Chapter 148: The Contest in the Middle East

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On the calm surface of the Mediterranean Sea, the sharp bow of a warship cut through the waves. The white foam, split in two, spread out to the sides, gradually receding and disappearing into the water.

Aboard the British blockade fleet’s flagship, the battlecruiser HMS Hood, on the bridge command center.

“Captain, why did the higher-ups send such a massive fleet to blockade Germany, a country that doesn’t even have heavy cruisers? Two battleships, with three cruisers, on such a large scale…” the first mate asked the captain, who was holding a pair of binoculars, out of boredom.

“Do you think this is to deal with the German navy’s two shabby fishing boats?” the captain said, lowering his binoculars and smiling triumphantly. “We have three missions this time. First, to blockade the sea lanes in the Middle East and completely cut off Germany’s access to Middle Eastern oil resources. Second, to make a show of force to the natives in the Arab region and make them obediently hand over Germany’s oil shares. Third, to let the Italian navy see what we’re made of, so they don’t get so close to Germany.”

In fact, the British government and navy were not entirely at ease with this long-range blockade operation. This was because Germany had also woven a great web of interests here through various means: two local powers, Turkey and Italy, were both tied to this web. Therefore, even though Germany did not have a single warship in the Mediterranean, the British Navy still felt that the fleet they sent had to be massive.

This was because the Italian government had not yet clearly stated it would remain neutral, and the Italian Navy certainly had the combat capability—and the will—to annihilate a small Royal Navy contingent. The British fleet had been shadowed by the Italian Navy from the moment it entered the Mediterranean.

In 1934, the Italian Navy possessed two old Conte di Cavour-class battleships: the Cavour and the Giulio Cesare; and two old Caio Duilio-class battleships: the Caio Duilio and the Andrea Doria.

Although their battleships seemed average, Italy’s strength in cruisers was outstanding: they had four of the world’s best-protected and most powerful heavy cruisers, the Zara-class: the Zara, Fiume, Gorizia, and Pola. In addition, they had two Trento-class heavy cruisers and two Bolzano-class heavy cruisers.

If one also counted their 10 light cruisers and 60 submarines—if this Italian fleet were to sortie in full force, it could completely give the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean forces a headache. That was why the British Navy had dispatched a force from the Home Fleet to head south this time, to ensure they could intimidate Italy, which was growing ever closer to Germany.

After explaining, he immediately gave an order. “Signal the King George V. Maintain speed and course. We will reach the German shipping lane in about an hour.” Hopefully, the British Foreign Office has already delivered the British government’s price to that damn Italian leader, Mussolini, so the two naval behemoths don’t have to come to blows in the Mediterranean.

That price was indeed not light. Britain had promised to give Italy ten percent of Germany’s oil shares. Of course, to accommodate the local power, Saudi Arabia also took twenty percent. France demanded twenty percent as compensation, the United States swallowed ten percent, and Turkey, as a regional power, also wheedled its way into getting ten percent. The British government, for its efforts, received thirty percent as compensation. Hopefully, Italy will accept this condition without hesitation.

A short while later, the King George V signaled back. “Two British destroyers are on their way. They have been monitoring the German shipping lanes in this vicinity.”

“To tell you the truth, our army should go take some lessons from the Germans! But our Royal Navy is different. It’s time to remind the world once again who the master of the seas is!” the British fleet commander snorted. “Ready ammunition for all 5.5-inch guns! Order the fleet to advance at full speed! Any German ship must be boarded for inspection. If resistance is met, you are authorized to open fire!”

There had been four warships in British history named Hood. The battlecruiser Hood, built in 1916, was the most powerful of them. This warship had a full-load displacement of over 48,000 tons and was a true super war machine.

It had eight 15-inch main guns, mounted in four twin turrets fore and aft, capable of striking enemy targets 33 kilometers away with its shells. It had 12 inches of armor thickness, enough to withstand the attack of most cannons. This battlecruiser could be said to be the pinnacle of world battlecruiser design, and it was definitely the most powerful weapon the British Navy could currently field.

After its completion and commissioning in 1920, the Hood was the largest and most expensive capital ship in the Royal Navy, and her speed was the fastest among the capital ships of the time. The Hood was regarded as the pride of the Royal Navy and became a symbol of the British Empire’s maritime power. She was impressive and, during her service career, was often sent on tours to various countries around the world as a ceremonial ship to display British national prestige, attracting much attention.

“Maintain course! Notify the engine room to accelerate immediately!” the first mate shouted. “All hands to your stations! Condition Two battle readiness!”

“Telegram from the reconnaissance plane. German transport convoy spotted. Two D-class (that is, the German Hercules-class transport ships) are proceeding on the scheduled route,” an operations officer said, handing the message to the fleet commander.

“Order the two destroyers ahead to close in immediately and board for inspection! If they encounter resistance, sink them on the spot. Keep an eye on the area behind our fleet, toward the northern Italian coastline. If Italian planes are encountered, immediately enter an anti-aircraft alert status! Ready ammunition for all anti-aircraft guns.”

“Ready ammunition for all anti-aircraft guns! Elevate to a 45-degree angle and maintain watch!” the first mate commanded loudly into the microphone, and the entire warship began to bustle with activity.

“Boom!” A moment later, the sound of an explosion was heard in the distance. The command room was in a state of chaos. The captain and the fleet commander raised their binoculars to look into the distance. The operations officers were measuring and drawing on the sea charts. Soon, the sound of explosions came again. It seemed a British warship had opened fire.

“Hello? Comms room? Confirm! Which ship opened fire? Quick!” an operations officer shouted into his handset. “I need definite news! Report to me immediately… Mm, mm! I understand!”

Putting down the receiver, the operations officer immediately reported to the fleet commander, “Report! The Courageous has signaled that the German transport ships accelerated to escape. There are Italian navy ships in the distance providing cover. They opened fire and hit one of them. The other has already entered the Italian navy’s protection zone. They are not pursuing further.”

I knew the Italians would shelter the Germans, but I didn’t expect them to arrive so quickly. It seems the Italian fleet also set out in advance and was waiting here. That means the Germans discovered the British fleet’s southward movement long ago. Their intelligence-gathering skills are even better than they were during the First World War, the fleet commander thought, lowering his binoculars.

“BOOM!” An explosion that shook the heavens, a hundred times louder than the cannon fire from before, was heard. Without binoculars, a towering column of thick smoke could be seen rising into the sky. It seemed the German oil transport ship had been hit by a shell. Judging by the intensity of the explosion, the Royal Navy had been saved the trouble of even launching lifeboats to comply with international law this time.

In front of Akado, Colonel Smith said triumphantly, “Because Germany has forcibly expelled the Allied Military Control Commission, the international community has expressed doubts about Germany’s sincerity in repenting for its defeat. Therefore, initiated by the French government and jointly implemented by five nations—Britain, the United States, Belgium, and Japan—we are imposing economic sanctions on Germany.”

War could have broken out at any moment. As the British military attaché in Germany, Colonel Smith had originally intended to set off for home. But since the government had decided not to go to war immediately, the evacuation seemed less urgent. And so, he swaggered back to meet the German Führer, representing the attitude of the British government.

It had to be said that this move had truly hit Germany where it hurt most. Akado had gone all out to build the largest mechanized army of the current era, laying a solid material foundation for Germany’s blitzkrieg in advance. Hundreds upon thousands of cars and tanks gave the German army unparalleled assault capabilities and advance speed. High-performance fighters, though few in number, made the German air force extraordinarily powerful, already showing signs of dominating the skies. But behind this strength was the fact that each of these modern pieces of equipment was a super gas-guzzler that made one’s heart ache: more powerful engines; heavier tanks and armored vehicles; a large number of communication devices that relied heavily on field generators.

While achieving the goal of giving the German army combat power that surpassed the French army in the short term, the German army’s fuel consumption had also reached a full two times that of the backward French army. And only now did Akado feel that in modern warfare, you couldn’t win just by having guns and cannons—you must have oil!

“Colonel Smith,” Akado said, staring at the British officer with whom he had dealt the most, a half-smile on his face. “I don’t understand why things have come to this, nor do I understand why our expansion of armaments to defend Europe from a communist attack would make so many people think of sanctioning us.”

“Let’s not mince words, Mr. Führer,” Smith said with a smug smile. “We need Germany to stand with us to deal with the communist threat, not to use this slogan to annex its neighbors and throw all of Europe into chaos.”

“We were gathering our strength to prepare to go east and make our contribution to the eternal peace of Europe, and then you stabbed us in the back!” Akado said with a hint of helplessness on his face. “Just for Germany’s twenty-percent oil share in the Middle East, the British seem to have acted a bit unscrupulously this time.”

“If the Führer is truly intent on going east, you can buy oil from everyone. At least, the American share won’t be shipped back to the North American continent. They are looking for a local buyer for their goods,” Smith replied with a smile.

“Good idea! I’ll buy it!” Akado nodded. “Now, can we talk about the matter of a British warship firing on and sinking our civilian transport ship in the Mediterranean?”

“We can,” Smith nodded in agreement. “But before we talk, I hope you, Mr. Führer, will remember one thing. The British Empire was only firing on pirates in the Mediterranean.”

Note: Historically, the destroyer HMS Courageous was in the Far East at this time, guarding against Japan. Military fans, please don’t take this too seriously.