I Became a Captain of the British Empire

British Oriental Fleet

“This is Lieutenant Colonel John Rich. It is an honor to serve the Admiral.”

“ah… Nice to meet you.”

A middle-aged officer saluting in moderation. no… I’m still a bit young to be middle-aged. Should I say that he is a promising friend with a lot of experience?

Anyway, I tried to hide my shyness and received a salute. Admiral Edison looked at me with a smile and patted me on the shoulder.

“I happened to enter this port by chance, but the position just happened to be vacant. I looked it up and it turned out to be a pretty good friend, so I started talking. How is it?”

“ah… thank you But why is it like this… … .”

His voice shrank, but he asked softly. As with Churchill’s case the other day, there is no choice but to be suspicious.

However, the admiral calmly put his hand behind his back and answered.

“Doesn’t it make sense that an excellent friend like you doesn’t even get good treatment? So I tried my best Never mind.”

Then he patted me on the shoulder and disappeared across the hallway. Is it really pure caring?

Belatedly saluting my thanks, I looked at the back of Admiral Noh as he suddenly walked away.

When I turn my head again, I see an officer standing there hesitantly.

A well-trimmed uniform with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In front of an office in the Liverpool Naval Yard, I greeted a new person.

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Richie? nice to meet you I wish you well in the future.”

John Rich.

If the friend I know is correct, he was the captain of the battleship Prince of Wales in the original history.

During the pursuit of Bismarck, a person who acted with Hood and witnessed her sinking. The ship survived being hit by a 15-inch projectile on her bridge and eventually damaged the Bismarck’s fuel tanks.

Later, he served as captain of the Prince of Wales during the Battle of Malay, and was killed while the ship was sinking in an air raid.

Although it was hit by an air attack by a completely unexpected ultra-long-range twin-engine attack aircraft, it showed a competent appearance, such as providing a clue to the sinking of the Bismarck in its own way.

It’s fortunate. It would be great if a friend like this would come in as an adjutant to me, who is precious to each and every talented person… … .

‘Aren’t there too few talented people on the small ship side?’

Suddenly I had this thought.

Currently, all of the subordinates I have come across are friends who have a good understanding of operating battleships or aircraft carriers. Still, they all had experience in commanding destroyers, but I guess their specialty is decisive battles with enemy ships rather than escorts or anti-submarine ships.

For the sake of the future, it is better to hire someone with expertise in anti-submarine escort tactics. But the problem is that I don’t know too much about it.

‘Admiral Max Horton must be a captain by now… Are there any other suitable talents on the submarine side?’

At the moment of quiet contemplation, Lieutenant Colonel Rich tilted his head with a worried face.

“Hey, Admiral… ?”

“Oh, no. For now, don’t do this here, let’s talk while driving.”

Yeah, that’s something you can think about later. It’s not like our fleet doesn’t have destroyers.

I thought at ease and just took a weary step.

* * *

Liverpool Harbor.

“I thought the official residence was in London, right?”

“That’s right.”

Kirk answered while holding onto the steering wheel. A vehicle stops inside the harbor in the dark dawn.

A guard standing guard approached and asked for my identity, but soon saw my face and stood aside saluting.

“Hard work.”

“yes! Admiral! It is an honor to meet you!”

Is my face known this much?

Gradually, I feel the pressure. Responding moderately, he moved along with Kirk and Lieutenant Colonel Rich.

Under dark clouds, warships anchored in the crashing waves. A huge ship fills my eyes.

“It’s not good to go today, so I’ll just stay here.”

Stepping aboard the battlecruiser Repulse, I entered the ship through the hatch.

Today’s duty officer is a familiar face. He was the guy I saw often as a bridge watcher.

I was delighted and said it like a joke.

“Aren’t you on duty at the gate?”

“How are you doing in front of the admiral?”

Come to think of it, it seems like yesterday that I was serving as Captain of Repulse. Thinking about it now, I feel really new.

The first duty I had to shoulder after falling into an unknown world. At the same time, the only resting place that filled my heart that had been empty for a long time.

No matter how good the Indipatigable and Furious are, I still need this Repulse. I don’t know if it’s just the first one.

Anyway, my heart was crying out like that.

“How’s the new captain?”

“I like it very much. His skill in shipbuilding is particularly good.”

“is it? It may not be as good as me, but it is definitely excellent.”

The seaman who had been grinning suddenly hardened his face. A guy who is terrifyingly serious.

“… Any problems?”

“Oh no!”

“Keep working hard.”

For some reason, I felt strange, so I passed him as if I was passing by. I quickly climbed onto the deck, past the huge bunker-like 15-inch main gun turrets, and into the bridge’s interior.

Corridor with lights on. I see a sailor carrying something hard on the other side. Do you have work at night?

“Good work.”

“Ah, Admiral!”

The guy looks at me in bewilderment. He is holding a teacup in both hands.

He waved his hand at the helpless sailor and asked.

“It’s okay. Are you going to the captain’s office?”

“Yes, I have an errand for an emergency meeting… … .”

“Emergency meeting?”

I tilted my head with puzzled eyes and looked back at Kirk and Lieutenant Colonel Richie who were following me.

Lieutenant Colonel Richie, who had just moved in, as well as Kirk, looked puzzled.

Something is strange. Meeting, what are you talking about? I’ve never called a meeting or anything like that… … No, there’s nothing wrong with voluntarily researching tactics among themselves. Do we have to give it a grandiose name?

I urged the sailors to visit him in person.

“Guide me where you are.”

* * *

Upon entering Repulse’s conference room, three familiar faces met their eyes at the same time.

The captain of three warships, each representing a task force.

They stood up in unison and looked back quietly at their faces as they saluted.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips showing a bit of embarrassment with a cold face, Fraser blinking and clearing his throat, and Tobay slumping for some reason putting something in his pocket.

“What were you guys doing?”

suspicious Anyone who sees it will answer that it is strange. It’s not just friendship, how is it that you take up the meeting room and discuss it?

What were you talking about?

At the questionable action, I raised my voice and said.

“Aren’t you asking what happened?”

The captains hesitantly look at each other. I guess there really is something. Is it really worth stabbing? They were talking about something among themselves over me, my absolute superior. You need to dig into this properly.

However, there seemed to be a limit to pushing the captains who were silent.

Should we consider more drastic measures?

It was then.

“It was a story about the future schedule, Admiral.”

Before he could finish his thoughts, Tobay hurriedly opened his mouth.

“It’s good that you’re here. Admiral, if you’ll excuse me, would you mind taking a moment?”

The two captains on either side looked at him and then nodded in the same way. It looks like he’s looking at me with strange eyes… … .

“Listen first.”

I looked at him and slowly went inside and sat down.

Okay, let’s hear what you have to say.

As I passed behind the captains, I could see them flinching little by little.

In terms of age, there are many more captains than me. My original body or my current body is the same. Nonetheless, they obey me. It is also the leading elites who led the British Navy in its original history.

something complicated Feeling uncomfortable, I sat down in the upper seat, and Tobey, who was sitting right next to me, continued as if he had been waiting.

“Our fleet has not yet disbanded.”

“That’s right. why though? Do you want to transfer to another unit soon, Captain?”

“Not at all. I like this unit very much. But… … .”

He held his breath for a moment as if to lighten the mood, and then looked around and asked.

“You haven’t heard yet, what the hell are you waiting for in Liverpool?”

Tobay tilts his head suspiciously.

His frowning eyes shone with seriousness.

If you think about it, it deserves a sense of wonder.

In early December, it has been more than a week since France and Italy entered the negotiating table.

However, Task Force Z remains quietly anchored in Liverpool, maintaining its unit organization. Considering that it is a unit organized for the end of the French and Mediterranean campaigns from the original purpose, a flexible deployment, whether belonging to a change or a garrison change, must be made.

However, we are on standby without a single change except for ships that have been sunk due to heavy waves or sunk.

“Were you really talking about him?”

“That’s right.”

Nod your head vigorously. Same with other captains.

hmm… Is it really like that?

Actually, it’s a bit late to tell you.

enough to be suspicious of. I haven’t been in a good mood lately either. To some extent, it seems to be my mistake.

“Okay. It’s something everyone needs to hear anyway, so I’ll tell you.”

Tak― I caught everyone’s attention while holding both hands on the desk. The three captains attract attention.

All of these people are trustworthy friends. It won’t matter if it’s revealed now.

Without taking a deep breath, he declared right away.

“In a week, we’ll be heading east.”

It is the turn of the Oriental Fleet.

* * *

Fort Drum Fort, eastern United States. Office of the Chief of Staff.

A room with cigar smoke.

The newspaper on the desk is so crumpled that it is difficult to even read the contents. Nevertheless, Admiral Taylor was able to read the gate-sized letters on the front page without difficulty.

― ‘All bayonets, charge!’ MacArthur declares war on the people. Is he the embodiment of despotism?

“Do you like coffee, Admiral?”

Admiral Taylor hurriedly turned his head at the voice he heard right in front of him.

“… It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry for calling you so suddenly. Lately, if you’ve been a bit open, you’ve been overflowing with biting scoundrels.”

Yeah, just like you guys.

Although the admiral muttered that and looked at MacArthur with displeasure, he could not refuse the favor.

If you look at it, isn’t this a small place? Of course, it is MacArthur who will soon be out of the military uniform.

However, I had to be more careful.

How even a cornered mouse bites a cat. What about tigers?

“Recently, unsavory things have been going on. Detroit or… Things like Halifax.”

When he mentioned the name of a city he didn’t want to hear, Taylor suddenly stopped.

Damn Task Force H!

Admiral Pound’s squadron of battleships repeatedly bombarded the harbor and fled, while the aircraft carriers unilaterally knocked on the friendly fleet that had come out in pursuit.

The Atlantic Fleet, now without aircraft carriers and without battlecruisers, had no suitable countermeasures against this tactic. However, when we are stuck in the port, criticism is pouring in about what the navy is doing.

That is why even Admiral Taylor was driven to the edge of a precipice. And the greedy general in front of him pretended to be relaxed and offered tea and invited the admiral.

If you have any good suggestions.

“Admiral Taylor, I won’t say much. Don’t you know each other’s situation well?”

Fluffing, leaning back on the parlor sofa, MacArthur removed the cigar from his mouth. He exhaled hot breath and brought his face closer to the admiral, showing glowing eyes.

“You seem to think that I am the one who will destroy the Navy, but you are wrong. I intend to save the Pacific Fleet.”

A calm whispering voice. Temptation melted into a quiet tone.

The admiral, horrified, shuddered and shook his shoulders. But it was hard to stop listening and go outside. So much meaning was contained in it.

“Pacific Fleet… … .”

Undoubtedly, the largest and most powerful fleet of the US Navy. and an intact main force.

A grave voice refers to the symbol of power that brings together the maritime power of the entire United States.

“Could you please bring them?”

Looking at the cold burning eyes, the admiral held his breath.