Chapter 1379： Before the war (1/2)
Chapter 1379
”Your Excellency, the actions of the German fleet in the Gulf of Riga are becoming more and more frantic. They even deployed minefields near our ports and important waterways with mine-laying ships.” Standing on the Baltic flagship Borodino Super Intrepid, Lieutenant General Bahirev said to Admiral Essen like this.
”Unless our fleet is permanently stationed in the Gulf of Riga, there is no way for those German light cruisers that hit and run. Even if they don't use naval guns, the use of mines and submarines can cause us great damage.”
Lieutenant General Basilev looked at the hesitant Admiral Essen and spoke his own opinion. Although Bahirev was wiped out by the entire army in the last battle. But in the end, it gave some transport ships time to escape. If you can’t beat that, it’s a question of strength. If you switch to Jericho, you still have to kneel under this huge difference in strength. This is an objective law, not a personal will. of....... So this guy is still in the Navy.
”Did you see this warship under our feet? Look at the four-in-one triple 14-inch main guns that are majestic, and the large number of 6-inch secondary guns in the middle of the hull. Is there any kind of invincibility and sharpness? The feeling?” Essen's answer seemed to be a little unreasonable.
”However, these are of no use to the German fleet. The Germans only need one chance to save us. We are not enough for the German fleet to fight at a time.” After that, Admiral Essen looked at it meaningfully. The other side glanced: ”Does it feel terrifying? But this is the truth.”
”To be honest, it is difficult for us to fight now. Perhaps after the main force of Poland is eliminated, the Germans have plans to march to St. Petersburg. I think the Gulf of Riga cannot be defended, so it is better to use the precious fleet to defend the capital. ”
”Your Excellency Commander, this is an order from His Majesty the Tsar. We must ensure the smooth flow of transportation in the Gulf of Riga, at least until the arrival of the German High Seas Fleet.” Lieutenant General Bashilev said euphemistically.
”Yes, so I'm preparing. After we install enough 3-inch antiaircraft guns and machine guns on our warships, we will act immediately after the air force assigned to us is in place. Otherwise, we will die. With sufficient air cover and reconnaissance, we probably don’t even know the opponent’s fleet. Of course, there is another possibility that the Luftwaffe’s bombs and torpedoes can be dealt with directly.” Admiral Essen finished, motioning to the latter. Get ready now, don't talk nonsense.
How to fight fleet air defense? If the German fleet used to bring aircraft and seaplane carriers through capital ships. In the future, if the problem of venting is solved through aircraft carriers. So for the Russians, the only thing their fleet can do is to quickly install some rapid-fire guns with an elevation angle that can barely reach 65 degrees and to change the army's machine guns. In exchange for some psychological comfort. The aircraft of World War I were indeed cheap, and the German fleet could assign more than 4 aircraft to each battleship. But unfortunately, the Russians can't do it. There are too few planes. And now it’s too late to put on temporary cranes and hangars...
But even so, Admiral Essen is still trying his best to arm his fleet so that he will not be ruined at least when facing the Luftwaffe in the future! This time the efficiency of the Russian government was not bad. The two aircraft squadrons in the Gulf of Riga were placed under the command of the navy, and Admiral Essen could contact them by radio at any time. Another squadron is responsible for the reconnaissance of the Essen fleet from the Gulf of Riga to the Gulf of Finland.
As a result, the Baltic Fleet in Essen finally set off from the Gulf of Finland to the Gulf of Riga. At the same time, they also cooperated with the German submarine force, but their main task was to get close to the German Baltic coast and against German ports to see if the main force of the high seas fleet would suddenly enter the Baltic Sea from the North Sea via the Kiel Canal!
”His Royal Highness, the Russian fleet enters the Gulf of Riga. Is it necessary for us to let the main force of the high seas fleet under the command of General Scheer enter the Baltic Sea?” After receiving the news, the liaison officer of the German navy in Bavaria first contacted the prince.