I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Naval battle off the coast of Tunis (4)

6 o’clock in the morning. off the coast of Tunis. Aircraft carrier Furious.

“Red bullets are coming!”

“Turn the key! Fifteen to the left!”

“15 to the left!”

“Ten seconds until landing!”

“stokehold! Exclusive to Yanghyun!”

“Yanghyun exclusive!”

“A shot!”

pop-

The sound of the water collapsing hit the bridge. Watching the water column rise like an iceberg, Captain Bruce Fraser broke into a cold sweat. Something that should never have happened was hitting his stomach.

“sh*t… What did the battlecruisers do?”

He had met the two captains laughing and face-to-face just a few days ago, but now he only resents the carefree time.

If I go back then, I’ll probably be able to slap the two of them.

“Enemy ship! Defense 170! Distance 20,000! Keep approaching!”

“Make sure the bombardment is coming! See and avoid! Smoke Hurry up! What are you doing in the engine room?”

“The boiler is the limit! If you overdo it, your cycle may be ruined!”

“Do something!”

Fraser, who was yelling differently than usual, let out a sigh after taking his mouth off the palace hall. It was a condition that made it impossible to stay calm. The two high-speed battleships, flashing their 15-inch guns, approached through binoculars as if they were going to devour the Furious.

Of course, according to a report distributed in advance, their speed is 28 knots. A bit slower than the Furious, reaching 30 knots.

However, that is only a minor difference.

At such a close distance, it was never to the point of widening the distance at once.

As proof of that, 10 minutes had passed since the gunfire had sounded, but the enemy ship was still within sight. Fraser asked the air chief impatiently.

“When will the warm-up end?”

“Five minutes later.”

“Five minutes… … .”

too long. Doesn’t that mean you have to avoid the enemy’s salvo 5 times?

Shaking his head with a confused expression, he turned around.

“I wish they would turn a blind eye to it, even for a minute.”

Fortunately, it was changed to a position facing the wind in advance. Although it is impossible to launch ships during intense evasion maneuvers, if there is even the slightest gap, the aircraft can be launched immediately.

Fraser poked his head out the window and looked at the torpedo bombers lined up on the deck.

A raid that would normally have felt reassuring.

But now it was just a disturbing explosive.

If even one shell fell between them, the entire deck, as well as the torpedo bombers, could become a sea of fire.

However, it is the same as being sunk even if you do nothing and get beaten up. Shouldn’t we at least show signs of a counterattack?

While I turned my head in a cold sweat, a flash—the enemy ship’s main gun door shone once more.

“Red bullets are coming! 50 seconds of impact!”

“Turn the key! Uro 15!”

“Uro 15!”

The hull of the Furious tilted and swayed. The crew members on the deck hurriedly held on to the aircraft, and the bridge personnel looked down with anxious eyes.

A chilly minute passed, and a nettle—a sharp noise cut through the sky. Big chunks fell on the Furious’s wake.

“Attack! 80m in the cove!”

“Are you close to me already? You shoot fast.”

Fraser swallowed dryly as he watched the plume cast a shadow on the aft deck.

Moving in a zigzag, the Furious repeated avoiding the shots with exquisite timing.

A method of making a sharp turn at the moment of firing a salvo. I was able to use it because the enemy’s fire was urgent.

If the two ships cross-fired, they would not have known the first shot, but would have been immobilized from the second.

However, there was no guarantee that it would last forever. Sure enough, while the enemy lead ship fired at the next shot, the rear battleship silently watched the action on this side.

“Go straight ahead!”

Two W-class destroyers covering the stern crossed over and sprayed black smoke. It will block your view for a while, but not for long.

Shells falling around the smoke broke the waves and scattered vibrations in all directions.

A feeling of shaking under the floor.

A power that made even the tens of thousands of tons of huge bodies tremble erupted within reach of the nose if it were tipped over.

It is self-evident that sooner or later there will be hit bullets. You have to see the end before that.

Seeing that the gunfire had stopped for a moment, Fraser nodded to the air chief.

“Prepare for a carrier-based aircraft!”

The pilot waiting in the aircraft slowly moves forward according to the signal. The Boiler of the Furious howling and spewing out fumes. The sound of propellers spreads over the ship, which runs at a speed of more than 30 knots.

After a long, long wait, the lead torpedo bomber finally took off toward the sparkling morning sun.

The torpedo bombers, which had raised altitude, roamed the air and waited for their comrades.

If we go separately, we will be defeated individually anyway. Once it has taken off, there is no need to worry about being hit by shells, so waiting is the priority.

Torpedo bombers flying one by one.

Fraser sighed.

Will they be able to endure until they float safely?

It was when a feeling of uneasiness squeezed his throat. A telecommunications officer came in front of him without a telegram.

“Captain! An urgent message from the flagship… !”

“what’s the matter?”

Fraser involuntarily frowned at the urgent voice.

I was afraid of what kind of sad news would be delivered.

However, the voice of the reporting correspondent was strangely excited.

“Support! A raiding party has arrived from the Maltese Air Corps!”

Fraser raised an eyebrow.

* * *

The battleship ‘Marcantonio Colonna’ of the 1st Task Fleet of the Italian Navy.

On the bridge of Marcantonio, who served as the temporary flagship in place of the fallen flagship, the captain shouted at his throat.

“Enemy aircraft carriers must be captured! If you can’t catch that, you can’t escape!”

The 15-inch guns roared furiously and obeyed orders. However, nothing like an explosion could be heard among the rising water columns.

“Captain, it’s better to retreat… … .”

“It’s too much! Aren’t battlecruisers still chasing us? If you leave the carrier behind, a raiding party will come and hold you back.”

Originally, as soon as the sun rose, the plan was to see the enemy’s position and flee as it was. However, while looking around, what they saw was the appearance of a large flat-deck warship.

From then on, the first goal of the remnant fleet became the sinking of an aircraft carrier.

It’s because if a torpedo bomber rushes in and ties one’s ankles, it’s the end.

“Captain! The enemy ship is covered in smoke!”

“Damn it, predict the route and hit it! Even one shot is enough!”

“It’s a crowd! We need to recalculate shooting parameters.”

“sh*t… … No luck.”

Seeing the battlefield covered in pitch black, the captain bit his lip.

You must run away as quickly as possible. Counterattack is unthinkable.

As he watched the sight of the two warships being bitten by a squadron of destroyers as they gallantly advanced, he made a promise.

It’s time to get out of here

First of all, the loss of two battleships is a huge loss. Italy, lacking battleships, could not afford more damage than this.

Grab the aircraft carrier and get out.

The captain raised his eyes to the binoculars with determined eyes.

“Look starboard!”

… I didn’t even think that this was too much of a goal.

“what?”

“Bearing 160! Distance 20,000! About 10 unidentified aircraft are constantly approaching with this ship!”

As I turned my head, I could see dots shining in the distance. It wasn’t a bird.

“Prepare for anti-air combat!”

The gunfire stops and the signal goes up. The two battleships hurriedly turned.

Enemy raiders who approached the fleet at once slowly lowered their altitude.

It looks like a fighter jet. It was no ordinary torpedo bomber.

“what? Is it a light bomber?”

“It seems so. It’s pretty fast.”

“It seems to be the new machine I heard about before.”

Hawker Osprey. Has deployment been completed in this remote location?

The captain sniffed out an uncomfortable cough.

Ignoring such an attitude, the bombing party that had reached the sky began to descend all at once.

The 8 attack aircraft are divided into two groups and scattered to the left and right. It looks like each one is aiming for one battleship.

Ironically, however, the 2-pounders imported from England proved effective against British aircraft.

bumpy-

A barrage of fire with a unique cannon fire. A tracer bullet draws a parabola in the sky. The leading flag caught in the fire net is torn apart as it is.

The enemy plane, engulfed in flames, crashed into the sea, flying fragments like flower petals.

Only two planes were still projecting bombs. The battleship’s hull vibrated and an explosion was heard.

“Fire on deck!”

“Hurry up with the fire extinguisher!”

But it was a light wound.

A 500-pound bomb cannot penetrate the deck armor of a new battleship.

“Captain, a hit on the anti-aircraft emplacement.”

“Emergency repairs urgently. I think that’s the end for now, but… … .”

But it was still too early to be relieved.

“Captain! It comes on the other side too!”

“Turn the anti-aircraft gun!”

The Furious Air Corps, which lowered the altitude, arrived at them.

The torpedo bomber rushes straight into the lightning course. The 12 units run in groups of 6 units each. Distance about 2,000. Even if you fire a machine gun, you’ll get hit.

However, the anti-aircraft gun mount, which was concentrating its firepower on the enemy aircraft flying to the starboard side, did not complete the turn and only partially emitted fire.

“What anti-aircraft guns! Hurry!”

“Currently sorting! Calculate shooting parameters!”

“Just shoot! There is no time!”

The gun carriage hurriedly turned, but it was too slow. While aiming and firing, the attacking party had already fired their torpedoes.

Twelve torpedoes with chalk trails. While avoiding starboard torpedoes, they crash into the exposed side without any roughness.

Looking at the torpedoes that were close enough to touch under the deck, the captain closed his eyes and shouted.

“Prepare for shock!”

Two columns of water shot up from the sides of the thick bulge.

* * *

At the same time, the bridge of the battlecruiser ‘Repulse’.

“Admiral, this is a report from the raid. More than four torpedo hits.”

“We saw two feet… Did you mistake the water column?”

“The Air Corps is like that, right?”

On Repulse’s bridge, holding binoculars, I muttered to the chief of staff.

Two Caracciolo-class ships belching smoke in the distance.

They wriggled their hull violently while being hit by cross-fired torpedoes from the attacking party, and now they were running away with a smoke screen while being blocked by the Indipatigable’s volley.

In the sky, the late enemy air force was chasing away the friendly assault force.

intense air combat. Tracer bullets twinkle in the sky.

I tried to prepare for an anti-air battle, but there were no enemy aircraft approaching this way. Instead, aircraft were seen dropping bombs over the enemy fleet from time to time.

The chief of staff tilted his head, unable to understand the situation, lifted up his binoculars to check, then asked me.

“What are you doing, you bastards?”

“I think I mistook the target… … .”

pop-

The Caracciolo-class ships are obscured by a plume of bombs.

Somewhere familiar development reminded me of old memories.

During the Mediterranean naval battle in the original history, the Italian Air Force once threw a bomb over the Italian Navy that requested help. It is impossible to distinguish who is an enemy and who is a friend in the high altitude sky.

After that, the Italian Navy put red stripes on the bow deck to identify friends and family. So, what would have happened ten or so years later is now happening right in front of my eyes.

Soon, anti-aircraft fire, which was aimed at a low-flying torpedo bomber, soars right into the sky.

“They’re carrying anti-aircraft guns and shooting at the squadron?”

“… Leave it alone. It seems like it would be blocked if I rushed in now.”

It was after all the work to be done. Smoke from the chimney flew here and there, and anti-aircraft fire stained the sky.

“Enemy fleet fleeing! Estimated speed of 30 knots!”

“They couldn’t make 30 knots?”

It’s a curious report.

I wondered if I had seen it wrong, so I asked him to check again, but this time I heard an answer mixed with astonishment.

“… No, more than 30 knots!”

“what?”

Not only me, but also the chief of staff were surprised. When I asked Tobay with a full view, the same thing came out on the other side.

“I don’t know either. A separate report seems necessary.”

“Okay. Stop chasing.”

The flag goes up and the fleet gathers. Ships each clearly engraved with bullet marks. There is no ship in good shape anywhere. Looking at my stomach stained with large and small wounds, I only sighed.

“I didn’t expect to be ambushed.”

“Wasn’t that a surprise attack? Still, it’s a great victory since we beat it back.”

“… Yes, rescue survivors and clear the battlefield. Any more sacrifice than this is unacceptable.”

Bridge personnel salute. Destroyers busily roam the surface of the water, where burning debris and oil stains float.

In the distance, Furious can be seen running a function. It seems that the other side also ran away in a hurry. The distance is quite far.

“By the way, 30 knots… What the hell is this all about?”

“It seems the agency is overdoing it. Even if we go that way, the repairs will take several months.”

I said that to the chief of staff who tilted his head, but I was also puzzled.

Breaking the limit here? It’s an interesting look. The flooding accelerates if you forcefully accelerate while being hit by a torpedo. As much as that, the damage is increasing in reverse.

So it doesn’t matter if those two ships are sent there. You probably won’t even think about going out to sea again for a few months.

Between the busy bridges, I asked the communication staff.

“Can you contact the Eagle Carrier Flyer?”

“yes! Current location, bearing 150, 100 miles.”

“I’ll join you right away.”

The mission isn’t over yet. The real start is now.

I repeated that while watching the sky where the biplanes hovered.