My Italy

When London announced that the Home Fleet would patrol the North Sea and conduct tactical exercises at sea, preparations were also being made in Alexandria, where the British Mediterranean Fleet is based.

"Hang it a little higher."

"Come here and help me."

"This pile of supplies does not belong to our Collingwood, but to the Vanguard. Don't make a mistake just because our two ships are almost the same."

At this time, there was an extremely busy scene in Alexandria. A large number of supplies and ammunition were being loaded onto the warships. At this time, even people who don't understand the navy will know that this is the battleship's final preparations before going to sea.

At this time, a large number of battleships were parked in Alexandria. At the far left pier were four St. Vincent-class ships (St. Vincent, Collingwood, Vanguard, and Neptune). These four battleships formed the third battleship of the Mediterranean Fleet. The squadron is the pacesetter in various trainings of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Next to the four St. Vincent-class ships, there is the second battleship squadron composed of three Colossus-class battleships (Colossus, Hercules, Montague)

It was the last dreadnought built in the UK and the fastest from construction to service. In response to news of the expansion of the German and Italian navies, the British Navy urgently built three Colossus-class ships.

Faced with the requirements of the Admiralty, the British shipyards were already familiar with the construction of dreadnoughts. Coupled with the use of mature design solutions, the warship was completed from construction to launch in just one year. Of course, including outfitting, sea trials, etc., it still took two years to enter service.

It only took a little over two years from the beginning of construction to the time it was put into service. The construction of the Colossus class was already very fast. Of course, being fast also comes at a price. After the Colossus was handed over to the Navy, its officers and soldiers did not perform very well, and small problems emerged one after another. Afterwards, it was normal to go to the shipyard to make small changes.

Then next to the Colossus class is the core of the Mediterranean battleship formation, the three super-dreadnought battleships of the first squadron of the Mediterranean fleet battleships, Orion, Conqueror and Centurion. Although these three battleships belong to the Orion class and the George V class respectively, they were built in the same year and have little difference in firepower, protection, and speed. There is no problem in forming them into a team.

The flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet is the Orion of the squadron. This battleship is a battleship developed urgently by the British after learning that Germany and Italy wanted to put a 350 mm main gun on the ship. The ship is equipped with a 13.5-inch 45-caliber naval gun (343 mm) developed by the British.

In terms of power, protection, and firepower, this Orion class is the benchmark super-dreadnought ship of Germany and Italy. Except for the speed (22 knots) which is slightly lower than the Italian Cavour class, there are no other differences. big.

Of course, as one of the most important fleets in the United Kingdom, in addition to battleships, the Mediterranean Fleet also includes new types of ships that have appeared in recent years, battlecruisers. The battle patrol formation currently belonging to the Mediterranean Fleet is docked on the right side of the first squadron of battleships. Invincible, Indefatigable, and Indomitable formed the vanguard of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Different from history, due to the Italian Taranto class as a reference and potential target, the Invincible class battle cruiser must be designed from the beginning to not be lower than or close to the Taranto class in terms of performance. Therefore, in this time and space, the length and displacement of the invincible-class battle cruiser are slowly rising.

The standard displacement of this class of warships reaches 22,300 tons, and the full load reaches 25,100 tons. In terms of firepower, the ship is equipped with 8 305mm 45x main guns, 16 single-mounted 45x 102mm secondary guns, and 5 457mm underwater torpedo tubes.

In terms of power, it is equipped with 24 kerosene mixed boilers, 2 steam turbines, and four shafts. The maximum output power is 52,000 horsepower, and the maximum speed is 26 knots.

Moreover, because of the threat of the Taranto-class in terms of armor, the thin-skinned and large-stuffed Invincible-class disappeared, and instead something that could compete with the Taranto-class appeared.

In fact, it’s normal to think about it. The British are not stupid. If Italy comes up with a battleship with excellent performance in all aspects, how can I come up with a warship with poor performance? And as a maritime overlord, it must not be used on a warship. If you lag behind others, at least you can't let others see it.

Everyone is a naval player, so everyone has a good idea of ​​the performance of a warship. You don't say that a warship that can only run 21 knots can run 24 knots, because everyone can see it at a glance. .

As for the Indefatigable, it is an improved version of the Invincible. Its performance has been improved to a certain extent compared to the Invincible. However, there is not much difference in the three key data of firepower, protection, and speed. It is far inferior to Italy's latest Milan-class. Pretend to patrol.

Having said this, in fact, the most embarrassing thing among the Mediterranean formations is these "perfect cats", because they are suppressed by their opponents, the Italian battle cruiser formation, in terms of quantity and quality.

Faced with this situation, the officers and men of the battle patrol formation of the Mediterranean Fleet joked that they were definitely the most unique existence in the British Empire Navy, because their mission was to run away when they saw the enemy.

There is no way not to run away, the number is 3 to 5, and the opponent also has a Milan class equipped with a 350mm main gun. Once the three battle cruisers of our own are entangled, the end will definitely be very bad.

Regarding the dilemma of the battle patrol formation, the Mediterranean Fleet and the Admiralty were as clear as a mirror, but adding battle patrols to the Mediterranean Fleet was a no-brainer and was rejected directly at the source.

Because quite simply, like the battleships, the British Empire battlecruisers were not wealthy. Thanks to the addition of Italy as a disruptor, the British Empire has more requirements for the quantity and quality of warships.

This also requires the British Empire to spend more money than in history to maintain the throne of the world's largest navy.

Although Britain is a world hegemon with a rich and powerful country, it is not easy to increase military spending. The government, parliament and even the private sector all need an explanation.

In a sense, European countries at that time were insufficiently prepared and aware of this war. They all prepared based on the previous war, and at most strengthened it, except for the Kingdom of Italy under Carlo's leadership.

This also led to Britain's lack of preparation for Italy's sudden increase in strength, resulting in insufficient growth in the strength of the Mediterranean fleet.

Of course, this is the best result for the general whose commander card is on board.

Looking at the busy officers and soldiers at the dock, he turned to the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Roback, and said. "This is our best chance and our last chance."

"Yes Admiral, God bless the British Empire."

Lieutenant General Roback strongly agreed with General Cardon's words.

As senior officers in the military, they know more than ordinary officers and soldiers.

Although the Italian navy currently has the advantage, their Mediterranean fleet can still resist and delay their opponents.

If the time comes next year, the Italian's strong period will continue to expand. Because Italy's Roma class will enter service next year, and its cutting-edge warships equipped with 380 mm main guns, no warship in the Mediterranean fleet can resist it.

The Queen Elizabeth class, which the British can compete with, started construction a little later. Even if the navy keeps urging, its service time will be eight months to one year later than the Italian Rome class. (This can be regarded as the result of joint research by the three countries, which allowed Germany and Italy to obtain new technologies earlier, which allowed the new warships they developed to start construction faster.)

Eight months is enough time for the Italians to establish their absolute superiority in the Mediterranean. By that time, unless Britain transfers all eight Elizabeth-class ships to the Mediterranean, it will be difficult to regain the advantage.

Precisely because the situation is so dangerous, it is necessary to defeat the Italians' spirit before their advantage expands.

Otherwise, if the Roman class is put into service, then it will be a question whether the Mediterranean fleet can defend Egypt.