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

Chapter 1032 The English Channel Under Blockade by French Fighter Jets

Inside the command center of the HMS Warspite, Rear Admiral Louis, the captain, held binoculars and looked ahead.

His expression was somewhat dejected, as if he were being tossed around and played by the enemy, having just been transferred from Beihai last night and now having to return.

Rear Admiral Louis believed this was not a wise move, and upon receiving the order, he retorted to the first officer with dissatisfaction:
"What if the German High Seas Fleet withdraws by the time we arrive at the North Sea?"

"Then what if the Germans send out their fleet again when we turn back to Brest?"

Does that mean we'll be forever traveling back and forth across the English Channel?

The vice-captain agreed: "Therefore, we should take Brest Harbor at all costs first. Doing so can end this damned cycle and take the initiative into our own hands."

Louis nodded, believing that those in high positions at the London operations command should be replaced; they were the ones who had created this terrible situation.

He thought they were just politicians who were good at playing power games; they didn't understand military affairs and didn't know how to fight!

After staring ahead for a while, Rear Admiral Louis yawned and nodded to the first officer: "I'm going to rest for a bit, Jason, you're in charge of her (the warship)."

Louis didn't sleep a wink last night when he arrived, and then he threw himself into the intense battle. Now that he's relaxed, he feels like his eyelids are drooping.

"Yes, sir." The vice-captain replied confidently, "There won't be any problems!"

This is the English Channel, which Britain has absolute control over. Even though France is on the other side of the channel, there is nothing to worry about.

After Rear Admiral Louis left, the first officer Jason looked up at the sky and saw several SE5a fighter jets flying overhead.

They were sent by the Royal Flying Corps, whose mission was to ensure the fleet was not attacked by French torpedo planes.

Jason thought there was nothing to worry about. The French aircraft carrier was blocked in the Strait of Gibraltar and couldn't get through, and the torpedo planes couldn't beat these fighters that were designed for air combat.

suddenly.

A strange whistling sound came from the air, and before Jason could react, a fierce machine gun blast rang out.

He craned his neck to look up and saw an SE5a aircraft, trailing black smoke, tumbling and crashing onto the sea. As if by magic, it exploded into flames and black smoke, its fuselage parts scattered everywhere, before disappearing into the sea.

Then another one was hit and exploded as it passed the port side, its flying debris striking the warship's armor with a clanging sound.

Major General Louis rushed out of the lounge in a panic, asking as he put on his coat, "What happened?"

“I don’t know, General,” Jason replied. “There was an air battle, probably with French Camel fighters.”

The flight team claimed that the SE5a was more advanced than the French Camel, but that now appears to be a lie.

But this has nothing to do with the fleet, Jason thought, let them decide the outcome in the air!
(Note: At this time, the naval warfare mode had just shifted from ship-to-ship to air-to-ship, and many naval commanders had not yet changed their mindset, still believing that "as long as the fighter jets are advanced enough and the air force is good enough, air combat and naval combat are two unrelated levels.")
Louis initially thought so too, but when he ran to the command center, raised his binoculars, and looked out, he turned back and yelled, "That's a French 'Jeanne' fighter jet, you idiot, air raid siren!"

Jason's expression changed drastically: "'Jenny' fighter jet? How did it get here?"

Shouldn't it be carrier-based aircraft in the Strait of Gibraltar?
No, this is impossible!

At that moment, the lookout shouted in panic, "Bombers! Jenny bombers! They're coming!"

Jason looked in the direction indicated by the lookout and indeed saw a group of small black dots in the southeast, at least 30 of them. Although they were far away, their inverted gull-shaped wings were clearly visible.

"My God!" Jason exclaimed. "How did this happen? Why are they here?"

"...How did this happen?" Prime Minister George exclaimed upon receiving the telegram. "Why are they here?"

The First Minister of the Navy, holding another telegram and looking at the nautical chart, said: "This is impossible. We just spotted these planes in the Strait of Gibraltar not long ago!"

Spain is a neutral country, and the British intelligence service has planted many spies in Spain. They can easily observe carrier-based aircraft flying over the Strait of Gibraltar, which is only 43 kilometers wide at its widest point.

The Minister of Munitions already understood what was going on, but he remained silent with a sullen face.

Soon it dawned on Rear Admiral Trenchard, Chief of Staff of the Royal Flying Squadron. His face was blank as he said, "I... I understand. Their carrier-based aircraft have been transferred and flew to an airport near the English Channel last night to wait for us!"

The group of people were taken aback for a moment, then suddenly gathered in front of the nautical chart.

“I need to know the location of the nearest airport,” Prime Minister George shouted.

The distance between the bombers and the fleet can be deduced from the location of the airfield, and thus the combat radius of the French bombers can be calculated.

"No." First Lord of the Admiralty, Balfour, changed his order: "We need to know the location of all French airports along the English Channel!"

This determines whether the fleet can pass through the English Channel.

“And the size and fuel reserves,” Major General Trenchard added. “If possible, investigate when these airports were built.”

This shows whether France is adequately prepared.

Only the Minister of War remained silent; he walked quietly to the window and lit a cigar.

All efforts were in vain. Charles had been targeting Britain for some time, and he had long planned to blockade the English Channel.

Therefore, Britain has no chance left and has lost everything!

Sure enough, the staff officer soon relayed the information he had gathered to the command center:

"The nearest airport in France is in Caen."

There are three airports along the English Channel: Brest, Caen and Dunkirk.

"These airports were built a year ago and have ample reserves of fuel and ammunition!"

(The image above shows the locations of the three airports, which are about 200 kilometers apart and cover almost the western half of the English Channel.)
The Minister of Munitions looked out the window and added expressionlessly, "No, not three airports, you should include Antwerp."

Antwerp, Belgium, is an important aviation base for Charles.

Major General Trenchard shifted his gaze eastward along the English Channel: "There might also be the Netherlands."

Given that the Netherlands is a member of the League of Nations, it is not impossible for it to provide France with a military base for its take-off and landing.

Everyone was stunned.

This means the English Channel is under blockade by French warplanes.

The fleet can only pass through the strait if it can withstand more than ten hours of bombing!

(End of this chapter)