Chapter 164 Abandoning Blue Island

"Is this our aircraft carrier? It's almost finished construction!" Marshal Earl Tirpitz said, looking at the two aircraft carriers under construction on the berth.

The main construction of the two aircraft carriers is almost complete. Most of the deck of the aircraft carrier has been completed, so the outline can be barely seen.

Qin Tian nodded: "It is estimated that they will be able to serve in the middle of next year. At that time, the carrier-based aircraft unit will go on board for training. We will strive to form combat effectiveness in a year. In this way, if war breaks out in 1914, our can catch up."

"Your Highness, will aircraft carriers really change the situation of naval warfare as His Highness said?" Marshal Earl Tirpitz seemed a little unconvinced.

"Don't worry, Marshal, when did I lie to you? Soon, the aircraft carrier will become the protagonist of the naval battle. And the aircraft carrier will replace the battleship and become our main force. Therefore, our main focus next should be on In the development of aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft. As long as these two aspects can go hand in hand and succeed, the German navy will still be able to dominate the world!" Qin Tian said confidently.

This is already obvious. If Germany can take the lead in such a big killer as an aircraft carrier, it is almost impossible for other countries to challenge Germany.

Subsequently, the engineer responsible for the construction of the aircraft carrier introduced the performance of the aircraft carrier to Marshal Earl Tirpitz.

These two aircraft carriers were named "Pioneer-class" destroyers by Qin Tian, ​​the first ship "Pioneer" and the second ship "Victory". The "Pioneer-class" aircraft carrier has a standard displacement of 17,500 tons, a full-load displacement of 23,700 tons, a total length of 195.6 meters, a width of 31.2 meters, and a draft of 7.6 meters. Equipped with 12 large oil-fired boilers and two new steam turbines, the power is 48,000 horsepower, the maximum speed is 27 knots (the maximum speed during the sea trial is 28.5 knots), and the endurance is 12 knots and 9,000 nautical miles. There are 1,200 members, including 200 officers. Armed with 8 105mm rapid-fire guns, 12 double-mounted 88mm anti-aircraft guns and 24 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns. The most powerful weapon of an aircraft carrier is not the artillery equipped on the aircraft carrier itself, but the fighter jets on it! At the time of design, the No. 01 aircraft carrier will carry 48 fighters and four seaplanes. Fighter planes are mainly used to attack targets, while seaplanes, with their long range and easy take-off and landing, are used to scout and find targets! The 48 fighters mainly include 12 fighters and 36 torpedo attack aircraft.

The reason why it is not equipped with dive bombers or level bombers. The main reason is that the dive bomber has not yet been developed due to technical reasons. However, the horizontal bomber has a very low hit rate against high-speed moving surface targets. In contrast, torpedo attack aircraft is much more suitable. Although the current torpedo attack aircraft can only be equipped with 350 mm light aviation torpedoes, the damage to large surface targets is very limited. However, it is still enough for the aircraft carrier of the British Navy whose defense is already low. Even if it is difficult to sink them, as long as they are injured, forcing them to withdraw from the battle, or creating opportunities for other capital ships of the navy, it can also play a great role.

"The power of the 350mm light torpedo is not enough." Marshal Earl Tirpitz also directly pointed out this point.

"The aircraft research and development center is developing better torpedo attack aircraft, striving to be able to carry 450mm medium torpedoes. The power of 350mm light torpedoes is indeed not great, and it is difficult to damage them when dealing with our battleships. However, the British's The defense of capital ships has never been very good. As long as it is damaged, the rest will be dealt with by capital ships." Qin Tian said with a smile.

Marshal Earl Tirpitz nodded again and again, if the carrier-based aircraft of the aircraft carrier can damage the capital ship of the British Navy. Then the next battle will undoubtedly be even better. With the power of the German navy's surface fleet, isn't it easy to deal with the wounded British navy?

"Your Highness, after the completion of these two aircraft carriers, will they be handed over to the Navy?" Marshal Earl Tirpitz asked.

"Of course, I personally donated these two aircraft carriers to the navy. I hope that the navy can completely defeat the British in future naval battles!" Qin Tian said with a smile.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. In future naval battles, we will definitely be able to take down the British!" Marshal Earl Tirpitz looked confident. With a powerful surface fleet, coupled with a large underwater submarine force, and finally an aircraft carrier, if the German Navy has no way to win. Then he, the Secretary of the Navy, can jump directly into the sea.

Time passed little by little, and soon, the Balkan War began. The Ottoman Turkish Empire, which once shook the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, was once again beaten to the ground by several small countries that it had previously colonized. Of course, behind those small countries, there is the support of countries such as Britain and France. Otherwise, no matter how bad the Ottoman Turkish Empire was, it would not have lost so ugly.

During the Balkan Wars, Germany remained neutral and gave the Ottoman Empire a little support from time to time. There is only one purpose, and that is to win over the Ottoman Turkish Empire and let the Ottoman Turkish Empire join the camp of the Allied Powers to fight.

Although, the Ottoman Turkish Empire has not made a clear statement. However, they are becoming more and more hostile towards countries such as Britain and France, and the possibility of joining the camp of the Allied Powers is also increasing.

At the end of 1913, at an imperial meeting, the Crown Prince Qin Tian made a proposal that shocked everyone, including William II. Because, Qin Tian proposed to abandon Blue Island and the stronghold of the German Empire in the Eastern Empire.

"His Royal Highness, the empire has not many strongholds in the east. And Blue Island is the most important one. In order to obtain such a stronghold in the east, we have spent a lot of effort. If we give up now, Then our previous efforts will all be in vain!" Xiao Maoqi was naturally the first to jump out and criticize Qin Tian's suggestion. He wished that Qin Tian would make a mistake, so that King William II would not like Qin Tian.

Sure enough, after listening to Qin Tian's suggestion, William II's expression was not very good. Because Germany rose too late, the world has almost been divided up by other powers. Especially the eastern world is almost divided up. In order to find a suitable breakthrough point in the Eastern Empire, Germany has spent a lot of effort. You know, when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China, the commander-in-chief was the chief of staff of the German Army.

(Originally planned to fight Japan on Blue Island, but this plot cannot be written, so I have to give up!)