I Became a Captain of the British Empire

The strongest Italian fleet in real life

Two days later in the afternoon, the port of Gibraltar.

The hull, charred by gun smoke, cuts through the water. Repulse docked at the port at the head of the fleet.

After giving a brief speech to commemorate the end of the battle, I immediately got off the dock.

“Admiral, this is a reconnaissance report from our submarine.”

“Something?”

“It is said that the wake of a large enemy ship led to the Port of Naples.”

“Isn’t it back in front of Toulon? Good luck.”

He pretended to be calm and nodded his head and waved his hand at the chief of staff. I let out a long sigh as I watched him leave the commander’s office.

The battle with the Caracciolo class was quite tense.

Indipatigable was also hit and set on fire for a while.

The shooting was precise and the coordination was excellent. Maybe I should rate it higher than expected.

First of all, I decided to think of Indipatigable as a half ship for the time being.

This is because the skill of the crew is too low.

I was lost in thought as I lay face down on the bed.

The Mediterranean campaign is not finished. As long as the Italian fleet lives, they will always be our stumbling block.

something is needed

“Admiral, this is urgent!”

It was then that an urgent voice broke through the door.

“What is it?”

“Urgent message from the Mediterranean Fleet! The battleship Valiant is hit by an enemy torpedo! Austrian Navy Viribus Unitis sunk!”

thing happened again

* * *

“Let’s talk properly.”

“The Mediterranean Fleet has been attacked.”

Repulse’s conference room.

John, the chief of staff, who sat across from the desk, concluded. Frowning at the unpleasant news, I nodded to continue.

“Marlboro was hit by a submarine during patrol… It escaped sinking, but for the time being, it has to be docked.”

“Damn it, they’re going out in pairs.”

This is a serious matter.

Three capital ships of the Mediterranean Combined Fleet are incapacitated at the same time… … .

In particular, the Valiant is a first-class force equipped with a 15-inch gun. It is a more painful loss. If it is damaged enough to be stranded, it will probably take a year to recover.

In addition, the Austrian Navy Viribus Unitis is completely bombing. Due to the slow damage control, the ship tilted, causing the ammunition to roll around and burst.

“How on earth did the enemy attack our battleship?”

It’s a strange thing. Attacking the port is not that easy.

Air raids had to penetrate various anti-aircraft guns and anti-torp nets, and the fleet did not even go close in the first place.

So how the hell did he hit the torpedo? It wasn’t an air attack, but if the battleship was rendered incapacitated in one shot, heavy torpedoes would have been used. Could it be that the submarine was infiltrated?

“Is it really a submarine?”

“For now, I have no choice but to look at it that way.”

The chief of staff nodded. His eyes are shaking as if he is embarrassed too.

“… Strange.”

“yes? What do you mean?”

“If it’s a torpedo from a submarine, there’s no way it could end with just one shot. Was there really no other damage?”

“Yes, only Valiant took. Should I say it’s fortunate out of unhappiness… … .”

It’s even more strange when you hear the story. What do you mean? A submarine infiltrated Alexandria Harbor.

The Austrian side completely sank a battleship, so yes, but Alexandria is strange. If we were to focus our efforts, we would rather put it in this direction… … .

In addition, Valiant’s damage situation is also questionable. It is said that the first aid was delayed, but if it is a heavy torpedo, there is nothing to say even if the anti-torpedo structure itself is completely penetrated and sunk.

“Couldn’t the Mediterranean Fleet have failed to monitor it?”

“No matter what, it is definitely a fleet in charge of the sea area.”

Although a number of capital ships were stolen from Task Force H, they were originally the flagship fleet under the direct control of the Home Fleet.

The Mediterranean Fleet also boasted formidable power that would not be lost to it before.

It is self-evident that he has such outstanding skills. That the Mediterranean Fleet allowed only one submarine to break through. It is said that no one even found the periscope.

Of course, in the navies of other countries, you can think that some U-boat ace has appeared. But it’s Italy, so it’s a problem.

“Admiral, why is that?”

“no… It’s nothing.”

The submarine disappeared without a trace with only one torpedo fired… A damaged Valiant in Alexandria. However, the damage is minor.

All the evidence suggested one conclusion. Bad forebodings raged in my head like a storm.

“Can I contact the intelligence department now?”

Raising my anxious eyes, I asked the chief of staff.

* * *

Dawn, the port of Gibraltar.

A sea of silence.

The cold water surface parted at the place where the clouds swallowed up even the moonlight. As the cool air brushed the surface of the water, black shadows crossed the harbor.

An object passing quietly under shallow water. It is about the size of a torpedo. A pole that looks like a snorkel is held above the surface of the water and proceeds at a very slow pace.

Soon, someone lifted a face above the shadows.

Major Paolo raised his head above the splashing water.

Looking around with a sharp face, he confirmed that there were no patrol boats and signaled to his colleague in the back seat.

“good. You arrived safely.”

“I’m glad. Surveillance was poorer than expected.”

“You wouldn’t have thought they would infiltrate like this.”

The two slightly raised their heads above the surface of the water and looked back at the quiet harbor. Only the lapping of the waves on the pier resounded.

“Didn’t the rest come in?”

“We are glad to have come. Let’s go.”

“Let’s find a boat first.”

They were two people urgently looking in all directions looking for a target. It wasn’t long before the rear gunner tapped the major’s shoulder with his finger.

“I found it.”

He focused his gaze in the direction the rear gunner was pointing. At first glance, the massive hull slowly outlined itself in the dark.

“He’s a big guy. Is it indipatigable?”

“It seems so. The hull is also high… He is the only ship of this size in Gibraltar.”

“Okay, start the operation!”

The two simultaneously submerged and turned the manned torpedo on board.

A speed of less than 3 knots. However, the power of the long mine mounted at the forefront is by no means weak. A single hit could do at least two weeks of damage to even a battleship.

Of course, it’s a story when it hits.

“Enemies!”

pop-

Huge lights spilled over the shadows.

A guard boat approaches with flashing lights. Soon, bullets rained down like rain.

Slightly sticking his head out, the major immediately raised the rear gunners and shouted.

“Damn it, escape!”

operation failed. If so, move on to the next step without hesitation.

The two of them quickly jumped out of their seats. The manned torpedo, which lost its owner, sank powerlessly.

However, the occupants who floated to the surface were immediately reflected in the searchlights and received an enthusiastic welcome baptism. No one planned futile resistance.

A small guard boat approached in front of the two who raised their hands obediently.

* * *

At the same time, Repulse’s bridge.

Urgent footsteps enter the dimly lit bridge under light control.

The communications chief who raised a salute opened his mouth.

“Admiral, this is a report from the guard unit.”

“Did you catch it?”

“Yes, a number of suspicious people who infiltrated the port were caught and are currently being arrested.”

“Good job. Tell them to check thoroughly to make sure there are no more left.”

I nodded my head as I looked at the harbor where the chaos had occurred in the middle of the night. With searchlights shining everywhere, a patrol boat was rounding up two masked men.

The chief of staff approaching from behind muttered in a tone of absurdity.

“I never thought to use human torpedoes… … .”

“It should be called special forces. You’re confused.

Decima Flottiglia MAS.

Literally translated, the 10th Assault Unit.

Known as the Italian Navy’s human torpedoes, they are actually a special type of soldier that can be said to be the beginning of UDT. Even if it’s a torpedo, it’s actually like a small submersible that can approach enemy ships.

After that, their mission is to plant a time bomb and escape. The unit itself was not created until the 1940s… … .

It would be necessary to properly interrogate whether they were in the same unit and what kind of equipment they were using.

I’m glad anyway If we hadn’t caught it in advance, we would have suffered a disaster like the Mediterranean Fleet.

In the original history of the Mediterranean Fleet, two battleships were put out of action at the same time due to their sabotage. Because of this, it almost lost control of the Mediterranean Sea temporarily.

It can be a truly frightening moment.

“yes? Isn’t that a human torpedo?”

“If you say that, it sounds like you’re shooting a torpedo with a man attached to it.”

The chief of staff blinked as if I was absurd at my point. After a while, he frowned and questioned.

“… Who in the world would do such crazy things?”

Oh well, it’s a little different here. It’s still a bit early concept for these guys. Please, I hope it will be like that in the future.

“I know. It was just bullsh*t. ignore it.”

With that thought in mind, I waved my hand at Kirk, who shook his head questionably.

Meanwhile, someone entered the bridge. Hearing the familiar footsteps, I looked out the window without turning my head.

“You owe me this one time? This is the fourth.”

“I think I know it twice, but what about the rest?”

“It’s confidential. Will you let me know when the war is over?”

Seeing K shrug his shoulders, I let out a sigh.

I don’t know what it is, but I got it right. It’s dark in front of my eyes Anyway, I didn’t want to borrow your hand… … .

“Are you going to accumulate interest?”

“What is that? It’s an insurance scam.”

“I saved you a valuable capital ship, shouldn’t you take it for granted?”

“Hey. Is this the one who requested the information?”

K smiles and shakes his head.

“How did you find out anyway? Our intelligence department also figured it out only recently. First, ask for information… … .”

K., who was turning around with his toes standing, asked while sticking his face in.

“Couldn’t you have come to see the future?”

“under… I hope so.”

That’s true.

But you won’t believe me even if I tell you.

… No, do you really believe it?

I gave a hint to K, who was staring at me with both eyes blinking.

“But if it were real, what would you do?”

“I’m going to report you to a mental hospital first, right?”

“Please, I want you to catch him first.”

Then it is. Averting my gaze from K, who was smiling like an idiot, I let out a sigh.

Morning comes slowly.

The port of Gibraltar, revealed at dawn, was shining warmly.

* * *

Italy, Naples. 1st Task Force flagship ‘Francesco Caracciolo’.

A special room renovated exclusively for the admiral.

Admiral Ricardi, who was on duty, turned his head at the sound of a knock.

“Come in.”

Queek The door opened and the Chief of Staff of the Fleet entered the room.

“Admiral, this is the report from the Gibraltar dispatch team.”

“Is it a failure?”

firm question.

The staff shook their shoulders and answered quickly.

“Yes that’s right.”

“It’s not too hard either. It’s not the most elite mobile unit for nothing.”

The admiral nodded calmly.

It was a face that wasn’t too surprised as expected.

“But Admiral, their skills are one step below us, as you saw in the battle last year.”

The chief of staff speaks confidently.

However, the admiral shook his head as he let go with cold eyes.

“… no. That’s our luck. The collection of 16-inch gun battleships was excellent. If we had just adjusted the azimuth properly, our battleship would have been seriously injured.”

He still vividly remembered the close-up shot that made the huge caracciolo ship vibrate. No matter what the skill is, it is a performance that can never be ignored.

In addition, the ability of the same fleet, Repulse, was objectively superior to them. Although he had not encountered it directly, Admiral Riccardi in the Mediterranean had also heard of his activities across the sea.

In addition, it is said that he dealt with the last battleship squadron of France virtually alone. It is difficult to see that it is only a single battlecruiser. Maybe it’s more feared than the new battleship?

“Admiral, Admiral!”

It was time to indulge in such nonsense. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and the communications staff hurriedly entered through the door.

“Admiral Riccardi, urgent message!”

“What happened again, this time?”

Since he had just received the unfortunate news, the admiral clicked his tongue and turned his head away as if he was annoyed. However, the pale-faced staff continued to speak despite such a reaction.

“France… I surrendered!”

At the really unpleasant news, the admiral swallowed dryly.