Chapter 280 The Wind Rises in the Atlantic Ocean 5

October 10, 1939, 12 noon Greenwich time. The weather in the waters near Iceland has cleared up, but the wind and waves are still very strong, almost level 5 sea conditions, and carrier-based aircraft cannot be deployed at all - this is why the role of aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and North Sea battlefields is far less than that in the Pacific.

In addition, it is now a long night in the Arctic, and the daytime in the waters near Iceland is only 6 to 7 hours. This also greatly limits the use of air forces - of course, in the summer when the wind and waves are smaller, there will also be "polar day" weather near Iceland, which is very conducive to the activities of air forces.

"Lieutenant General, telegram from the headquarters in Wilhelmshaven, everything is normal in Reykjavik Port." Major General Leifman took the telegram from the communications staff, took a look, and then said to Lieutenant General Mashar. "Should we dock at Reykjavik as planned?"

"No, we can't take risks with the Scharnhorst and Seydlitz," said Vice Admiral Marshal, "the main force of the British Home Fleet has also left the anchorage."

The main force of the British Home Fleet is now not concentrated in Scapa Flow, but dispersed to several ports in northwest Scotland - Germany's He-111, Ju88, He-115 and Fokker Zero can actually fly over from Wilhelmshaven for air strikes, but they must fly over Scotland, and the risk of being shot down is more than ten times greater!

The German bombers could not go, but the agents of the Central Security Bureau were quickly in place. Therefore, the news that the main ships of the British Home Fleet went to sea was reported to the sailing battleship Scharnhorst in the afternoon of October 8.

"Let the 'Leipzig' show up and refuel, and then leave immediately." Vice Admiral Marshal said, "The Scharnhorst and Seydlitz have enough fuel to go around the northwest waters of Ireland, and maybe sink a few British transport ships."

In fact, the "Leipzig" light cruiser has a long endurance and can sail 6,200 nautical miles continuously at cruising speed. However, it is still meaningful to let it show up in the port of Reykjavik. On the one hand, it can attract the attention of the British and cover the "Scharnhorst" and "Seydlitz"; on the other hand, it can provide Britain with an excuse to invade Iceland - this is almost a "win-win" situation. Britain can get Iceland and the Faroe Islands, two major strongholds to cover the logistics line. Germany can take the opportunity to package Britain as a demon that destroys the peace and tranquility of Europe, and can also take the opportunity to include Denmark under "protection". At the same time, it can also conclude a "Friendly Mutual Assistance Treaty" with "protective clauses" with Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands (for example, when Britain invades any of these countries, Germany will provide protection, and the other countries will provide financial and material assistance).

"What about the Leipzig?" Rear Admiral Reifman asked, "Should we send it back?"

"No, set up a rendezvous point in the Atlantic Ocean near the equator," Marshal said, "Send a flag signal to the Leipzig."

The entire fleet is now in radio silence - because of his memories of his previous life, Hessman attaches great importance to the communication management of the troops. In the battle of the battleships breaking into the Atlantic Ocean, radio silence must be strictly enforced.

In addition, the famous Enigma telegraph was suddenly replaced by a regularly changed secret code one month before the outbreak of the war. However, the German General Staff did not give up the "Enigma Machine". Instead, after obtaining the extent of Poland's cracking of the Enigma telegraph, it would make targeted modifications and then consider restarting the Enigma machine.

…

"Admiral, a German cruiser has entered the port of Reykjavik in Iceland!"

At 5:30 pm on October 10, the British Royal Navy's battleship "Revenge" received news that the light cruiser "Leipzig" had entered the port of Reykjavik - this almost proved that the missing "Scharnhorst" and "Seydlitz" had successfully entered the Atlantic Ocean!

"They broke into the Atlantic Ocean!" Charles Forbes gritted his teeth, "This is almost inevitable!"

The weather in Iceland-Faroe Islands was not good for the past two days, and it only cleared up in the afternoon of October 10. But it was only 3 hours before dark, and there was no time to send reconnaissance planes from Scotland. The British fleet in the waters near Iceland-Faroe Islands could not send out carrier-based aircraft to search for the enemy because of the strong winds and waves at sea.

"Admiral, what should we do?" said Major General Phillips, "Are we going to wander around in the Atlantic Ocean like headless flies?"

Now the three British fleets are almost wandering around!

Not only because of the bad weather, but also because the "Scharnhorst" and "Seydlitz" were sailing too fast. Except for the "Hood" and "Ark Royal", the other British battleships could not catch up at all, and even if they found them, it would be useless.

"No," Admiral Forbes shook his head, "We can't do that... We can't go looking for them, we can only let them come up by themselves!"

"Admiral, you mean..."

"They are here to attack merchant ships!" Admiral Forbes said, "and our merchant ships can be prey or bait!"

"You want to use merchant ships as bait?" Major General Phillips reminded, "But the Germans have aircraft carriers, and they will definitely conduct reconnaissance first. If they find battleships and aircraft carriers participating in the escort, they will not rush over."

"No," Forbes shook his head, "We will not escort... The most important thing now is not the loss of merchant ships, but the capture of German battleships and aircraft carriers. Otherwise, sooner or later, our route will have big problems! Because according to intelligence, Germany People are still building more powerful battleships and aircraft carriers!”

He's right! Two "Scharnhorst" class ships and two "Sedlitz" class ships broke into the Atlantic Ocean, and the British could still cope with it. If two more "Bismarck" class ships were added, the British "HMS Hood" and the "HMS Hood" under construction The "King George V" class may not be able to withstand it. By then, the British Empire's maritime lifeline may really be cut off!

Historically, just the "Bismarck" breaking into the Atlantic Ocean caused the British Empire to break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the "Bismarck" did not have an aircraft carrier to escort it. If the Germans built the "Graf Zeppelin", how could the British "Swordfish" aircraft destroy its rudder with a torpedo?

Now, the Germans have two "Seidlitz" class aircraft carriers, as well as carrier-based aircraft that can compete with the "Spitfire"!

"We cannot allow the German surface fleet to continue to grow!" Charles Forbes said in a solemn tone, "Now there must be a decisive battle at sea... Rear Admiral, now let the convoys sailing in the North Atlantic report their positions. .

In addition, I ordered the formation of the escort fleet AB-1 (A is the first letter of Atlantic, and B stands for Britain, which means returning from the Atlantic to Britain), with heavy cruisers as the main escort. "

The Royal Navy of the British Empire is still the overlord of the oceans and does not need to use "radio silence" to hide itself. Therefore, radio waves were transmitted through the "Vengeance" radio station without any disguise.

…

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister! The German cruiser has entered the port of Reykjavik!"

Chamberlain was sitting in his office in a daze when he heard Churchill's excited voice. Then, the door to the office was pushed open, and Admiralty Churchill came in panting.

"The Germans want to occupy Iceland!" said Admiralty Churchill, "This is obvious!"

Nonsense! Chamberlain thought to himself: No one would believe Churchill's lies. Germany is so far away from Iceland, how could it possibly occupy it?

“We must send troops to save the peace-loving people of Iceland!” said Winston Churchill. “We have two fleets near Iceland, with dozens of combat ships and tens of thousands of officers and soldiers, including 2,000 Royal Navy personnel. Marine Corps officers and soldiers!”

The British Royal Marines are different from the marines of other countries. Some of them are stationed on ships in the form of detachments. When necessary, they can also disembark and fight. Although the combat effectiveness cannot be compared with the elite marines of other countries, there is no problem in occupying this Danish subsidiary country with a population of only a few hundred thousand.

In fact, as long as a heavy cruiser and a few destroyers enter the port of Reykjavik and fire a few symbolic shots, Iceland will definitely surrender.

"You can't fool anyone," Chamberlain looked at Churchill. "All Europe will regard us as invaders! Denmark, Norway, and Sweden will all fall to Germany!"

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have historically been on the same side and have always been pro-Germany. If Britain takes action against Denmark's dependencies first, not only will Denmark turn to Germany, but Norway and Sweden will also follow suit to a certain extent - they may not necessarily form an alliance with Germany immediately, but they will definitely strengthen their relations with Germany.

"Prime Minister!" Churchill said, "Don't hesitate...The German battleships and aircraft carriers have broken into the Atlantic Ocean! If we can't sink them, we must install two strong gates to the Atlantic Ocean! Iceland and France The Low Islands are such a gateway.”

"Where is the Home Fleet? What are they doing?" Chamberlain asked.

"They are preparing to set a trap for the German battleships and aircraft carriers!" Churchill said, "Admiral Forbes has ordered the merchant ships sailing in the North Atlantic to form a super escort fleet AB-1. AB-1 will be a huge bait. ! However, the AB-1 operation may not be successful. Controlling Iceland and the Faroe Islands and deploying aircraft there are necessary measures to defend the British Empire. "

Chamberlain sighed softly and nodded, "Okay, then we can occupy Iceland and the Faroe Islands...if the AB-1 operation does not succeed!"