Chapter 782 The Night of Taranto

There is a narrow S-strait between the beautiful Sicily and the Apennine Peninsula in Italy.

In the eyes of sailors, the Strait of Messina is a gloomy and terrible place for female demons. There are dense reefs and countless whirlpools that can devour ships. Moreover, there are often wonders of mirages over the strait, which makes people who are not strong-minded lose their way.

But in this dense place of reefs and whirlpools, three huge steel combat machines are parked today, and the ferocious 15-inch muzzle on the deck is shining cold in the sun.

"General."

The hurried footsteps interrupted the silence in the bridge of the flagship Queen Elizabeth. The correspondent reported with a telegram: "I found it! Italian planes found them off the coast of Matru Port in Egypt. In addition to the Chinese, the fleet also found Japanese, North Korean warships, as well as Ottomans and Germans.

David Betty, who stood in front of the porthole, holding coffee and looking at the swarms of falcon flying over the Strait from the Nordic breeding ground to time to Sicily, heard the Germans, and his eyes flashed: "How can there be Germans?"

"General, it's the German Far East Fleet."

"Shi Pei! Is it him?"

In last year's confrontation with Delan, David Betty led the bait fleet to be beaten completely. Many people later accused him of failure in the naval battle as his fault, so he gritted his teeth at any German warship. Now when he heard the humiliation brought to Britain in the Battle of Coronar, his eyes turned red. Yes.

But today he has a great responsibility. The Royal British Navy has been unable to send more capital ships to the Mediterranean, so he can only hold back and continue to ask, "Can you confirm that they are all here?"

The staff quickly opened the record and replied, "The pilot confirmed 3 aircraft carriers, 9 capital ships, more than 20 light cruisers and destroyers, and about 10 auxiliary ships. In addition, at least 4 submarines were found in front of the fleet, and others."

"Wait a minute."

Before the staff finished speaking, David Betty suddenly interrupted in a thorny voice: "9 capital ships! Are you sure there are only nine?

In Betty's urging, the adjutant immediately found the Suez Canal reconnaissance information. After checking it, he immediately knew what was wrong. The number of large warships was 2 less!

Both sides of the Suez Canal are open and empty. No matter day and night, except for submarines, it is possible to escape from sight. Surface ships can't hide the eyes of intelligence personnel at all. What's more, Britain's foundation in Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula can be expelled by a Far Eastern country in just a few days.

This discovery calmed down the bridge. According to the monitoring information, in addition to sending three aircraft carriers, the Chinese navy also brought four capital ships into the Mediterranean Sea, namely, one Taiwan-class battleship, two Guam-class battleships and one newly known heavy cruiser named Xi'an-class.

In addition to China, there are also one Japanese battleship and two Korean armored cruisers, plus two battleships sent by Osman to converge and two armored cruisers of Spee. There should be a total of 12, but now only 12 have been seen, so what about the other two?!

It's okay if it's an outdated armored cruiser, but what if it's the Guam class, or simply the Taiwan left?!

Thinking of this, everyone suddenly felt cold on their backs.

Three triple L45/16-inch heavy artillery, combined with the Chinese's artillery ability in speed and long distance, even if I fight head-on, I dare not say that I will win steadily. Now I see that Italy is about to seduce the Austro-Hungarian navy. If it appears at a critical moment, it will be terrible!

Thinking of this question, the staff officer suddenly turned pale and shook his head: "I can't confirm, because the pilot lost contact after sending this telegram." The sound of gnashing of teeth keeps echoing in the bridge, and it's a plane again! Betty even had the impulse to rush to the enemy commander and scold them for not daring to fight with battleships!

The cunning arsonist completely provoked the European battleship race with the Rhine, and Britain was also dragged into the water and became one of the craziest countries. After provoking the competition and spending countless other people's money, he slapped his buttocks and secretly set up the aircraft and aircraft carrier, making the battleship the land of the sea hegemony. The position has been seriously challenged. That bastard, with his technical ability, can defeat the enemy even if he builds a battleship! But in addition to the three naval battles that began at the beginning of the war at the same time, almost all the subsequent victories were related to aircraft, making the world's strongest and largest promised imperial navy's main ship group full of strength. After a punch, they found that they were trapped in the cotton ball!

With an aircraft carrier in the fleet, it is difficult for the reconnaissance aircraft to approach the enemy, so it is not expected that the pilot can return the message. Thinking of this, David Betty immediately walked to the chart. The information came from the port of Matru opposite Crete, which meant that the enemy had been sailing at a not-fast domestication speed from last night to now.

But did the two disappeared capital ships disperse from Port Seyde last night, or did they leave this morning?

This problem is really too critical. Port of Sade to the Ionian Sea is not selected. With the speed advantage of the Xinhua Navy before, if it starts to leave at full speed after departure last night, it should have crossed Crete into the Ionian Sea now!

You can't wait any longer!

Since the Chinese were ready to enter the Mediterranean Sea, British intelligence agencies have made a lot of arrangements for the two major naval countries of the Mediterranean coast, Osman and Austro-Hungary. From the fact that Osman has joined the joint fleet, Austria-Hungary must have also been invited. What's more, Austria-Hungary has been suppressed in the Adriatic Sea in the past two years, which makes The fleet built with countless funds must not be in line with Austria-Hungary's original intention. What's more, they don't want to see Xinhua dominant in the Mediterranean, so they will definitely come out to cooperate.

Osman has come out, and Austria-Hungary will definitely come out.

The disappearance of the two capital ships may be a threat to the Italian navy, which has secretly turned around to intercept the Austro-Hungarian fleet, but what if he also passed?

Betty thought of this and was moved!

The other party's battleships are also very strong, but compared with the almost unsolved aircraft carriers, they are still sure to deal with Betty, not to mention that the Italian fleet is nearby. If you are lucky, you can even sink or hit the other party before the other aircraft carrier reacts!

Thinking of this, Betty immediately ordered the anchor to the north, and at the same time asked someone to report it to the Italian navy to be careful of the two Chinese capital ships that may be close to the Otranto Strait

.. The sunset is like blood, dyeing the sea red.

Deep in the Adriatic Sea, a broken island close to the northeast coastline of the sea, fragmenting the Ottoman coastline. In the depths of the island, seven battleships walked slowly, and seven submarines and 37 other ships, including cruisers, opened for them.

In the covered bridge of the flagship Prind Eugen, the gray-haired Grand Duke of Austria-Hungary Admiral Delfino stood firmly in the center, with his hair like a lion. He is the best naval commander of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but he wears an army epaulettes on his shoulder, because the Austro-Hungarian navy is not a reading arm, but a unit under the Austro-Hungarian army, and there is no headquarters, only a small naval division.

Because it has always been a subordinate status, the Austro-Hungarian Navy, with four cutting-edge United Forces-class battleships, eight fore-foughtless battleships, six armored cruisers and more than 30 light cruisers, nearly 100 destroyers, more than a dozen submarines and a number of German-supported U-boats, plus hundreds of auxiliary ships, is at war. After that, I have been doing nothing.

Grand Duke Delfino is very dissatisfied with this, but he has no choice but to face the more powerful Italian and French navies, but now the opportunity has come! The French navy has lost almost all its capital ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, leaving only a few hundred small warships. Italy alone can't stop itself!

The only thing that worried him was the three British Queen Elizabeth-class battleships. After disappearing from Gibraltar, they hung on everyone's heads like a sharp sword!

However, he is not without a chance. The Chinese fleet has entered the Mediterranean Sea. As long as he can break through the Otranto Strait, he can successfully converge with them. At that time, he can take advantage of the air force of the Chinese navy to return all the depression given to the Italians.

Prince Eugen under his feet was once the best warship in Europe, with four triple 305mm guns full of power! The Austrian-Hungarian first battleship formation of three other combined force-class battleships and three and three Radetzky old-fashioned battleships are lined up beside it, which is the essence of the entire Austro-Hungarian navy!

Even so, he still has to deal with it carefully, because Italy is different from Britain and France. After Li Mo first put forward the Theory of Air Control after the war, Xinhua's aviation power has always been at the forefront of the world, which has also attracted the attention of Italy, and there is also a master Duhei who uses airplanes in Italy. It is said that this man persuaded the Italian royal family and the military to form a bomber force composed of nearly 500 Caproni Ca36 bombers. In addition, Italy was compensated by the Falcon fighters provided by Xinhua during the Italian-Turkish War, so he also With nearly a thousand imitation modified fighters, it is the air force of Europe second only to Britain and Germany.

At the critical moment of life and death again, Du Hei will never sit back and watch the navy fight alone. Maybe his bomber troops have been fully dispatched to search for himself.

At the thought of the overwhelming Italian planes, Grand Duke Delfino couldn't help looking at the sky.

"Duke, emergency telegram." The staff officer trotted all the way into the bridge with a telegram: "They have arrived east of the Otranto Strait."

"Let's go! Full speed!"

Grand Duke Delfino suddenly straightened up, and the first battleship formation of Austria-Hungary suddenly turned around and rushed out of the coastal islands

.. In the bridge of the battlecruiser Sultan Aworth-Selim (formerly the German Goben), looking at the aircraft carrier Bashu take-off and landing aircraft that was lifting a night owl dive bomber with bombs and folded wings to the deck in the distance, Solochin's eyes flashed with envy and immediately turned his head to look at Spee, who had just returned from the Far East.

"Don't look at me, I don't know how their aircraft carrier works." Shi Pei shook his head with a wry smile, and his eyes also rested on the huge ship of the Bashu aircraft carrier.

"It seems that they are still very strict." Solochin shrugged his shoulders. In fact, since Xinhua put the aircraft carrier into actual combat and achieved significant results, Germany has also begun to secretly develop aircraft carriers.

In terms of aircraft and engines, Germany has explored some thresholds, but the internal structure and operation of the aircraft carrier cannot be solved in a day or two. This requires a long time to explore. Even Britain, France and the United States are troubled by this problem, so the plans that everyone has come up with are much the same. These simple airlines It is very dangerous for the mother to take off and land during the day, let alone take off and land at night.

Spee took out two Cuban cigars from his pocket and handed them to Solocin. He smiled and said, "If Delfino knew that he was used as bait, would he go back?"

"It's a Cuban cigar." After taking the cigar, Solochin's eyes lit up. After the war, Germany's foreign trade was all interrupted. Such excellent cigars had been tasted for a long time, so he immediately took two sips, and then smiled contentedly, "Maybe, but if it were me, I think I will continue to move forward."

Spee smiled and walked to the chart. He stared at the two arrows marked, and couldn't help raising a trace of worry: "Do you think Betty will be hooked?"

"I don't know, but one thing is very clear." Sorcin said, "That Italian reconnaissance plane must have been deliberately put in by General Gu Junhuo. Otherwise, do you think it can approach and fly for a few minutes with 20 fighters patrolling over the fleet? He deliberately let the Italian aircraft see that the number of capital ships in the fleet is two less. Although we don't know if the Italian pilot has sent back the news of which two missing, if Betty gets this news, she will definitely not want to let it go!"

"Why?"

"It's very simple, because the aircraft carrier is not around!"

Spee nodded. The two Guam-classes were very powerful, but in the absence of aircraft carriers, it was not so easy to cover the formation of the first battleships that merged with Grand Duke Delfino. You know, Italy was all dispatched this time. All kinds of battleships alone reached 13, of which 7 were new and more than a dozen. A cruiser and hundreds of destroyers will definitely be a hard battle.

If Betty suddenly appears with three Queen-class battleships at this time, it is very likely to defeat Guam and Grand Duke Delfino at the same time.

I know it, Sorochin knows it, and David Betty knows it! He didn't appear. The two Guam-class ships were enough to break through with the first Austro-Hungarian battleship formation, and it was even possible to crimutilize the Italian navy! But with him, it will be very difficult to break through.

The General Gu Junhuo saw this, so he deliberately let the Italian plane see his formation clearly, and then suddenly took the main fleet into the Mediterranean Sea of Ionia in front of Italy, and his real goal was not to concentrate on the Otranto Sea. The Italian and French fleets in the gorge are not Betty's three Queen-class battleships, but Taranto, known as the cradle of the Italian navy!

Even people like Spee and Solochin can't help but secretly admire this plan. There are many Mediterranean islands, and the alliance lacks base support here, so if they attack the Allied Four-Nation Fleet, they will be dispersed as soon as they are exposed, which will bring difficulties to the subsequent supply and transportation fleet. But if Taranto is blown up, the Italian navy will become a rootless fleet. Both of them know how painful it is to have a fleet that can't get any support and supplies.

There are only two roads left for the Italian navy. One is to enter the Adriatic Sea to the anchorage of Ankona, so that as long as a few ships are sent to block the Strait of Otranto, Italy can taste the pain that the Austro-Hungarian navy has been locked in the harbor for several years.

The second way is to go south and arrive in Sicily from the Strait of Messina or Malta on the south side of the island to return to France. But is this road easy to take? When the three aircraft carriers complete the night attack on Taranto, they will immediately go south to block the Strait of Malta. If you want to go, you can only fight a decisive battle!

Draw the salary from the bottom of the pot!

As soon as Shi Pei, who had been in China for so many years, remembered this idiom, there was already a shout from behind him.

"General, they are on their way."

Through the porthole, it was seen that the three aircraft carriers and the heavy cruiser, which had followed the aircraft carrier from beginning to end, began to accelerate, and disappeared in the night with four light cruisers and 12 destroyers.

"It's time for us to go. You said that if they were in Malta, would they meet Betty or Camacho first?" Soloqin waved his hand, but his heart was full of regret, because this time they were destined not to see the night takeoff and landing process of the Chinese aircraft carrier with their own eyes

.. The starlight poured down and reflected in the Strait of Otranto.

The 80-kilometer-wide strait is the only way for Italy to connect Albania. It is also the only channel connecting the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. It is precisely by relying on the Tarantto base that the Italian navy can easily block here. It not only fully owns the Adriatic Sea, but also blocks the Austro-Hungarian navy. It has been in the harbor for nearly three years.

The huge figure of the Francesco-Caraggiolo-class battleship, which has just been delivered for two months, is particularly majestic under the starlight.

This is a super battleship designed and built by Italy itself that can be comparable to the British Queen Elizabeth class. Four ships will be built according to the plan, but with the beginning of the war, there was a shortage of resources. Only the Francesco Caracciolo was launched. If it hadn't been for the British support, there was nothing we could do. It was built early.

Under the faint light of the bridge, Italian Vice Admiral Camaccio's face was solemn.

"Two unknown capital ships!"

These words alone make his scalp numb.

But now the arrow has to be fired on the string. According to intelligence, Del Fino has personally led the first battleship formation into the Adriatic Sea and is sailing here. If it is pushed away at this time, the Austro-Hungarian navy will officially set foot in the Mediterranean Sea after nearly three years. Although the Mediterranean Sea is not big, it is covered by the Chinese. Protecting 7 battleships is enough to cause fatal damage to Italy!

So, we must stop them anyway!

"Report that the submarine found the Austro-Hungarian fleet, about 70 nautical miles away from us! It's approaching me quickly!"

"I'm coming!" Lieutenant General Camacho immediately straightened up and asked, "Have you contacted General David Betty?"

"Report, not yet."

"Order the third, fourth and fifth destroyer detachments to search east and launch an attack immediately when they find an unknown enemy." Camacho gritted his teeth and gave the order. 70 nautical miles, no matter what he thinks, whether David Betty will really come to support as he said before, at least he must stop Del Fino first!

"Capital ship, get ready to fight!"

(to be continued)