I Became a Captain of the British Empire

March to the Sea (3)

“Are you serious?”

“It is an order.”

frowning eyes. The officer glares at me with a rotten face.

do not do that. I’m also a sucker.

“This is nonsense! Coastal artillery, mines, and torpedo boats are spread like a spider’s web! Wouldn’t it be unreasonable to call it a battlecruiser?”

“I know. Still, it’s my job to do it.”

“How do you mean?”

“well.”

“Sir… .”

The officer, who twisted his lips violently, cleared his throat soon after.

This bastard was just trying to swear, right?

“Commander, please be careful with what you say. Aren’t you in front of the head of the flyer?”

The chief warden, who had been listening to our conversation, interjected quietly.

The officer immediately lowered his head.

“sorry. Commander, do you have any plans in mind?”

“uh… for now.”

brutal silence. Continuing the conversation after worrying.

“I have to think about it now.”

When I saw the officer’s field of vision fluctuating like a boiling kettle, I realized that humans can make a variety of facial expressions.

* * *

“So we would like to have a meeting.”

chilly night.

He spoke in an impatient voice. After a moment of silence, an answer was heard over the receiver.

“Excuse me, but by any chance, when did you receive the order… .”

“It is this morning. It was professionally written.”

Tiger’s captain, Bedford, who received the words over the receiver, sighed deeply without answering for a moment. I also bit my lip and stamped my feet.

Both this side and that side are difficult.

“As expected. It’s my personal opinion, but it seems that the higher up expects more after receiving a report on the criminal record of our leaflet.”

“I really think so. To be honest, I want to refuse… .”

“It will be difficult. It is true that political propaganda is needed first, and then entering the Gulf of Mexico is also the best course of action.”

That’s right. Destruction of trade is a strategy that can force damage even with inferior forces, but its limitations are clear as well.

As of now, the US mainland is still alive and well as long as the transport ships are caught. The number of enemy capital ships increases day by day, and the cost of electricity reverses someday, until then, the domestic economy of the United States will survive. In the end, you need a definite effect… .

“Do you have any other alternatives in mind?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t find a better way. As long as it is not disrupting sea routes in the open sea like now.”

“All right. Then, once we finish the meeting here, we will contact you again.”

“great. Oh, and… .”

Captain Bedford seemed to have something to say. I stopped the hand that was about to put the receiver down and listened.

“Now you don’t have to use honorifics. Aren’t you my boss?”

It was a friendly voice. Suddenly, a laugh came out.

Clearly, I’m above him in terms of rank. But below the age or jockey. It must have been difficult to get close to him since he was also a person with a bad reputation… .

“I will try. Communication terminated.”

Thank you for the small consideration and replied like that. After putting the receiver down, I immediately looked at Kirk, who was waiting.

“Leave the duty to the manager and go to the conference room.”

walked straight ahead.

This is an urgent matter and must be dealt with quickly.

When I opened the door to the conference room and entered, the waiting officers all stood up and saluted.

“rest. Proceed right away.”

urgent urgently He quickly sat down in the seat of honor and looked around at the audience.

“First of all, it seems that the operation should proceed as it is. As long as the fleet battle is difficult, it seems that at least these political effects should be properly maintained.”

Shadows spread all over the face. expected reaction. The story continued as it was before objection came out.

“Well, even if the circumstances of the superiors are like this, we are soldiers. When an assignment is given, you must follow it.”

Uncomfortable eyes are reflected here and there along with sighs. I’d be very reluctant, too. Even I am not positive. That’s why you need to put more effort into the operation.

“First, let’s examine the obstacles in passing through the strait.”

After clearing his throat and winking, the navigator unfolds the chart on the desk.

“First of all, the route we will pass is here, from the southern Bahamas to the Cuban coast.”

The Florida Peninsula stretches to the south. On the right coast, numerous islands are lined up.

First of all, the Bahamas was originally our British territory. Unfortunately, however, it had long since been occupied by the US Marine Corps, who had made a surprise landing at the beginning of the war.

Fortunately, the number of occupying forces is not large.

“According to the information of the intelligence department, it is said that coastal guns and searchlights have been increased on the Bahamian coast. We must not let our guard down.”

Those were the words of the operative.

Well, seeing us roaming around in the South, we can’t stand still.

“Fortunately, we know all the sea routes there, so there is no problem with navigation. As long as the enemy doesn’t get caught.”

“Then, let’s stick to that coast as much as possible. Wouldn’t they be able to guard the entire outside of the island?”

“Yes, the approximate locations where shore guns were observed are indicated here.”

I followed the officer’s finger and checked the chart. Each protruding shore has a battery mark drawn on it. I got a lot of it, damn it.

Still, if I go in at night, I think it will work somehow.

“Okay, the problem comes next.”

He nodded and spoke. I reached out to the chart and pointed to the waters south of Miami. All attention was focused on the small strait.

“We have to pass through this strait less than 200km wide.”

A buzz spread throughout the room. Most of them sound bad. Soon after, the officer shook his head vigorously.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s impossible! Why don’t we turn around Dominica and enter the Caribbean Sea?”

“The desired effect from the top is to send a message that we can block Cuba’s trade routes.”

Of course, the Caribbean is also a good place. It is the front yard of the United States, and it is a key point that can block the transportation route from South America. However, the direction we are aiming for in our mission is a little different.

“Damn, that’s complicated.”

The officer sighed and shook his head.

My feelings are exactly like that. I held my breath and closed my eyes. The frustration does not go away. How can I get through this strait?

“First, let’s list the expected threats.”

“Coastal artillery, mines, submarines, torpedo boats, aircraft, and… .”

it’s just everything

“Cannons, bombs, and torpedoes can be considered everything that runs. navigating officer. Can you cover all of the strait before dawn?”

“Well, it’s not impossible if you run at full speed… .”

The navigator, who was speechless, continued with a confused face.

“The delay in the engagement is a problem. If you get caught, you won’t be able to get over it easily.”

“In the end, engagement is the problem.”

The gunnery commander, who had been quietly listening to the story, opened his mouth with his arms crossed. When the eyes of the crowd gathered, he turned his head to me. He nodded his head in order to continue.

“yes. Fortunately, at least there are no battleships that are effective against the opponent.”

“No battleships? Aren’t there two battleships that entered Fort Myers last night?”

“The battle power of our Repulse is enough to deal with old-fashioned 12-inch gun battleships. It’s also slow, so it’s safe to say that it’s practically out of power.”

Saying that, the gunnery chief put the photo handed over from the ally’s intelligence box on the desk in the conference room.

Black and white photos of not very good quality. In the middle, you can see a plump battleship with a raised forecastle deck. Probably a Florida-class battleship.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Pointing to the battleship in the photo, the gunnery commander continued.

“The expected firepower of the enemy is 5 12-inch cannons, a total of 10 guns. Its armor is no better than our Repulse, and its speed is 21 knots.”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Performance of a typical old dreadnought battleship. A Repulse with a 15-inch gun and a high speed of 30 knots could disable that battleship at any range. Maybe it’s someone you don’t have to worry about.

however… .

“Chief of the flyer, we can deal with it with the firepower of our flyer. So, how about a forced breakthrough during the week?”

“That’s unreasonable.”

There is one problem.

Sure enough, the gunnery commander raised his voice with excitement.

“Chairman! The firepower of this ship is… .”

“An anti-ship battle is not the problem, gunnery.”

He raised his finger, restrained him, and answered.

Naval warfare is not simply conducted with battleships.

“The problem is the aircraft.”

gaze is different. chilly silence. gazes that did not understand.

Eventually, the officer opened his mouth with a puzzled face.

“But we’ve never been damaged by an aircraft before, have we?”

“For an aircraft carrier, yes.”

That’s not wrong. Repulse has never been in danger from any air raid.

“But what if ground-launched aircraft come along?”

The two are distinctly different beings. An aircraft carrier is basically a ship that floats on the sea. No matter how large an aircraft carrier is, space is limited compared to the ground. Because of this, the size and number of aircraft mounted are also one step behind those on the ground.

Ground aerodromes have no such restrictions.

“Unlike aircraft carriers, they don’t have a limit on their number. The runway is long and wide, so the number of sorties is much higher. Even if we can withstand all these endless air strikes, we will have no choice but to accept the loss. Do you think it would be possible to deal with even a battleship in that situation?”

When he finished speaking, the gunnery commander also fell silent as if at a loss for words. Uncomfortable moans came from all directions.

Anyway, they are also the crew of the battleship.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know that the steel fort they rode in was only pushed back by flying flies. But facts are facts.

“Starboard lookout report!”

At that time, a sailor broke through the conference room door and shouted.

“Enemy reconnaissance aircraft found in the direction of 070! Distance 8,000! A friendly interceptor is currently pursuing!”

“Have you all seen it? If you stay still, you will be constantly pursued.”

I immediately got up from my chair. It seems that there is not much time to sit still.

“Go up to the bridge. I have to go north at once.”

“Are you going out to sea?”

the navigator asked. But I had no intention of running away.

“I’ll turn right before the sun goes down. It goes south along the coast of the Bahamas and then makes a forcible break through to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Hopefully the enemy scouts may misreport our course. For now, it’s best to expect such a fluke.

“May God bless us.”

There was not much to say at the gunnery commander’s words, which seemed resigned.

* * *

The sky dyed pitch black. Can’t even see an inch ahead.

Surrounded by darkness, this place was clearly the sea. The sound of the lapping waves proved it. However, the four sides cannot see an inch ahead.

“Entered the battle at Akates, there is nothing wrong with the front.”

I nodded to the communications officer and looked through the bridge window. The wake of a destroyer was engraved on the rolling water.

The destroyer stuttering right in front of us is our only beacon.

“Navigation ground, route?”

“No problem yet.”

“Okay, no risk of stranding.”

“As long as you don’t rush to port, you’re fine. but… .”

The navigator looks to the left with anxious eyes.

Knowing the meaning, I couldn’t hide my sigh.

This is the Cuban coast. The coast is less than 100 km from Havana.

“Are you really going to be okay?”

“You’ve been doing well so far. It will be fine.”

Yeah, there were no big problems in Havana either.

It’s a town where there aren’t that many troops in the first place… .

Anyway, there was a risk of mines, so it was dangerous to go outside than this.

“After coming this far, it’s a pity that the Furious are gone.”

“At that time, I was very anxious, so there was nothing I could do about it.”

Furious has now broken off the group with two destroyers.

A situation where they decided to go around the Caribbean and join Jamaica. Once you have safely entered the Gulf of Mexico, you will be able to meet them by heading south.

“Let’s worry about our own business.”

“It would be nice if the Cuban kids would just turn a blind eye… . sh*t, what does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do at a time like this?”

That’s what I want to say. But, well, the Yankees aren’t going to follow all the way to the coast of another country. … maybe?

“By the way, can I go in here openly?”

“what?”

“Isn’t this definitely Cuba’s territorial waters?”

“don’t worry. It’s okay if you don’t get caught.”

While going up to the bridge, I calmly talked to the officer, who was constantly turning his head like a nocturnal animal.

That’s right, it’s not a crime as long as you don’t get caught… .

pop-

“Woohyun, watch!”

“what?!”

“Report the situation!”

“Observe enemy flares!”

It means that if you get caught, you will be f*cked.