The warm Aegean Sea has always had traces of human activities since ancient times. From the early Phoenicians to the ancient Greeks and then the Romans, people of all ages appeared in the Aegean Sea.
Today, a huge fleet passed through the Aegean Sea islands and sailed towards the north.
The scale of this fleet was so large that many passing merchant ships quickly avoided it. Because there were a large number of warships in this fleet, the flag on it showed its identity, Italy.
Vice Admiral Yagier was on his flagship Turin, looking at the mighty fleet under his command with complacency.
The fleet has assembled the most elite battleships of the Navy, five Durio and its improved class battleships, three Turin class, two Venetian improved class cruisers, plus a dozen other battleships. This fleet is in this fleet.
The sea is the absolute overlord.
Being able to stand out from other competitors, how could we not let Lieutenant General Yagir vent his inner joy?
On one side of the mighty warship, dozens of conscripted merchant ships sailed hard under the protection of the warship. They were fully loaded with various supplies and officers and soldiers for landing operations.
Yes, the Hurricane Plan is a landing war, but this time it is no longer a landing on an island, but also in conjunction with the attack on Saloniga by ally Bulgaria.
Although the Bulgarian First Army captured the key city of Komodini in Western Thrace, this did not liberate Bulgarian forces. However, the Bulgarian Second Army, which attacked Adrianople and was responsible for containing the enemy in the direction of Istanbul, had launched successive attacks.
Several emergency telegrams.
More and more enemies are coming across the sea from Istanbul, and they are almost overwhelmed.
Therefore, the First Army after capturing Komodini could only go to reinforce the Second Army. As for the Third Army that had just captured Kilkis, it also did not have enough strength.
On the one hand, they needed to withstand the counterattack of the Ottoman army in Macedonia, and on the other hand, they wanted to balance the lack of strength against the Salonic offensive, so Bulgaria turned to Italy.
The Italian Navy originally had a plan to land on the Balkan Peninsula, but it was not too early. According to the plan formulated by the Italian Navy, after seizing Crete, they prepared to compete for many Ottoman islands in the Aegean Sea, and then
Land in the Balkan Peninsula at the right time and cooperate with the frontal army troops.
Judging from the navy's arrangements, landing on the Balkan Peninsula comes second to the islands.
In addition, the Ottoman territory in North Africa has never been included in the navy's landing operations. Because the area is not located on a strategic location, it is of little use in defeating the Ottomans.
In addition, the current domestic perception of the region is that it is a desert wasteland, except for a few nomadic tribes? It cannot benefit Italy at all? It is more of an addition to the Albanian region. I have not seen the Ottomans in this region.
Only less than 5,000 troops have been deployed. The local population of more than 300,000 can only support so many troops.
But that’s still true? The plan couldn’t keep up with the changes. Who would have thought that the Bulgarians were so fierce? In just one week, they completed the blockade of the land connection between the Ottoman mainland and Macedonia. Coupled with Bulgaria’s request for help, the navy had to move
The plan to land in the Balkans has been advanced.
But fortunately, before that, the navy had basically completed the preparations for seizing the Aegean Islands. It only needed to change the target to Salonica.
So this operation allowed the navy to play a leading role? And of course Lieutenant General Yagir was very happy about this. Finally getting rid of the shelling of Ottoman ports? and escort and other unknown small tasks, he can lead the navy to show its capabilities.
Just when Lieutenant General Yagir was secretly happy, a staff officer ran over. "Reporting to your Excellency, Commander, our fleet is currently approaching Skyros Island."
As a senior navy officer, Lieutenant General Yagier certainly knows the location of Skyros Island. This island is about 240 nautical miles away from the Saloniga Peninsula that they need to reach. This is a day's work.
"Order the fleet to continue to maintain a speed of 10 knots. In addition, let the First Cruiser Fleet speed up and let them arrive in advance to prepare the front position for us."
"As you command, Your Excellency Commander."
Following the order of Lieutenant General Yagir, the first formation of cruisers, which were upgraded from two Venices to the core, immediately increased their speed, and they gradually distanced themselves from the large formation. Although in order to allow other cruisers to keep up, the two Venices were upgraded.
The class did not reach its maximum speed, but the speed of sixteen knots? It was much faster than the slow-moving Grand Fleet which was only ten knots. After two or three hours, the people of the Grand Fleet could no longer see its figure.
.
At this time, I am afraid that Rear Admiral Levi, who is in charge of leading the cruiser formation, is probably still thinking about trying to meet the aging Ottoman navy.
Vice Admiral Yagir looked at the slow fleet he commanded. He was still a little unaccustomed to it. But who needs to take care of the transport ships in the formation? These guys? If they can run ten knots, they are already high speed.
These transport ships carry nearly 40,000 officers and soldiers and their equipment. They are the entire 1st Marine Division, the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Marine Division and most of the Guards, the 1st Marine Division and the Guards, which are affiliated to the Navy.
We won’t say much more, we can still talk about this second division.
At present, the Second Marine Division is not full. Although it has the name of the Second Division, only the First Brigade of the Second Division currently has combat effectiveness. As for the Second Brigade, although it is full of personnel, its training has not been completed. It is currently left in Crete by the Navy.
Island, it is still possible to suppress the defeated Ottoman troops huddled in the mountains in the center of the island.
On one of the transport ships, Major Haldane Cosentz, the commander of the first battalion of the first brigade and second regiment of the 1st Marine Division, was writing and drawing in his room. He was doing what he had done before in Kerry.
Summary of the battle on Teshima.
Because his battalion landed late, it suffered little loss in the brutal street fighting. Therefore, without any rest time, it was sent together with other follow-up troops to chase down the defeated Ottoman troops. Only two days ago, they received the news.
Ordered to come out of the mountains, then boarded the transport ship to prepare for the next war.
Taking advantage of this free time, Cosentz certainly needed to summarize the previous battles, which he had been strongly required to do when he was in the Guards.
"During street fighting, the morale of the Ottoman officers and soldiers was obviously lower than that of the officers. Of course, this may be because the officers wanted to protect their rich property. However, the combat skills of the Ottoman soldiers were obviously much worse than ours.
It even happened once in our battalion. During an offensive battle, an Ottoman soldier fired at our soldiers ten meters away and missed. This is really unimaginable.
In addition, their soldiers also have poor maintenance of their guns. This can be seen from the enemy's guns that we captured. The bolts are almost stuck..."
While Cosentz was engrossed in writing, there was a knock on the door.
Cosentz's thoughts were interrupted and he had to get up to open the door.
"Hello, Major Cosentz, do you have time to have a drink with me?"
Cosentz recognized the person. He was another major on the same transport ship as him, Major Bandy Irvine. He was a battalion commander of the 2nd Marine Division. This man had already invited him to drink twice.
After drinking, I just wanted to gain battlefield command experience from him.
Cosentz, who originally wanted to refuse, swallowed his saliva and let the other person in after seeing the wine in his hand.
"Please take a seat, Major Erwin."
It has been a long time since he saw the golf wine from his hometown. When he saw this wine, he thought of the beautiful and charming daughter of the winery owner. Maybe he would ask someone to find out whether Miss Courtney is married.
Although Cosentz thought very far, he still drank happily with Major Erwin. After finally sending Major Erwin away feeling dizzy, he glanced at the notepad put away on the table and made some calculations.
