I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Declaration of war

March 5, 1930 British Atlantic Fleet, Battlecruiser Squadron Yohamm Repulse

It is a sunny morning. Unlike usual when gloomy clouds or wind filled the sky, today the sun was exceptionally bright. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a sky like this, thought Repulse’s second-in-command, Samuel Andrew.

“All rear personnel deployed.”

“good.”

Receiving reports from his subordinates, holding binoculars in his hands, he quietly gazed at the clear sea through the window of the command tower. It’s a quiet sea where you can enjoy fishing at leisure, but now dozens of warships are teeming in front of him.

“Is it really a war… .”

Andrew’s face was gloomy, as if he had absorbed all the dark clouds of the North Sea. I knew, of course, that there would be a war. However, I hoped that I would have time for a week, at least three days.

“Michael. Have you seen the captain today?”

“yes? no. doesn’t exist.”

Tsk, he unknowingly clicked his tongue and shook his head after belatedly recognizing his mistake.

“No, sorry. Never mind.”

Ignoring the subordinates who were staring at me with bewildered eyes, I looked up in the direction of the battle bridge where the captain was standing. Nothing could be seen from the command tower, which was surrounded on all sides by armor plates. I just predicted that there would be a captain up there.

Was the advice too late? Reflecting on his belated regret, Andrew took his binoculars.

“I entered the battle at Renown. Maintain fleet speed at 20 knots. Turning south-southwest.”

I heard the voice of the communications officer. How many times have you changed this already? I took my eyes off the binoculars and shouted at the helmsman behind me.

“Changing course. 15 degrees to the right of the key!”

“Fifteen degrees to the right!”

After a while, the round steering wheel turned lightly, and the magnificent hull broke through the waves and moved. Holding on to the handrail, I looked out the window at the vast expanse of the sea.

Repulse’s sailing bridge is about 10m high. Looking at the sea from a place no bigger than the roof of an apartment building, the view is definitely different. Dozens of battleships extending to the distant horizon were adorning the sea.

“Major.”

“I never thought that the entire Atlantic Fleet would depart. Do you seriously intend to go to war?”

The navigator standing next to him looked at Rinaun ahead and said. Rather than trembling, it was a tone of regret. Are you confident enough in your skills?

“Well, I don’t know what the superiors think, but we are soldiers. I have to do my job.”

“Yes, of course. but… .”

He murmured at the end of his words and opened his mouth as if soaked in emotion as he gazed at the distant horizon.

“Seeing a large fleet like this makes me excited too.”

When I saw him confessing shyly, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Well, as a naval officer, it’s strange if you don’t feel overwhelmed by the sight of such a huge fleet. The appearance of giant ships with a displacement of tens of thousands of tons advancing in a row all at once is a sight that can only be seen in this era. In his heart, he was sympathetic enough.

“Just don’t let your subordinates know. An officer must always keep his cool.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

I put my binoculars on my eyes again and looked at the navigator concentrating on the mission, then turned my head to the bridge. Certainly, no one seemed to be nervous. I don’t know if I burn my fighting spirit. Maybe I’m the only one worried.

“Captain, what about the boiler?”

He approached the Jeonseonggwan next to the communications center and said. Soon after, an answer flowed from the large coffin.

“No problem!”

“Okay, do you think it will be possible to accelerate to full speed?”

“Yes, the pressure is adequate and I don’t see any abnormalities.”

“Okay, keep working hard.”

good night. No problem. I sighed and came out to the window.

“Captain.”

“Why but Smith?”

As I was about to put my eyes on the binoculars again, the Chief Warrant came next to me.

“Wait a minute… .”

What are you trying to say? As I turned my head, he said in a low voice.

“Don’t fret too much. My subordinates are agitated.”

Making eye contact, he immediately lowered his head and spoke.

“Aren’t you too tired? I am a little worried.”

“is it? pay attention I will trust you more.”

I understand what you mean. I quietly blinked my eyes.

I watched the chief lieutenant quietly return to his position. He’s a seasoned soldier. There will be a lot of help in the future. Certainly, his words make sense.

Have you been too fussy? I was the one who said officers should keep their cool. I’m so ashamed. However, I couldn’t shake my nervousness.

“Operation officer.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“How far is Furious from you?”

“About 320 nautical miles left from the current point. We will rendezvous in about 15 hours.”

The operative, who seemed to follow the image of a smart naval officer, checked his watch and said. 15 hours is too long.

“I hope nothing happens on the way there.”

“yes? Could the enemy come this far? I haven’t even declared war yet… .”

The officer with an absurd face shook his head and said, “It is nonsense.”

“Moreover, it is still not near our territorial waters. What fearless bastard would send a fleet this far?”

“Have you thought of this scenario, Major?”

He raised his finger in front of his eyes, which seemed to be absurd and even laughed. Right after that, he laid down his right hand with his index finger raised and placed it under the palm of his left hand.

“A small elite mobile fleet maintaining extreme radio silence, ambushing near a hypothetical enemy fleet and launching an attack immediately after a declaration of war.”

Let’s say the index finger on the right hand is the Ambush Fleet, and the left hand is our Atlantic Fleet. One finger hides beneath the surface and strikes the fleet. It’s not a huge blow, but two or three attacks like this can no longer be ignored.

“That’s a story like a novel.”

“yes? I see that too.”

Of course it’s not easy. This side isn’t stupid, isn’t there any reason for the opponent to move as intended? Tracking a fleet maneuvering in the open ocean is no easy feat.

but…

“Sometimes reality is more like fiction.”

I am worried because there is a precedent.

It was a clear sky without a single cloud, but the sea of the North Sea did not stop the rough dragon trimming. On the surface of the waves, no impurities could keep their place.

Except for one, the black periscope looking out over the water silently…

“Battleship 5… No, it’s 7 ships. 4 cruisers and 30 destroyers. Damn it, that’s a lot of filth.”

With his eyes on the periscope scope, Major Simon muttered in a phlegmatic voice.

This is all he can see through the periscope, but there must be countless escort ships lined up beyond his field of vision.

“Torpedoes are ready. You can fire anytime!”

At the report of the armed officer, he raised his mouth and said.

“wait. Report first. It’s a coveted prey, but you need to know how to hunt it leisurely.”

It’s still too early to throw a party.

Simon, whose mouth was closed, turned and shouted at the helmsman.

“After surfacing in the communications area, we rendezvous with the supply ship. 25 degrees to the left of the key!”

“yes! 25 degrees to the left of the key!”

When the steering wheel moved lightly, a long, narrow steel pipe moved through the water. Satisfied with the quick movement, the major whispered as he looked at the last line of the Grand Fleet before the periscope lowered.

“It’s really buggy. Damn you guys.”

There was a mix of swearing in his words, but inside he seemed excited.

More ships mean more targets.

Thirty minutes later, the Atlantic Fleet flagship ‘Nelson’

The warm sunlight was covered by clouds and shadows began to cast on the sea. On Nelson’s bridge advancing while breaking the cold waves, Admiral Hozzers quietly looked out the window.

Since leaving Scaper Flow in unison early in the morning, his fleet has been cruising without any problems. A few suspicious fishing boats or some merchant ships approached, but they all passed without much trouble, and after frequent changes, not a single one of them was seen.

“What about the reconnaissance plane report?”

“There are no reports. They say there are no ships in the vicinity.”

The correspondent’s report was hopeful. That means no enemy ships are near the fleet. But for some reason, he could hardly be relieved.

It wasn’t a question of tactics. It was a worry about the future from a bigger perspective. Looking at the waves crashing against the boat and revealing white teeth, the admiral recalled the news he had heard closely from the upper level.

Final negotiations broke down. The United States will probably declare war at midnight today, and as soon as its deployment is complete, the United States will have to go to Halifax to engage the US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet in a decisive battle.

The admiral was silent. He also hoped that the work would be over with a simple demonstration of force, but the decision of the political world brutally trampled on such a wish. Perhaps the operation has already begun on the Canadian border.

About 5 hours have passed since the current departure, so the story will be heard soon.

Will a miraculous compromise request come from a very small percentage of possibilities, or will the terrible war break out again?

It was the admiral who begged the former to win.

Same time, ‘Repulse’

“What is that?”

I gazed intently at the merchant ship caught in the middle of my binoculars. After that, I took my eyes off and looked at the horizon with my bare face. Looking through the binoculars again, they are still standing there.

Something is strange.

“Is there a merchant ship in a place like this?”

This is the route coming in from the outskirts of Ireland. If it is a merchant ship passing through the English Channel, there is no reason to come this way. suspicious Something stinky smells.

“navigating officer! Are there any routes for merchant ships in this area?

The navigator, who took his eyes off his binoculars and raised his head, answered right away.

“It’s not that I don’t have it, but I don’t use it very much.”

I knew it. There’s no reason to leave the short road and go back here. It may be a ship that has gone astray, or a ship heading to the northern port…

“You said it was an unlisted ship?”

“Yes, it’s not on any shipping company’s schedule.”

“As expected, it’s suspicious.”

If it is a Korean merchant ship, there is no reason to hide its route. Then there is only one thing I can guess. It will be a U.S. Navy tailing vessel.

“Send the message to Renown. Unidentified vessel found. They ask for an inspection.”

“yes!”

The message was quickly entered and sent to Rinaun. But there was one thing that still bothered me. It was too far away to be a mere tailing vessel. To the extent that we wouldn’t have met if this side hadn’t changed course.

“Is it really tailing… ?”

Something… I had a very bad feeling.

Fifteen minutes later, Fleet Flagship, Nelson

Time passed like an eternity. In the meantime, the admiral was sitting on a cushion of thorns, resting his mind on his binoculars.

I was delusional that even a small incident would happen.

“Enter the battle at headquarters!”

The admiral’s heart sank at the communication that seemed to cut off his thoughts.

“contents is?”

The communication officer who hastily received the telegram hurriedly held the paper straight. At the same time, everyone on Nelson’s bridge listened to his voice.

“The United States begins a declaration of war. The fleet will immediately rejoin the Furious in Devonport and proceed to Halifax.”

It was the moment when the thin ice parted. The chilly air engulfed the bridge. A depressing atmosphere flowed among the officers. Admiral Hozzers cleared his throat and drew attention.

“Gentlemen, the war has begun. Make sure everyone is well prepared.”

It’s already happened. If that’s the case, just throw away your useless thoughts and start taking action. he said in a firm voice.

“From now on, we declare a state of war! Let each ship know that it is in wartime and pay more attention to your surroundings!”

Countless salutes followed. Watching the officers move in perfect order, the admiral was able to put his mind at ease.

“Entrance in Rinaun!”

Due to his sensitive nerves, the admiral frowned as he looked at the communications officer. Fortunately, the correspondent, tired of the reports pouring in a little while ago, read the full text without a chance to react to such gaze.

“Repulse found an enemy submarine that surfaced near an unidentified merchant vessel! Request permission to engage!”

“what?”

As if he had been stabbed in the back of the head, the admiral opened his eyes.

submarine? A submarine supply ship near here?

That means…

“Entire fleet, prepare for anti-submarine warfare!”

There is a very good chance that there is a submarine here. Maybe they are being tracked right now.

… No, it’s not too late. Rather, I’m glad I found it now. Having calmed down, the admiral was able to calmly issue orders.

“Entire fleet on anti-submarine alert! Make sure there are no periscopes around… .”

“port! Approaching torpedoes!”

Until I heard the watchman’s report that was close to screaming.