Chapter 1040: Failure

In the Chesapeake Bay, fierce fighting continues. However, the battle was almost one-sided. Despite the heroic performance of the American fleet in the battle, the cruisers and destroyers they drove quickly rushed towards the German fleet. However, under the intensive firepower of the German fleet, these small and medium-sized warships simply could not rush to the front of the German fleet, let alone release torpedoes on those capital ships.

Of course, the 533mm heavy torpedo is very powerful. Once it is hit, even the battleship of the German Navy has rough skin and thick flesh, but it will also suffer heavy damage. Fortunately, the strong defense of the German navy made it impossible for the American fleet to get close, let alone attack the German fleet.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The naval guns roared, the sound of explosions came and went, and the smoke filled the air. In the entire Chesapeake Bay, the two sides fought in full swing.

However, it can be clearly seen that the warships of the US fleet are often sunk. Under the attack of the German fleet, they had almost no power to fight back. Those cruisers and destroyers were sunk one after another.

"God! The Germans' defenses are too tight, and we can't get out at all! If this continues, we will be sunk before rushing to within two kilometers." The captain of a destroyer said in horror.

"Release the torpedo immediately! Then turn and leave!" the captain ordered.

"However, sir, this place is more than four kilometers away from the German fleet. If you release the torpedo, it is basically impossible to hit the enemy."

"If you don't want to die, release the torpedo immediately!" the captain said viciously.

"Okay, sir."

The destroyer immediately released six heavy torpedoes, then immediately turned and fled to the depths of the bay. As for whether the released torpedoes could hit the target, that was not their consideration.

Knowing that you are invincible, if you continue to charge, there is only one dead end. Therefore, although many American sailors are brave, many people are still unwilling to let them die like this. This also caused many American warships to release torpedoes from a distance, regardless of whether the torpedoes could successfully destroy the German warships, and then turned around and ran away.

The combat power shown by the German fleet in the battle was so strong that the officers and soldiers of the US Navy no longer had the courage to continue fighting. Under such circumstances, saving one's own life is undoubtedly the best choice.

The battle ended in less than an hour, and the American fleet involved in the attack suffered heavy losses. Of the twenty light cruisers, only five escaped, and of the forty destroyers, less than ten escaped. The rest were sunk by the German fleet.

In this battle, the German fleet only lost a few destroyers, and a few destroyers and cruisers were injured. Almost all of the destroyers that were sunk were sunk by torpedoes released by the US fleet. Such a loss is undoubtedly much smaller than the results they gained.

What's more, after cleaning up these US warships, they are almost no longer a threat in the Chesapeake Bay. Next, you can safely and boldly launch an attack on the Norfolk Naval Base. As long as the Norfolk Naval Base is destroyed, their mission this time will be considered a successful completion.

"Order the fleet and prepare to launch an attack on the Norfolk naval base. Destroyers and light cruisers, pay attention to the Americans. Anti-submarine destroyers, continue to search the surrounding waters. Once you find an American submarine, sink it immediately!" Admiral Hipper ordered road.

Although, victory is in sight. However, he did not take it lightly. He didn't want to have any problems when he was about to win. In that case, the victory this time would not be so complete.

"Yes, General." Lieutenant General Richter Fels immediately made arrangements.

The 16 battleships of the combined fleet of the German Navy lined up in the Chesapeake Bay, crossed the hull, and aimed their sides at the Norfolk Naval Base. Other small and medium warships are guarding all around.

"Fire!"

With the order of the gunner, 16 battleships started shelling one after another.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The main guns of each door began to roar, and smashed heavy armor-piercing shells towards the coast.

The first to be attacked was naturally the coastal fortifications at the Norfolk Naval Base. Although, there are quite a few of those coastal defense guns, and some are even large-caliber coastal defense guns. However, it is obviously impossible for these old coastal defense guns and coastal fortifications to withstand the fierce bombardment of the German fleet.

One after another, the armor-piercing projectiles slammed into the shore fortifications of the Norfolk Naval Base. Although these coastal fortifications have strong defenses, they still cannot withstand the large-caliber armor-piercing projectiles fired by the capital ships of the German Navy.

A coastal defense fort was penetrated by a 410mm armor-piercing projectile on the spot. After the shell exploded inside the fort, the entire fort collapsed. As for the U.S. artillery inside, they couldn't die any more.

The coastal defense batteries of the US military are also launching a counterattack, but their counterattack seems so weak.

Among these coastal defense guns, the largest caliber is only 305mm. For the capital ships of the German Navy, there is no threat at all. So, they're almost entirely at the point of being beaten.

Under the sharp artillery fire of the battleships of the German Navy, the coastal fortifications of the Norfolk Naval Base were quickly destroyed. And the Norfolk Naval Base, like a weak little girl, was completely exposed to the strong man of the German fleet.

"Destroy the Norfolk Naval Base!" Admiral Hipper ordered indifferently.

The German fleet began to adjust its targets and poured shells into the Norfolk naval base. At this moment, the US military officers and soldiers in the base are evacuating. In fact, after the German Navy did not dispatch carrier-based aircraft, but dispatched a fleet to forcibly break into the Chesapeake Bay, the United States knew that the Norfolk Naval Base could not be defended. If you continue to resist, I am afraid that you will only have the fate of being completely wiped out in the end.

Therefore, the top U.S. Navy issued an order to retreat to the Norfolk Naval Base.

Although, the United States has invested heavily here. But in the case of no other way, the only way to evacuate the personnel. As for the naval base, it can be rebuilt later.

Two hours later, the German fleet left the Chesapeake Bay and entered the Atlantic Ocean. The Norfolk Naval Base has been turned into ruins. Not only did the German fleet bombard the Norfolk naval base with naval guns, but the carrier-based aircraft of the aircraft carrier fleet also joined in. Therefore, it was possible to destroy this place in such a short period of time.