I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Departure

The sound of lapping waves. flickering incandescent light. The sun is warm, but the air is as cold as a blade.

Leaving St. John’s Harbor, our fleet passed through the canal, hidden in the morning mist. From the bridge of Repulse, where the mast-high naval flag fluttered, I looked back at the ships quietly following.

Two giant warships, Tiger and Furious, split the sea with their huge ships wrapped in silence.

All three high-speed capital ships, including Repulse, will conduct commercial destruction across the East Coast of the United States over the next few months.

Of course, it’s not just catching merchant ships.

“It’s dark before your eyes.”

Looking around over the foggy sea, he lowered his binoculars and said with a sigh. The officer perked up his ears.

“What are you talking about?”

“Can’t you see anything because of the sea fog?”

“ah… It sure is.”

The commander also nodded as if he understood.

One of the climates to stay away from when there is no radar is thick sea fog. From the point of view of a surface ship that sees everything with the naked eye, you can’t see anything. If you are not careful, you may not even notice that the enemy ships are approaching at close range.

“Henry, can you see anything over there?”

“Nothing.”

I asked the sailor standing on the left side, but I only heard an answer that was not very helpful.

Anyway, I set up my watch twice, but I’m still anxious. Why is the weather like this on the day of the sortie?

Fortunately, the enemy will have a hard time noticing our sortie.

Think positively. positively.

Tidying up my hair and turning my head, the operative was blinking with a questionable face.

“Why but?”

Did you see anything strange? When I tilt my head, I am startled.

“Oh no! I will focus on my mission.”

Did you lose your eye on this kid?

“Calm down, operative.”

I clicked my tongue and raised my binoculars again.

Young response has not been good since yesterday. Is approaching in a friendly way counterproductive? But I’m also embarrassed. I didn’t expect to go on a sortie the day after I made up my mind.

It would be nice if we could have a little more leisurely time… After all, it would be a luxury during a war.

“There is no problem with the leading destroyer squadron.”

It was the captain’s voice. Turning over the chart in his hand, he approached the bridge window.

“The French territory of the southern island is suspicious, but they say there is no movement yet, so it would be good to go out at this gap.”

French territory south of the island of Newfoundland, the island of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

It is only a handful in size, but it is definitely French territory. It is an established fact that France and the United States have a cooperative relationship. can’t help but care

Fortunately, France is also on the island because of its small naval power. There is a possibility of wireless eavesdropping, but…

Anyway, I’ll have to try my hand at that one someday. First of all, there is another opponent you need to pay attention to.

“What about mines?”

“It is still a safe zone, but we will soon enter dangerous waters.”

“I’m anxious here too. Let’s put the minesweeper first.”

“Yes, Captain.”

I flinched for a moment. I can’t adapt because the name has changed. Sometimes a captain, sometimes a squadron commander, now a flyer leader.

It occurred to me that it wasn’t long before I became an admiral. He let out a tired sigh for some reason and looked at the group of minesweepers ahead of Repulse, who had slowed down.

In front of this, most of the waterways are guaranteed to be safe. But you can’t just stretch out your feet. It is often the case that the fixed line breaks and hits a mine floating on the sea.

Of course, it’s when you’re filthy unlucky, but isn’t it called ubiquitous? I will walk a rough road in the future, but it is a specification that things already explode.

“Flyers, minesweepers follow suit. Maintain Danjongjin, fleet speed 10 knots.”

“Raise the signal!”

“I hope nothing happens.”

I hid my trembling heart and quietly raised my binoculars. It was a sea of fog that lifted little by little.

At the same time, ship S-11 belonging to the 11th Submarine Squadron of the US Navy.

A coffin of cold steel. In a narrow aisle illuminated only by shabby incandescent lights, the captain, Major Jenkins, flipped through the logbook. Turning over the bookshelves with nervous hands, he shook his head with an unwelcome look. I have already been on a patrol voyage for a week near the port. But so far nothing has been achieved.

Of course, it was great that the destroyers of the Royal Navy had endured so far here like bees, but he couldn’t be satisfied with that much.

“Is there a seat on the bridge?”

“Yes, there is.”

The captain climbed the ladder. As he opened the hatch, a cool breeze brushed his face. Breathing in fresh air for the first time in a long time, he put his face on the bridge. Nothing could be seen in the sea where the sea fog had subsided.

“You really can’t see an inch ahead.”

“At this rate, I wouldn’t even know if an enemy ship passed in front of me.”

The officer on duty who was watching said it like a joke. But the captain didn’t laugh.

“It really is.”

I know that is not a joke. In fact, there was a time when a destroyer passed from a distance of less than 1 km on a day with sea fog.

If he hadn’t heard the noise of the high-speed cruise with his passive sonar, he might have crashed into the destroyer without even knowing.

It was an experience that still gives me goosebumps when I think about it.

“Anyway, it’s about time my eyes opened up… .”

It was the captain who had been anxiously fiddling with his long untrimmed beard. No matter how much I looked around, the wind got stronger and the sea fog cleared little by little.

“I can see something now.”

He raised his binoculars with satisfaction. It was around the time that a silhouette appeared in the increasingly clear vision.

“Captain! Signal from Sona! At least two large ships ahead!”

An urgent voice was heard throughout the hall. the captain asked immediately.

“The distance?”

“I do not know. I’m sure it’s around here.”

“Going down. Get ready to dive.”

A big fish was caught.

With that thought in mind, the captain quickly descended the ladder. As soon as he put his eyes on the periscope, he was sure of his judgment.

“that… !”

A huge ship was passing over the foggy sea.

Triangular masts and huge guns. Two characteristic chimneys. It is definitely a battle cruiser.

The captain unknowingly put a smile on his lips.

“The distance is 8,000m. Shall we attack?”

“hmm… No, there are too many destroyers. First, run the function and report. The hunt is after that.”

The number of destroyers escorting both sides of the battlecruisers exceeded six, even at a rough estimate.

It won’t be easy to break through their surveillance and hit the torpedo. at least by one ship.

“Break the key! Uro 15!”

“Uro 15!”

With a slight rocking, the submarine turned its bow. Inside the ship, the captain gazed intently at the hull of the battlecruiser.

Really, it’s an appetizing target.

Norfolk, US Navy Atlantic Fleet Command.

Sitting in the conference room, Admiral Frett, the chief of staff of the US Navy, looked around with a very uneasy face. All of the generals were wearing splendid epaulettes, but none of them looked bright.

“I got a call from the army.”

As if sighing, the admiral opened his mouth.

“They said the Navy should take responsibility for the bombing of Boston.”

The surroundings become cluttered.

The frown around the eyes was contagious at once. Of course, I wouldn’t have said that openly, but in the end, the content was there. Before long, the generals each spoke in a voice filled with excitement.

“What nonsense is this?”

“The damned earthlings are insulting us! I think this is a huge disrespect.”

“Damn it, how dare those incompetent bastards who couldn’t even eat Canada!”

As the hum grew louder, Admiral Frett quietly raised his hand.

“Stop it. It’s our fault.”

At the deep voice, everyone immediately shut up. The admiral, who looked around the audience with a cold gaze, cleared his throat before continuing.

“With the loss of Admiral Herbert, we can’t say we’re in an advantageous position.”

Admiral Taylor, commander of the 11th Task Force, bowed his head deeply at that remark.

He was unable to finish off the Royal Navy in a fleet showdown.

I couldn’t help but feel responsible.

“When can the new ship currently under construction be fully operational?”

When Admiral Frett asked, Major General William, the head of the Naval Repair Department, stepped up.

“The two Constallations could be launched half a year ahead of schedule, and the other two after next year. The same goes for the two South Dakota-class ships.”

“Looks like we’re running late.”

“Budget is also an issue, but other ships are in too much demand. In particular, the demand for destroyers and cruisers to cover merchant fleets is booming.”

Continuing the story, the director opened the documents handed out before the meeting. Traces of numerous authorization requests were engraved on the documents each of them opened.

“There is nothing we can do to prevent the destruction of commerce.”

The admiral nodded as if he couldn’t help it. Shipping on the East Coast of the United States boasted a considerable scale even before the war.

Of course, it is of great importance and deserves the protection it deserves.

“But small ships cannot stop battlecruisers.”

Those were the words of Admiral Taylor, who had been silent. He furrowed his weasel-like eyes even more sharply.

“It will stop a submarine or a cruiser, but a battlecruiser is essential to stop the enemy’s fast capital ships.”

“The Pacific Fleet can’t afford it anymore. Damn Japs declared war.”

“But Admiral, we need battlecruisers. Battleships are slow and few in number. The most fundamental way to prevent commercial destruction of large ships is to hit the enemy large ships themselves.”

Many generals nodded their heads at Admiral Taylor’s insistence. It was definitely the theory.

From the standpoint of the defenders, as long as they don’t know where even one enemy is coming from, they have no choice but to distribute their forces to multiple bases. loss in exchange cost. If possible, the latter is easier when the enemy’s means of force itself is destroyed.

But Admiral Frett couldn’t agree with that.

“The Constellation and Ranger have just been commissioned. Without them, there would be no fast capital ships in the Pacific. Are we going to defend the Pacific with only slow battleships?”

That was the problem.

It is a navy that managed to get its hands on 4 battleships and 2 battlecruisers in the flames of the Great Depression. However, a number of capital ships that will achieve a full-fledged generational change after that are currently being built at the dock.

Therefore, there are two battlecruisers and two aircraft carriers that can be mobilized right now.

Even then, Lexington was away for a long time due to repairs from the previous battle. Only one aircraft carrier remained in the Atlantic.

Admiral Frett, who was showing displeasure, said Taylor shaking his hands.

“First of all, let’s put out the urgent fire, Admiral. Shouldn’t we send power to the Pacific again after the entire Atlantic Ocean is cleared? All of Canada expected a short-term battle anyway.”

“It’s not that easy. Even after capturing Canada, we still have to deal with the British Navy on the mainland. Concentrating power on one ocean is taking too long. If you do that, you will have no choice but to discard one or the other.”

“Isn’t that what you’re trying to do with a fleet showdown to prevent that?”

“And it failed.”

At the last second, Fret shot a sharp gaze. Like a deer hit by a shotgun, Taylor had no choice but to remain silent for a moment.

“Since the war situation has changed like this, the plan cannot be avoided. To prepare for the destruction of trade, I have no choice but to make a move with the hand I have now.”

With a frustrated sigh, Fret turned over the last page of the document. The result of the brains of all the staff of the fleet was as follows.

“First of all, we block the enemy’s access to the shore with submarines and torpedo boats, and let the aircraft carrier squadron tie the enemy down. If it’s a Lexington-class high speed, it can safely run away even if pursued by the enemy, so if you don’t neglect reconnaissance, you won’t have to worry about being sunk.”

Of course, this is tabletop theory. Long-term operations are limited by torpedo boats, and sorties may not be possible if the weather is bad. A slow submarine cannot catch up with a fast fleet unless an enemy ship passes over the ambush.

In the end, the only victor is the aircraft carrier. Even this is uneasy without the escort of a capital ship.

Taylor remembered Marshall’s story. He asked with a clearly earnest face.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Please stop this kind of situation.

“All right.”

He had no strength. I just hoped it wouldn’t happen. It was an admiral who prayed earnestly.

“Admiral! Contact from Submarine Command!”

Someone broke through the door and burst into the meeting room. Taylor opened her eyes wide and turned her head.

“Enemy task force is leaving St. John’s! Two battlecruisers, one carrier, and many destroyers!”

It felt like my eyes were collapsing.

As Taylor hardened like plaster, Admiral Fret let out a deep sigh.

“It really went down on fire.”

It was expected, but hearing it in person made me feel very depressed. But he was a soldier. There was no time to just sit still.

“Let’s trust the submarine force on site. Just like last year, it’s something you don’t know if even one ship will break away.”

However, submarines are unstable weapon systems. You can’t leave everything to the vulgarity that relies on ambush.

Admiral Frett, clad in pods in both hands, said while looking at Taylor with an uneasy expression.

“Admiral, prepare Saratoga.”

Admiral Taylor seriously considered changing religion to non-religious.