I Became a Captain of the British Empire - I Became a Captain of the British Empire chapter 142

Halifax Fleet Battle (12)

June 5, 1931 at 11 am.

Royal Navy Grand Fleet Flagship ‘Rodney’.

The sea, where the gunfire had stopped, lapped quietly. Waves bathed in the bright sunlight crashed into the boat. As if rejecting the touch of the sea, the battleship indifferently broke through the waves.

Rodney’s sleek hull is stained with bullet marks.

The thick prow parted the sea covered with heavy oil.

“Enemy South Dakota class, immobilized. It sinks.”

From Rodney’s bridge approaching the burning horizon, the ships of the US Navy, now turned into a heap of scrap, were clearly visible.

Admiral Pound rose from his seat and focused his eyes on the ruined giant at the rear of the battle line.

Bigger than the previous South Dakota. It seems that only the displacement is close to 60,000.

“A giant like that could float on water.”

It was an admiral who trembled inwardly as he spoke like an empty laugh.

If there had been enough time, even the Invincible class wouldn’t have been able to defeat that monster.

That’s how Ohio’s potential was amazing.

Toward the end of the battle, through fire with a modest accuracy, a squadron of Iron Dukes opened fire on her from a range of 4km.

However, the enemy ship did not collapse in the end. Rather, with the last salvo, he even made one battleship his companion.

The battleship ‘Marlboro’ sank before even screaming.

The 12 guns stopped roaring only after the intensive fire of the high-speed battleships rushed in. The size of the mountain floated slowly after being hit by five heavy torpedoes.

“To float such a monster on the water, the potential of the United States is unexpectedly strong.”

“If the battle had been dragged on a little longer, the outcome of the battle might have changed. Half of our line is outdated.”

At the rear of the battle line, the charred battleship shimmered in the admiral’s eyes.

All the King George V-class, who approached with high morale due to the poor skill of the battleship Mississippi, had to pay a fatal price.

Although he avoided more than 90% of the shots, he had to experience the humiliation of having the turret blown out, the mast broken, or the ammunition magazine exploding with just a few hits.

Admiral Pound turned his head away with a bitter face. The procession of monsters continued endlessly. However, the appearance was quite different from before the battle began.

“Chief of staff, report the damage.”

“Yes, 1st Battleship Squadron, Queen Elizabeth, Warspite Medium. Valiant Couch, and Malaya, sunk. 756 survivors so far.”

The voice of the chief of staff who was handing over the report gradually darkened.

“… 2nd Battleship Squadron, Rodney, Revenge Sofa. No resolution abnormalities. Royal Sovereign, sunk. There are no survivors.”

Admiral Pound sat down. No one turned their heads toward the admiral who seemed to be sitting down.

“Continued, the 3rd Battleship Squadron, Iron Duke, was destroyed. Marlboro sunk. 820 survivors. Emperor of India, medium wave. King George V, Centurion, green onion. And Ajax, sunk.”

The sound of tipping steel echoed outside Rodney’s bridge. Destroyers with full decks of survivors roamed from one battleship to another.

“In the Great Sea Fleet, Saxony was sunk. The rest were also hit a lot, but they said there was no problem with their fighting power. Austrian War Navy, same as above.”

After a while, Admiral Pound opened his mouth.

“We lost 5 battleships… Three ships were wrecked.”

It’s not unbearable damage. More than 20 battleships are still firmly guarding the battle line.

But the dead don’t come back. The lives buried in the waves, howling in the hull, were now just statistics consolidated into a single number.

Looking back at the collapsed mast, Admiral Cunningham, commander of the 2nd Battleship Squadron, muttered quietly.

“It should be overwhelming in terms of power, but how could this happen… .”

“I think it was cheap compared to going all the way to the other side’s coast and fighting. And isn’t it almost outdated?”

Admiral Pound struggled to answer that. He was not an emotionally drained person. However, he did not know that himself as a commander was more important than himself as a human being.

“Maybe I’m glad it ended like this.”

Standing up with his hands behind his back, he nodded in a calm voice.

Rodney’s bridge where silence lingers.

But the victorious command couldn’t be in this situation. Someone on the staff who had decided to carry the gun barrel shouted.

“Instead, the former is overwhelming. Admiral, you’ve sunk 4 new battleships! That South Dakota class!”

A small nod of the head appeared. Sensing the atmosphere, the chief of staff hurriedly held up the report and said.

“This is the final battle and report. Destroy 5 enemy battleships. 2 ships captured. Estimated to be 3 ships. 1 total sunk. 1 ship captured. And one aircraft carrier is sunk.”

Some officers who couldn’t contain their joy whistled a little earlier. The admirals did not particularly restrain them.

It’s not just a sinking, it’s a capture.

It was the first time in a long time since the sailing ship era.

Wrecked Washington and Mississippi will now be taken back to the mainland to be handed over by countless naval arsenal personnel.

“Nine other cruisers. 33 destroyers sunk. 125 reported downed aircraft. The War Department, Admiral!”

“Yes, I hope it will be the revenge of Admiral Hozzers.”

Finally, when Admiral Pound replied with a friendly smile, the bridge burst into cheers. Their tired faces encouraged and comforted each other.

The pride of defeating the strongest battleship, the remembrance of a dead comrade, and the happy face that the war is over.

Various actions were crowded on Rodney’s bridge today.

“Gentlemen, the battle is not over yet! Fleet reverses. To Newfoundland! Let’s go clean up the puppies.”

The fatigued monsters turned their heads in search of new prey.

* * *

At the same time, the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron.

Flagship ‘Hood’.

Turning around, the Royal Navy’s time-honored pride ‘Mighty Hood’, which eventually took over as the flagship, fluttered the commander’s flag.

Adjutant John Rich, assisting his superior, Admiral Lewis, quietly looked around the bridge with uneasy eyes.

Certainly the pride of the Royal Navy.

The lavish structure did not lose its dignity despite the signs of intense fighting.

It’s not as good as the equipment of the royal yacht Rinaun, but maybe because of Hood’s name, somehow it looks more luxurious here.

“Squadron speed 20 knots. Rinaun, join the battle line.”

Rinaun, who finished arranging the bridge, proudly followed her tail. Admiral Lewis, who was seated, asked in a quiet voice.

“Is it possible to increase speed?”

“Impossible. This is the largest in the current state of the institution.”

“… I see.”

Lieutenant Colonel Rich tilted his head at the somewhat changed voice. But soon, I saw something shining through the porthole and opened my eyes.

“Admiral. Light signals from the heavy cruiser Ashigara.”

“Something?”

“I ask if you would like to continue pursuing the enemy aircraft carrier.”

Even while reporting, Lieutenant Colonel Rich thought it was absurd.

Oh my God, pursuing with a 20-knot mobile unit.

It must be that their torpedo squadron, which is maintaining its speed, intends to monopolize the ball. A battle cruiser is insurance against the odds.

But is our Admiral Louis the kind of person who will adapt to such a scheming?

Lieutenant Colonel Ritchie was in the mood to snort instead.

“Say you are going.”

However, the admiral’s answer was different.

“yes?”

“Did you not hear? I’m going.”

“Admiral… but.”

The chief of staff blurs the end.

Lieutenant Colonel Richie also looked back at the admiral with a puzzled look.

The bridge quickly becomes agitated.

“Do as you say. It is an order.”

sharp voice.

The chief of staff flinched.

It sounds like you have a lot to say. He soon withdrew with a displeased look.

A bridge where silence lingers.

Everyone averted their gaze and stiffened their heads. Adjutant Colonel Leach also joined the movement.

However, he hesitated and then quietly approached the admiral’s back.

“Admiral, may I ask you one thing?”

“What.”

Without turning his head, the admiral spoke in a firm voice.

John Rich took a deep breath and continued.

“That order… Admiral, was this an order for you personally?”

silence.

“What are you asking, now?”

“sorry. It’s just that he seems a little different from the Admiral I usually see… .”

The admiral slowly turns his head.

Unlike usual, when he felt a bit fierce, eyes burning like a beast stared at Lieutenant Colonel Richie.

The lieutenant colonel, who had been trembling, took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“You weren’t the type to obsess over a criminal record, Admiral, were you?”

The admiral nodded.

“We can’t leave the aircraft carrier alive. An aircraft carrier is a type of ship with countless potentials.”

I knew it.

I don’t think the lieutenant colonel ordered the chase with that intention.

but… .

“We can sink that ship anytime. You don’t have to catch it right now, do you? Do you really think that the remaining aircraft carriers will turn the tide of battle with determination like the admiral?”

like a repulse.

Having witnessed the legend of Task Force Z right in front of his eyes, he seemed to be able to understand the admiral’s concerns.

But what is the current attitude… .

‘It’s distorted.’

The lieutenant colonel could not erase that impression.

Furthermore, the admiral’s physical condition is also a concern. If you engage in combat action beyond this, really big things might happen.

As the admiral’s adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Leach stared at him with longing eyes.

“… Yeah, it’s already too late for that.”

“Yes that’s right.”

After that, the admiral lowered his head and kept his mouth shut. A total silence hung over the bridge.

What does it mean?

Lieutenant Colonel Ritchie, who stood awkwardly, had to worry about the admiral’s attitude for a while. I had no way of knowing what the intention was.

I can’t believe I’m going to enforce the order like this… .

“I just need to get some rest. Chief of Staff! Spin the fleet! Join us as you see fit.”

“… Yes, Admiral!”

Only after the usual cool voice rang out, the adjutant was relieved.

* * *

same time,

West Coast of Newfoundland.

Corporal Peter Browder, lying prone on the beach, gritted his teeth at the sight unfolding before his eyes.

Where did I go wrong?

The bloody struggle to survive continued on the shore.

The torpedo boats and destroyers rushing towards the landing ships, and the cruisers trying to protect the fleet fight fiercely.

Overhead, fighters of unknown side colored the sky with all sorts of geometric contrails.

The sound of gunfire colored my ears, and screams rang like a funeral song.

The platoon commander hiding behind an abandoned house on the shoreline shouted at Peter.

“Peter! Call for artillery support!”

“It’s not possible! Sailors, they all have no hands!”

“A barge?”

“No response!”

A harsh swearing sound was heard. Peter agreed with that.

Who would have known that a successful landing would become a problem?

With the exception of his unit, which had reached the lead, the rest of the unit was at a crossroads between being drowned in the water or being blown up by shells.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Peter gritted his teeth and looked up at the shallow hill ahead. From the side where the machine gun emplacement was constantly shining, the slow sound of a tank’s track could be heard.

“Damn it, damn it… !”

He grabbed his Springfield rifle.

The course of the incident goes back about half a day.