I Became a Captain of the British Empire

March to the Sea (1)

Canvas wings flashed in the air. The fuselage brushed the clouds like the wind and slowly lowered its altitude. The blue horizon dyed my eyes. Soon, fire broke out from all sides.

Attack Group 28 from the Royal Navy’s Task Force H carriers, Courageous and Glorious, was advancing toward the US Navy lines at the highest possible speed. In the sky where the giants exchanged shells, they crossed the sky without difficulty.

Bullet marks from anti-aircraft guns swirled between the formations, and the interceptor that came out to meet them engaged in a desperate dogfight with the escort. The canvas wings were torn to shreds and embroidered the blue sky. Still, the attackers advanced. With blunt bodies carrying bombs and torpedoes, respectively. As if giving up on life.

The 10 torpedo bombers were divided into two groups of five each, targeting the US Navy South Dakota-class lead ship ahead. One went in front of the enemy ship’s head, and the other went straight to the side of the enemy ship.

A classic cruciform stroke. However, the US Navy is not going to sit back and suffer. Heavy anti-aircraft fire blocked the formation’s front.

What they faced was not the previous 5-inch anti-aircraft guns or 0.30-inch Browning machine guns. It was a new weapon, faster than anti-aircraft guns and more powerful than machine guns.

A medium-caliber machine gun with four barrels swiftly turned the turret and fired fire in turn. In an instant, the torpedo bomber that was leading was engulfed in flames. The squadrons that followed were also busy scattering in confusion at the shells pouring down like a heavy rain.

It was a splendid debut ceremony for the 1.1-inch Mark 1, ‘Chicago Piano’.

* * *

“Red flag, going down with flames! 3 shootdowns so far!”

The sailing bridge of the Atlantic Fleet flagship ‘Montana’, which has been out at sea for the first time in a long time.

Amidst the busy pace, Admiral Taylor calmly folded his arms and raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.

“The new anti-aircraft guns do a good job.”

“Yes, it feels like the stopping power is much increased because of the large caliber.”

Admiral Daniel, commander of the 6th Battleship Squadron, nodded. Outside the window, where tracer bullets were flying, the conversation between the two was really going on.

The majority of the aircraft abandoned their torpedoes and ran away due to the fire pouring out of the expected range. Of course, there is no way that a torpedo thrown from a long distance would hit.

The two continued their conversation as they balanced on the Montana’s bridge, which turned leisurely.

“You said you could neutralize an enemy plane with a single blow. It has a rate of fire of up to 150 rounds per minute… That’s a really good performance. This should be enough to protect the ship from aircraft.”

“Even if it takes a little time, I think I did a good job putting it on and coming out.”

Watching the trail of torpedoes passing over the bow in vain, Admiral Taylor smiled slightly.

Of course, the Royal Navy’s raids did not end with torpedo bombers.

Eight bombers armed with 250 kg bombs entered the descent course.

They reached the skies over Montana without receiving a single anti-aircraft fire.

“Enemy bombers are constantly approaching this ship! Distance 3,000!”

“do not care. Anti-aircraft artillery to keep the torpedo squad in check.”

Admiral Taylor waved his hand and ordered. He didn’t even seem to care about the high-altitude formations.

“Admiral, are you all right?”

“Don’t worry. Why would we bring Saratoga?”

There was a way to welcome them.

The admiral said with a smile. As promised, the sound of propellers came from overhead.

The eyes of the watchmen who looked at the sky with anxious eyes.

A barrage of tracer bullets rained down on the top of the bomber that was just entering the descent course. The fuselage that turned into a ball of fire crashed, scattering debris like sleet.

Eventually, fighter formations pass through the formation like hummingbirds. With their sharp bodies flashing and casting shadows under the sun, they sharply raised their noses and chased the rear of the descending bombers. Gunfire filled the sky, sparks flashed.

Looking at the splendid fireworks display in broad daylight, the guards could only admire with their mouths wide open. Then they saw something flashing on the horizon and shouted through their binoculars.

“Enemy ships fire again!”

Beyond Montana’s bridge windows, another flash flashed on the horizon. Rodney was the only battleship to fire in a long range of close to 30,000, but her 16-inch salvo alone repainted a corner of the horizon with graphite.

The bridge became busy again.

Officers shouting loudly in full glory with phlegmatic voices, sailors running out of breath, watchmen rubbing their trembling hands while looking at the sky with anxious eyes… .

Among the faces of each of the 1,600 members of the crew, only one, Admiral Taylor, stood with his hands back with a relaxed face.

“Admiral, please don’t be too relaxed.”

Squadron commander Daniel came up behind him and said. The admiral, who had been standing silently even while the floor was shaking from the shock of the impact, slightly turned his head and met his eyes. Daniel continued to speak.

“The opponent is that Nelson class.”

“I know, Daniel. But look at the street. Will there be hit bullets at long distances of more than 30,000?”

“But the battlefield is unknown.”

And, as if to prove his words, the communication officer’s report immediately passed between the two.

“Admiral! Specialty in Saratoga!”

“what’s the matter?”

The two of them turned their heads without saying who was first. Could it be that there are battlecruisers around here?

The pair of eyes were all locked in anxiety.

“I am attacked by an enemy raid! No deck use!”

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like the second coming of the last fleet battle. Should I breathe a sigh of relief?

Admiral Taylor let out a secret sigh, seized by a bland sensation.

“You mean it was a diversion operation? How is Saratoga?”

“It does not appear to have sunk.”

“Admiral, if the deck was damaged, the air operation… .”

The air chief blurting out his words.

The admiral nodded.

“But we didn’t sit still.”

Admiral Taylor catches his breath.

Blue eyes stared at the white clouds. A report came in shortly after.

“Specialized in raids! 3 hits to 1 enemy carrier! Fire check on deck!”

Report of the Saratoga Air Corps.

It was the potential of a large carrier capable of simultaneously deploying a CAP aircraft and 30 raid groups with just one ship. The admiral raised an eyebrow.

“You knocked out at least one ship. With this, the double score of the aircraft carrier force has been prevented.”

“Their raids have also suffered damage, so it would be impossible to engage more than this.”

“Yes, the battle will be over soon.”

Shortly thereafter, a column of water rose near Montana. It was Rodney’s Japanese service. A light shock echoed like an echo.

“Report the damage!”

“No bullets!”

“The 16th bullet, firing!”

The roar of the counterattack echoed through the ceiling. The admiral bit his nails and looked out the window. Smoke colored the white sky.

“Enemy fleet, retreat! Lost contact!”

At the watchman’s report, he looked at the horizon shimmering through the smoke. The thick smoke was slowly dissipating.

“Shall we pursue?”

“No, don’t you know I won’t be able to catch up anyway?”

Boldly rejecting the chief of staff’s offer, he folded his arms and inhaled.

“I don’t see any more. return to the home port.”

* * *

The sea 30 nautical miles from the rear, the US aircraft carrier Saratoga.

“Hurry to put out the fire! Don’t save ammo, throw it away! If the aircraft is burning, just throw it away!”

Saratoga’s battleship, acrid smoke pouring into the bridge. Sailors busily dumped everything on deck into the sea. A thick flame was still burning in the dark hole.

“It looks like I will have to live in the dock for two weeks.”

The captain looked around the deck from the bridge and said with a wrinkled face. Marshall agreed with hard eyes.

“Damn, I’ll just get back on good terms with Lexington.”

Tightly, I closed my eyes and grabbed the bridge railing.

It was Saratoga, which ran without even delaying repairs at the urgent call of the main fleet.

But what is it? Have you fallen victim to outdated management methods again? A battleship with strong defense should be the shield of the carrier, and the carrier should not be the shield of the battleship.

However, most battleship officers still thought of carriers only as tools for reconnaissance and fleet air defense.

Or see it as a handy consumable that will give you a no-frills shot in a fleet showdown.

Thanks to this, Saratoga was also hit by a bomb from an enemy raider who maneuvered around, not far from the battleship row. The two bombs that landed on the deck inflicted wounds that could not be healed without going to the dock.

A hole was pierced at the same time as the arrival and departure line.

Marshall grabbed his throbbing brow.

“I’d rather have been in the Pacific Fleet… . Like fools.”

Do you know that it is spring only after the flowers have withered?

At least in the Pacific there was freedom of maneuver. It was a thousand times better than the Atlantic, which was limited to the role of Shidabari.

At least one of the enemy aircraft carriers was hit, but from the beginning it was a 1v2 situation.

Even the UK has three more modified aircraft carriers in its home country. It’s a business that doesn’t fit the balance.

“Admiral, Admiral!”

As the Marshall bit his lip and endured the quarters, a contemplative communications officer climbed onto the upper bridge. He didn’t even have time to catch his breath, and he went straight to Marshall.

“Urgent message from Navy Headquarters!”

“what? At headquarters?”

head tilted But the communications officer’s expression was urgent, so Marshall quickly took the cable and read it. The face, which blinked curiously, gradually distorted as it went down.

“This, this… !”

The hand holding the professional twitched like an aspen tree. The staff approached him with a worried face.

“Admiral! What are you doing?”

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Perhaps it was because the combat patrol plane had passed by, a strong sea breeze blew overhead. A creepy aura stained the bridge. Before long, a devastated voice flowed from the admiral’s mouth.

“In Norfolk… An air raid has been launched.”

* * *

The sound of biplanes echoes through the sky.

A bomber jumped off the deck of the Furious and passed by Repulse’s bridge. Leaving behind the sailors waving their sailboats, they flew away waving their canvas wings.

This is the sea about 500 km southeast of Norfolk Port.

After resupplying in Bermuda, our flyer went south and hunted convoys passing through the southern United States.

“What a bonanza, bona fide! Isn’t this the tenth ship already?”

“not there yet. I have to catch 20 or 50.”

He spoke quietly to the excitedly shouting operative with binoculars in his hand.

I tried to stay calm, but somehow the corners of my mouth twitched. Seeing the unsightly sinking transport ship about 8 miles to starboard makes me even more sadistic.

Five ships today alone.

The opposing convoys had little or no escort.

Truly a defenseless target. The number of merchant ships that escaped did not exceed five fingers, even though the procedures of warning fire, inspection, capture, and sinking were faithfully followed.

“At this rate, we could dry the seeds of their convoy within a week!”

“Overconfidence is forbidden. There is also a submarine, so let’s not be vigilant anytime.”

Well, it was our flyer that didn’t bother me even if I said this.

That’s because they won’t be able to stop them either.

The US Navy seemed to think we were going to engage in a fleet showdown. As a result, all available aircraft carriers moved north, and the coast stretching south of Bermuda became Mujugongsan without any cover from capital ships.

Therefore, there was nothing nearby to stop the battlecruisers and aircraft carriers from maneuvering.

Suddenly, I looked up at the distant sky in the north. Hundreds of miles away, the Royal Navy’s capital ships are still running hard. To ensure that their hard work does not go unnoticed, the greatest achievements should be made here.

“I’m glad Admiral Pound held the enemy so well.”

“That’s right. Anyway, it seems to have survived well without us. It feels like things are working out for the first time in a long time.”

“What kind of expression will they make when they see leaflets flying in Norfolk Harbor? .”

“I want to see that face too, but I really miss it.”

Air raids were carried out countless times, but none of them were bombed. All of them are non-destructive operations such as leaflet distribution. In the first place, the Furious ammunition magazine is not that generous.

The early-morning surprise leaflet throwing against Norfolk was also successfully carried out… . After all, there is probably no place on the southern coast that has not been blown by the British Declaration of Condemnation.

“Where is your next destination?”

A navigator came up from the chart room and asked.

A tired face with a tired voice. It is the repulse flyer that has digested countless complex maneuvers over the past week.

Because of that, the captain had an expression that had reached the level of liberation.

“Well, if you go down here, what will you find?”

“I would like to return to Bermuda if possible.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the case, Captain.”

A groaning sound could be heard from the tear-stained face.

no, what I’m only half way there now.

As I put my finger on the chart, a name caught my eye.

“There is one suitable place.”

A major city, port city, and famous tourist city in the southeastern United States.

“Same way. We are going to Miami.”

There is a place to stop by using this as a starting point.

A heavy wave was broken by a sharp bow.