I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Chapter 1027 Telegram Requesting Help
In September, the Atlantic Ocean sheds its gentle facade, and the gloomy sky hangs over the sea like a curved iron plate. Seagulls cry out in alarm, as if telling people that the weather is about to worsen.

Under a gloomy sky, dozens of warships were sailing in a grand procession toward the port of Brest, France.

At the center of the fleet are two enormous ships: HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Malaya, both of the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class battleships.

Lieutenant Admiral Forbes stood on the command tower of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, looking through his binoculars at the approaching port of Brest. The mist, mixed with the salty smell of the sea, slapped against his cheeks, feeling as cold as steel needles piercing his pores, sending waves of stinging pain through him.

But Lieutenant General Forbes was completely unaware, his attention remaining focused on the target location within the aperture.

"20 kilometers," came the shout from the lookout overhead. "Into firing range."

The staff officer turned around and repeated: "20 kilometers, the target is within firing range."

Lieutenant General Forbes understood what the staff officer meant.

With a range of 21 kilometers, the Queen Elizabeth-class missiles don't need to get closer. Being able to bomb from outside the enemy's range and ensure one's own absolute safety is a very comfortable tactic.

"Keep moving!" Lieutenant General Forbes ordered coldly, his binoculars still firmly in his hand.

"These cowards," Lieutenant General Forbes cursed inwardly. "They're terrified by the French momentum and don't even have the courage to approach their target."

As long as they are still able to think, they should know that France's most advanced Courbet-class battleships had a firing range of only 13 kilometers.

Why not get closer to improve accuracy?
Suddenly, with a loud "boom," a destroyer was thrown into the air along with a towering column of water. After crashing down, the ship tilted to one side and disappeared completely from the sea surface in less than two minutes.

"Mines!" someone shouted. "They've laid mines here!"

Lieutenant General Forbes was quite surprised.

This is a port, and the French have actually laid mines outside their own port.

Aren't they worried that their warships would be blocked in the port and they wouldn't be able to escape?
Without hesitation, he ordered, "Change course, maintain distance, and send out minesweepers!"

Then Lieutenant General Forbes understood why the French had laid mines outside their own port.

As soon as the minesweeper approached within a dozen kilometers of the port of Brest, it was immediately bombarded by French battleships and coastal artillery.

Columns of water shot into the sky, and the "racecourse" class minesweepers, converted from civilian ships, were instantly blasted into fragments by large-caliber shells and sank to the bottom of the sea.

Lieutenant General Forbes was at a loss with the French port: the waters ahead were not cleared of mines and he dared not approach them easily, while the minesweepers that went out were easily attacked by enemy artillery fire.

The British fleet could only cautiously approach Brest, led by minesweepers, while its naval guns indiscriminately bombarded the harbor.

The British Navy didn't even dare to launch seaplanes to check the guns of their battleships.

Because several Camel and Sandpiper fighter planes belonging to the French Army were flying in the sky.

Without an aircraft carrier, the British Royal Navy was simply unable to compete with the French for air superiority and could only fire in the direction of the port based on instinct.

But that’s not the end.

Before long, Lieutenant General Forbes discovered dozens of high-speed torpedo boats emerging from the harbor.

Lieutenant General Forbes instantly gained a deeper understanding of the French defensive strategy:
Minesweepers, with their smaller displacement and shallower waters, could move freely without worrying about mines, while British warships were unable to advance at all.

At the same time, British battleships had a difficult time hitting these small, fast torpedo boats, and even if they were lucky enough to hit them, the shells they used could be more valuable than the torpedo boat itself. Meanwhile, the torpedoes launched by the torpedo boats could potentially inflict fatal damage on British warships!

"A brilliant defensive strategy." Lieutenant General Forbes was surprised. After a moment's hesitation, he ordered, "Organize the defense."

However, at that moment, another group of Caproni bombers flew in from the sky. They arrived first and dropped dozens of torpedoes on the British fleet that was changing formation.

The British fleet was thrown into chaos, scrambling around the torpedo lines like a swarm of headless flies.

Shortly after, with a loud bang, three British destroyers and two cruisers were sunk by torpedoes, bringing the total number of ships lost, including those previously sunk by torpedoes, to six.

Lieutenant General Forbes thought it would be an easy mission. His fleet consisted of two Elizabeth-class super-dreadnoughts and three St. Vincent-class dreadnoughts, as well as five pre-dreadnoughts.

(The image above shows the battleship HMS St. Vincent; there were three ships in this class.)
Such a force should be easily overwhelmed by France's two dreadnoughts and four pre-dreadnoughts.

Vice Admiral Forbes even devised a battle plan: super-dreadnoughts would use their range advantage to bomb from a distance, dreadnoughts would engage in close combat, and pre-dreadnoughts and destroyers would launch an assault on the port.

But the battle did not unfold as he had expected; the fleet lost six ships before even reaching the target port.

After hesitating for a moment, Lieutenant General Forbes reluctantly ordered his staff: "Request reinforcements from headquarters. We need more warships!"

……

The Strait of Gibraltar was under the control of the Third Squadron, commanded by Vice Admiral Charles, which was responsible for blockading the strait.

He commanded a small fleet, consisting mainly of four long-range Iron Duke-class battleships, three Lion-class battlecruisers, and 30 light cruisers and destroyers.

This was determined by the "narrowness" of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the London Operations Command generally believed that it was impossible for French warships to break out on a large scale.

Otherwise, they will inevitably suffer heavy casualties here or even be stuck in the strait and unable to move.

Lieutenant General Charles's plan is:
The Iron Duke battleships were divided into several positions, preparing to block the strait exit with gunfire.

The light cruisers and destroyers were dispersed and camouflaged, and once the French aircraft carrier entered the Strait of Gibraltar, they immediately launched an attack using their speed.

The battlecruiser then rushed to provide reinforcements.

If they can buy some time until the Iron Duke arrives on the battlefield and catches the French aircraft carrier, the battle will be almost over.

However, Lieutenant General Charles received intelligence from a spy: "The main French fleet is approaching the Strait of Gibraltar. They have at least a hundred warships, including three aircraft carriers, the main French battleships, and the recently captured British battleships."

Lieutenant General Charles was taken aback by this intelligence.

The French main battleships, plus the British battleships that surrendered, minus those damaged and unable to participate in the war, numbered 14 or 15 main battleships.

This number, compared to his own four battleships and three battlecruisers, represents double the strength.

Furthermore, the French also have an aircraft carrier, making this battle unwinnable.

Given the overwhelming disparity in strength, Lieutenant General Charles hurriedly sent a telegram to London requesting assistance!

(End of this chapter)