I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Ark Royale (3)

The first to open fire was Captain Fraser.

“Isn’t that a matter of course? Our Furious Air Corps has sunk at least three enemy battleships.”

bang-

The desk on which the palm was struck vibrates slightly.

The captain, who proudly proclaimed, spoke in a bloody resounding voice.

“It’s not just neutralization, it’s ‘sinking’!”

Even the infinite trust in the aircraft shook in his bulging eyes.

“Well, that seems to require a proper criminal record and cross-validation.”

“Cross validation?”

Fraser turned his head to where the voice of counterattack had been heard. Before his eyes, Captain Tom Phillips was shaking his head with his arms crossed.

“Did you say you sunk three battleships? Where the hell did the evidence of a sinking come from?”

“Yes, our air corps clearly witnessed it. They said that a huge column of water erupted from the enemy battleship.”

“Is it really so? As you know, a battleship is not something to be trifled with.”

Fraser frowned at Phillips, who spoke coldly.

“Are you saying our air corps even lied in the report?”

“It’s not like that. An urgent battlefield, wasn’t it at night too?”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips knocks on a document on the desk.

Beneath his fingers lay the Taranto battle report.

“It means it won’t be strange even if there is a mistake in the criminal record check.”

“good. As you said, we can exclude one or two ships. However, it is certain that a heat wave was observed. This means that at least one battleship has been attacked by our air raids.”

Fraser leaned over and said so.

“What were the terms of our bet in the first place? Isn’t it to disengage the enemy battleship?”

Fraser calmly looks back at the two and reminds them of the condition.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips looked at him nervously.

“Everyone will remember. And our air group didn’t break away, it sank it completely. A battleship!”

“No. It was at a level where combat action was possible in a short time with emergency repairs.”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips raises his hand and interrupts.

Ignoring the other person’s frown, he opened his mouth in a stern voice.

“At the signing ceremony of the peace talks, they expressed their intention to immediately deploy four battleships.”

“lie!”

At the unbelievable news, Fraser inadvertently raised his voice and stood up. Seeing him excited, Phillips only answered calmly with his characteristic calm voice.

“It’s true. According to our naval intelligence department, after the battle, four battleships that had been repaired were anchored in the harbor. Only two Caracciolo-class ships were actually damaged by the submarine.”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips discusses each and every detail.

Fraser held his breath as he looked at the calm waves in his eyes.

“Think about it. Their Caracciolo class was able to run at full speed despite being hit by air torpedoes. That’s what a battleship is.”

“It’s bullsh*t. That friend must have sunk right after arriving at the port.”

“Well, I haven’t heard of that.”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips shrugged his shoulders. However, Fraser had no answer to that.

It was true that he also lacked information.

Each of them was just pushing their own argument.

“Once you land a hit on two ships, isn’t that dislodged from the battle line? At least one condition has been met.”

“No. If it’s at a level where combat sailing is somehow possible through emergency repairs, can that be called a breakaway?”

“If there had been a battle afterwards, they would not have been able to sortie. Like Brest.”

“So there was a battle? I mean, did you ever have anything to prove it?”

Conversation without backing down.

Before long, the two captains were holding their mouths together with their fists clenched without realizing it.

Between the two exchanging sharp glances, Tobay, who heard the news in advance, laughed quietly to himself.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Phillips, of course, was not lying.

It is true that at the time of the meeting, the Italian side threatened that there were still four battleships that could be deployed. Regardless of whether it is true or not.

‘It was actually two ships. The other two are under repair. At least one will be able to return in the middle of next year.’

The outcome of the bet was already Fraser’s victory. At least, that was the result he had heard through his acquaintances in the intelligence department.

At least two battleships were torpedoed off Taranto. The Ministry of Intelligence reported that each would need to be repaired for at least a few weeks.

The two Caracciolo-class ships built in Naples are even worse. Italy, which had put such a bluff, couldn’t even guarantee that they could repair and use the two.

This is a weak level that even the Austrian War Navy cannot win, let alone the Mediterranean Fleet.

‘But there’s no need to inform here.’

It was Tobay who thought so while raising the corner of his mouth.

It’s a bit embarrassing to say it now, but thinking about it, I regret that it would have been nice if I had added a spoonful of it myself.

Having worked his brain desperately for the past day, he begged for a plan to earn a penny.

As the voice grew louder, he raised his hands and intervened among the captains.

“Come on, let’s stop and clean things up for now.”

Clap and draw attention.

Soon after, he turned to the two captains who had crumpled faces and said.

“Isn’t there something to be excited about like this? Wasn’t it just a joke for fun? hahahaha!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The two captains look back without speaking. There is a chill on the face.

Tobay cleared his throat with a stiff face.

“… You were sincere.”

I did it in case, but it seems to be seriously clashing. Torbay in trouble.

As he groaned and thought of a method, he immediately thought of a good method.

“I will keep the stake for now.”

vigorously declared.

“what? Are you crazy?”

“Why do you do that?”

As expected, a fiery reaction followed.

Tobey slowly raised his hand to stop the two men who were about to run like bulls.

After that, he raised the corners of his mouth in a relaxed manner.

“I am the captain of the flagship. And I bet nothing on this bet. In a word, it means you can stay neutral. I guarantee this on my honor.”

He speaks clearly, one word at a time, and alternately meets his glowing eyes. A gesture of reassurance and trust. Continue explaining until the other person shows signs of understanding.

“I will hold each ten pounds, a part of the sum, until the result can be accurately judged. How is it?”

Fraser turned to Phillips.

stinging gaze. After a silent conversation, the two sighed and shook their heads.

“Good.”

“I can’t help it. I can trust you.”

“Of course. good choice.”

Receiving the advance payment from his trembling hands, Tobay smiled in repentance.

Now is the time to show the magic of turning 20 pounds into 60 pounds.

* * *

Liverpool, naval headquarters conference room.

“Well, the sketch will be like this.”

When I heard the voice of Sir Arthur Jones, Director of Naval Construction, the three admirals, including myself, gathered their eyes.

A blueprint sketch drawn on the desk.

A huge aircraft carrier appeared above it.

“It’s the world’s largest aircraft carrier.”

“For an aircraft carrier to show such majesty, is it because the disc is better?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“It’s rather surprising that such a design came out of an Invincible-class hull.”

Admirals admiring each other.

To be honest, I was also surprised.

I never thought there would be such a good ship.

High single-story hangar above the long hull. The height of the hangar seems to be about 5-6m.

“According to the admiral’s opinion, I first raised the hangar as an addition to the superstructure. Are you sure you intended it this way?”

“Perfect. There are no shipboard structures to the left and right of the hangar. In this way, the number of loaded aircraft can be greatly increased.”

Looking at the schematic diagram of the internal structure, I nodded in satisfaction.

Remnants of open hangars, mainly adopted by US aircraft carriers. Although it went in the opposite direction from the previous aircraft carrier design, it did unexpectedly well.

“However, I don’t know if the shutter will withstand the storm well. Give it a test run and it might need some further retrofitting.”

“Let’s think of it as the first step in developing a new aircraft carrier, Admiral Edison.”

Looking at the admiral, who tilted his face nervously, he persuaded him.

Of course, these are also those who are a little far from aircraft carrier operation. I didn’t necessarily object to my words as an experienced person.

Later, the construction director pointed to the characteristically oversized bridge.

“For the center of gravity on the left and right, the bridge needed to be raised a little. That’s why I don’t have too much sense, but… … .”

“Large bridges are good. In the field, the convenience of command and control facilities cannot be ignored.”

He responded with a smile as he talked anxiously.

In practice, a carrier’s larger bridge gives it an advantage in command and control.

In the case of the Japanese Navy in the original history, conversely, the aircraft carrier’s bridge was too small, which adversely affected command and habitability.

So at least it’s not a big problem. It doesn’t take up that much deck space either.

The construction director smiles and says, “I’m glad.”

Afterwards, he tapped the carrier’s deck with a pen and continued his explanation.

“Here will be the Catapults that are currently being tested. Two on the bow deck, and one on the inclined deck… … .”

Slanted deck at a reduced angle than when I drew it. It looks like 6-8 degrees.

“Couldn’t you increase the angle of the sloping deck a bit more?”

“First, let’s make this and test it. If it becomes a problem, it can be increased through remodeling later.”

Maybe it’s because it’s an overly advanced idea. The conservative side is still visible. Well, since I’m an expert, I can’t help it.

Afterwards, the director who moved the pen to the rear deck of the aircraft carrier asked me with puzzled eyes.

“And I think this mirror goodness device needs a bit more explanation. What is it?”

“Let me explain simply. Do you have a hand mirror?”

After receiving a hand mirror from the director, I tried a demonstration assuming that the pen was an aircraft.

“Now, let’s approach only the angle at which this pen is reflected in the hand mirror.”

A simpler device than you might think. It is a product developed by the British Navy, which suffered from the problem of the goodness of carrier-based aircraft.

Aka ‘Mirror Landing Sight.’

The position of the reflector is adjusted so that the pilot landing on the carrier is reflected in the mirror only when entering a safe route. In this way, it is convenient for the control officer to send a landing signal, and the accident rate is greatly reduced.

It is very difficult to land safely on the narrow deck of an aircraft carrier that moves while being rocked by the waves. The Furious also lost several aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean.

Considering this, this device is essential for Britain, where each aircraft is valuable.

A pen that fits safely next to the hand mirror.

Handing the mirror over to the director, I looked around with a triumphant face.

This time, everyone is surprised.

“How is it?”

“I think it’s a good idea. I was honestly surprised.”

“I don’t think the word hero of the Battle of the Atlantic came about for nothing.”

Receiving everyone’s praise, I briefly felt like I was one step ahead.

If I had known that I had to spend the whole year-end dinner in the conference room afterwards, I wouldn’t have wasted my time on such an act.

Anyway, looking at the whole picture again, I got a pretty good outline.

Long flight deck reaching 260 m, open single-level hangar and high speed of at least 32 knots.

If it stays like this, the world’s best aircraft carrier that surpasses even the Lexington class will be self-evident.

This is how the new aircraft carrier ‘Ark Royal’ was born.

* * *

During a meeting that was delayed due to minor additional design and discussion.

Admiral Edison approached me as I was slowly exhausted.

“Do you have some time?”

It was break time, so Kirk set down the coffee he had made and moved to his seat with the admiral. Coming out of the meeting room, he immediately opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it time for you to be assigned an aide-de-camp? Have you decided anything?”

“yes? ah… Not yet. I heard that the Navy Headquarters will contact you when this is over.”

“hmm… I mean.”

The admiral tilted his head and fell into deep thought. Just as I was about to ask what was going on, he opened his mouth.

“There is someone I recommend. Would you like me to introduce you?”