Chapter 65: A New Plan (Revised)
The Battle of Jutland will not be forgotten by those who are familiar with the history of the First World War and the history of naval warfare. But now because of some changes, and just a little change is enough to change the course of the war.
Since the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Britain has maintained its position as the supremacy of the seas, with its vast fleet cruising the world's oceans.
When the First World War broke out, although Germany strengthened its naval forces, it still lagged behind Britain in the number of ships and displacement tonnage, and the caliber and number of artillery were inferior to the British.
Thus, for two and a half years after the start of the war, the British Navy, by virtue of its superiority, imposed a naval blockade on Germany. The British main fleet squatted like a watchdog in the port of Scappaflo and stared at the German oceanic fleet, so that it was trapped in Wilhelmshaven and Bremerhaven for most of the time, becoming a veritable "existence fleet".
January 1916 Reinhard. Admiral Schell was appointed commander of the German Ocean Fleet, a title that was not something that the newly arrived commander of the German High Seas Fleet at that time wanted to see. In order to be able to raise his eyebrows in front of his British counterparts and sail into the ocean with pleasure, he formulated a battle plan.
It was this battle plan that caused the last decisive battle of big ships and huge guns in the world - the Battle of Jutland. The result of this battle was a partial victory for Germany in the naval battle. However, they did not get the coveted opportunity to gain access to the sea, and certainly did not talk about a blockade of Britain and at the same time breathe their own empire.
There was a gentle green smoke coming out of the heather's pipe, which was Reinhard's after a full meal. Scheer's habits. On the table in front of him were large charts, on which marked the respective patrol lines of the enemy and the enemy.
His silver hair, silver beard, and black pipe made him look like a kind old captain, and one could not feel the murderous aura of his plan.
Vice Admiral Speer knew this very well, he was a shrewd, young and very bold general. He knew very well what was going on in front of him in front of the German Navy.
The Germans, completely deprived of overseas resource replenishment, despite the fact that their army was superior compared to other countries, although their equipment was slightly more advanced than that of others, despite the ...... However, under the joint attack of Britain, France, the United States, Russia, and Italy, and after the Communists set fire to the Kiel military port, the Teutonic knights finally bowed their heads.
"General, we need to take a lot of risks in this battle, we are facing the elite main fleet of the British Empire, this battle is not easy to fight!"
It was Vice Admiral Hipper who spoke, and it was planned that he would sail out of Wilhelmshaven with a "decoy flotilla" of 5 battle cruisers, 5 light cruisers, and 30 destroyers.
On Scheer's orders, the "decoy fleet" was to sail north along the west coast of Denmark towards the Skagerrak Strait. In this way, numerous British spies on both sides of the Channel would report to London the location of the Hipper's fleet passing. During the voyage, Hipper also had the ship's radio transmitters constantly transmit messages to lure the British into taking the bait.
He himself led the rest of the battleships and battlecruisers in a strike formation, secretly following them after the next two hours. When the British Navy engaged the German fleet, which was intending to escape out of the North Sea, he suddenly delivered a fatal blow from behind the enemy's flank.
If this plan succeeded, the German navy might still have a chance to compete with the British fleet, otherwise the navy would be useless in the war.
"General, this is the parcel I just received from the Supreme Command!"
Reinhart. Admiral Scheer glanced at the adjutant in front of him, as if annoyed that he had interrupted his conversation with Vice Admiral Hipper. Then, he shoved the pipe in his mouth and reached out to take the parcel in his hand.
The imprint of the fire paint representing the German Emperor indicates that this is a piece of mail that deserves great attention. Inside, a solemn waterproof metal box contained something, and on it was a letter from the German Emperor Wilhelm II.
"Well, go ahead, oh, and besides, I'm going to talk to Mr. Lieutenant General a little longer, and don't let others bother us if there's nothing important."
Speaking in the face, Reinhardt. Scheer opened the Emperor's handwritten letter. There was no criticism, no praise, no urging, only a few words of instruction.
To: Reinhardt. Admiral Scheer
The stakes of this war are very high, and the current General Staff has drawn up the latest plan ...... according to the latest developments in equipment, and General Reinhardt is requested to deploy combat operations according to this plan, and if there are any problems, please use the latest high-security code in the metal box to send the ....... ”
"Alas......!"
Reinhart. Scheer sighed and didn't say anything more, but reached out to open the metal box. This new battle plan, which had just been received, was frustrating to the old sailor, who had been full of enthusiasm before the war, because his battle plan had just been overturned by a plan from the General Staff.
"My dear Mr. Lieutenant General, tell me, when did these bureaucrats of the General Staff learn to fight naval battles?"
He could not understand that although the German navy had always been no match for the British Royal Fleet, it was blocked in the harbor during the war, and could not move. And interceptions at sea often relied on some raiding ships disguised as merchant ships to intercept British merchant ships, which cannot but be said to be a disgrace for the German navy.
And as soon as he took office, he planned to break this situation, but he was actually disturbed by these guys from the General Staff. This is a constraint that he can hardly tolerate and cannot continue to bear.
However, Vice Admiral Speer looked at the document in the admiral's hand, and did not say much, but a mocking smile appeared on his face, and then shook his head, but he did not say anything cautiously.
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Looking at the reaction of his subordinates, Reinhardt also shook his head, and the smile on his face seemed to have put the word "stupid" on the head of the General Staff. He smiled as he looked at the new battle plan.
But the more he looked, the more solemn the look on his face became, and the more surprised the reaction in his eyes became. The more serious he was when he looked at the plan, even the pipe he loved no longer went to his mouth.
Vice Admiral Speer, on the other hand, who had not seen the contents of the plan, was more and more surprised. He didn't understand what it was that made the well-informed "old sailor" in front of him be surprised to look like this.
"Interesting, really interesting, these bureaucrats of the General Staff were able to come up with such a plan, Mr. Lieutenant General, I cannot but say that I am personally surprised. Look at it, my lieutenant general, I can't believe they've gotten smarter! ”