Chapter 625 Control of the Strait

Charles understood what Wells meant. Torpedo boats were only suitable for near-shore operations. If they were used for long-range operations, they could not withstand wind and waves and could not carry so much fuel.

But Charles was not anxious. He calmly replied, "We can use the same tactic. The only difference is that we replace the torpedo boat with a destroyer."

Wells understood instantly.

The destroyers are also used to fight guerrilla warfare with the enemy fleet using their speed. When the enemy destroyers are almost destroyed, the destroyers are used to use torpedoes to besiege the battleships.

"So, we need to build a large number of destroyers. Am I right, General?" Wells concluded with a wave of his hand. "I mean, we need to continue to expand our advantage. That is, our destroyers must not only surpass the British Royal Navy in quality, but also in quantity."

Charles nodded in agreement, which showed that Wells had understood the essence of "asymmetric warfare", which was to make one's strengths stronger.

Wells was so excited that he was walking in front of the sofa and analyzing:

"I guess you're right, so speed is more important, right?"

"With speed and proper tactics, we can defeat the enemy's seemingly powerful battleships with our destroyers."

"That's what you said before, destroyers will be the future. I had my doubts about that before, but now it seems to be correct, very correct."

Then he paused and said, "It's a pity that we have built more than 200 torpedo boats. They may not be able to play a role."

This is a problem left over from the French "Green Water Navy" idea. At that time, the French Navy hoped to use torpedo boats as the main force.

Although torpedo boats are not expensive, the number of more than 200 of them is enough to make people feel painful.

However, Ciel answered with certainty: "They will be useful, and very useful."

"What?" Wells didn't understand.

Once the British fleet implemented a strategy of long-range blockade, the torpedo boats would be out of reach of them, so why would they be useful?

Charles did not answer. He looked around, stood up, took the nautical chart from the desk and spread it on the coffee table. He pointed at the map and said, "This is the location of the Brest Shipyard. Do you see anything?"

(The marked point on the picture above is the location of the Brest Shipyard, which is located at the exit of the English Channel. It can attack or defend, and it is difficult to be blocked because it is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean to the west.)

Wells stared at the map for a while, then exclaimed: "I see, torpedo boats can be used to block the English Channel!"

"Not just a blockade, Mr. Wells." Charles added: "Once our navy enters the English Channel, it will be invincible. The entire channel will be a safe haven for our navy."

Wells was stunned for a moment, then he opened his eyes wide and shouted. He excitedly hugged Charles' shoulders and shook him vigorously a few times:

"You are right, General. As long as our destroyers have an absolute advantage, we will have an absolute advantage in the strait, even if we don't have battleships!"

"Great, you're a genius."

"It's incredible that our navy will defeat the British Royal Navy, the best Royal Navy in the world!"

The widest part of the English Channel is 220 kilometers, and the narrowest part is only 34 kilometers, which is within the combat range of torpedo boats.

It would be fine if the British Royal Navy was just carrying out a long-range blockade in the Atlantic, but torpedo boats would be useless, so France could only use destroyers as torpedo boats for siege.

Once the Royal Navy entered the Channel, under "asymmetric warfare", the British fleet would face the siege of massive French destroyers and torpedo boats, and its battleships and cruisers would basically be doomed.

On the surface, the French Navy seemed to have achieved only a partial victory: it only controlled the English Channel and did not have much advantage outside the channel.

But for Britain, which had the world's best navy, it was a complete failure and a humiliation, and a total collapse of its sea power, international prestige and even colonies.

This is something the UK will never allow.

Charles continued, "What we need to do is to build several more ports along the English Channel, which can provide supplies for torpedo boats. And because torpedo boats are fast, they can be quickly gathered from various ports to the war zone to fight in wartime."

Wells nodded repeatedly:

"I will report this plan to the Navy immediately."

"God, if they agree to this plan, the strategic focus will still be on the Brest shipyard."

"No, they will definitely agree to this plan. There is no reason for them not to agree to it."

This was a plan that had the potential to defeat the Royal Navy.

If anyone disagrees, it is for one reason only: he is a mouthpiece for the British and a traitor to France.

Therefore, even the members of parliament did not dare to veto it easily.

"We also need to build large landing craft." Charles said without any context.

"Landing craft?" Wells looked at Charles in astonishment: "Why, building a landing craft..."

Charles tapped the location of London on the map with his finger. "Once we fully control the English Channel, it will be possible for us to land on the British mainland and launch a surprise attack on London, sir."

Wells smiled knowingly, "Yes, General. Large landing craft. We'll build them for the British to see."

This was indeed built for the British to see.

It is unlikely that France will go to war with Britain. At this time, they are still allies and there will not be major conflicts in the foreseeable future.

But since we regard Britain as an imaginary enemy and want to surpass her, we must consider actual combat.

Unlike the real enemy, this tactic had to be revealed to the British intentionally or unintentionally.

Only in this way can the British people feel a sense of crisis, realize that they are being strangled by France, and then make political concessions.

Of course, this is just Charles' first step.

In his opinion, airports should also be built along the coast of the English Channel. The model for controlling the English Channel in the future is to use fighter jets to fight for air supremacy, and then use bombers and torpedo planes to cooperate with the navy to fight for sea supremacy.

The pre-dreadnoughts, dreadnoughts, and super dreadnoughts that Britain had spent a lot of manpower and material resources to build and was proud of... were all targets.

As long as Charles maintains his leading edge in fighter jets, the so-called world's number one navy will be no match for him and can be easily destroyed.

These were air force issues, and Charles saw no great need to discuss them with Wells.

Finally, while toasting with Wells, Charles said casually, "I plan to send a few people to the shipyard to learn about the two-way stabilization technology. Is that okay?"

Wells agreed generously: "Of course it will be no problem."

He had no reason to refuse. The assets controlled by Charles were all used to produce army equipment and did not compete with the shipyard.

In fact, there is no competition. Charles hopes to transplant the navy's dual-stable fire control technology to tanks.

But of course, then it would be a completely new patent, one controlled by Shire.

As for the shipyards in Wales, Charles was not worried.

As time goes by, air supremacy becomes more and more important in naval battles.

One day Wells will understand that he cannot leave Shire, because leaving means death.

(End of this chapter)