Bismarck

The intuition on the battlefield is sometimes quite useful, but it also depends on luck. Some people just happen to dodge, and some people avoid the attack and are hit.

Seeing that the three enemy battleships were already in sight, Stan stepped on the accelerator and began to look for his intended target of attack - the flagship of the British Mediterranean Fleet, which was also the warship with the most powerful anti-aircraft firepower in the enemy fleet, the battleship HMS Warspite!

However, facing the overwhelming anti-aircraft fire, Rudel didn't know why his thoughts seemed to drift back to nine months ago...

Rudel used to be a very hard-working and even reckless person. It was for this reason that he was so eager to fly a dive bomber. The reason why he was initially identified by the instructor as "unsuitable for flying a dive bomber" was because every time Rudel pulled up, he was closer to the ground than others...

Later, Rudel, who could only fly reconnaissance planes in the Army Aviation, switched to GR186 in order to fly dive bombers. However, even so, he was a person who wanted to make big news from time to time...

Dive bomber pilots have a very hard time, especially when it comes to anti-ship attacks. Although warships are huge and heavy, they are as clumsy in front of aircraft as bears facing a pack of wolves, but at least the bears will dodge and fight back - in fact, the fleet is not a single bear, but a group of bears...

The dense anti-aircraft jungle and the sky-wide fire net, as well as the escort fighters that would occasionally bite the six o'clock position...

Although Rudel was very talented and enterprising, he also got into trouble a lot - especially in the Battle of Newcastle, because of his premature exposure, his captain Captain Hake, two colleagues Lieutenant Stoffen and Lieutenant Soren, and seven people including his own rear machine gunner were killed!

Later, in order to cover Zeppelin's escape from Hood and Renown, Rudel's last few dive bombers took off to attack, but they also fell one after another in front of Hood's anti-aircraft fire net. Although he was lucky enough to drop a bomb, he actually didn't blow up anything.

In the Battle of Newcastle, the newly born GR186 suffered heavy losses, and even the first commander of the wing, Colonel Flensburg, was killed in the brutal battle...

In fact, after returning to Hong Kong, the surviving pilots were in a trance, because every breath of air they inhaled into their lungs was won by the pilots at the risk of their lives.

After the heavy losses in the air battle, although the GR186 wing was quickly replenished, most of the pilots who had experienced that sea battle were silent even when they took a walk at night. In addition to considering the survival rate of tomorrow's mission, they looked at the newcomers who "had no common experience with us" and guessed each other's thoughts. Because the primary mission of GR186 was to destroy the British fleet, the pilots did not discuss any difficulties. Many people even thought that blind arguments would only waste energy. After all, everyone was just following orders.

However, because we participated in the naval battle under the command of the navy, and the losses were so devastating in our first battle... everyone would feel a little psychologically unbalanced, right?

In this depressing atmosphere, Rudel found that his new squadron leader, Captain Stan, always behaved quite calmly.

Stan was also one of the first dive bomber pilots selected for GR186, and was also one of the veteran pilots who survived that brutal naval battle.

During one of their walks, Rudel broke his usual silence and asked Captain Stan hesitantly, "How do you stay so calm?"

Stan stopped, glanced at Rudel, and said, "Hey, brother, don't think I'm always this calm. I'm calm because I've been through many years. You know what happens when someone disagrees with his superiors in the army... If this person is not strong enough to put aside his objections and forget about them when executing orders, he will get into big trouble. True gold is not afraid of fire. If you can do things your own way and unite your companions, you will be stronger."

After a moment of silence, Rudel seemed to understand why Stan understood him so well. However, Rudel, who still felt a little uncomfortable, said something that was not quite in line with his military status: "Captain, I'm thinking, if I ever become a commander, I will never act like some of our superiors!"

Stan was silent for a long time, then said, "Actually, you don't have to be like this. In fact, everyone knows that war is so cruel... Many of our comrades know this, but not many understand why we should take life seriously. I was once engaged to a girl I loved deeply, but she died in an accident on the day we planned to get married... It's not easy to forget something like this..."

"But what can we do? Fate doesn't bless anyone in particular. So..." Stan tilted his head to look at Rudel, smiled and shrugged: "So we have to be optimistic and strong. The best way to survive a cruel fate is to face it and defeat it - isn't it?"

Rudel fell silent and slowly walked back to the room...

Boasting is not the way soldiers communicate. Soldiers who have really come off the battlefield express themselves in a way that is very different from that of ordinary people. Some may even seem to stutter, but war drives people out of all hypocrisy and falsehood. The way soldiers express themselves, even if it is an oath or a swear word, shows sincerity and honesty.

For a long time afterwards, Rudel was increasingly influenced by Stan's masculinity and inspiring understanding in his interactions with Stan.

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The sky was a clear blue, but the anti-aircraft fire was extremely fierce! It was just a normal anti-aircraft fire net. Although every British anti-aircraft gunner was firing as many volleys as possible and aiming accurately, the British fleet was trying to evade, and the firepower was scattered by the German aircraft groups scattered everywhere, so it was actually impossible to effectively intercept and kill them - after all, every bomber was a threat, and no one could afford the consequences of missing any bomber!

But the shooting from the Warspite, right in the middle of the enemy's formation, was a completely different story!

Although it was also evading, the accuracy of the Warspite's anti-aircraft guns was almost unmatched! On average, every time the 381 main gun fired a salvo, a JU87C2 would be blown into pieces and fell into the sea, leaving only the smoke that had not yet dissipated above the water!

The hit rate is simply insane!

Fortunately, perhaps because the torpedo planes were considered more threatening, the main guns of the Warspite began to fire at the torpedo planes that were approaching in groups from all directions! Although the torpedo planes had dived to a low altitude and flew at a high speed of 400 kilometers per hour, due to the high speed and large turning radius, and the mounted torpedoes were more clumsy than heavy bombs, the torpedo planes with speed alone could not avoid the attack of the Warspite!

In two and a half minutes, there were three more salvos! This also meant that a torpedo plane squadron of three had been completely destroyed by the war-weary guns!

Now the Warspite began to turn its guns towards another torpedo squadron that was trying to sneak up on the three aircraft carriers from the side and rear...

The Warspite was firing at low-altitude targets at medium distances, with its muzzle placed quite flat! This angle, which was close to horizontal but slightly tilted, was the most conducive angle for loading shells!

If they had waited two more minutes, this squadron would have been wiped out! Without this squadron's attack, the torpedo attack from the other squadron would have been easily evaded by the British fleet that could turn in either direction! !

"Rudel! I see Warspite! He is right under my feet! Charge with me!!!"

Stan's shout suddenly sounded in Rudel's headphones!

ps: I actually like describing tragic things the most, probably the magnificence of destruction, and maybe it will continue until the end?

Chapter 412: The heroic spirit lives on!

After passing through layers of artillery fire, the two Stukas struggled to reach the sky above the fleet. Fortunately, they were not seriously injured at this time.

Stan looked at the sea and soon saw the obvious battleship. It was Warspite for sure!

"Rudel, I see Warspite! He's right under my feet! See him? Charge with me!"

Stan's voice came over the radio, awakening Rudel from his distracted state. His eyes focused and the adrenaline in his body began to rise again.

"I saw it!" he said loudly.

"Rudel, listen! If we reach the target, we must hit it - for the brothers of the 3rd Torpedo Squadron, we must hit it!"

"I know!" Rudel answered loudly. The threat posed by the torpedo planes of this fleet was too great and they had no choice.

Stan took the lead in the attack.

Looking at Captain Ernst Stan, who had already lowered the nose of the plane and entered the attack route, Rudel narrowed his eyes...

War awakens the primitive power in soldiers. This primitive power can never be shown through objectivity, but only through human subjective initiative.

"If I reach my target, I must hit it. I must hit it!"

"I certainly will!"

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Warspite appeared in Rudel's sight!

Even the steel behemoth on the sea is so small in the embrace of the ocean. Rudel in the fighter plane had an illusion that as long as he stretched out his hand, he could grasp the Warspite in his hand.

However, War-weariness's combat effectiveness seems to be terrifyingly high.

Seen from an altitude of three thousand meters, War-weariness looked like a small piece of leaf, seemingly out of reach!

Warspite and other British warships seemed to have discovered this small team of two planes and began to use 102mm anti-aircraft guns and 120mm destroyer main guns, and even the 114mm anti-aircraft guns on the aircraft carriers a few kilometers behind, shooting at Stan and Rudel like crazy - anyone flying in such fierce anti-aircraft fire could be shot down at any time!

"Two planes are coming through the net." On the bridge that the two pilots could not see, Warspite was standing behind her captain, just like Bismarck on their side, with a comprehensive insight into the battlefield.

Their whereabouts were exposed.

Warspite did not pay too much attention to the two bombers, but only told the other warships their location. In her opinion, the torpedo planes were obviously more threatening, and it was almost impossible for the two Stukas to rush over her.

"Tell the anti-aircraft cruiser to aim at those two Stukas," Cunningham said. "We must intercept them!"

In the face of such fierce artillery fire, everything was almost doomed.

The British anti-aircraft guns were not like the 37mm hand-pulled machine guns that the Germans had used before. They immediately formed an interception barrage in front of the Stuka, and the closer they were, the greater the density.

The plane is fast, but it is still too slow for the sea.

War-weary's position is still three or four kilometers away from here, we need to hold on for another minute!

One minute, and it takes less than a second to hit.

Waiting made time seem longer. Rudel followed Stan and kept his course silently. The rest of the German planes were also flying all over the sky. They were desperately changing their altitude and zigzagging to make it difficult for the British anti-aircraft gunners to aim, or even draw their attention! There were even two JU87C2 dive bombers that rushed to the front and began to dive towards an anti-aircraft light cruiser that was close to the Warspite in the British anti-aircraft formation and acted as the vanguard fulcrum!

A magnificent spark exploded in the air, and black smoke spread everywhere.

One of the planes was shot down in mid-air and fell helplessly on the way to the charge, with blood dyeing the sea red.

But the unfulfilled wish was completed by teammates. Another plane broke through the interception and successfully dropped the bomb!

"boom--"

Everyone was shocked. The British warship that was hit was already filled with thick smoke. Many parts flew out at the moment of the explosion. It was obvious that it had suffered serious damage.

After the flames splashed, the British anti-aircraft cruiser seemed to be in chaos! But the other British warships were still roaring, and the shells were screaming and flying towards this side!

Under this crazy rain of bullets, Stan and Rudel flew over the top of the Warspite and began a rolling dive!

The Stuka's proud scream is about to appear on the sea.

Do I need to use the speed brakes today?

Or was it because the enemy's firepower was so fierce that he didn't even need to use the speed brakes when he rushed down this time?

Rudel thought about it and subconsciously followed him by lowering the nose of his plane. While diving, Rudel saw Stan's plane, which was about 700 meters in front of him and was diving farther and farther away. With the effect of gravity, the distance was getting farther and farther! Stan did not open the speed brake!

Stan didn't put on the speed brakes!

Rudel's eyes widened.

"team leader--"

There is no time to waste! Now there are only goals and tasks! And to overcome fate and strive for victory!

In Stan's eyes, there was not a second to waste.

The Warspite in the field of vision gradually turned into a huge monster. All the anti-aircraft weapons on the ship were aimed here and this side, and the muzzle flames of the salvos rose one after another!

Rudel couldn't see it, but he could feel that countless lines of fire were passing by him at an unimaginable relative speed. The seemingly solid fuselage was nothing more than a ball of cotton.

Pray, only pray.

But he didn't have his hands praying - his hands were firmly on the joystick.

Suddenly, the pupils shrank sharply.

Right in Rudel's pupils, a shell flew from the side, leaving a trace and hitting Stan's plane!

A lot of parts exploded instantly. The plane with the rudder destroyed instantly lost control! ! Rudel, who was right behind Stan, saw that Stan's aileron seemed to move a few times - even in such a desperate situation, Stan still tried to use the aileron to control his plane to hit Warspite!

Without any hesitation, Stan shouted out his last words.

"Rudel, the honor of the GR186 First Squadron, from now on, depends on you! - Listen to my orders! Drop bombs! Disengage!!!"

"team leader!!!"

The only answer to Rudel was a loud bang from the top of the bridge of the Warspite! Rudel also pressed the bomb button in a conditioned reflex. In the next moment, the automatic level flight system began to automatically pull the plane up...

The severe overweight made his blood flow backwards crazily and he felt dizzy.

Rudel sat in the cabin in a daze, his vision darkened and his sadness made him unable to see anything clearly... including the smoke column rising from behind the Warhawk...

Yan Zhan did not expect that the two Stukas could actually break through the heavy air defense circle. By the time she paid attention again, it was already too late.

She had fired the round that hit Stan, but that was all.

There was nothing she could do about Rudel later on, but it was too late.

After being hit by two bombs in a row, even though Bailey Dura Despicio was a veteran in many battles, her firepower was suddenly stagnant...

The people in the bridge were blown to pieces, even Warspite was stunned for a moment, allowing Rudel to escape by luck.

.The last remaining JU87C2 carrying a torpedo from the second squadron of the third torpedo squadron finally managed to break through the fire blockade area and fired the torpedoes it was carrying at the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable, which was turning hastily to avoid the frontal torpedo fire but unable to avoid the side attack!

A terrifying water line appeared, crossing and pointing directly at the huge aircraft carrier that was dodging.

At this time, its body is its biggest burden.

Accompanied by a dull explosion sound coming from under the waterline, a huge splash of water exploded from its side, soaking the deck that was more than ten stories high.

It’s a pity that this is just an air-launched torpedo with limited power, otherwise it could cause greater damage to it.

The battle continued, and the fighting broke out over every important ship.

Above the head of the Glorious aircraft carrier, the shouts of dive bomber group leader Oscar Tinault and 2nd Squadron leader Walter Engels began to sound - along with the screams of death, two black smoke columns rose into the sky above the raging fire on the Glorious's flight deck.

However, Rudel turned a blind eye and just sat in the cockpit blankly.

Even though the Black Vision had retreated, even though he had severely damaged the two aircraft carriers, the Glorious and the Formidable, and even though he had injured Warspite...

But now, I only have this one plane left in the First Squadron...

He could not forget the agreement they made when they took off from the aircraft carrier together. They set out together with full confidence, but in the end only one person returned. From then on, he was the only one living in the entire squadron cabin.

I don’t know how to face the empty bed and the picture magazines that we were passing around.

The water in the captain's cup should still be hot...

Although he was already a veteran, he knew that the fate of a soldier was to die on the battlefield. Moreover, he believed that Stan's sacrifice was for Germany to gain true independence and freedom on the European continent...

but......

It would be nice if nothing happened to them...

Tears flowed out from Rudel's tightly closed eyes...

Ps: I suddenly remembered Lieutenant Yu Xu...

The circle of friends I posted is still there

If she doesn't reply to your WeChat, you can only think she is still busy.