Chapter 1128： Harbinger of Aircraft Carrier II (1/2)
Slide 1128
”I only have one condition now, that is, I want to establish a maritime aviation force, one ship is not enough, at least three!” said the prince.
”Give me a good reason!” William II said sternly. This is not a small investment. It will cost at least one multi-battleship to refit three ships like the Wittelsbach. This does not include the aircraft and personnel costs above. In fact, the so-called cheaper aircraft carriers in later generations are mainly due to two aspects. The first is The tonnage is small, and battleships with a standard platoon of more than 30,000 tons in the second battle are everywhere, and some of them are 40,000 tons. But was there a 32,000-ton standard aircraft carrier in addition to Shinano in World War II? No! No one! The other aspect is that the cost of the aircraft carrier does not count the aircraft. The airplane itself is not cheap. What's more terrible is that it is just like a cannonball. Don't be surprised if you lose half of the airplane after a battle.
Even with the status and influence of the prince, the German parliament and the Admiralty resisted to build a thoroughbred aircraft carrier in peacetime, and had to pay for it out of pocket. After all, no one is interested in a ”sea kite carrier” now! Anyway, there are seaplanes on the capital ships, so why build such a large ship to carry planes?
And now, although the British V1500 has made people quite shocking, from the prince to the ordinary officers and soldiers are disturbed by the huge bird of prey hovering in the air, for fear that that day this guy will send down two bombs after the investigation. But because it was during the war, the German military could not wait for a mark to be split in half to spend it. At this time, the prince suddenly proposed such a large expenditure item and it was naturally not easy to pass.
”To be honest, I think if we use this money to build battleships, two ships may come out!” Looking at the silent prince, the Kaiser continued.
”However, the construction period of the two battleships is at least two and a half years, which is too long. If a selected cruise ship is used for transformation, it can be completed in up to one year. And I personally think that the high seas fleet is in The battleship is enough, and we built this kind of thing called an aircraft carrier to make up for the convenience that battleships can’t do.” said the prince.
”But after all, the big fleet needs to be destroyed with heavy artillery and torpedoes,” the Kaiser said.
”The aircraft on the aircraft carrier may not be unable to use torpedoes, and we can use aircraft to project torpedoes while away from the naval gun! It is not impossible to deal with large warships!”
”Of course, the most urgent problem we need to solve is the British air reconnaissance! As long as the British seaplanes and long-range land-based aircraft can be solved, and they can become blind and deaf, we may not be able to use the fleet in our hands. A thunder-thurbrus battle!” As soon as the prince said this, William II raised his eyebrows slightly! Obviously, the Kaiser was tempted!
Because of the prince's fierce record, it is a bit too much to say that he is invincible, but it is certainly true to say that he can earn more or less every time he makes a shot. Therefore, the current Kaiser has formed a certain degree of blind obedience. If the prince says that he has a chance to win, then 80% of the Kaiser’s opinion is correct. Of course, he also needs the prince to give a sufficient reason.