atlantic, while the European Combined Fleet has 10 (2 Hindenburg-class, 2 Bismarck-class, 3 Richelieu-class and 3 Veneto-class ), but these battleships are inferior to the four American Iowa-class ships in terms of firepower and protection, so they have no advantage in the battleship decisive battle.

In addition, because the Atlantic waters near Guyana are close to islands heavily fortified by the US military, the US military also has an overwhelming advantage in the number of shore-based aircraft.

"Without the overwhelming advantage on paper, how could the Americans dare to fight us?" With the backing of missiles and atomic bombs, Hessman was very confident. He laughed and said, "In my opinion, we still have to fight." Give them a little more chance of winning! Let the 30th and 31st Task Forces go directly to the waters near Georgetown."

As soon as he said these words, both Raeder and Chief of Naval Staff Messer were shocked. Redl looked at the situation map of the Atlantic battlefield and took a deep breath: "Use the 5 aircraft carriers, 6 battleships, and 2 missile ships of the 2nd Fleet to fight against almost the entire U.S. Navy, if..."

"No ifs!"

Before Redl finished speaking, Hessman interrupted him with a wave of his hand, "Marshal, after we have television-guided remote-controlled missiles, the American battleships and aircraft carriers are obsolete. So the 20th and 21st The task force already has enough strength to destroy the main force of the U.S. Navy. The question now is how to draw the main force of the U.S. Navy outside their shore-based aircraft protection circle, or to the edge of the shore-based aircraft protection circle."

Although the 20th Task Force only has two missile ships and can only launch 40 Reaper 2 anti-ship missiles at a time (there are also 40 reserve bombs), this 2.5-ton giant missile is very powerful, even if it is "based on A Hua-class battleship would be severely damaged at the very least.

As long as 25% of the 40 missiles launched at a time hit, the nine American super battleships can average one missile, which is enough for them to dock for repairs for several months... If the remaining six ships of the 20th Task Force If the battleship didn't kill them all!

So Hessman is not worried about losing the battle at all. What he is worried about now is just that there is no way to draw out the American fleet.

"Marshal, where should we fight the Americans?" When Hersman asked, his eyes were already fixed on the Bermuda Islands, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, more than a thousand kilometers away from the east coast of the United States.

“In Bermuda!”

As expected, Marshal Redl also read out the name of the Bermuda Islands. In the entire Atlantic Ocean, the only place in the Atlantic that can allow the US and European fleets to engage in a battle is the waters near the Bermuda Islands.

Because Bermuda is neither far nor close to the mainland of the United States, just over a thousand kilometers away, the combat radius of the P51 and P47 deployed on the east coast of the United States can only be barely within reach, but it is impossible to mount bombs and attack the European Communist Party. The threat from surface ships is limited.

As for heavy bombers such as the American B-17, B-24 and B-29, although their range is sufficient, their threat to surface ships is also limited because they have no missiles available and cannot dive bomb.

The land area of ​​Bermuda is very small, only a few dozen square kilometers, and is composed of seven main islands and more than 150 small islands and reefs. The land that can be used to build an airport is very limited, and there is no depth of defense. Unable to withstand the approaching bombardment of battleships.

Therefore, the number of fighter aircraft deployed by the US military on the Bermuda Islands is limited, but around 200, including a large number of seaplanes and heavy aircraft converted into reconnaissance aircraft. Its own defense capabilities are not strong.

In addition, the archipelago is more than 3,000 kilometers away from the German-controlled Azores and nearly 3,000 kilometers away from Guyana. It is basically outside the combat radius of Me264, so Americans do not have to worry about being attacked by German aircraft carrying remote-controlled missiles when fighting there.

And because Bermuda is too close to the mainland of the United States, once it is captured by the Germans and used as a base for Me264, all major cities on the east coast of the United States will be under the threat of atomic bombs.

Therefore, Bermuda is a place where the United States must defend and dare to start a decisive battle!

…

"Admiral, the 56.4th, 56.5th, 56.6th and 56.7th aircraft carrier groups commanded by Lieutenant General Fletcher have all safely passed through the Panama Canal. According to the order of the Pacific-Atlantic Fleet Command, these four aircraft carrier groups will Joining Task Force 30, Lieutenant General Mitchell will serve as the commander of Task Force 30.”

Eastern Time, on the morning of August 28, Admiral Halsey, who was sitting on the battleship "Iowa", received the news that eight "Essex-class" aircraft carriers had arrived in the Caribbean.

After listening to the staff report, he turned and exchanged glances with Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Callahan. Callahan said: "Sir, the 30th Task Force now has 9 large aircraft carriers. When the supplement is completed, their number of commonly used carrier-based aircraft will be There will be over 700 of them! I think we can put them between the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico.”

"Between the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico?" Halsey frowned, "Is it to attack the Azores?"

Callahan thought for a while and said: "There is no need for nine aircraft carriers in the waters near Guyana. Our more than 3,000 shore-based aircraft on Trinidad are worth 50 aircraft carriers. So the 30th Task Force should use For mobilizing or chasing the German Grand Fleet, the best target is the Azores Islands... If the German Grand Fleet wins the sea and air battle near Guyana, then the 30th Task Force's attack on the Azores Islands will Can help us keep Georgetown.

If the German Grand Fleet failed near Guyana, the 30th Task Force's air attack on the Azores could prevent them from retreating to Europe and create favorable conditions for the final decisive battle of the surface fleet. "

Although the Azores Islands are much larger than Bermuda, covering more than 2,000 square kilometers, they play a similar role to Bermuda and are the outpost of the European Community in the North Atlantic.

According to intelligence obtained by the United States, a total of about 300 combat aircraft are deployed on the Azores Islands, including Ju288 medium bombers and Me410B-5 combat aircraft that can carry Hs-293 ​​series remote-controlled missiles and Fritz-X series remote-controlled gliding bombs. Bombers (the penetration capability of this aircraft far exceeds that of the Ju288, but its maximum range is only less than 30% of the Ju288), as well as the He219 that can escort the Ju288 and Me410B-5, and the Fw- which can be used to protect islands 190 series and Fokker Zero D series fighters.

In addition, a brigade of Bv138 seaplanes has also been deployed in the Azores, responsible for shuttle patrols between Iceland and the Cape Verde Islands (there is a squadron equipped with Bv138 seaplanes deployed in Iceland. There is a fleet equipped with Bv138 seaplanes on the Cape Verde Islands), which not only blocks the U.S. fleet's access to Europe and North Africa, but also causes heavy losses to U.S. submarines that try to enter the waters of Europe and North Africa to break up the engagement.

In addition, Port of Heroes in the Azores is also the home port of the 4th Fleet of the European Community Combined Fleet (responsible for the defense of the North Atlantic).

Although the 4th Fleet is not the main force of the European Combined Fleet and is only a garrison fleet, it also has two aircraft carrier groups with the "Kesselring" class aircraft carrier as the core and two submarine hunting groups with the escort aircraft carrier as the core. When necessary, these four groups with aircraft carriers can also form a medium-sized aircraft carrier task force to participate in fleet decisive battles.

If the four task forces departing from Brest and Gibraltar are defeated by the U.S. Navy in the waters near Guyana, as long as they can retreat to the Azores, they will be supported by shore-based aircraft and four aircraft carriers there and can withdraw smoothly. Continental Europe is not difficult.

Therefore, just as the Americans must defend the Bermuda Islands, the European Community now also regards the Azores as a must-defend territory.

Halsey nodded in agreement, and just about to issue an order, a fleet staff officer handed Callahan two copies of the telegram. Callahan took it and looked down at it, and suddenly frowned and said: "The submarine responsible for monitoring Hero Port is on 2 Contact was lost an hour ago. The last telegram before the loss of contact reported the departure of two 'Kesselring' class German aircraft carriers from the Port of Heroes. In addition, the submarine monitoring the Grand Port of the Cape Verde Islands (located on St. Vincent Island). Two Kesselring-class aircraft carriers were also reported to have left the port an hour and a half ago!”