Chapter 660: Changes in the Somme

At the Antwerp Airport Command Center, Charles and Tijani were arguing over the tactics of the new destroyer.

The focus is on the future development of destroyers.

Charles believed that destroyers should be further reduced in weight in the future, with the main guns reduced to one each at the front and rear, and the freed-up weight and space could be used to increase anti-aircraft firepower.

Tijani strongly disagrees:

"We are discussing the future, Admiral."

"Perhaps your torpedo bombers can threaten all the warships. I have also heard the idea of ​​bombers with bombs."

"I admit that they are all feasible. But have you ever considered that the range of an aircraft is limited after all, and you can't control every sea area with an aircraft?"

Tijani pointed his finger deep into the Atlantic Ocean and said, "Also, even if your plane can make it, how long will it take at the speed of the plane? One hour? Two hours?"

Ciel asked back, "Why can't we bring the fleet on board?"

"You mean seaplanes?" Tijani rejected the idea without even thinking: "Seaplanes have very limited role, Admiral..."

"I'm talking about wheeled aircraft." Charles interrupted Tijani: "We can build a ship and build a runway on it, so that wheeled aircraft can take off from the warship and of course land."

Tijani was stunned. After a while, he shook his head in disbelief: "This is ridiculous, Lieutenant General, this is impossible."

"Really?" Charles said calmly, "But as far as I know, the British have already done this, and have achieved some success."

Tijani was stunned: "You, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course." Charles replied, "A few months ago, the British successfully took off a wheeled plane from the Royal Fury. The reason why it is said to be partially successful is that it cannot land on the warship. After completing the mission, it must return to land."

This is why the "HMS Royal Fury" cannot be called the first aircraft carrier. In the end, it was the United States that successfully completed the take-off and landing first.

During this period, only Britain and the United States had the funds to continue experiments in this area.

Seeing that Tijani was still skeptical, Charles added, "Don't doubt it, General. A small plane only needs a runway of several dozen meters to take off. It is feasible for a warship to provide it with a take-off platform. It's just that it's hard to imagine that the navy would have such equipment."

Britain and the United States did not make the relevant experiments public, and the information was still a military secret during this period.

Moreover, Charles believed that Britain and the United States would speed up the development of aircraft carriers.

Because, taking off fighter jets from an aircraft carrier is the best and most correct way to deal with Charles torpedo attack aircraft.

Tijani stared at Charles in a daze, and suddenly exclaimed: "God, I must tell Lieutenant General Geprat about this!"

After saying that, he turned around, opened the door, and walked quickly downstairs.

This is no small matter, and the era of paradigm shift in naval warfare may well be coming sooner than anyone imagines.

At this time, the staff officer handed Charles a telegram.

It was a personal matter, from Stokes.

Stokes was anxious, he said, "Lieutenant General, I have a problem. I hope you can help me clarify that the British government may regard me as a traitor. As you know, the project we are working on is related to military industry, and I am a British citizen."

Charles put on a smile and replied calmly: "I want to help you and am willing to help you, Mr. Stokes. But in the current situation, don't you think I might make things worse? If you really want me to do this, I can clarify with the British government. I even had some degree of cooperation with the 'Minister of Munitions', but I can't guarantee what the consequences will be."

…

In London, England, Stokes, who was hiding in his villa and feeling restless like an ant on hot pot, was stunned when he received the telegram.

Charles is right. Charles is French and the person that Britain fears the most. Is it useful for him to clarify?

Not only will it be useless, it will make things worse.

It's just a desperate attempt to find a cure!

But now, what else can we do?

Soon, Stokes received another telegram from Shire: "I think you have only two options now: either withdraw from the project and tell the British government everything you know, but in the laboratory in Darwaz, I can only take it as compensation for your breach of contract. Or, stick to the project, no matter what difficulties you encounter."

The words were not made clear, but Stokes understood them.

In fact, these two paths are either to stand completely on the side of Britain or to stand completely on the side of France. There is no third way.

Exit the project and lose money from the lab?

No, then he would have nothing!

Then there is only...

"I understand, Lieutenant General," Stokes called back. "I know what to do!"

…

At the Antwerp headquarters, Charles raised his eyebrows and put the telegram into his pocket.

In fact, the British CIA was not very interested in Stokes. The British government at that time did not attach importance to tank guns and did not know their importance.

Therefore, the CIA did not send anyone to follow Stokes.

It was Charles who asked Lucia to follow Stokes and expose himself clumsily.

Only in this way can Stokes be forced to go to France and become a member of the Bernard Group.

Shire might not have needed to care about Stokes and his mechanical company before.

But now, the production of Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns and aircraft guns, and various types of anti-aircraft guns in the future, most of which are improved from existing artillery, requires mechanical experts rather than artillery experts.

It was certainly not appropriate to leave this to a British person.

But it would be different if the Englishman was a defector in France.

"General!" At this time, a signalman guarding the radio shouted and reported: "The Germans counterattacked. On the north bank of the Somme, they assembled a large number of armored forces. The British defense line is about to collapse."

Ciel frowned.

This seems different from the historical Battle of the Somme.

Although the British suffered heavy casualties in history, the front line was advancing slowly, and there was no possibility of a complete collapse due to the German counterattack.

What is the situation now?

Taking the map and unfolding it on the table, after thinking for a while, Ciel seemed to understand.

The British used tanks for the first time in history in the Battle of the Somme before they slowly advanced.

But now...

Because of the emergence of the Charles variable, the British tank evolution slowed down, and they are still using backward turretless tanks such as the Whippet.

And the Germans made significant progress in both tanks and applied tactics as a result of their battles with Charles.

On this basis, the Germans had the strength to defeat the British army, and the situation in the Battle of the Somme changed!

(End of this chapter)