Chapter 1016 Take the bait
On the evening of February 18, the German Navy's home fleet had arrived at Flores Island. After dawn tomorrow, they can attack the US Marine Corps entrenched on Flores Island and the fortifications they built. This is basically the westernmost point of the Azores, hundreds of kilometers away from the Atlantic Fleet.
"Your Excellency, Commander, will the Americans be fooled this time?" On the battleship 'Caesar', the flagship of the home fleet, Lieutenant General Richter Fels, chief of staff of the fleet, asked. After all, this time it is going to destroy the main fleet of the US Navy in one fell swoop! If their plan is really successful, the U.S. Navy will inevitably suffer heavy losses. At that time, the U.S. government may have to invest huge sums of money to redevelop the navy. This makes the German Navy once again have more than ten years of hegemony in the Atlantic Ocean.
"I don't know! However, I think they should be fooled! After all, this is a very good opportunity for them. This is also the only chance for them to defeat us." Admiral Hipper smiled .
"General, what if the Americans didn't go to lay siege to the Atlantic Fleet, but came at us?" Lieutenant General Richter Fels asked.
"The commander of the Americans will not be so stupid. Although the local fleet only has eight capital ships, they are all powerful capital ships equipped with 410mm main guns. Even if the American fleet has 11 capital ships, they want to eat For us, it is also very difficult, and at most it will be a result of mutual losses. In that case, they will never have a chance to defeat us. Only by eating our Atlantic Fleet first, their losses will not be too great. In the end If you are lucky, you will have no problem beating us," said Admiral Hipper.
It is precisely because of this that Admiral Hipper asked Admiral Holzendorf's aircraft carrier fleet to operate in the waters east of the Azores, following the Atlantic Fleet. Once the U.S. fleet appears, take off the carrier-based aircraft immediately and severely damage the U.S. fleet. When the time comes, the Atlantic Fleet will be able to deal with the already severely damaged U.S. Fleet.
The home fleet will also search from west to east to avoid any fish that slip through the net. For those small and medium-sized warships, it's fine to escape, it's no big deal. However, those capital ships of the US fleet must make sure to kill them all. These capital ships are all expensive, and killing one can make the US government feel distressed for a long time.
"If the commander of the US fleet can really resist the temptation and not launch an attack on the Atlantic Fleet, then we can only let the Marine Corps land and force them out. Under the cover of the fleet, even the Americans The Marine Corps landed a few days earlier and built many fortifications on the island. However, with the strong fire support of the fleet, the Marine Corps should be able to land easily and regain those islands. At that time, the US fleet will still be able to sit still Otherwise, they can only watch the Azores fall into our hands." Admiral Hipper continued.
Regardless of whether the U.S. fleet is fooled or not, Germany will win this war. This is because the strength gap between the two sides is too great. The German Navy is just two fleets plus an aircraft carrier fleet, which is enough to crush the US Navy. No matter what method they use, as long as there is no way to make up the gap, they will never want to defeat the German Navy.
"In this case, we will win!" Lieutenant General Richter Fels said.
On the morning of February 19th, in the east of the Azores, eight capital ships of the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet were shelling São Miguel Island with their main guns. The defensive positions hastily constructed by the US Marine Corps on the island could not withstand such a fierce shelling at all. Those fortifications were all destroyed under the shelling of the German army. The officers and soldiers of the US Marine Corps hiding inside suffered heavy casualties.
This prompted the U.S. Marine Corps to send another telegram urging the U.S. fleet to quickly attack the German navy and help them. Otherwise, they would all be blown to death by the Germans.
On the battleship 'Colorado', the flagship of the US fleet, the commander, Admiral Henry Mayo, frowned tightly at this moment. At this time, the U.S. fleet was already 30 kilometers southeast of San Miguel Island, and it only took an hour's voyage from the German fleet. At this time, Admiral Henry Mayo should lead the fleet to attack the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet and eat them in one fell swoop.
However, Admiral Henry Mayo hesitated. His intuition told him that there must be some conspiracy in it.
"General, the Marine Corps is urging again." Lieutenant General Henry Wilson said.
"Don't worry about those guys! Can you be sure that there is no German fleet nearby?" Admiral Henry Mayo asked.
"Yes, General. We have searched the sea area of 100 kilometers nearby. Except for the German Atlantic Fleet, there is no other German fleet. The German home fleet is still in the west of the Azores. Now, they are investigating the Flores Island launched shelling. The marines over there are also urging us!" Lieutenant General Henry Wilson said.
Admiral Henry Mayo frowned tightly, and the more he did this, the more uneasy he felt. If he had a choice, he would rather lead the fleet to flee the nearby waters now. However, he can't do that. The Marine Corps has suffered heavy losses and will definitely not let it go.
"Command the fleet, let's go! I hope God can bless us!" Admiral Henry Mayo ordered.
"Yes, General." Lieutenant General Henry Wilson immediately conveyed the order.
The U.S. fleet then went north, preparing to defeat the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet in one fell swoop to determine their advantage in this war. If they achieve this goal, and the German Navy does not send a new fleet into the Atlantic, then they will be able to win the final victory.
It's a pity that the ideal is plump, but the reality is skinny.
When the U.S. fleet was marching toward the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet, they didn't know that they had actually fallen into a trap. On the sea 150 kilometers away from the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet, the six aircraft carriers of the German Navy's aircraft carrier fleet are ready for battle. A carrier-based aircraft is neatly parked on the deck. These carrier-based aircraft have been filled with fuel, loaded with bombs or torpedoes, and are ready to take off and attack at any time.
