Arriving at Colonel Parisi's office, General Crook was already sitting on the sofa in the reception area waiting. Seeing Fang Lang and Colonel Parisi come in, he pointed to the sofa next to him and said, "I'm here, General."
"Come and sit down."
Fang Lang glanced at Colonel Parisi and sat on it together.
"Why, I see you seem to have some questions?"
General Crook smiled and lit a cigar.
"Report to the general! I will resolutely carry out the order!"
Fang Lang didn't know much about the Rear Admiral in front of him, so he certainly didn't dare to tell the truth! He could only obey orders and follow instructions.
Hearing Fang Lang's words, General Crook didn't care. He smiled and handed the cigar box to the two men, motioning them to take one. Fang Lang was about to say that he didn't smoke cigars and was about to refuse.
He was kicked on the foot, and he knew it was Colonel Parisi's action, and he was stunned. He saw Colonel Parisi reaching out to take out a cigar from the cigar box with a smile on his face.
...
...
Just when Fang Lang thought it was an illusion and was about to reach out to refuse again, his foot was kicked again. Now Fang Lang understood what Colonel Parisi meant. Colonel Parisi knew that Fang Lang did not smoke, but he still kicked Fang Lang twice.
Fang Lang quickly reached out his hand and took out a cigar from the cigar box with a smile on his face. Although Fang Lang didn't understand why Colonel Parisi asked him to take the cigar, Fang Lang knew that Colonel Parisi should have no ill intentions.
Seeing that both of them had received cigars, General Crook casually put down the cigar box and said:
"Fang, don't be nervous. We are all family. I understand that it was you two who proposed to General Morais to go to the Pacific battlefield this time.
I agree with your idea that the Brazilian Navy needs a modernized naval fleet. This is indeed a rare opportunity, and I must express my admiration for your wisdom.
I don't know what kind of relationship Fang has with the U.S. Navy's Fifth Carrier Strike Group that would allow them to suddenly invite you to join their fleet and fight together.
However, I want to tell you that the Brazilian Navy has seen your efforts in building a modern naval fleet for the Brazilian Navy, and the Brazilian Navy will never forget your contribution. "
Fang Lang was a little confused by what he said, and he didn't know whether what General Crook said was true or sarcastic. Thinking about the naval officers of his country getting too close to the naval officers of other countries, according to Fang Lang's thinking, this was a wrong political tendency that should not appear.
So Fang Lang didn't know how to respond to General Crook's words, and could only bite the bullet and defend himself:
“General, I really hope that our Brazilian Navy can have a modern fleet to safeguard the security of our own sea borders.
Privately, I did contact some of my friends in the British and American armies, hoping that they could provide some help. But please rest assured that I am Brazilian, and everything I do is for the rise of the Brazilian Navy. ”
General Crook laughed and said:
"Fang, don't be nervous. We don't mean to blame you. Britain and the United States are both our allies. It is very necessary to maintain long-term, smooth and effective communication with the military of advanced countries.
We, the Brazilian Navy, highly appreciate your proactive and effective communication with both navies this time.
It was because of your communication that the United States agreed to sell us a Cleveland-class cruiser, two Fletcher-class destroyers, and a Shark-class submarine at a low price after the war. They even said they would give us two LST tank landing craft.
After communication between the expeditionary force command and the Brazilian Navy and Defense Departments, it was finally decided to assign all of these new warships to your Navy's First Fleet.
We hope that during your visit to the Fifth Aircraft Carrier Strike Group of the United States, you will be able to seriously learn from the combat experience of the aircraft carrier battle group and lay a solid foundation for Brazil to have its own aircraft carrier battle group in the future."
General Crook's statement is equivalent to directly indicating that the Brazilian Navy will focus on training Fang Lang and make him the commander of the Brazilian Navy's first aircraft carrier formation in the future.
Before Fang Lang could express his excitement, Colonel Parisi slapped his thigh and said:
"Fang, you are awesome. In this way, our Brazilian Navy will soon have its own aircraft carrier battle group. I never thought that our Brazilian Navy would become so powerful one day.
You actually have connections with the US aircraft carrier battle group, you must make good use of it! Learn more about the combat experience of the aircraft carrier battle group. When we really have our own aircraft carrier battle group one day, you must invite me to visit the aircraft carrier!"
As a naval commander, no one can refuse the appeal of aircraft carriers. Although there were many battleship fans in the Brazilian Navy before the war, as the war continued, battleships have gradually been marginalized.
The Brazilian Navy had no experience with submarines, let alone aircraft carriers, so Fang Lang's ability to participate in the battle of the US aircraft carrier battle group was seen by knowledgeable people in the Brazilian Navy as a rare practical learning opportunity.
Unfortunately, the Americans did not invite everyone to study together, but only invited Fang Lang. So, in this matter, Fang Lang naturally became the only candidate for the commander of the aircraft carrier fleet.
Since Fang Lang was the only candidate, the escort fleets needed to support the aircraft carrier would of course be handed over to Fang Lang for command. This made the voices in the Brazilian Navy who wanted to divide up these new warships be directly ignored.
Seeing that the two of them didn't seem to care much about his specific relationship in the US Navy, Fang Lang didn't explain too much. What he was most concerned about now was the specific composition of his fleet.
"General, please rest assured! I will definitely make good use of this rare opportunity to learn from the actual combat experience of the advanced aircraft carrier fleet.
Just now you said that the Americans gave us warships only after the war was over and then sold them to us at a low price, right?"
After seeing General Crook exhale a puff of smoke, he nodded while motioning for the two to light their cigarettes. Fang Lang continued:
"Then I can just take the House and the captured submarine with me when I go to the Pacific battlefield this time, right?"
General Crook nodded and said:
"Yes, it's up to you whether you need to bring the submarine with you. However, our crew is still in the process of learning how to operate the submarine, so I hope you can give them some time to learn.
In addition, our Brazilian Navy's future plan for your First Fleet is to enable it to become an independent combat unit with joint sea, land and air strike capabilities.
Although we don't have an aircraft carrier yet, we will draw ten fighters and pilots from the expeditionary air force and place them under your command. In the early stages, they will use seaplanes for training in Natal and will be ready to follow your orders at any time.
As for the army, after coordination with General Morais of the expeditionary force, we will equip you with a land force of 400 to 500 people. We allow you to form the specific personnel and commanders yourself.
I hope you can seize the time and set up the First Fleet as soon as possible, and submit a complete report to our Navy Department.
As for going to the Pacific battlefield, you must hurry up. Considering the Battle of Okinawa that the United States is currently launching, it is said that the US Marine Corps has suffered nearly 20,000 casualties, and the Japanese Army is still resisting stubbornly. General Moraes suggests that you can lead your Marines to Japan.
Although the number of troops is small, it can also let our allies see the strength of our support for them."
Fang Lang did not expect that the Brazilian Navy would be so anxious. Now, before there is even the shadow of an aircraft carrier, they have already started to equip themselves with fighter jets and marines.
In history, Brazil's first aircraft carrier was the giant aircraft carrier "Revenge", which was purchased from the British in 1956. At this time, this aircraft carrier has just been completed in a British shipyard and has not yet entered service in the British fleet.
Judging from the time, Brazil has indeed been dreaming of an aircraft carrier, and even a little impatient. In history, there was no such little butterfly, but now it seems that Brazil may really have an aircraft carrier of its own ahead of time.
As for the Battle of Okinawa that the Americans are currently organizing, Fang Lang knows that it will be difficult for him to catch up, after all, the battle will be completely over at the end of June.
By the time he set out to Saipan, the battle would have been over. After the Battle of Okinawa, Fang Lang knew very well that there would be no large-scale wars.
This war basically destroyed Japan's last naval power. Of course, this does not mean that all Japanese naval ships were sunk, but it consumed Japan's last fuel reserves.
In order to respond to the Battle of Okinawa launched by the U.S. military, the Japanese Combined Fleet went to great lengths to collect 2,500 tons of fuel, less than half of the Yamato's fuel tank capacity of 6,400 tons, barely enough to guarantee the one-way fuel consumption to Okinawa.
After this battle, the American warship anchorage was moved directly to Okinawa Island, and most of the time, aircraft were used to launch bombings on the Japanese mainland.
Admiral William Leahy, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, pointed out to the current U.S. President Truman that the next direction of attack would be Japan's Kyushu Island.
Compared with the level of Japanese resistance on Okinawa Island, if the Battle of Kyushu Island was launched, the United States would need to deploy about 767,000 Marines and be prepared for 268,000 casualties, which is about the same number as the number of US troops killed in various battlefields around the world so far.
Therefore, the US government was very reluctant to launch a landing operation easily, and US President Truman also made it clear that "he hoped to prevent the recurrence of an Okinawa-style battle throughout Japan."
According to the plan formulated by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, it was called for an attack on Kyushu Island in the fall of 1945 and an attack on Honshu Island, the main island of Japan, in March 1946.
President Truman also agreed to the plan. If the "Little Boy and Fat Man" bombs had not been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, directly breaking through the psychological defenses of the Japanese devils, this homeland attack plan would have been implemented.
If this plan is really to be implemented, Brazil will definitely not be able to send in a battalion of marines. Fortunately, this plan will not be implemented.
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