I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Caribbean Naval Battle (1)

afternoon the next day. off the coast of Belize. The bridge of the battlecruiser Repulse.

In front of the bows of the two battlecruisers is a huge tanker. A battlecruiser with hoses attached follows at reduced speed.

A large oil tanker capable of exceeding 10,000 tons. Of course, it’s cutely small compared to our two battlecruisers, weighing just over 30,000 tons each, but it’s still pretty big for a merchant ship.

I put my hand on the window frame and looked carefully at the flagpole of the merchant ship.

The mark of the Royal Merchant Marine is not affixed. It is a privately owned merchant ship in Mexico.

“It is an unexpected situation. Aside from fuel, getting food supplies… .”

While refueling, the operation officer said while looking at the refueling hose connected over the bridge window. After refueling, other supplies were to be handed over.

“Because the Mexicans are so expensive. I won’t be sending a bunch of receipts to the Navy Headquarters with this.”

“Intelligence guys, we should be thankful this time.”

He nodded quietly. With this, the worry of cruising distance is gone.

but… .

“Where is the Furious now?”

“Yes, currently passing through the southern tip of Jamaica. They say they plan to head west and rejoin the main ship.”

The communications officer handed over the telegram and said,

Now it’s Jamaica. I can’t help it because I’m returning from the open sea, but it’s too late. U.S. battlecruisers may appear soon.

While thinking about it, the air chief made a suggestion.

“Why don’t you send the Furious first to conduct an air strike?”

“no. It’s too dangerous. You never know when their battlecruisers will come out of the canal.”

“But if we figure out the location first through the reconnaissance aircraft, we won’t be afraid of being caught unexpectedly, right?”

Shuk, I turned to the flight attendant. Certainly in theory.

“It’s an air raid… .”

I crossed my arms and thought.

It is a tempting proposal. It’s the most effective tactic we can do right now. In fact, if your mission is to hit the canal and run away, it doesn’t matter if you just drop a few bombs from the plane.

There was no order to completely destroy the canal in the first place. Even the Prime Minister said he didn’t want me to die. Even if you do that much and step away, you won’t make any noise.

“If we send the Furious now, when can we start the airstrike?”

“If you run at full speed, you will arrive at the operational sea in 12 hours.”

“You are too slow.”

You never know when they’ll cross the canal… According to the information received, the sortie is quite late. I think they’ll be in the Caribbean at least by tomorrow.

“But even so, it takes longer to get in after the rendezvous. It’s dangerous again.”

There was some truth in what the air chief said.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Panama is a US Navy collar. Even if they had a hard time with the fleet, they would have taken many countermeasures such as mines and coastal artillery. Wounded battlecruisers are reluctant to enter.

“Can a reconnaissance aircraft detect enemy battlecruisers in advance?”

“It will be possible. Unlike the North Sea, the weather here in the Caribbean isn’t as bad. There are almost no enemy air forces, so there are almost no restrictions on operations.”

After hearing the words, it seems that the situation is really optimized for aircraft carrier operations. Enemy air forces are virtually nil. The weather is good, and the maneuvering space is quite wide.

If the Furious had a lot of planes like Lexington or Saratoga, I would really think about engaging with our flyer alone.

A really large carrier is urgently needed. After this operation is over, I will definitely raise the demand for large aircraft carriers. Anyway, now I have to struggle with all the power I have.

After thinking about it, I looked at the Air Staff Officer and Communications Officer alternately.

“good. Plan your plan according to your words. Are you contacting the Furious now?”

“Yes, it is possible.”

“Send the message right away.”

While issuing operational orders, the chief of staff asks a sneaky question.

“Commander, then our battlecruisers… .”

“We don’t need it.”

disappointed look. He’s also the commander of a battleship. It seems to be regrettable that the major is only focused on aircraft carriers.

Well, I wonder if he wants to fight even after going through that night’s hell. Is it not the Royal Navy with a great fighting spirit?

But, at least for now, I’d like to put that aside.

“You shouldn’t have to.”

He clenched his fist enough to leave marks on it.

* * *

“Periscope, raise it.”

in the quiet. Under the gloomy fluorescent lights, the officers looked up at the ceiling nervously. If there was even a single destroyer on the water that could be seen up there, they would have to stop thinking about going back comfortably.

“Damn it, enemy ship found!”

Everyone stiffened their faces at the captain’s cry. The captain, who turned the periscope around, eventually continued with a calm voice.

“Two battlecruisers and one destroyer… No, two. Distance about 6,000.”

It was a close distance for a lightning strike. The captain secretly bit his lip.

“Do you want to attack?”

“No, reporting comes first.”

At the commander’s suggestion, the captain shook his head resolutely.

The enemy fleet is escorted by one destroyer next to the battlecruiser. If this is the case, even if a torpedo is fired, the destroyer will find it first and enter an evasive maneuver.

“We would like to catch it, but… There are guests who have made reservations in advance.”

Assuaging his regret, he ordered a withdrawal. In the frigid water, the black ship turned round and round.

* * *

The next day, over Panama.

The sound of propellers resonates lightly. A pair of biplanes galloped through the clear sky.

A continuous explosion is heard in the distance.

“Bombing squad! We’re rushing in!”

“good! Let’s go in too!”

Lieutenant Betty, the captain of the Furious reconnaissance aircraft, gave a hand signal to his fellow aircraft and turned the nose. Beneath the wings of the biplane rattling in the wind, the sparkling waters and the bustling harbor stretched out.

Unlike the peaceful canal neighborhood, the port facing the coast was indeed a spectacle. Anti-aircraft guns fired fire all over the harbor. The sky bathed in the morning sun was already shining with tracer bullets and deflagration.

However, it was too weak. The assault force, consisting of six bombers and two fighters, simply broke through the air defenses and sprinted towards the canal. As if to drop even one flag, all the fires in the harbor were focused on them.

Betty only aimed at this time. It was thought that if the air defense fire was concentrated on the raid, the reconnaissance mission would become easier. As expected, he didn’t even pay attention. While the rear gunner eagerly took pictures, Betty leisurely admired the Panama scenery.

“Two large merchant ships… no it’s four But can’t you see the warship?”

“Aren’t you crossing the canal? Maybe it’s out there.”

The rear gunner answered Betty’s words as she lifted her head and looked outside the aircraft.

“hmm… At this rate, there shouldn’t be much to report, right?”

“Do you really want to go in and check it out?”

“Well, I don’t want to get up close and check.”

“Because the fire will be strong. I think it’s a good choice.”

In conversation, the two agreed not to approach the center of the canal. The risk was too great for what was to be gained.

While the reconnaissance planes were on their missions, the assault group approached close to the canal and descended on a bombardment course.

A Blackburn dart that descends obliquely as if it were being pierced. Accelerate to limit speed and turn the nose violently. A net bursting like cotton wool explodes around you. pouring debris.

“Live! live!”

“Lieutenant! excuse me!”

As if screaming, the rear gunner pointed at the front aircraft of the raid. The aircraft, which was advancing particularly quickly, became the target of the fire net, and fragments flew from its wings.

Soon, the fuselage spews fire and falls.

The aircraft, which fell in a parabola, eventually crashed into the waters off the canal and created a huge water column.

“sh*t! Damn you bastards!”

It was Betty screaming with clenched fists. But the bombing was not over. The attacking party following the crashed aircraft threw something in succession and lifted the nose.

Betty held her breath and watched the scene. As soon as he swallowed his dry saliva, numerous water columns rose up around the canal. Betty, who saw the flash of heat flashing through them, clenched her fists.

“good! One hit!”

“I’m glad. I thought everything would go wrong.”

“I guess our pilots didn’t just roll around.”

Watching the smoke rising from the canal, Betty quickly turned around. The sound of the anti-aircraft gun gradually faded.

* * *

At the same time, Repulse’s bridge.

The bridge guards the surroundings while holding their breath. As I was scanning the invisible horizon with anxious eyes, I heard the voice of the communications officer.

“Report from aircraft carrier Furious!”

Quickly, when he turned his head, he took out a telegram and continued.

“Six bombers, three fighters launch an airstrike on Panama! Hit at least one bomb!”

“good. Good job.”

A sigh of relief is heard. I was worried because it was a small raid, but I’m glad it worked out somehow. Still, this is not enough.

“It’s not a canal that can collapse with just one bomb. We need to keep hitting it to make repairs take longer.”

“yes. But don’t you know where the enemy fleet is?”

I agreed with the anxiety-mixed operation officer’s words. I nodded and asked the communications officer again.

“How about the scouting report?”

“They say there are no enemy ships around. In addition, it is said that no enemy ships were found in Panama Harbor.”

“Have you not crossed the canal yet… ?”

On the 3rd day after sailing from Veracruz, if no enemy fleet is seen in the canal until now, there are two possibilities.

One is still passing through the canal. The Panama Canal has a lot of traffic and is narrow, so it takes a long time to cross. Hopefully, we may still be on our way across the canal.

Then there is only one answer that comes to mind.

“You have to hit as much as you can. Tell them to prepare for the 2nd raid!”

“Shall we join the attack?”

“First of all, we aim to join Furious. Let’s apply more strictness to the surrounding borders!”

“Yes, I understand!”

While the communications officer was moving, he looked around. Nothing was visible on the horizon yet. Seeing the sailors with their eyes glued to the binoculars, I sighed involuntarily.

“I wish I had at least one reconnaissance plane… .”

“When this operation is over and you return, let’s make a suggestion to the superiors.”

Those were the words of the chief executive officer. Even in the midst of tension, seeing him with a relaxed smile made me smile.

“It is. I would like to have anti-aircraft guns in the seaplane hangar.”

“Because of opening up there, change the institution.”

“That’s a great idea! Also increase the fuel tank.”

A quiet laugh spread from the other side of the chilly bridge.

Ironically, the stories I just told are also the final refurbishments that Repulse received in my original world. Will we be able to benefit from the opening here?

No, that’s how it should be. certainly.

“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander.”

“no. You should have a comfortable voyage. Can’t we go back after this operation?”

“It should be like that. There is nowhere to go further south.”

He corrected his hair and said, turning his eyes towards the window. The chief warden just saluted and quietly withdrew.

okay. When this job is over, I’ll put an end to it. You can safely return to your home country.

He closed his mouth and nodded his head.

The Repulse of this world will never sink.

… But we couldn’t be at ease.

“Nail, where are you?”

“Yes, right here… It is 350 miles east of Belize.”

The navigator unfolds the chart and draws a line on it. The sea not far from Jamaica. If we do well, we might be able to hide in our harbor before they attack.

Under the cover of coastal artillery, even their battlecruisers will not be able to attack.

It was time to hold my breath to calm my anxiety.

“Port-side watch report!”

I was determined enough.

I don’t see them. To be hopeful, we haven’t reached the Caribbean yet… .

“Bearing 350! Two smoke stacks! big ship! Distance about 30,000!”

In other words, it may already be on its way to the Caribbean.

“A large ship?!”

Suddenly, I jumped off the bridge and entered the observation deck.

The sailors, bewildered, point to the front. He immediately pulled out his binoculars and brought them to his eyes. In an instant, the legs stopped.

“Damn it… !”

Huge smoke spread across the horizon.