Bismarck

"Very good!" Seeing his men pulling up the nose of the plane and starting to climb, Zeppelin flicked his finger and changed the channel: "Blacksmith, are you there yet?"

"Report to the instructor, we have arrived! The current altitude is 109 meters, requesting instructions!!" In the lead plane of the eight BFTs at the back of the battlefield, Hermann Graf was speeding up with a group of "rookies" to catch up. This was a group of pilots who were considered to have ordinary qualifications, and their combat records were not very remarkable. However, Zeppelin never gave up the effort to train them. Now the battlefield has been controlled, the fulmars are exhausted from being chased, and those stupid skuas are even more so. Zeppelin and his men have completely ignored these skuas that have no altitude, no speed, and no chance of attacking at all!

But... it's okay to make use of the waste and give these rookies some practice. Anyway, as long as you live long enough, everyone has a chance to become an ace. Zeppelin smiled slightly and determined the fate of these skuas...

"Blacksmith, we are dealing with the Fulmars now. There are a dozen annoying Skua here. I'll leave it to you to deal with them! --Remember to use your dives and climbs to avoid the rear machine guns behind them~"

"Okay! ----Brothers, come on! Fight well!" After receiving the order from Zeppelin, Graf cheered up the other laggards following behind him.

With a push of the joystick, the eight pilots dived down from an altitude of 4,000 meters. The rookies encouraged each other and vowed to use these live targets to practice their first combat record...

The rising sun above the sea and the horizon dyed the sky and the sea a brilliant golden color. In the cloudless sky, the wakes on the sea surface were arranged in neat formations, and even the outlines of the warships could be seen clearly.

But this beautiful scenery, in the eyes of the pilots of the JU87 fleet led by Tinolt, was a dangerous murderous intent!

I just turned my head to take a look at the air battle behind me and didn't have time to catch my breath, and in the next second, flashes of fire and black smoke appeared in the sky!

The last guardian of the British Empire, the battleship King George V, with two heavy cruisers and four destroyers, used its iron body to block the two aircraft carriers!

The precise bombardment of the 285 anti-aircraft guns under the control of the 133 fire control radar exploded around the Stuka, and the flying shrapnel and flames hit the Stuka's skin with a loud bang!

Soon, the distance was shortened to within the anti-aircraft gun range of the heavy cruisers and destroyers. Even the two Dido-class anti-aircraft light cruisers responsible for covering the two aircraft carriers in the rear, relying on the range and ballistic performance of the twin-mounted 133 anti-aircraft guns, began to fire at the JU11C aircraft group at an ultra-long distance of 87 kilometers!

二十四管由285火控雷达指挥的133毫米高炮以每分钟7-8发的速度，朝着天空中的德军机群拼命射击着。加上两条重巡洋舰上的四门102毫米高射炮和驱逐舰们勉强可以对空射击的双联装MKXII型120毫米主炮，甚至还有两条航空母舰上的8门114毫米高炮和6门102毫米高炮…

The sky over the Atlantic Ocean was suddenly filled with continuous roars, and for a moment, the sky was filled with smoke and clouds, and shrapnel flew everywhere...

A Stuka flying ahead was unlucky and was covered by a ball of fire... When it rushed out of the black smoke, it had turned into a pile of flying parts with black smoke...

In this situation, all the German pilots instinctively lowered their heads...

But they were selected elites after all, and the Stuka formation did not show any chaos. They formed three-plane echelons as much as possible and rushed towards the predetermined target under the fierce anti-aircraft fire!

Even though ahead of them was a steel jungle woven by countless gun barrels of huge warships...

-----

Bismarck and the mustache left after having lunch together. To be honest, she didn't have an appetite for lunch. There were a few Japanese people there, speaking Japanese that she couldn't understand at all, and they had to rely on an interpreter to talk. It was awkward. Nanyun was assigned to sit next to Bismarck for some reason, but unfortunately, Bismarck ignored him.

Isoroku Yamamoto also said goodbye to Little Mustache in the afternoon and went to visit Reger. They had an in-depth conversation inside the Navy Department and held a reception dinner.

"Dear Marshal Reger, I have visited many warships of the German War Navy these days and I feel benefited a lot. I would like to toast you with this glass of wine." During the meal, Yamamoto raised his red wine glass to greet Reger.

"Hahaha, General Yamamoto, you're too kind. The Japanese navy is also an important force in the Far East and our reliable ally. It is our common wish to make progress together." Regel smiled and drank the wine. "We are all fighting for the space under the blue sky."

"But Marshal Reger, I have one regret. That is, I have been in Germany for a few days but have not seen Germany's strongest battleship. I wonder if I can realize this wish in the coming days?"

Reger's smile froze slightly. The Bismarck-class battleship and that damn aircraft carrier were things he couldn't bring up. But he couldn't say that to his Japanese guests.

"Hahaha, General Yamamoto, I was just about to invite you to see our country's strongest battleship." Regler said immediately.

"is it?"

"You want to see the Bismarck, but she will soon no longer be the most powerful battleship in Germany," Regler said with a smile.

"Has Germany launched another new warship?" Yamamoto asked in surprise.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, if General Yamamoto is willing, I can take you to attend the launching ceremony of the first H-39 class battleship, which has been named Hindenburg. That is a battleship that is more powerful than the Bismarck class. It will definitely open your eyes."

"It would be my honor if I could go," Yamamoto said immediately.

"Once Hindenburg is launched, this battleship will be the most powerful battleship in the world. Not to mention Britain, even the United States will not have an opponent that can rival it." Reger said proudly. As long as Hindenburg is launched, what use will Bismarck and Tirpitz be to him?

"How does it compare to our country's Nagato-class?" Yamamoto asked tentatively.

"I think he should be stronger than Nagato." Regler took care of his ally's face and spoke a little conservatively. In fact, what he wanted to say was - Nagato is nothing!

"After all, Hindenburg's displacement reaches 53000 tons and it is equipped with eight 406mm main guns. These are not things that cannot be revealed." Raeder said with a complacent smile.

"Congratulations to Germany for owning the most powerful battleship in the world." Yamamoto was very graceful when he heard this and smiled slightly.

After all, if you really want to talk about super battleships or something like that, he still knows about it, and he actually wants to laugh inside.

Although it was manufactured using a 16000-ton hydraulic press and three 70-ton acid furnaces imported from Germany, it can indeed be looked down upon.

Cricket, you have the nerve to mention a 50,000-ton ship? Hehe…

ps: Because in this time and space, the mustache man did not lose confidence in large battleships, so Hindenburg came out.

Chapter 324: Fight back!

The battle over the Atlantic Ocean continues.

Twenty-four 133mm anti-aircraft guns, ten 102mm anti-aircraft guns, forty-eight 120mm main guns, and eight 114mm anti-aircraft guns with extremely excellent performance... Sixty heavy anti-aircraft guns, with their barrage density of nearly a thousand rounds per minute, weaved countless fireworks in the early morning Atlantic sky. The densely woven diagonal firepower network made people's heads numb when looking at it from a distance, but the German war eagles had no choice.

There is no option to retreat, they don't...

Although the 133mm anti-aircraft guns fired very accurately under the command of radar, their firing rate was not enough. Although there were many 102 and 120 anti-aircraft guns, their performance was not strong, and the number of 114 anti-aircraft guns with excellent performance was too small... However, so many anti-aircraft guns were concentrated in a range of less than ten kilometers only in the formation of the British fleet. The density of artillery fire should not be underestimated - even the thousands of Allied heavy bomber clusters that later dominated the skies over Europe, even in the skies over the Third Reich's capital Berlin that was bombed into ruins, were only treated like this in terms of artillery fire density!

Such a density really gives face to the bombers. To use a phrase from the Three-Body Problem, it is an honor to be treated with such firepower!

One after another, tracer lights rushed out of the barrels in the muzzle flames of the anti-aircraft guns, and formed a large net in groups, covering the German aircraft group!

In front of this steel fire net of the anti-aircraft jungle, even the Stukas that once dominated the skies of the European continent could not help but struggle through this magnificent but deadly red spider lily bush made of steel and fire. Although the Stukas had arranged a formation to minimize the probability of being hit by more than one round of shells at the same time - a horizontal array consisting of several echelons, they still flew in fear...

After all, no one knows whether it will be their turn next...

At times like this, what matters is not flying skills but luck.

Whoever is lucky will survive!

After all, to some extent, war is all about luck.

"The current altitude is 3,300 meters... Brothers, control the altitude well, the British have an armored aircraft carrier below..." Before Tinault could finish his words, a roar of anti-aircraft guns came from the side!

"Avoid! Avoid!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

However, it was too late. A JU87 squadron on his left was hit by a round of 8 133mm anti-aircraft guns, which might have come from the King George V!

Shrapnel was scattered everywhere, and many planes were hit.

A Stuka flying in the middle of the formation had its right wing cut off by flying debris, and it immediately began to tilt, emitting a long black smoke. The fighter plane lost its balance and could no longer move forward. With the pilot's desperate screams coming from the radio, it plunged headfirst into the deep Atlantic Ocean...

Witnessing all this, Tinolt couldn't help but stare at the big battleship that was blocking the front of the aircraft carrier and leading a group of cruisers and destroyers to continuously pour out firepower...

"Damn it! That King George V is so troublesome..."

"Captain, Captain!" Rudel's voice came from the radio. Tinolt, who was evaluating the success rate of the assault, responded with a little annoyance: "What's the matter?!"

"Captain, I apply to lead my team to suppress George V!"

"What?!" Tinolt was stunned. However, before Tinolt could react, Ernst Stan's voice also sounded on the radio:

"Your group only has two planes left, add me one more!" Stan even laughed, "You, a small captain, want to charge, so how can I, a squadron leader, not charge? After all, you are my soldier."

"this…"

"That's nothing, Captain. King George V is their vanguard support point. If he doesn't die, we will die too!"

"Okay, Rudel, King George V is only three kilometers away, it's our turn!" Stan hung up the radio, pushed the joystick, and the JU87 Stuka began to dive at a slight angle, accelerating away from the formation. Behind Stan, four JU87s including Rudel quickly followed.

In the sky, Tinolt wiped his eyes slightly and saluted the commando team led by Stan...

"Descend to 3,000 meters altitude. The remaining people... led by Helbich and Engels, attack the British aircraft carriers separately - make sure to sink them!"

"Yes!" The radio was filled with the united roar of the remaining Stuka pilots.

On the other side, at a slightly lower altitude than the large JU87 group, five separate Stukas, led by Captain Ernst Stan, formed a horizontal line and rushed straight towards the King George V, braving the fireworks and hail of bullets ahead.

One Stuka was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, but the remaining four Stukas remained unmoved. The eyes of the four pilots seemed even more determined, as if... they wanted to take revenge for their fallen comrades!

Moreover... because they were alone in the line, the British fleet had to allocate part of its firepower to attack them... plus, the distance was already within the blind spot of the four British destroyers at close range, so for a moment, the pressure on the German fleet seemed to be less?

"Brothers! Now is the time! Target King George V of England! Assault!"

"Yes!"

Three thousand meters below, on the vast and magnificent Atlantic Ocean, warships reflecting the golden light of the rising sun appeared in the window under the Stuka's feet with long wakes. And their target was the biggest fish in the fleet below, which was already being closely watched by the four pilots!

"The wind is due east at 20 knots! Pay attention to the wind deviation correction!"

"The enemy ship is heading due east and is now turning to the left... The speed is about 25 knots! My fleet is now heading due north, and is ready to roll to (the back of the plane is pointing) north-east when diving... Everyone, pay attention - prepare... to drop bombs!"

The roar of death fell from the sky!

Although the surrounding cruisers and destroyers were desperately pouring colorful tracer bullets directly above the battleship, and although the huge and bulky King George V was struggling to turn the rudder from the beginning, how could the bulky battleship turn faster than the agile dive bomber? Not to mention that the dive angle of the Stuka was almost vertical, so it could freely change the direction of the back of the aircraft (that is, the direction of the nose after pulling up).

No matter how he turned the rudder, King George V could only watch in despair as the Stukas swooped down overhead and got closer and closer...

Although the dense barrage of friendly warships still shot down a Stuka, the result could not be changed...

With several loud bangs, three tall water columns appeared around King George V, but more importantly, two huge fireballs were smashed out by armor-piercing shells at the front bridge and slightly to the right of the rear chimney! !

Although the dive attack of 500 kg armor-piercing shells could not penetrate the 152 mm thick main horizontal armor of British battleships, the 500 kg bomb was undoubtedly a strong blow to the defenseless superstructures such as bridges and chimneys!

The anti-aircraft firepower of this previously majestic battleship suddenly came to a standstill! The bomb near the rear chimney also had a huge impact on the smoke exhaust channel of the rear chimney. Because the smoke exhaust of the chimney was not smooth, the battleship that was turning to evade at a high speed of 26 knots suddenly slowed down! The British cruisers and destroyers following her had to turn to evade in a hurry to avoid being hit by the heavy main armor belt of the battleship...

For a moment, the British vanguard fleet was in chaos! They didn't even have time to arrange anti-aircraft fire to chase the three Stukas that were leaving the sea.

As the British vanguard fleet fell into chaos, the anti-aircraft firepower suddenly dropped sharply, and the morale of the German aircraft group that was struggling to attack in the sky was greatly boosted.

"Success!"

"here you go!"

"Great! Now is the time to attack!" Tinolt was also very excited. If the battleship in front stopped firing, the limited escort forces of the two British aircraft carriers would not be able to form a crossfire to cover each other. For the sixteen Stukas that had already been deployed into two teams and attacked separately, this was undoubtedly a great opportunity!

Although the Royal Navy is well-trained and can try their best to control the formation when evading, but... after all, this takes time!

The German aircraft fleet at an altitude of 186 feet overhead was only two minutes away from the aircraft carrier! How could the well-trained and experienced elites of the German Air Force GR Carrier Aircraft Wing Dive Bomber Squadron give the British this opportunity?

Although the last two anti-aircraft cruisers of the British fleet stood in front of the aircraft carrier without flinching, and although the four destroyers and two cruisers of the British vanguard fleet in the chaos were also desperately firing into the sky, and although two more Stukas were beaten down from the sky with billowing smoke in the face of the desperate resistance of the British fleet, the German aircraft group had already flown over the aircraft carrier! All the desperate efforts of the British fleet could not stop the full-scale assault of the GR186 carrier-based aircraft wing of the Grossdeutschland War Navy Zeppelin aircraft carrier!

At an altitude of 3300 meters, Tinault took the lead in a somersault, locked onto the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Formidable through the sight, and whizzed down! Immediately afterwards, the two squadron leaders Engels and Helbich led two teams and rushed down towards the aircraft carrier USS Formidable and the aircraft carrier USS Fury one after another!

Hearing the bombs whistling down overhead with the grin of death, hearing the deafening roar on the flight deck, looking at the raging fire on the deck and the flesh and blood of the dead officers and soldiers, the dilapidated and horrible aircraft carrier Formidable, and the aircraft carrier Wrath on the other side, which was also filled with thick smoke and flames... Sommerville was stunned and looked ashen, and was dragged out of the bridge surrounded by billowing smoke by his staff...

--

More than an hour later, the western Mediterranean Sea…

The Illustrious aircraft carrier, piloted by Colonel Boyd, was anxiously speeding towards Gibraltar under the escort of four destroyers...

"Report! Urgent telegram from the Admiralty!"

An officer rushed in, saluted hastily, and handed a document to Captain Boyd, who was frowning. Boyd took the telegram and glanced at it quickly, his eyes widened...

"Emergency notification from the Admiralty! The fast fleet was attacked by the Zeppelin aircraft carrier half an hour ago. The Furious and Terrible were severely damaged, King George V was hit, and the carrier-based aircraft suffered heavy losses. Now we urgently order your ship to arrive at the Gibraltar Fortress before 14 pm on the th and complete the supply at the fastest speed. Before noon on the th, join the cruiser fleet on standby in the port to go to sea and quickly reinforce the fast fleet!"

"Damn it! This guy Lütjens..." Boyd was so angry that he crumpled the telegram into a ball and threw it on the ground.

"Order! My fleet is moving at full speed! We must reach Gibraltar tomorrow morning!"

"understand!"

But——the British fleet was advancing at full speed, sonar was completely useless...

And right in front of the British, the Italian Royal Navy's Leonardo da Vinci submarine was lurking here motionlessly...

In the command cabin of the Leonardo da Vinci submarine, the Italian captain saw through the periscope that a group of smoke clouds seemed to be approaching quickly above the sea and sky in the distance...

"Enemy spotted! Get ready for battle!" The Italian captain, holding onto the telescope tightly, identified the target and was a little surprised, but also a little ecstatic. "Huh? That's... Wow, an aircraft carrier! Is this the glory that Taranto used to sneak attack our main fleet?!"

"…Huh? It's actually heading towards us at full speed?"

The overjoyed ace captain couldn't help but hold on to the periscope tightly, staring fiercely at the rapidly approaching British aircraft carrier in front of him... "Hehe, if you weren't coming towards us, I really couldn't do anything to you. You asked for this!"

"The Glory of Taranto... Let us defend the honor of the Italian Royal Navy!"

In the name of revenge for the main fleet, the Italian submarine Da Vinci, whose record was no less than that of the German submarine aces, quietly lurked under the water in front of the route of the Glorious and silently opened the hatch cover of the bow torpedo tube...

The sunlight shining through the sea water seemed to be able to shine into the torpedo tubes, the black, cold weapons that represented revenge and the defense of honor...

"…In order to avenge the main fleet, Glory, give your life! Front torpedo tube, fire four salvos!"

Following the angry command, four white water lines were launched from the torpedo tubes of the Leonardo da Vinci, carrying the revenge of the Italians, and rushed straight towards the still somewhat confused Glorious...

-----

"What?! The Glorious was ambushed by a submarine in the waters near Gibraltar?!"

The furious Churchill grabbed the secretary's tie, pressed his bloody mouth against the secretary's face, and spit flew everywhere: "You! Now! Immediately! Right now! Check it out for me again! If you dare to report false military intelligence, I will send you to a military court!"

The Glorious, which was highly expected by Fatty Qiu and was dispatched to encircle and suppress Lütjens, was severely damaged by two torpedoes?