Chapter 585: Carrier-Based Aircraft

In the decisive battle between the German Navy and the British Navy, two aircraft carriers of the German Navy, the "Pioneer" and the "Glorious", participated in that decisive battle. The two aircraft carriers released their carrier-based aircraft and launched an attack on the capital ship of the British Navy. The carrier-based aircraft directly dropped torpedoes, causing the British Navy to pay heavy losses.

Although, due to technical limitations, the current carrier-based aircraft can only carry light torpedoes. However, the early dreadnoughts of the British Navy were too weak to resist even light torpedoes.

Of course, the battleships and battlecruisers played a decisive role in the German Navy's defeat of the British Navy. However, the powerful strength erupted by the combination of aircraft carrier and carrier-based aircraft is still eye-catching.

Because of Qin Tian's relationship, Germany became the first country in the world to build aircraft carriers and use carrier-based aircraft. In this field, they are already at the leading level in the world. But even so, the German Navy continued to deepen the development of this field. Because, their current aircraft carrier and carrier-based aircraft are undoubtedly far from the standards and requirements proposed by Qin Tian.

After the "Pioneer-class" aircraft carrier, a total of four aircraft carriers are under construction for the German Navy. The displacement of these four aircraft carriers is much larger than that of the 'Pioneer-class' aircraft carriers, with a full load displacement of more than 26,000 tons. The aircraft carrier has a larger flight deck and a larger hangar, which can accommodate more combat aircraft. This class of aircraft carrier is named the "Wilhelm the Great Class" aircraft carrier. The first ship was named the aircraft carrier "Wilhelm the Great", and the other three were named "Frederick III", "Wilhelm II" and "Wilhelm III".

The aircraft carrier Wilhelm der Grosse can carry 64 combat aircraft. Among them were 18 fighters, 24 bombers and 24 torpedo attack aircraft. The previous "Pioneer-class" aircraft carriers carried fighter jets and torpedo attack aircraft. Restricted by technical conditions, it is difficult for a bomber taking off from an aircraft carrier to hit a surface target unless it is dive bombing. Therefore, the torpedo attack, which is easier to hit the target, was chosen as a last resort. However, after the outbreak of the war, technology has also been greatly improved. The bombers equipped by the navy can barely meet the bombing of surface targets. Although the angle of the dive is not large, the hit rate is relatively low. But at least it won't be as unbearably low as before. This made it possible for bombers to board the ship. At the same time, the thickest armor of a battleship is generally the waterline armor, the front armor of the turret and the armor of the conning tower, while the deck armor is relatively weak. Once attacked from the sky, the weak armor is difficult to resist. In the future, each formation of the "Wilhelm the Great" aircraft carrier will be equipped with bombers and torpedo aircraft at the same time, further strengthening the combat effectiveness of the carrier-based air force.

Although, the four "Wilhelm the Great-class" aircraft carriers have not yet been able to serve. However, the carrier-based aircraft unit has already started training and has formed combat effectiveness. After the "Wilhelm the Great-class" aircraft carrier enters service, it will be able to board the ship immediately to form combat effectiveness.

It is these carrier-based aircraft that Qin Tian intends to use to deal with the main force of the British Navy's fleet of pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers. Letting them participate in this attack is undoubtedly an exercise similar to actual combat.

After Qin Tian's order was issued, the Imperial Navy's carrier-based aircraft unit immediately began preparations. A large number of carrier-based aircraft went to the airport near Le Havre to stand by after going through one transition after another.

Fortunately, although France's aviation industry is not as good as Germany's, French fighters were defeated by German fighters during the war. However, many airports have been built in various parts of France. Not far from Le Havre, there are two airports. This allowed the four carrier-based aircraft wings transferred from Germany to station at these airports.

Admiral Crook, commander of the German 1st Army Corps, and Lieutenant General Ludendorff, chief of staff of the 8th Army Corps, rushed to the airport in person to welcome the arrival of the naval carrier-based aircraft unit. After all, these carrier-based aircraft units came to help them this time.

"Hello, General!" Lieutenant General von Ingenauer, commander of the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft force, personally directed the battle.

Because the German Navy's aircraft carrier formation is still in its infancy. The various establishments are relatively chaotic. In order to ensure the training and development of the carrier-based aircraft force, a carrier-based aircraft command was established to be responsible. Lieutenant General von Ingenauer was the first commander of the carrier-based aircraft force.

"Hello, General Ingenuel. Thank you for coming to help us!" Admiral Crook also showed a smile on his face.

These days, he and Lieutenant General Ludendorff have been under tremendous pressure. Now, all these pressures have dissipated with the arrival of the carrier-based aircraft force. If the carrier-based aircraft force can eliminate the British fleet in one fell swoop, then they will have almost no problem in taking Le Havre.

"General, we are just following orders. What's more, the British used the fleet to bombard the army despicably, which is a very shameless way of fighting. Naturally, the Imperial Navy can't let them run amok like this!" Inge Lieutenant General Knoll said.

"Very well, General Ingenuel, I am looking forward to the Imperial Navy's carrier-based aircraft force to kill all the British warships and avenge the army officers and soldiers who died under their shelling." Admiral Crook said .

"Yes, General. We will definitely do it!" Lieutenant General Ingenuel was full of confidence.

The four carrier-based aircraft wings that participated in the battle this time are the most cutting-edge carrier-based aircraft equipped by the German Navy. The bomber carried an aerial bomb weighing 250 kilograms. The torpedo attack aircraft carried 450 mm heavy torpedoes. In terms of power, it is naturally much stronger than the previous light torpedoes. The defense of the former dreadnoughts and armored cruisers of the British Navy was not very good. Facing the siege of the German navy's carrier-based aircraft force, what will happen is naturally conceivable.

It is a pity that neither the British Expeditionary Force nor the Royal Navy knew that the crisis had come to them. They are still cheering for stopping the German attack on Le Havre. I thought that the German army was at the end of their rope, and there was nothing they could do about it. Soon, they will learn how wrong they were.