The Rise of the Third Reich

"Your Excellency, Marshal, the results that can be confirmed so far are the sinking of 1 aircraft carrier, 4 battleships - including a 'Nelson' class and a French rebel 'Lorraine', 3 light cruisers, and 4 destroyers. , the serious and moderate injuries are unknown.

Our losses include the sinking of the aircraft carrier Eagle, the aircraft carrier Sparrowhawk, the battleship Count Cavour, the heavy cruiser Zara, and the battleship Caesar. , the battleship 'Veneto' was damaged..."

In a very luxuriously furnished office in the Medici Palace, Admiral Hans Jeshunek reported to Marshal Hessmann the losses and results of the "Great Battle of the Eastern Mediterranean", closed the folder, and He smiled and said: "Lieutenant Rudolf von Heinsberg-Hersmann has been contacted. He is in very good condition and has just returned to the port of Taranto with the heavy cruiser Pola. During yesterday's battle , he gained 3 more results, and now has 8 kills recorded.”

Hersman's frown relaxed and he laughed: "This is an unprecedented victory. It is an unprecedented victory for both us and Italy!"

For Germany, the victory was of course unprecedented! It sank 4 British battleships and 1 British aircraft carrier, and shot down 200 to 300 British aircraft. Its own losses were only a hundred or dozens of aircraft and dozens of crew members. One hundred or dozens of aircraft is not a problem at all, it is just two or three days' output. The loss of dozens of crew members is a bit distressing, but Germany now has more than 1,500 pilots (including about 700 pilots) graduating from flight schools and joining the training groups of combat forces every month. The average monthly loss is just over 100 people. Therefore, the Luftwaffe's pilot team is growing rapidly, and the loss of dozens of people is just a drop in the bucket.

On the Italian side, the losses were not small. Not only did two aircraft carriers that could accompany the fleet sink, they also suffered considerable losses in the night battle with the British fleet in the early morning of January 16!

Cunningham's ambush was relatively successful. The six Italian battleships did not pay attention to the "Rodney" and the other four battleships behind the "Rodney" at first. Until the "Rodney"'s nine 16-inch main guns showed their power. The "Rodney" lived up to expectations. Five salvoes destroyed a turret of the "Veneto" and also penetrated the bow oil depot.

But Cunningham has been really unlucky recently, just when the Italian Navy Fleet Commander Admiral Compioni wanted to retreat. The 381mm shells fired by the battleships Veneto and Littorio hit the "Resolution" one after another. One of them directly penetrated the ammunition depot of the "Resolution", causing the ammunition to explode. The 30,000-ton The battleship was immediately turned into a royal display and sank into the sea with thousands of officers and soldiers.

This boosted the morale of the Italians, and General Compioni was determined to continue the attack. He ordered four old battleships to entangle the four British battleships that formed the artillery column, and he commanded two Veneto-class ships, 4 light cruisers, and 8 destroyers to besiege the "Rodney". As a result, it was soon discovered that the "Rodney" could not turn, so they went around the back of the "Rodney" and attacked, sinking the ship in less than 30 minutes!

At this time, four British "Queen Elizabeth" class ships also achieved a result, sinking the 23,000-ton "Count of Cavour" battleship.

However, facing two "Veneto" class ships, two "Doria" class ships and one "Caesar", Cunningham did not dare to fight and had to escape with his tail between his legs. Admiral Compioni did not pursue, but retreated contentedly - he had a record of sinking two battleships, one of which was the "Nelson" class, one of the "Seven Battleships in the World", which was enough for Italy The Navy is proud and proud. How long will it take before it gets better?

"It's a pity that two motherships were lost!" Hessman couldn't help but frown at this time. The loss of one or two old-fashioned battleships was in Hessman's plan-the Italians' four old-fashioned battleships Battleships were probably the weakest battleships in World War II. They could only bully heavy cruisers, but they had to flee when they encountered British and American battleships.

But the loss of two aircraft carriers made Hersman frown. Although without these two aircraft carriers, the battle in the Mediterranean would not be impossible. But after all, it is not very convenient. A large number of shore-based aviation forces need to be deployed in Benghazi and Tubruk to support the activities of the surface fleet.

Moreover, in the "Iron Hammer" plan, the two aircraft carriers were just to bomb Malta and then cover the main fleet. In theory, it should operate together with the main fleet, and it is impossible to be sunk by the British...

"marshal."

When Hersman was a little angry, his adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Schnetz, walked into the office quickly and raised his hand in salute to Hersman. "The Italian leader invites you to go to the Palazzo Venezia. There will be a grand celebration today and the Italian leader wants to invite you to attend."

…

"One battleship and two aircraft carriers were exchanged for four British battleships and one aircraft carrier, one of which was of the Nelson class, and the strategically important Malta was also captured! Marshal Hessmann, you are not only a field marshal, but also a naval marshal! On behalf of the Italian people, I thank you and I would like to grant you the rank of Marshal of the Italian Navy! "

In the Venice Palace, Hessman met an Italian leader who was so excited that he danced with joy. Mussolini was obviously very satisfied with the results of the naval battle... This was the greatest victory the Kingdom of Italy had achieved since joining the war!

"This is a decisive victory!" Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, who was wearing a white air force uniform, also agreed. "The control of the Mediterranean now belongs to Germany and Italy, and victory in the war is just around the corner!"

Hessman knew that the count was not very supportive of Italy joining the war because Italy was not ready to fight at all. But the record of sinking four British battleships and one aircraft carrier obviously made Ciano see the possibility of victory.

"Prime Minister, Count," Hessman said to the two with a serious look, "The war has not been won yet. If we didn't have the morale 'Eagle' and 'Sparrowhawk', the victory in the Mediterranean would have been established, and the British would have probably begun to retreat. But now, General Rommel's African Army is needed!"

"I believe General Rommel will win." Mussolini nodded. He was also very annoyed about the loss of two aircraft carriers. He had ordered the removal of Admiral Anzu Aquino and demoted him to colonel.

"Prime Minister, we still need to capture Crete," Hessman said to Mussolini, "This is necessary to relieve the pressure on the North African battlefield."

The capture of Crete has nothing to do with the North African war, but is just to cooperate with Halder's Balkan operations. However, in order to continue to use the Italian navy, Hessman still has to involve North Africa.

"Capture Crete?" Mussolini asked, "Do we still need the navy?"

"Of course!" Hessman said, "Since we have lost the aircraft carrier, we must deploy more shore-based aviation. In addition, considering that the British garrison on Crete is relatively elite, I suggest mobilizing the German army to land."

"But the British still have two aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean..." Count Ciano said.

"They are not a problem," Hessman said, "at least not in the Mediterranean. But when they retreat to the Indian Ocean, they will be two big troubles."

Indian Ocean?

Mussolini and Ciano looked at each other. They didn't even think about India, because the Roman Empire didn't include India.

"Therefore, Italy needs to restore its aircraft carrier fleet as soon as possible," Hessman continued. "The King and the Count of Savoy can be used for modification. If we start now, it is possible to complete it within 18 months."

The King and the Count of Savoy are two 50,000-ton cruise ships. The King has also won the Blue Ribbon Award and is faster than the Bremen.

When Italy joined the World War, the Italian Navy wanted to convert them into aircraft carriers, but Mussolini was reluctant, so these two luxury cruise ships have been lying in the port.

However, Hessman now proposed to modify these two cruise ships not for the "Glorious" and "Royal Ark", but to send them to the Pacific battlefield together when necessary...

"Okay then," Mussolini gritted his teeth. Now the Germans are the boss, and there is no way to carry out the war in the Mediterranean without them. "The modification work will start immediately and will be completed in early 1943. In addition, we will also start building two 15,000-20,000-ton aircraft carriers."

Hersman nodded with satisfaction, and said, "At least 10 escort aircraft carriers need to be modified urgently, using 10,000 to 20,000-ton transport ships. No hangar is needed, and deck-moored carrier-based aircraft can be used. This will be completed within 12 months and can be used to cover the Persian Gulf-Red Sea route in the future."

"No problem," Mussolini replied with a smile, "We have a lot of such merchant ships that can be modified, it's easy."

The Persian Gulf-Red Sea route is the route for Middle Eastern oil to Europe. After Germany controlled the Middle East. The British Royal Navy will definitely use India as a major base to destroy the Persian Gulf-Red Sea route.

The Italian and French navies will be used for escort, and of course they will need escort aircraft carriers.

"In addition..." Hessman thought, "that's Gibraltar!" He looked at Mussolini, "Prime Minister, seizing Gibraltar is the only way for the Italian and French navies to rush out of the Mediterranean and join forces with the German navy, and then attack the British mainland. Now we should consider seizing it!"