When London announced that the Home Fleet would patrol the North Sea and conduct tactical exercises at sea, preparations were also being made in Alexandria, where the British Mediterranean Fleet is based.
"Hang it a little higher."
"Come here and help me."
"This pile of supplies does not belong to our Collingwood, but to the Vanguard. Don't make a mistake just because our two ships are almost the same."
At this time, there was an extremely busy scene in Alexandria. A large number of supplies and ammunition were being loaded onto the battleships. Even people who did not understand the navy saw this and knew that this was the battleship's last move before going to sea.
Preparation.
At this time, a large number of battleships were parked in Alexandria. On the far left pier were four St. Vincent-class ships (St. Vincent, Collingwood, Vanguard, and Neptune). These four battleships formed the third battleship of the Mediterranean Fleet.
The squadron is the pacesetter in various trainings of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Next to the four St. Vincent-class ships, there is the second battleship squadron composed of three Colossus-class battleships (Colossus, Hercules, Montague)
It is the last dreadnought built by the British, and it is also the fastest dreadnought from construction to service. In response to news of the expansion of the German and Italian navies, the British Navy urgently built three Colossus-class ships.
Faced with the requirements of the Admiralty, the British shipyards were already familiar with the construction of dreadnoughts. Coupled with the use of mature design plans, the warship was completed from construction to launch in just one year.
Of course, including outfitting, sea trials, etc., it still took two years to enter service.
It only took a little more than two years from the beginning of construction to the entry into service. The construction of the Colossus class was already very fast. Of course, being fast also came at a price. After the Colossus class was handed over to the Navy, its officers and soldiers did not perform very well, and minor problems emerged one after another.
, and then it was considered normal to go to the shipyard to make some minor changes.
Then next to the Colossus class is the core of the Mediterranean battleship formation, the three super-dreadnought battleships of the first squadron of the Mediterranean fleet battleships, Orion, Conqueror and Centurion. Although these three ships belong to the Orion class respectively
and the George V class, but as they were built in the same year and there is little difference in firepower, protection, and speed between the two battleships, there is no problem in forming them into a team.
Among them, the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet is the Orion of the squadron. This battleship is a battleship urgently developed by the British after learning that Germany and Italy wanted to put a 350mm main gun on the ship. The ship is equipped with the 13.5-inch 45mm main gun developed by the British.
Double caliber naval gun (343 mm).
In terms of power, protection, and firepower, this Orion class is the benchmark super-dreadnought ship of Germany and Italy. Except for the speed (22 knots) which is slightly lower than the Italian Cavour class, there are no other differences.
big.
Of course, as one of the most important fleets in the UK, in addition to battleships, the Mediterranean Fleet also includes new types of ships that have appeared in recent years, battlecruisers. The current battlecruiser formation of the Mediterranean Fleet is docked at the First Battleship Squadron
On the right side. Invincible, Indefatigable, and Indomitable formed the vanguard of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Different from history, due to the Italian Taranto class as a reference and potential target, the Invincible class battle cruiser must be designed from the beginning to not be lower than or close to the Taranto class in terms of performance. Therefore, in this time and space, the Invincible class
The length and displacement of battle cruisers are constantly rising.
The standard displacement of this class of warships reaches 22,300 tons, and the full load reaches 25,100 tons. In terms of firepower, the ship is equipped with 8 305 mm 45 times main guns, 16 single-mounted 45 times diameter 102 mm secondary guns, and 5 457 mm guns.
Underwater torpedo tube.
In terms of power, it is equipped with 24 kerosene mixed boilers and 2 steam turbines with four shafts. The maximum output power is 52,000 horsepower and the maximum speed is 26 knots.
Moreover, because of the threat of the Taranto-class in terms of armor, the thin-skinned and large-stuffed Invincible-class disappeared, and instead something capable of competing with the Taranto-class appeared.
In fact, it’s normal to think about it. The British are not stupid. If Italy comes up with a battleship with excellent performance in all aspects, how can I come out with a warship with poor performance? And as the overlord of the sea, then it must not be used on the warship.
If you lag behind others, at least you can't let others see it.
Everyone is a naval player, so everyone has a good idea of the performance of a warship. You don't say that a warship that can only run 21 knots can run 24 knots, because everyone can see it at a glance.
.
As for the Indefatigable, it is an improved version of the Invincible. Its performance has been improved to a certain extent compared to the Invincible. However, there is not much difference in the three key data of firepower, protection, and speed. It is far inferior to Italy's latest Milan-class.
Dress up for patrol.
Having said this, in fact, the most embarrassing thing among the Mediterranean formations is these "perfect cats", because in terms of quantity and quality, they are suppressed by their opponents, the Italian battle patrol formations.
Faced with this situation, the officers and men of the battle patrol formation of the Mediterranean Fleet jokingly said that they were definitely the most unique existence in the British Empire Navy, because their mission was to run away when they saw the enemy.
There is no way not to run away, the number is 3 to 5, and the opponent also has a Milan class equipped with a 350mm main gun. Once the three battle cruisers of our own are entangled, the end will definitely be bad.
Regarding the dilemma of the battle patrol formation, the Mediterranean Fleet and the Admiralty were as clear as a mirror, but adding battle patrols to the Mediterranean Fleet was a no-brainer and was rejected directly at the source.
Because it is very simple. Like battleships, the British Empire's battlecruisers are not rich. Thanks to the addition of Italy as a disruptor, the British Empire has more requirements for the quantity and quality of battleships.
This also requires the British Empire to spend more money than in history to maintain its throne as the world's largest navy.
Although the UK is a world hegemon with a rich and powerful population, it is not easy to increase military spending. The government, parliament and even the people need an explanation.
In a sense, European countries at that time were insufficiently prepared and aware of this war. They all made preparations based on the previous war, or at most strengthened them, except for the Kingdom of Italy under the leadership of Carlo.
This also led to Britain's lack of preparation for Italy's sudden increase in strength, resulting in insufficient growth in the strength of the Mediterranean fleet.
Of course, this is already the best result for the commander whose commander card is on board.
Looking at the busy officers and soldiers at the dock, he turned to the Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Roback and said, "This is our best chance and our last chance."
"Yes Admiral, God bless the British Empire."
Lieutenant General Roback strongly agreed with what General Cardon said.
As senior leaders in the military, they know more than ordinary officers and soldiers.
Although the Italian navy currently has the advantage, their Mediterranean fleet can still resist and delay its opponents.
If the time reaches next year, the Italians' period of strength will continue to expand. Because next year Italy's Roma class will be in service. Its cutting-edge warships equipped with 380 mm main guns, no warship in the Mediterranean fleet can resist it.
The Queen Elizabeth class, which the British can compete with, started construction a little later. Even if the navy keeps urging, its service time will be eight months to one year later than the Italian Rome class. (This is considered a three-nation alliance.
The results of the research allowed Germany and Italy to obtain new technologies earlier, which allowed the new warships they developed to start construction faster.)
Eight months is enough time for the Italians to establish their absolute superiority in the Mediterranean. By that time, unless Britain transfers all eight Elizabeth-class ships to the Mediterranean, it will be difficult to regain the advantage.
Precisely because the situation is so dangerous, it is necessary to defeat the Italians' spirit before their advantage expands.
Otherwise, if the Roman class is put into service, then whether the Mediterranean fleet can defend Egypt will be a question.
