Chapter 1026: Blockade of the English Channel
If Charles really wanted to use the German fleet to consume the British fleet, Erzberger certainly would not dare to object. To be precise, it was the German Provisional Government that did not dare to object.
What will happen if we oppose it? What will be the consequences?
Not only would Germany have to pay a huge amount of reparations, but its naval warships would ultimately be unable to be preserved, and there was even a possibility that the warships would be "captured" by Britain and become its trophies.
So, choosing to consume the British Royal Fleet now while ensuring Germany's dignified surrender without having to bear reparations is certainly a good deal.
Therefore, Erzberger made a decision in just a moment's thought: "Don't worry, General, the High Seas Fleet will fight to the last moment. We will do our best to consume and delay the British fleet!"
"Consumption?" Charles was stunned when he heard the word, and then he realized that Erzberger had misunderstood.
"No, Herr Erzberger," said Charles. "You must have thought this was a desperate battle, in which the entire German High Seas Fleet would be sunk to the bottom of the sea."
Erzberger asked doubtfully, "Isn't it?"
The Royal Fleet was much more powerful than the German High Seas Fleet, and even though it suffered heavy losses in the Mediterranean, those losses were mostly old pre-dreadnoughts.
Its real strength lies in dreadnoughts and super dreadnoughts. Those pre-dreadnoughts that were to be eliminated were not even counted as "battleships" by the UK.
Under these circumstances, asking the High Seas Fleet and the French Brest Fleet to cooperate in confronting the main force of the British Royal Fleet would be tantamount to seeking death.
The reason why the Provisional Government dared to recall Admiral Scheer and organize the fleet to participate in the war was not to "defeat the British Royal Fleet", but to "delay the British Royal Fleet" so that it could not reinforce the Mediterranean, thereby increasing France's chances of winning.
But Charles was confident.
"Of course not," said Charles. "It was a decisive defeat of the Royal Navy."
Erzberger's eyes widened.
"This, this is impossible, Lieutenant General."
"I mean, your main force has been blocked in the Mediterranean."
"The Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea are right on Britain's doorstep and have always been waters under their absolute control..."
Charles interrupted Erzberger:
"I know, Mr. Erzberger."
"It's not hard to imagine that Britain will then divide its fleet into three parts."
"One part will be used to blockade the Strait in the waters west of Gibraltar, one part will attack the Brest Fleet, and the last part will continue to confront the German High Seas Fleet in the North Sea."
Erzberger nodded with difficulty: "Yes, yes, Lieutenant General."
He always believed that this was a meaningless battle and that the Royal Navy was completely defeated by the German High Seas Fleet in terms of both quantity and quality.
In a direct confrontation, the German High Seas Fleet had no chance of winning, even with Charles's extraordinary strategy and advanced equipment.
Therefore, the battle plan that Charles is talking about now is more like a "placebo" to deceive the German fleet into joining the game.
Ciel ignored Erzberger's negative reaction and continued his analysis:
"We will do our utmost to attract the strength of the Royal Fleet to the Strait of Gibraltar and the port of Brest."
"Then we will block the English Channel."
"This will reduce the number of British fleets you face, meaning you will face an enemy that is evenly matched with you..."
Erzberger didn't react for a moment. He stared blankly at Charles and asked hesitantly, "What?"
"The enemies you face are few, and it is possible for you to defeat them," said Charles.
"No, no, Lieutenant General." Erzberger shook his head. "You said before that you would blockade the English Channel?"
"Yes." Charles nodded, his expression calm.
"Did I hear correctly?" Erzberger was skeptical.
"I think you may be mistaken, Admiral."
"The English Channel has always been under the control of the Royal Navy."
"Only Britain can block it. No other country can do it, not even... not even the Netherlands and Belgium."
He thought Charles wanted to involve the countries surrounding the English Channel in joint efforts, such as laying mines.
Charles laughed. "No, Erzberger, we can do it without Belgium and Holland."
"But how can we do that?" Erzberger spread his hands. This was impossible.
Ciel took another map from a drawer and spread it out in front of Erzberger.
On this map, four cities were marked with red dots along the English Channel. Charles pointed to these four cities and said:
"We laid out the plan long ago, Mr. Erzberger."
"From Brest in the west to Caen, Dunkirk and finally Antwerp. We have built four airports in total."
"These four airports can easily control most of the English Channel, and even the entire section if you take into account the range of the aircraft."
Erzberger understood immediately: "Plane, you mean a plane, a plane that can bomb warships?"
Ciel nodded.
Erzberger exclaimed, "Unbelievable, Vice Admiral! Those planes can not only fight alongside aircraft carriers at sea, but they can also take off from land, right?"
Without waiting for Charles's reply, he muttered to himself:
"Yes, of course they can."
"It's obviously more difficult to take off from an aircraft carrier because its runway is smaller and the space is narrower. Taking off from an airport doesn't have these problems."
"I'm such a fool not to have thought of that!"
Erzberger is no fool, and most people don't consider this until they've had contact with an aircraft carrier.
For example, the UK didn't expect this.
They just thought that if they could block the aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, everything would be fine, and they would not have to face the bombers and torpedo attack planes that would hit them without any chance of fighting back.
Lacking air combat thinking, they didn't expect that aircraft carriers could not be blocked.
As long as there is enough space on land to build an airport, the aircraft on the aircraft carrier can transfer through it.
Therefore, air supremacy is the key to victory or defeat.
Erzberger looked at the map again, dancing with excitement.
"Excellent, Admiral, excellent."
"By drawing the main force of the British fleet into the Atlantic and then blockading the strait, the distance they have to travel to return for reinforcements will increase several times."
"By the time they arrive, our battle might be over. We might have already won!"
"God, this is our only plan that has any chance of defeating the Royal Fleet. It's a perfect plan!"
(The above picture shows the route taken by the British Royal Fleet to return for reinforcement after the English Channel was blocked. This route would be much longer than the original route and would not be able to attack the German High Seas Fleet from the rear)
(End of this chapter)
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