Italy landed on the island of Malta. This was like a command shot, and the Mediterranean Sea, which was originally covered with war clouds, immediately became unusual.
On the evening of the day when the Italian army landed on the island of Malta, the Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria took advantage of the sunset and sailed out of the station.
This time the elite Mediterranean fleet came out, including various types of dreadnoughts, pre-dreadnoughts, battle cruisers, equipment cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, torpedo boats, supply ships and hundreds of ships of various sizes.
The Mediterranean fleet went to sea and immediately emptied the previously crowded port.
How could the news of the Mediterranean fleet going to sea be hidden from Italy and Austria? In Alexandria, where there are dense lines of darkness, even a mosquito flying out will be observed.
In fact, the Allied Powers are not much better. They also have a lot of spies in the Port of Taranto. Even though the Italian intelligence agency has eliminated many of them, they are like mosquitoes in summer and cannot be eliminated no matter how hard they are eliminated.
After receiving the news that the Mediterranean Fleet had gone to sea, the combined fleet in Taranto Port quickly moved into action.
On the next day, airships departing from Libya and the Apennine Peninsula filled the sky. They closely monitored the waters east of the island of Malta. In order to complete the surveillance mission, Italy not only mobilized all the excess airships in hand, but also
Most of the small and medium-sized airships that carried out the Malta battle were also mobilized.
In addition to airships, the Italian Navy has also deployed many small and medium-sized warships to perform reconnaissance missions, and there are also many camouflaged reconnaissance ships. It can be said that the sea from the west of Crete to the east of Malta is occupied by both Italy and Austria.
The country is under surveillance. As long as the Mediterranean Fleet shows up, they will definitely be known by the United Fleet.
Such a dense and daunting reconnaissance network is the first move of the Combined Fleet. In order to grasp the movements of the Mediterranean Fleet, the staff of the Combined Fleet worked day and night to formulate this plan after carefully studying various information in the Central Mediterranean based on the situation in the Mediterranean.
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Yes, even the Italian Navy is already familiar with this sea area, but in order to prevent possible variables, it also needs to refer to other information, such as climate, hydrology, etc.
Although the sea conditions in the Mediterranean are not bad because it is surrounded by land, it still has to lose its temper occasionally in winter. Understanding and predicting the weather in advance is essential for the combined fleet. No one wants to see it, and it is difficult to cross the Mediterranean.
fleet, after catching it, a naval battle that attracted worldwide attention was disrupted by the weather.
When the Italians were searching for the Mediterranean Fleet east of Malta, Admiral Cardon, the target of the search, was leading the Mediterranean Fleet to sail slowly in the open sea south of Crete, far away from the waterway.
For Admiral Cardon at this moment, the Italians must know about his going to sea. He knew without thinking that Italians must be everywhere in the Central Mediterranean waiting for him to appear.
Of course, the card boarding general will definitely appear as they wish, but they will have to wait for this time.
"Where are the reinforcements?"
At this moment, on the flagship Orion, Admiral Cardon asked the chief of staff, Lieutenant General Roback, beside him.
"The news we received two days ago is that the reinforcement fleet led by Lieutenant General Sturdy has bypassed the sea off Ireland and is heading towards the Strait of Gibraltar. As for now, we have not received the news. Considering its need for covert operations, I think
No news at the moment is the best news, at least so far the plan is going well."
Lieutenant General Roback's words did not reassure him.
"Robeck doesn't need to say these words of comfort to me. It's normal not to be discovered from the North Sea to the Strait of Gibraltar. The Atlantic Ocean is so wide, it's very easy to avoid being seen, but you know what I'm worried about."
Although Admiral Cardon did not say it clearly, how could Lieutenant General Roback not know where it is easiest to be discovered? The Strait of Gibraltar is located at a strategic location and is also the only way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. There are so many ships passing by every day. If you want to
It would be extremely difficult to conceal the passage of reinforcement formations.
Although the Navy Department had formulated a careful plan before, according to estimates, the probability of being discovered was also very high.
"Admiral, we have to believe in the abilities of Lieutenant General Sturdy and Major General Millers (Governor of Gibraltar). Otherwise, we can only pray to God."
Lieutenant General Sturdy's words were very straightforward. Admiral Cardon also knew that his worries would not be of any help to the reinforcement formation. But looking at the huge fleet, he only felt a heavy pressure on his shoulders. Ask about the reinforcement formation.
The position is just a way for him to relieve stress.
It goes without saying where Admiral Cardon's pressure comes from. No one can feel relaxed when shouldering the heavy responsibility of the Mediterranean Fleet, one of Britain's two pillar fleets.
The reinforcement formation that Cardon and others were worried about was currently sailing slowly in an area far away from the waterway off the coast of Portugal. Four tall and mighty warships and several smaller ships were the reinforcements that Cardon and others were thinking about.
formation.
The reason why the reinforcement formation is reducing its speed at this moment is because it is waiting for nightfall. The Strait of Gibraltar is too busy and there is no way it can get through without the cover of darkness. Of course, this also requires the help of the Gibraltar garrison.
"Reporting to your Excellency, Commander, Gibraltar has just sent a telegram, asking us to proceed according to the plan. They will start to block the strait with the order of exercise at ten o'clock in the evening, and will end at four o'clock in the morning."
At this time, on the flagship Agincourt, the communications officer was reporting the news just received from Gibraltar to the commander, Lieutenant General Sturdy.
The fate of this battleship, which was ridiculed as a multi-turret religious relic in later generations, was also bumpy. Initially, Brazil ordered the construction of the "Rio de Janeiro" battleship from the British Armstrong Company, but later Brazil was unable to continue to pay due to economic crisis and financial constraints.
The construction cost was later taken over by the Ottomans who wanted to revitalize the navy, and it was renamed the Ottoman Sultan and continued construction. However, the war broke out when the construction was completed, and the battleship was taken over by the British who were in urgent need of battleships. Directly.
It was renamed HMS Akulkin and served in the British Navy. The same fate as HMS Akulkin was also HMS Ireland, which was originally ordered by the Ottomans as the HMS Ressadyh. It was also built in the UK and was also used by other ships.
requisition.
What do you think of the original owners, the Ottomans?
This is not simple. Just wait until the British Empire is used up and return it to the Ottomans. How dare these sick men of the Near East have any objections?
Didn’t you see that the warships built for Chile, Greece and other countries were also drafted by the British Empire? Everyone was treated equally, so what is there to complain about? (Among the warships built by various countries in the UK, the Ottomans were treated the worst, and there was no treatment at all.
Not to mention compensation, it is simply a humiliating condition).
Of course, Lieutenant General Sturdy doesn't care where his warships came from. He is currently marking something on the chart.
"Order the fleet to increase the speed to 10 knots, and we will arrive in the Strait of Gibraltar before ten o'clock."
After putting down the pencil drawing on the chart, Lieutenant General Sturdy ordered.
Following his order, the reinforcement fleet immediately speeded up, and they headed for the Strait of Gibraltar, where they were most easily discovered.
