Chapter 1076 Nimitz's Confidence

August 13.

Panama, United States Pacific-Atlantic Fleet Joint Command.

As more and more ships passed through the Panama Canal and entered the Caribbean Sea, the United States' intention to launch a counterattack in the Atlantic Ocean was gradually exposed. The atmosphere in the Pacific-Atlantic Fleet Joint Command in the Panama Canal Zone became increasingly tense.

Because everyone knew that the large-scale mobilization of the US Navy through the Panama Canal could not be concealed from the German Wehrmacht General Staff!

Although under Nimitz's order, the US Navy's 9th Fleet, which is based in Panama, increased its anti-submarine efforts, and the US Army stationed in Panama also provided a level of martial law.

However, the Germans' new submarines are simply hard to defend against. Not only are they difficult to detect, but even if they are discovered, they are difficult to sink. According to reports from many destroyer captains, the Germans' new submarines are very fast underwater, perhaps exceeding 18 knots. This makes it difficult for destroyers to pursue and attack with active sonar guidance - because when the speed of surface ships increases to more than 18 knots, the noise level will rise sharply, and it is difficult to effectively distinguish underwater contact (sonar contact). When the ship's speed exceeds 24 knots, the sonar dome is usually retracted to prevent damage, and the detection of underwater targets is completely terminated (in fact, it cannot be detected). In other words, once the underwater speed of the new German submarine exceeds or approaches 18 knots (the maximum designed speed is 17.2 knots), the US destroyer will basically have no way to deal with the opponent.

So although the US Navy is very clear that there are many hateful German submarines underwater near Panama, it has hardly sunk a submarine with depth charges. As a last resort, the US Navy's 9th Fleet had to lay a large number of mines and anti-submarine nets in the Panama Bay to block the reconnaissance and destruction of German submarines - the main task of the Type 21 submarine in the Panama Bay is reconnaissance, so it rarely launches torpedo attacks, but it still lays mines on the channel and sinks 2 US destroyers and several tankers.

As for catching spies in Panama, it is even more difficult.

Because Panama is a Spanish-speaking country, a Spanish colony in history, and a devout Catholic country. Now Spain itself is a member of the European Community, and the Pope who rules the Vatican is a German. The German Central Security Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau can easily send a Spanish and Catholic priest.

In addition, the United States instigated the Panamanian police to launch a coup in October 1941 (because Panama has no army but only police, so the military coup became a police coup), overthrowing the democratically elected President Arnulfo Arias Madrid (founder of the Panamanian National Revolutionary Party, taking a populist line, and pro-Nazi tendencies), and also forcibly rented 134 lands as military bases in the name of fighting the Nazis and fascists, and the lease period was unexpectedly 999 years-such a long lease period is considering that the Third Reich may really exist for a thousand years?

In this case, the Panamanian people generally disliked the United States and sympathized with the Axis Powers. This opened the door for German intelligence agencies to recruit local spies in Panama, and the US counterintelligence activities in Panama became very difficult. It was often necessary to arrest and kill respected local Panamanian politicians or Catholic priests. And every arrest and killing would further arouse the patriotism of the Panamanians. Therefore, the number of German spies in Panama (most of them were Panamanians) was increasing, and every day there were countless pairs of Panamanians with ill intentions watching the Grand Canal.

So Nimitz knew very well that his intentions could not be hidden from those German super-human military strategists who were very good at fighting. However, even if the "maritime mobile warfare" he was taking was discovered by Hersman and Raeder, they would still face a dilemma.

"Any new situation?" Nimitz asked his chief of staff, Vice Admiral Horatio, as soon as he arrived at his headquarters this morning.

"A submarine operating at the mouth of the Tocantins River discovered another German fleet leaving the port of Belem three hours ago."

"Do you know the general composition?" Nimitz asked.

"It is an amphibious assault formation." Vice Admiral Horatio replied, "There may be 4-5 Baltic-class amphibious assault ships, 10-15 dock landing ships and more than 10 destroyers and some transport ships."

Due to the existence of anti-Nazi elements in Rome, Americans now have a better understanding of the ship types of the European Community Navy, so they know the general situation of the Baltic-class amphibious assault ships.

"Five amphibious assault ships, 10-15 dock landing ships... there should be a German Marine Division, right?" Nimitz thought for a while, "Where did they go?"

"South, they went south after leaving the Tocantins River estuary." Vice Admiral Horatio said, "In addition, the Naval Operations Department also forwarded intelligence saying that four Community-class tankers and four Western Forest-class naval supply ships left the Port of Buenos Aires under the protection of destroyers last night."

The "Community" class tanker mentioned by Vice Admiral Horatio is a mass-produced version of the "fast tanker", similar to the US T2 and T3, with a deadweight tonnage of 16,000 tons and a speed of up to 21 knots (4 MAN9-cylinder diesel engines, 24,000 horsepower).

The "Western Forest" class naval supply ship is a comprehensive supply ship that existed in its original history. It has a standard displacement of 20,850 tons, three twin 150mm turrets, and four twin 40mm "Bofors" anti-aircraft guns. , 4 single-mounted 20mm "Oerlikon" anti-aircraft guns, with a maximum speed of 21 knots. This first-class naval supply ship with certain self-defense capabilities was originally developed to cooperate with the German surface breakers, and a total of 20 ships were built. Although breaking wars is no longer the main business of the German Navy (European Community Navy), these 20 "Western Forest" class naval supply ships are still active in the Atlantic battlefield and are "personal" that the main fleet of the European Community Navy cannot obtain. nanny".

"The four Community-class ships and the four Western Forest-class ships should be rendezvousing with the German aircraft carriers that previously departed from Belem Port." Nimitz immediately made a judgment.

"Have any submarines been found operating in the port of Brest and outside the Strait of Gibraltar?" Nimitz asked again.

"There is nothing unusual." Vice Admiral Horatio shook his head, "There is no sign of the EC Navy's 2nd and 3rd fleets dispatching."

There are still nine squadrons under the European Community Combined Fleet - all are headquarters fleets. However, the garrison fleet has been reduced from the original 7 to 6, which are deployed in the Pacific (9th Fleet), Indian Ocean (8th Fleet), Mediterranean (7th Fleet), Baltic Sea and North Sea (6th Fleet), and the North Atlantic ( 5th Fleet), South Atlantic (4th Fleet).

The number of main battle fleets has increased to three, namely the 1st Fleet (homeport of Belem), the 2nd Fleet (homeport of Brest) and the 3rd Fleet (homeport of Gibraltar).

The establishment of the three main battle fleets is also different. Among them, the 1st fleet uses the aircraft carrier group as the main strike force and does not have a battleship group. The 2nd and 3rd fleets were supplemented by battleships as the main aircraft carriers.

"According to intelligence, the Germans have acquired 3 'Veneto' class battleships (and 1 remains in the Roman Navy), plus 3 French 'Richelieu' class battleships, and Germany's own 2 'Bismarcks' 'class' and two 'Hindenburg' class, there are as many as 10 super battleships alone," Vice Admiral Horatio continued: "In addition, Germany's Barbarossa class (O class), Scharnhorn. The Sturt class and France's two Dunkirk class and their P-class armored ships are undergoing major modifications in the German shipyard. They have been in the shipyard for more than a year, and most of them will not be able to participate in the war. We currently have the advantage in terms of quantity and quality of battleships/battlecruisers.”

The cutting-edge battleships/battlecruisers currently available to the U.S. Navy include 4 "Iowa" class, 1 "North Carolina" class, 4 "Soviet" class and 3 "Alaska" class, a total of 12 ships . And 9 of them have terrifying 406mm caliber main guns, which are stronger than most of the new battleships of the German (European Community) Navy.

There is also information that two new European Community battleships and two P-class armored ships are being overhauled, and the United States is not at a disadvantage in terms of the number of battleships. There is still confidence in the decisive battle between the fleets!

"Now the advantage of the battleships/battlecruisers is on our side;" Nimitz said with his fingers. "In the northern battlefield of Guyana, we also have an absolute advantage in the number of shore-based aircraft; if all the German aircraft carriers that attacked from Belem arrived in Chile In Valparaiso Bay, we also have an advantage in the area of ​​aircraft carriers; as for cruisers and destroyers, we have always had an advantage.

The enemy has advantages in the quality of aircraft; the quality and quantity of ground troops; remote-controlled guided weapons; and submarines. "

"Sir, I think we can fight!" Vice Admiral Horatio said, "As long as we can confirm that the German aircraft carrier has arrived in Valparaiso Bay, Chile, we will be confident to execute the 'God of Liberty' and remove British Guiana from the Germans. Saved from his rule!"

Nimitz also nodded, he was indeed sure! 12 battleships/battlecruisers, plus dozens of aircraft carriers, plus countless cruisers, destroyers, and more than 3,000 shore-based aircraft deployed by the United States in Trinidad. As long as it is used properly, George Town (the capital of British Guiana), which is only more than 500 kilometers away from Trinidad, will undoubtedly fall into the hands of the United States!

Then the US military can use Georgetown as its forward base and further advance towards Paramaribo in Dutch Guiana and Cayenne in French Guiana!