I Became a Captain of the British Empire

plan

March 1931.

London, Naval Headquarters.

It’s a room I haven’t seen in a long time.

A cozy desk and chair. A sun-drenched window. Even the paintings of warships hanging on the walls.

Most of all, it had been almost a few months since I had seen admirals with splendid golden epaulettes.

“Lieutenant General, this is Samuel Lewis.”

“It’s been a while. Admiral Lewis.”

Admiral Frederick Fields, 1st Naval Police Officer.

A very happy face held out its hand.

“Yes, I am glad you look well. Admiral Field.”

“Did you enjoy your Far East tour?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I did anything except poker.”

“You had a good time. But you’ll have to be careful in the future. You won’t even have time to play a round of poker.”

It’s like a joke, but it doesn’t seem like the situation is very good. I saw the prevalence of dark circles around my eyes.

“How is the Atlantic Ocean these days?”

“Well, it’s always the same. It’s a problem because all those proud South Dakota Classes are hiding in the harbor. Just come out and I’ll kick you in the ass right away.”

He shrugged his shoulders and said it as a joke, but his face showed signs of fatigue.

The US Navy, which lost its qualitative superiority due to the successive commissioning of the Invincible class, changed its strategy to commercial destruction through cruisers and submarines.

“Recently, the frequency of sinking merchant ships without warning is increasing. The hardships of the transport fleet are not the only ones.”

Unlimited submarine operations.

In Britain, where the supply of the merchant fleet was a lifeline, it was not a matter to be taken lightly.

“We must end the war soon.”

“But now I can breathe a lot. Thanks to you.”

widely-

He quietly tapped his shoulder and said softly.

“Thanks to you, the opportunity to end the war has come. Get ready soon.”

The Admiral turns and points to the circular table.

After exchanging salutes, I turned to the admirals sitting around me.

“Oh… Am I late?”

Countless superiors’ eyes were on me.

Home Fleet, ‘Home Fleet’ Commander Admiral John Kelly.

Admiral Wilfred Tompkinson, Commander of the Battlecruiser Squadron.

Admiral Erne Chatfield, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet

And even Admiral Roger Baghouse, Third Navy Lord.

In front of countless seniors seated around a round table, Admiral Fields of the 1st Navy beckoned to me.

“Sit comfortably, Admiral Lewis. I was just about to start.”

… No, I thought I was 10 minutes late because the traffic was blocked.

Even if it’s the lieutenant general, I’ll still have to keep an eye on it. With that in mind, I carefully sat down.

* * *

30 minutes after the start of the meeting.

Fortunately, there were no glares, and the meeting started.

I glanced at them from time to time, but they weren’t all that displeased.

Ah, is this the taste of ‘power’?

Even so, everyone seems to turn a blind eye to trivial things because they have accumulated majors.

In fact, it seems that he is more focused on meetings than that.

“The US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet is currently no match for Task Force H alone. Therefore, I think we need to use this superiority in naval power more aggressively now.”

Admiral Tompkinson, commander of the battlecruiser squadron, opened his mouth with his eyes raised fiercely.

Hood’s first captain and a seasoned commander who participated in a major battle in World War I. It is an extremely offensive argument, perhaps because it is the commander of the field task force.

Admiral Fields raised his hands and opened his mouth in response.

“Looking at it that way, their coastal defense is not easy. Ground-based air corps, torpedo boats, and submarines are tightly entangled like a net. How many times have our battleships been damaged? Kelly.”

“That’s right. Fortunately, no ships have been sunk, but if you force yourself to enter, you will have to accept the damage of the capital ships.”

Home Fleet Commander Admiral Kelly.

He is the one who sent a number of battleships to Task Force H under his command to support the precarious frontline at the beginning of the war. You don’t want to waste your capital ship recklessly.

In line with it, the 3rd Naval Police also added words.

“Distribution is also an issue. The port of Newfoundland’s carrying capacity is still reaching its limits. If we replenish our forces beyond this, we will have to look for a place to moor large ships, putting aside oil and ammunition supplies.”

What the 3rd Naval Police said was something I agreed with.

Actually, it wasn’t that big of a port. If more than 10 capital ships went in, it would be so cramped that it would be difficult to get in and out of even a single barge.

Because of that, the battlecruiser squadron is rented and living in the Caribbean, and some are dispersed in Central America and Jamaica.

If you gather them all in one place and prepare for a decisive battle, you will need to prepare for it.

“However, as long as their submarines and cruisers are improving their records day by day, long-term warfare is unreasonable. We must establish complete control of the seas in the near future.”

Admiral Tompkinson’s argument was defended by Admiral Erne Chatfield, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Certainly there is truth in his words. Above all, a long game against the United States is madness.

“What is Admiral Lewis’ opinion?”

Eh? my opinion?

When I raised my head, the admirals’ eyes turned to me.

“hmm. I’d love to hear your ideas too.”

Admiral Fields speaks plainly.

Come to think of it, everyone said one thing at a time, but I was the only one who stayed still.

Now, say something. Is this it?

However, since I have no particular connection with grand strategy, I have never really thought about it. In the first place, I was a body that rolled on set. If you are suddenly asked to come up with a strategy… .

“Isn’t short-term warfare the answer? Right now we have sea supremacy, but with the addition of what remains of the Pacific Fleet and their new warships, that advantage could be shaken.”

I can only give this textbook answer.

Fortunately, everyone nodded their heads normally, as if they were looking for something unusual.

“Certainly yes. Looks like they’re building six more of those South Dakotas. Four of them are said to be bigger and stronger.”

Shuk, Admiral Field handing over the papers.

Materials produced by the Office of Naval Intelligence outlined the design of the new battleships of the US Navy.

… How can these cubs not develop their drawings for a year?

In any case, it is expected to have an improved turret, improved engines and armor in a similar appearance to the South Dakota class. Overall, it is an improved version of the South Dakota class.

“We also need to add four battlecruisers and two carriers. Of course, they will hold a launching ceremony next year at the earliest.”

“However, it is said that the construction of the four battleships is almost complete. He may be in the middle of preparing for commissioning right now.”

Admiral Kelly added anxiously to the words of the Third Navy Lord.

Certainly, the South Dakota class is a very burdensome force for a battleship squadron with a majority of 15-inch guns.

Right away, I saw the battleships of the United Fleet being sunk one after another by South Dakota’s bombardment.

never looked down upon

Ah, come to think of it, there is one more reason to go to the short-term battle.

“Above all, with the capabilities of the Japanese Navy, we cannot afford to cross the Atlantic Ocean to support operations.”

The Combined Fleet is now able to see even outside of its strength. I was beaten like that by the Pacific Fleet. It would be fortunate if the Hawaii blockade was maintained.

However, the admirals seem to think differently.

“You may be a little mistaken about that, Louis.”

Admiral Fields cleared his throat and told me.

When I raised my head with questioning eyes, I saw the admiral, who was looking very uncomfortable.

what? Did I say something wrong?

I tilted my head in an absurd feeling rather than nervousness. In an instant, after hearing the admiral’s words, I understood the reaction.

“The Japanese Navy has decided to send reinforcements. The news came yesterday.”

“… What do you mean by that?”

The number of people trying to put a spoon on it increased.

* * *

USA, Washington DC

It is now March, but the Oval Office at the White House is much colder than midnight in December. It was because the sloppy clouds were out of the way of the sunlight, but the sound of chilly breathing still hovered over the desk.

“It’s a piece of sh*t.”

That’s what the former vice president and current president, Charles Curtis, muttered.

I’d rather leave it to Garner and run away. In front of him who was seized by devilish temptation, there were two people who raised their voices as if to drive away the cold even a little.

“If it wasn’t a pile of sh*t over your head, you wouldn’t have done that! or something? Do you even want me to be thrown out of the White House window and die?”

United States Field Marshal Pershing.

Returning from a tour of the front lines in Canada, he seemed to choose to resist with resentment instead of being surprised at the changed world.

And in front of him, MacArthur, who raised his head like a saint leading the world, was making a crackling sound.

“You speak harshly, senior! I’m always for the best ending for our United States of America… .”

“The end has already been decided! Only ruin! Damn, I shouldn’t have gone to the front. I should have killed you very early so you wouldn’t do anything nonsense!”

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Pershing said that while raising his fist.

However, MacArthur was not defeated by him. Conversely, seeing him with his arms crossed, President Curtis almost let out a laugh.

But knowing the power of that general who occupied the White House, he could barely hold back his laughter.

“You always talk a lot. While you’re away, you don’t care that I’ve solved the United States’ most difficult challenge.”

“Is that what you want to do now?!”

“What can I not do!”

Instead of scolding them, President Curtis chose to watch them wherever they went.

“What is this, look at the way you made it. The fleet is in tatters and the soldiers are doing nothing in the cold north. The council is in chaos and talking nonsense.”

It was Pershing who sighed heavily like an old man who had lived in the world. Soon after, he jerked his head up and pointed at the snobbish general with his finger.

“This is the world you created! know!?”

“It is the result of what I, MacArthur, did! So what did you do?”

Isn’t that friend doing nothing other than politics?

Curtis thought so, feeling that he had seen it more in newspaper articles than in front lines.

Anyway, he watched Chui, not knowing whether to be surprised or laugh at his overflowing confidence. As expected, MacArthur spoke without hesitation.

“Are you so proud of going to comfort soldiers shivering in the cold in the North? On the topic that nothing has been done in the country! I did what I could while you wasted my time!”

bang-

MacArthur, who defended himself with a kick, sighed and raised his eyes as if emphasizing it.

“The most valuable thing I can say!”

“This is not worth it! What a f*cking asshole!”

“The results will tell.”

It was MacArthur who moved his sharp gaze to the desk in the office. Curtis, stunned for a moment, stiffened his body and met his eyes. It had a fierce face like an eagle hunting its prey.

“Your Excellency, show me the plan.”

An attitude as if giving orders.

Feeling resentful, Curtis quietly handed over the stack of papers lying on the desk.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the meaning of this thick pile of papers.

However, his intuition told him that it was too late to point out.