Chapter 214: The Grand Fleet

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In the quiet morning, seabirds flew everywhere in the harbor. If you want to see the most intense collision between human civilization and nature, then go and see a port: on the shore are the most brilliant science and technology of humanity, built of steel and cement; and the ocean is the boundless vastness of nature, like a mother.

On a steel scaffold weighing tens of thousands of tons, several hundred workers were working frantically at the fastest shipbuilding speed in human history. The German shipyards had never had such a flourishing moment. At the same time, two aircraft carriers with a displacement of nearly thirty thousand tons and fourteen Hercules transport ships were being built together.

On the sea not far away, a newly formed second fleet was slowly gathering. Since the High Seas Fleet had left this port, the people here had not seen such a massive fleet again.

Once again, in order to expand its own living space, humanity was bravely facing the waves of the vast sea. To become the master of the world, to be able to achieve a position of dominating everything, a newly risen empire was challenging an old king with its young fangs.

The two newly fitted-out and trained fleet aircraft carriers, the Tirpitz and the Imperator, were being protected by four cruisers and eight destroyers, undergoing their final at-sea formation training. And the audience for their formation performance was the Führer, Akado Rudolph, who was standing on the Imperator.

And just a few dozen meters below Akado’s feet, a mechanic was calibrating a machine. Beside him, two sailors in navy uniforms were holding notebooks and recording under the slightly dim light. “Master, does the pressure here need to be adjusted to 8 to be considered qualified?”

“That’s right,” the old mechanic nodded, tapping the pipe in front of him with a wrench. “This part is very important. If it leaks, it could cause a fire. Of course, the damage control method is the same as your procedure on the Hercules transport ships: close the hatches on both sides and flood the compartment.”

“This is similar to our old station on the Hercules transport ships,” the young sailor said with some excitement.

“Mm, you could say it’s exactly the same,” the old technician nodded. “The Führer is truly a genius of shipbuilding. To be able to keep sixty percent of the parts of such a large warship interchangeable with the parts on the Hercules transport ships is simply an industrial miracle.”

The entire aircraft carrier was built to the specifications of the Hercules transport ship. The equipment and parts used in many places were also the same. This had allowed Germany to unknowingly cultivate a pool of excellent sailors for at least ten years. These crewmen were familiar with their posts. Sometimes, when they woke up, they didn’t even remember that they were now serving on an aircraft carrier, because it seemed that nothing around them had changed.

Of course, it wasn’t that nothing had changed. After all, this was an aircraft carrier. It had a huge hangar, dozens of the most advanced fighter planes of the era, as well as dangerous ammunition magazines, fuel tanks… The bigger differences were that this ship was larger, had more compartments, a different feel at the helm, and a different daily schedule.

Moreover, as one of the 840 members of the ship’s crew, they also had to mix with a full 100 anti-aircraft gunners, 110 pilots, 490 ground crew, and 19 air combat command personnel. This was indeed quite different from serving on the Hercules transport ships.

On the bridge, Akado lowered his binoculars and took his eyes off the sea. A moment ago, he had seen the lead destroyer not far from the fleet. The entire fleet looked to be in a tight defensive formation.

“My Führer, the Second Fleet has assembled. According to your orders, we will proceed to Wilhelmshaven to rendezvous with the First High Seas Fleet and form the true High Seas Fleet of the Reich,” the captain of the aircraft carrier Imperator and also the commander of the Second Fleet, Rear Admiral Günther Lütjens, reported.

Akado smiled and looked back at Lütjens, then pointed to the command room. “The combat effectiveness and methods of this warship are completely different from the warships you have commanded in the past. Is there anything you’re having trouble adapting to?”

“Colonel Duan of the Naval Air Arm has demonstrated the entire attack procedure of the aircraft carrier to me. My Führer, I believe that once this mode of combat is deployed in the future, future naval battles will be decided by the duels of naval air arms,” Lütjens replied.

Akado had a very good impression of this German navy surface ship commander, who in another timeline had gone down with the battleship Bismarck. At least as a soldier, his loyalty and courage were beyond doubt. In addition, when Akado had studied the history of naval warfare in World War II in his past life, this man had made several correct suggestions, so he should be considered a talented strategist.

Therefore, in the navy, apart from Raeder, who had been the first to side with him, and Dönitz, whom he had single-handedly promoted and supported, this Lütjens had become one of his most valued commanders. And Akado’s novel tactics, as well as his determination to strengthen the navy, had all given this Lütjens the feeling of having found a kindred spirit.

Therefore, the two hit it off immediately and quickly came to trust each other. The task of forming the Second Fleet of the Navy’s High Seas Fleet thus fell on Lütjens’s shoulders. And this general did not disappoint. He had trained a very elite-looking fleet in the shortest possible time.

However, Akado also knew that the navy itself lacked the courage for a decisive battle. Although they were well-trained, when faced with the gloriously victorious British Royal Navy, the German Navy had been suffering from a lack of confidence since its inception. They had finally mustered the courage to challenge the Royal Navy once back in the day, only to end up with Operation Rainbow.

Of course, these two aircraft carriers also had great improvements. The biggest improvement was that they were equipped with new naval search radars, with an effective range of 35 nautical miles, and an even greater range for air warning. This equipment had proven to be very effective in tests and could provide the aircraft carriers with a final reconnaissance screen. With this equipment, the carrier’s aircraft could take off with ease to engage incoming enemy forces.

According to Akado’s plan, the carrier Bismarck would be formed into the First Naval Fleet with the Tirpitz, and the carrier Graf Zeppelin would form the Second Naval Fleet with the Imperator. These two fleets would combine to form the German High Seas Fleet to counter the British Royal Navy’s Home Fleet. The two carriers to be launched later would form a Third Fleet, which would be independent and used as a guerrilla fleet to harass the British Navy.

Under Akado’s attention, the development of German electronic equipment had always been at the world’s advanced level. Radar, sonar, radio, infrared, and other technologies had all made great strides. Twenty-one radar stations had already been set up within Germany. These radar stations, along with ten 88mm anti-aircraft gun battalions and four Fw-190D fighter squadrons, formed the air defense network for the key industrial areas.

The fleet sailed in a circle outside the port, slightly adjusted its course, and then began to head toward the distant sea. The barge that Akado was on had already docked at the side of the port. Not far away, two tall ship hulls were being assembled. It seemed that these two warships were about the same size as the aircraft carriers that had just left the Kiel naval port.

“Heil Führer!” As soon as Akado came ashore, he saw Vice Admiral Dönitz waiting for him. Akado’s visit to the Kiel naval port this time was, on the one hand, to preside over the ceremony for the formation of the Second Fleet, and on the other hand, to boost the morale of the flagging German navy’s surface fleet. Of course, the most important point was to pacify Dönitz and ask him to temporarily restrain the belligerent actions of his submarine force.

In the reports of the SS spies, Akado knew that Dönitz had dispatched his wolfpacks more than once to track and simulate attacks on British merchant ships. This dangerous action had already begun to arouse the vigilance of the British Navy. Akado was worried that this provocative behavior would affect his plan to delay the outbreak of war.

“Dönitz,” Akado patted the other’s shoulder, a proud smile on his face. “You have not disappointed me! The submarine force has been reborn. I know you are ready for battle at any time! I know!”

“My Führer,” Dönitz was wearing a very eye-catching leather trench coat over his black naval officer’s uniform. He gave a standard German salute and then replied, “The submarine force can be thrown into battle at any time. If you give the order, Britain will have more than five transport ships sunk before tonight is over.”

“I believe in your combat capability,” Akado said with a nod. “But what we need is time! Lots and lots of time! When the need arises, I will immediately order you to carry out our plan and destroy the British sea supply lines in one fell swoop.”

Dönitz was clearly a little anxious. “With all due respect, I firmly believe that the number of our submarines and their combat level can easily strangle the British sea supply lines. Britain will withdraw from the war in a few months, I guarantee it.”

“Dönitz, you know me. I only do things that I am sure of! To make the navy more certain, I postponed the war against Poland until mid-September. So please be sure to wait for me until 1938, so that I can fully complete the war preparations,” Akado said after a moment’s thought. “I don’t want to lose this war.”

“My Führer! I understand your concerns. I will fully support you, until the end of time,” Dönitz said, standing at attention. “I will carry out the order to prohibit attacks on British ships to the end. Please do not worry.”

Akado thought for a moment, then, as he walked toward his car parked not far away, he said to Dönitz who was following beside him, “Because we still have to rely on the submarines for intelligence gathering and confirmation, I don’t plan to have you withdraw all your submarines. But you must restrain your subordinates! Don’t create trouble for the Reich. If necessary, I will immediately notify you to open fire! At least in the Atlantic, the German Navy must have its own presence.”

“No problem!” Dönitz said with a smile, helping Akado open the car door. He protected Akado as he got into the car, and only then did he continue his reply. “According to the conditions you and I agreed upon at the beginning, I will help you look after the German Navy! And bring victory to the German people.”

“Long live Great Germany,” Akado said through the car window.

“Long live Führer Akado Rudolph!” Dönitz replied, standing at attention.