I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Chapter 72

Battle of the Bay of Biscay (1)

The next morning, Royal Navy Headquarters.

A conference room where countless stars gathered.

Churchill looked back at the admirals seated around the desk and opened his mouth with a heavy expression.

“A while ago, Admiral Louis’ task force set sail to block the French fleet.”

He let out a sigh and took a moment to look at the reaction around him.

Uncomfortable faces.

It looked like that even more because it was raining rain that had just arrived at the end of the work hour.

“This includes the aircraft carrier Furious and… Yes, battlecruisers will be included.”

Moaning faces are revealed everywhere. After a while, Churchill looked at the 1st Navy Policeman sitting next to him.

“Can I really trust him with this ship? Admiral Field.”

Admiral Field nodded calmly at the doubtful voice.

“Admiral Lewis is a talented man with great leadership skills. He, who is the youngest admiral since Nelson, will be able to handle them.”

“But isn’t it a ship that has just entered commissioning training? I have no doubts about Admiral Lewis’s commanding power.”

Having said that, Churchill took a deep breath. Admiral Fields was not ignorant of the displeasure of his slightly gloomy expression. The Navy Secretary’s struggle to hide it was just ridiculous.

“However, isn’t it a ship with established operability yet? I’ve heard that battlecruiser squadrons in Newfoundland and Bermuda also suffer from steering problems.”

The ensuing question was true. The admiral nodded.

As it is a radical design, it is inevitable that problems will arise. However, there is a gritty side to this tense situation.

“The Minister is right. However, the French task force currently deployed in the open sea is as powerful as the fleet previously infiltrated in the Strait of Dover.”

Two Lyon-class ships and a number of frigates. It is weaker than previous maneuver forces, which included carriers and auxiliary battleships. But even that much can’t be ignored.

The admiral took a moment to catch his breath and continued.

“Even if you send in one or two battlecruisers, it won’t be as easy to catch as before. Even the Mackenzen class struggled.”

Churchill bowed his head and groaned. He closed his heavy mouth, but fortunately looked at Admiral Field with a face of understanding.

“Okay. But I also feel insecure.”

“Do not worry. Admiral Lewis is a capable talent.”

Admiral Fields said so, but at a glance he also seemed uneasy.

It’s just that we’re hastily putting in a battleship that’s just been put through a test evaluation.

However, the situation is difficult to solve with just one Furious.

This time, I thought I should send solid support.

So, he quietly closed his eyes, believing in his decision.

* * *

At sea 150 nautical miles west of Brest. Royal Navy aircraft carrier Furious.

Aircraft land one by one on the empty deck. It’s just after the sun has risen, so the weather is still cool.

They wrapped themselves in winter uniforms and wrapped their arms around each other.

“How long until the completion of the goodness?”

“It’s 10 minutes.”

“I want it to be over soon. Even now, they must be on the move.”

No matter how hurriedly dispatched, the Furious is now getting back the aircraft that was put down on the ground base. The sound of propellers echoes across the deck.

Anyway, the French guys who made me suffer on this cold day are idiots who can’t even chew. Do you work on vacation days and not on other days? No matter what, there are morals… … .

At the very least, if you’re going to sail on the Repulse, you’ll be happy. However, the ship I am currently stepping on is the aircraft carrier Furious. It’s performance is so-so, and it’s hard to give a good evaluation on the appearance.

Looking at the flat deck without a single gun, I can only sigh.

As I was watching with my head shaking, the navigation staff approached and reported.

“According to reports, no signs were seen in the open sea. Maybe it fell into the Bay of Biscay.”

“That’s within range of enemy air force operations. Things are bothering me.”

It is not easy to attack with the ability of the Furious if it is covered by the ground-based air force. It’s fortunate that last year’s battle was a surprise attack, but if it’s a case of a sortie like this time, the air force won’t stand still.

I silently recalled the number of air groups aboard the Furious.

“Eight fighter jets, torpedo bombers, 12 reconnaissance aircraft, respectively… … There are too few of them.”

“Because the damage in the battle last year was great. Still, I scraped together as much as I could.”

after-

The Chief of Staff speaks with a sigh. As the saying goes, the aftermath of the Battle of Dover Strait still remains.

This is because, in addition to the 11th Air Corps of the Air Force, the Naval Air Corps deployed on the ground suffered great damage. It is fortunate that the enemy aircraft carrier Bearn was sunk early.

If the enemy had even an aircraft carrier, they wouldn’t have dared to pursue it with just one Furious.

I looked out the bridge window and quietly turned my head.

“How is Ham? Captain.”

“Not bad. It seems that the layout that has been out for a long time is tidy.”

The new captain answered with a grin.

Unlike the captain of the previous squadron, who was promoted and recuperated due to chronic illness, he had a slightly more cheerful atmosphere and a moderately dignified face.

“Right. You’re going to have to struggle a bit in the future. We are the only strong carrier capable of maneuvering from the mainland. Fraser.”

Captain Fraser, the captain of the ship, nodded to me as if I was talking half-jokingly.

Bruce Fraser.

Now he is just a lot and many captains, but in the original history, he was a leading talent in charge of the 3rd Navy, Home Fleet Commander, and 1st Navy.

He is famous for leading his fleet in bad weather and chasing down and sinking the German battleship Scharnhorst.

At the time, Fraser, aboard the battleship Duke of York, drew Scharnhorst, whose radar was out of order, into a tight siege and sank it. Later, he served as commander of the British Pacific Fleet and participated as a British representative at the signing ceremony of the surrender of Japan.

Originally, at this point, I know that he was in charge of the cruiser captain, but for some reason he was assigned to me. Thanks to that, I brought in another good person under my command.

“Is this your first air operation?”

“Yes, but no problem. Before taking office as captain, I had several conversations with the flight commander.”

Quickly, as I look away, the flight commander nods as if agreeing. After all, talent is talent.

“Then I will believe you. Our role will be the most important in finding the enemy fleet out in the open sea.”

Aircraft carriers are even more important if the enemy fleet is moving at high speed. Still, I’m not too worried about it, perhaps because I’ve acquired outstanding talent.

In fact, because of his record as the Duke of York, Fraser was also competent in aviation. In the original history, he went through important positions such as the captain of the aircraft carrier Glorious during the interwar period.

And during World War II, he made a plan to remodel the Lion-class battleship into an aviation battleship. Of course, this was a bit of an odd idea.

“Admiral! It’s urgent!”

An urgent voice pounded on my thoughtful mind as I looked at Fraser.

“what’s the matter?”

“The Navy Headquarters sent an order.”

A communications staff member handing over a telegram. Are you sending orders now?

I read it quietly.

“Furious wait in the current waters, then join the friendly battlecruisers following?”

battle cruiser?

I looked at the chief of staff with curious eyes and asked.

“Has Repulse’s repairs already been completed?”

“no. It will have to remain in the dock for at least another month.”

The chief of staff shook his head in denial.

I put on a puzzled look again. If it were not for Repulse, there would be no battlecruisers left on the mainland.

What are you sending? Maybe Mackensen?

In an instant, the chief of staff, who opened his eyes, shouted in a surprised voice.

“ah! Maybe a new ship… ?”

“A new ship?”

The chief of staff shakes his head. He looks back at me with his characteristic uneasy face, which has continued since the time he rode the Repulse.

When that guy took that kind of attitude, it wasn’t good news.

Come to think of it, if it’s a new ship… … .

“Invincible-class third ship, Indipatigable.”

Scared to wait, the chief of staff opened his mouth. I stopped frowning at the expected ship class name.

A state-of-the-art battlecruiser that was said to be preparing for actual combat in top secrecy.

“The day before yesterday, he would have just completed commissioning training and landed in Liverpool.”

“… That he’s coming to join us?”

Suddenly I looked at the horizon. Slowly, smoke seemed to rise.

Have you already arrived? A radio message announcing friendly news is transmitted through the mouth of a communication staff member.

State-of-the-art battlecruisers. He is definitely an ally to be reassured. But why?

“I miss Repulse.”

I looked at the horizon with dark eyes.

* * *

French Navy battleship Duquen, Bay of Biscay, France.

While the Furious, which had finished joining, moved south, Admiral Muslier, standing on the bridge of the battleship Duquen, was in trouble.

Whether to head for Casablanca along the Iberian Peninsula or break through to the Mediterranean Sea.

Considering the preservation of the fleet, which was the original purpose of the sortie, it is also necessary to return to Toulon.

But it never occurred to me that I would be able to pass in front of Gibraltar now.

Although there are currently no capital ships deployed in Gibraltar, countless auxiliary ships, torpedo boats, and mines must be lurking there. If you were caught even for a moment, you would be beaten and drowned by the British warships that were immediately chasing you.

However, further down this line there is a risk of exposure to Spanish surveillance.

The guys are still neutral, but he thought it wouldn’t be good to be caught.

The British might be monitoring Spanish communications.

“Correspondent, is there anything you can catch?”

I asked with hope, just in case, but the staff only shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“Am I going to keep the airwaves silent… … It’s bothering me.”

Large—with an uncomfortable cough, Admiral Muslier fell silent. Feeling anxious at first glance, the chief of staff sneaked up behind him and asked:

“What would you like to do?”

“Go out to the open sea and then turn around. Even if it’s annoying, it’s better than getting caught by them.”

After saying that, the admiral shrugged and added:

“Well, wouldn’t it be possible to meet a British merchant fleet on the way?”

The chief of staff couldn’t help but laugh at that statement. Even if they met the merchant fleet, they didn’t even have time to focus on destroying trade. For the Navy, which had already lost more than half of its power, survival itself was the top priority.

It was when the chief of staff, immersed in such thoughts, swallowed a sigh.

“Admiral! An urgent message from the reconnaissance aircraft! Enemy task force found!”

An urgent voice cut in between the two.

“Has the carrier already approached?”

The admiral muttered as he turned to the communications staff. However, what followed was quite different from what was expected.

“Discover a maneuver fleet consisting of multiple vessels, including one carrier and one battleship, bearing 080 degrees, range 120 miles, speed 30 knots.”

Admiral Muslier, who blinked while brooding over the report, immediately asked in a puzzled tone.

“A battleship?”

“Probably a battlecruiser.”

The chief of staff added as if to help understand. Still, doubts remained.

“Are there any battlecruisers left on the British mainland?”

“Couldn’t it be Repulse?”

“Have you already finished repairing?”

It is questionable. I thought it would stay on the dock for several months… … .

But no problem. A single 15-inch gun battlecruiser can somehow match the firepower of two Lyon-class ships.

Admiral Muslier calculated in his mind.

Our strength is two state-of-the-art battleships, and the enemy is one carrier and one battlecruiser. then… … .

“Turn to bed. To 080.”