Chapter 873 Hipper in Action

“Your Excellency, Commander, we have crossed the Kattegat, and in less than half an hour we will enter the Skagerrak, then go north and enter the British naval blockade zone between the Shetland Islands and Norway. This is the latest intelligence we have received from the submarine force, regarding the position of the auxiliary cruisers in the North Sea blockade area." The chief of staff on the side sent a telegram to Hipper.

"Mark their positions on the chart. We need to move faster. According to the telegram just sent by the Admiralty, His Royal Highness's main fleet has encountered the British, and the entire Royal Navy's combat effectiveness has been contained. It’s a very good opportunity on the UK’s southern coast,” says Hipper. "Mottke, Goeben, Seydlitz, what excellent battleships, it's a pity that they can only find the bad luck of those auxiliary cruisers for the first time. I regret it now, if I can , my flagship also wants to float on the sea for a while." Hipper said to Lieutenant Colonel Edelman, the captain of the Seydlitz next to him. The latter is not on his flagship now. Although his suggestions were recognized by Hipper and endorsed by the prince, there are some things that are better not to be spread. Therefore, there are some things that Hipper I will speak to Lieutenant Colonel Edelman alone. "According to intelligence reality, there are currently about 24 auxiliary cruisers patrolling this area, and there may be armored cruisers. Since we concealed several British auxiliary cruisers through camouflaged cruisers and submarines, the British So we have increased our efforts, so we may have a big harvest this time." "Your fleet is arranged in the d5 area closest to Norway. After killing the mission target, you can choose a relatively hidden area. Standby in the sea area, you do not need to participate in hunting in other areas. This is a new key, through which you can contact the submarines patrolling in this sea area, and then obtain intelligence and help. We have a camouflaged supply ship in Norway , he can provide your warship with 2,500 tons of heavy oil and 1,200 tons of other supplies. You can choose to accept the supplies or refuse." "There will be no problems at home, our boss has agreed to support our operations Endorsement, now I just hope that you and your battleship can return with full glory! Of course, before you decide to stay, His Royal Highness will tell us the results of this fleet battle, especially the damage to the opponent's fast battleship, you can decide to take Act or give up, it doesn’t matter if you give up,” Hipper said. "Are you giving up? If you really give up, I will regret it for the rest of my life. The favorable opportunity created by the entire fleet was wasted because of my cowardice. It is really an unforgivable mistake!" Ed Lieutenant Colonel Mann said with a smile. Compared with the fact that the prince had to deal with three or even four waves of British warships, and maybe even have a face-to-face encounter with the large fleet, Hipper felt that his operation was almost an autumn hunt. The Grand Fleet has already moved south, and it is impossible for them to go north to cause trouble for themselves today. Neither the speed nor the fuel can support the British in doing so, and their strongest enemy is nothing but old-fashioned armored cruisers. Then there are the auxiliary cruisers that can be dealt with with a few shots. That is to say, Lieutenant Colonel Edman's task is a bit challenging. If he was not the fleet commander, Hipper would want to challenge himself. Although the task was relatively easy, Hipper still tried his best to do it well. In the last period before entering the battlefield, he reassigned the tasks. Each action group was separated. Generally, destroyers do not participate in direct attacks. They will provide reconnaissance intelligence, and the light cruisers will also operate separately in order to hunt the opponent in the largest possible area. This is the biggest change in the original plan, because in the previous plan, in order to prevent possible encounters with the opponent's armored cruisers,

Light cruisers were required to operate together with battle cruisers.

But now, the Germans have discovered that the British cruisers seem to have a relatively small and fixed range of activities. Basically, they can be seen when they get to the place... Therefore, in order to improve hunting efficiency, the light cruiser was pulled out separately. After all, a water-resistant light cruiser is still enough to defeat an ordinary auxiliary cruiser. As for the armored cruiser? I can't beat you, but I can't outrun you? At this time, Hipper's fleet consisted of three parts, the five battleships of the battlecruiser squadron, Moltke, Goeben, Seydlitz, Von der Tann and Blücher. Although the latter two battleships have been in service for a little longer, they are well maintained (well, on the other hand, the intensity of use is indeed not as good as that of the British battlecruisers of the same period), so the top speed can reach more than 27.5 knots! The attached Fourth Light Cruiser Division, these light cruisers are slower than the battle cruisers, generally 25 knots. The most elite light cruiser formation in the German Navy was naturally assigned to Prince Ruprecht. Although Hipper was also equipped with 5 light cruisers, the quality was inferior, the speed was slower, and the artillery was also inferior. Mainly equipped with 150mm artillery, it can be regarded as the first generation light cruiser after Germany entered the fearless era. The remaining force is the Thunder Strike Brigade consisting of 12 V-type and G-type Thunder Strike Ships. The German Thunder Strike Ships in World War I are a bit different. The performance of the German Thunder Strike Ships is quite miserable. For example, the G130 destroyer has a displacement of However, it is 414 tons and has a range of only 1,060 nautical miles at 17 knots. Still burning coal! The weapons are only 2 to 4 52mm cannons and 3 450mm torpedo tubes. The maximum output is only 7,000 horsepower and the speed is 28 knots. As for slightly higher ones, such as the V25 destroyer, it has a displacement of 812 tons and a speed of 1,080 nautical miles at 20 knots. The weapon has three 88mm cannons, six 500mm torpedo tubes and 24 mines. The maximum power output is 23,500 horsepower, and the speed has reached 33.5 knots! The tonnage of most German torpedo ships (destroyers) is also at this level. However, the destroyers attached to Hipper's fleet are definitely the most elite, most capable, and most combat-effective destroyers in the entire fleet. There is no way, the range of a 1,000-ton destroyer is not enough at such a long distance. Therefore, it can only be given to the highest-equipped destroyers. For example, the V116 destroyer has a displacement of 2060 tons. Although the number of guns is relatively small, only 4, they are 150mm! There are also 4 60mm torpedo tubes and 40 mines! The power output has reached 45,000 horsepower! This power is enough for a battleship! The maximum speed is 36 knots! There is a range of 2,500 nautical miles when sailing at 20 knots. (This class of destroyers was so useful that after the end of World War I, it served in the French Navy until 1936.) Such a fleet is already extremely equipped to deal with auxiliary cruisers. And Hipper's task is not to destroy a few ships, but to try to kill them all! Today is a transition, and tomorrow we will continue the main battlefield~~~! Please subscribe and reward~~~!