There seems to be some truth in Raeder's words!

Hersmann's memory of the German Navy's warships fighting ugly battles may really be because the strength is too small, or because there is no aircraft carrier protection - if Bismarck is a "Seydelitz" class aircraft carrier and 36 Zero Combat protection broke into the Atlantic, it is difficult to say whether the British can catch it.

"Let's hold a war game!" Field Marshal Schleicher, who presided over the meeting, made the decision. "If two twin ship formations can force the main forces of the British Home Fleet to be used for escort, then it is worth building." Speaking of this, he looked at the fat man Goering again, "Mr. Goering, the project of 12 P-class armored ships will not put too much pressure on industrial production, right?" ”

"No problem," Göring assured, patting his chest, "we have enough strength to build ships!" ”

In a triumphant tone, he said: "After the National Socialist Workers' Party came to power, we have made great progress in our industrial strength. We are now able to produce 26 million tonnes of steel per year, the most in Europe. In addition, in two four-year plans, we have invested DM 565 million in upgrading the capacity of eight shipyards (Blom Foss Shipyard, Shuoxiao Shipyard, Deutsche Shipyard in Hamburg, National Naval Shipyard Wilhelmshaven, Horvaz Shipyard in Kiel, Volscandium Shipyard in Stettin, Deschmag Shipyard in Bremen and Julius Caesar the Great Shipyard in Riga) and 17 new yards for the construction of small and medium-sized hulls and shipyards.

Now, with the exception of the Kaiser shipyard in Riga, the remaining seven shipyards have at least one slipway for the construction of H-class battleships, including the Deschmag plant in Bremen and the Blom in Hamburg. Both the Foss works and the National Naval Shipyard in Wilhelmshaven had two large slipways for the construction of H-class battleships. The seven shipyards have a total of 9 large slipways of more than 60,000 tons. ”

The H-class battleship had an unladen displacement of 55,553 tons, and a 60,000-ton slipway was required to build it - a class of slipway that was very rare in the 1930s.

However, just because you can build an H-Class doesn't mean you have to build an H-Class. Now one of the nine 60,000-ton slipways is used to build the No. 2 ship of the "Bismarck" class, two are for the construction of the "B" (a 33,000-ton fleet aircraft carrier), two are planned for the construction of the H-class battleship, and two are planned for the construction of the 35,000-ton O-class battleship. Two more have just been built and have not yet been put into use.

As for the P-class armored ships, with an unladen displacement of less than 20,000 tons, there are a lot of shipyards in Germany where they can be built.

"There are a few more slipways of 20,000 to 30,000 tons," Goering said, "and the military ship on those slipways is a 'Seydelitz' class at the moment." It is no problem to start construction of 4 P-class armored ships of the 'Admiral Hipper' class at the same time. ”

Both ships were included in the first phase of the "Z" plan, drawn up in 1933, and included two Scharnhorst-class battleships, two Bismarck-class battleships, two Seydelitz-class aircraft carriers, four Admiral-Hipper-class cruisers, three German-class armored ships, five Leipzig-class light cruisers, four Type 1934 destroyers, six Type 1936 destroyers, 12 Raptor-class and Beasts class torpedo boats (not torpedo boats) and about 300 submarines of various types. In addition, the German Navy has 3 light cruisers of the Königsberg class, built in the 20s.

"What about steel?" Schleicher asked, "Can it be supplied?" Now the plans for shipbuilding are huge, and the manufacture of tanks and artillery also requires the occupation of steel. ”

"Steel is not a problem," Goering said, "according to the plan." This year, one-third of the total production will be allocated to the General Directorate of Armaments, and one third of the 26 million tons, or 8.67 million tons. 12% of this went to the Navy Bureau, for a total of 1,040,400 tons. By 1939, more than 2 million tons of steel would be allocated to the navy. The fat man glanced at Hersmann gratefully, "In fact, steel is not a problem, what we really lack in Germany is non-ferrous metals, fortunately, His Excellency the General is far-sighted." Reserves began back in the 20s, otherwise the supply of raw materials for Plan Z would have been really problematic. ”

"Okay. Since the raw materials are not a problem," Marshal Schleicher nodded, "then arrange a war game deduction, and if the deduction proves the Navy's point of view, then give priority to the 4 P-class ships and start construction as soon as possible." ”

For this treatment. Hersman was actually not very satisfied - the P-class was of no great use in his opinion, and the 20,000-ton hull would be replaced by an aircraft carrier. If you design it well, 60 ships can go up there......

However, after being a "political general" for more than ten years, he also knows that preparing for war also requires politics. He was a general of the army. It's a matter that can't interfere too much in the Navy.

"Well," Hersman said, "then the priority in Plan 'Z' is up to four more P-Tiers." The supply items of the ordinary class were identified as 2 H-class battleships, 2 B aircraft carriers, 2 O-class battleships, 12 M-class light cruisers, 24 1936-class destroyers and 20 minesweepers, 20 submarine hunters, 50 speedboats, 100 submarines. In addition, a 12,000-ton escort carrier, a 4,000-ton tank landing ship, a new air defense cruiser, a new shipborne radar, a new aviation torpedo, and 500-kilogram and 1,000-kilogram armor-piercing bombs will be added to the Navy's priority research and development program. ”

"Yes." Raeder didn't raise any further objections this time. Although the number of H-class and O-class battleships that had begun construction was somewhat small, with the addition of the 'Bismarck' class and the 'Scharnhorst' class, the German Navy would have 8 battleships by 1942. In addition, it can have 3 'Deutschland' class, 4 'Admiral Hipper' class, 4 P-class, 2 'Seidlitz' class, 2 B ships, and a 23 capital ships, which is not bad.

"Then let's talk about the Army tank project," Field Marshal Schleicher sighed, and the "Navy Plan Z Adjustment Bill" that had been arguing for many days finally came to an end. "Ludwig, you propose to include the LT-38 tank of the Skoda company in the list of priority improvements and production?"

The LT-38 is the famous 38t tank, which was developed by the Skoda company of the Bohemian protectorate on the basis of the LT-35 tank. After Bohemia became part of the German Empire, Hersmann instructed Skoda to develop a 10-ton light tank.

At the beginning of 1938, the Skoda company came up with a product, which was the LT-38. After testing by the Armored Forces Headquarters, it was believed that the performance of this tank was better than that of the German No. 2 tank, and it was an ideal light tank.

Hersman said; "Yes, the LT-38 is better than the second, and it is recommended that the current plant producing the second tank convert the production capacity of the second tank 60 to the LT-38 in 1938, and increase the monthly production of LT-38 family vehicles to more than 150 units by January next year."

"Mr. Goering." Field Marshal Schleicher asked.

"No problem," replied Goering, patting his chest. "A matter of command...... In this case, the 38t tank and the No. 3 tank are in the priority list for tank production and improvement, the No. 4 tank is in the priority improvement list, and the VK3001 (30-ton class No. 1) and VK4501 (45-ton class No. 1) are in the priority development list. ”

The VK3001 project and the VK4501 project were later known as the Panther tank and the Tiger tank. Both projects were established very early, one in 1938 and the other in 1937.

"Priority development catalogue plus the second series of deformation vehicles, with a focus on 105mm self-propelled guns, reconnaissance tanks, Spitfire tanks and tank maintenance vehicles."

Goering immediately wrote down Hersmann's request in his notebook. His task was to fulfill the requirements of the military within the limits of his ability - thanks to the General Directorate of Armaments and the Armaments Commission, German arms production was now gradually on track. The military could only put forward requirements that the General Directorate of Armaments was capable of fulfilling, and the General Directorate of Armaments could regulate the production of all German industries by executive order in order to maximize the capabilities of German industry.

"Next is the production and development of the aircraft," Schleicher said, opening a folder stamped with the Air Force mark. "Naval aviation proposes to modify the He111 and Ju88, replace them with high-power air-cooled engines, and increase the external auxiliary fuel tanks to increase the combat radius to more than 1,000 kilometers...... And in the case of the He111 with one aviation torpedo and the Ju88 with 2 500-kilogram armor-piercing bombs. ”

It seems that the people of naval aviation are still pondering the "sneak attack of a thousand planes"? Hersman nodded: "I think I can do it...... Maybe you can really sneak up on Sparka Bay when the war starts. ”

"It's too risky, it's the most powerful navy in the world!" Raeder shook his head, "And we don't know anything about Scapa Bay yet. ”

Raeder must not have known when he said this that the world's most powerful navy was in an anchorage with no aircraft cover, no radar to detect the sky, and less than 1,000 kilometers from the German mainland.

If the historical Hitler really dared to play like Yamamoto Isoroku, in September 1939, the main force of the British Navy would probably have to lie on his stomach......

Hersman didn't know the situation in Scapa Bay either, he thought for a moment and said, "There will be people going to reconnoitre, and the Navy will also send submarines to keep an eye on it." He paused again, "I think we can try it, even if I can't sink many ships, blowing up their oil depots will be enough for the British." (To be continued.) )