The Mediterranean climate in winter is rainy, which also leads to unpredictable weather. Not only did a strong wind and rain hit, it caused a mess in the air for the Italian airship responsible for exploring the Mediterranean waters.
At this time, in the sky, inside a small airship with the word N18 printed on its body, the members of the airship were busy.
"Agil, bring the No. 3 wrench."
On the suspended engine located at the rear of the airship, Haber, the airship maintainer, shouted to Yagier, the transmitter and assistant.
"Here, this is wrench No. 3."
A No. 3 wrench was handed to Haber, who was hanging on the engine. His oily hands took the wrench and began to work on the engine.
In addition to repairing the engine, other members of the N18 airship were also busy because of this violent storm. They were sewing and repairing, arranging the cables, and testing the transmitter. It can be said that after this storm, the N18
None of the twelve members of the airship can have a rest.
As a small airship, its ability to withstand weather changes is indeed much worse than that of medium and large airships.
However, there is nothing that can be done about it. Although the small airship is smaller in size and has a smaller windward surface, its power is worse and its self-sustaining ability is also worse, so its ability to resist weather changes is also poor.
Most of the airships currently performing reconnaissance missions over the Mediterranean are small airships like the N18.
In addition, in terms of the degree of damage, the N18 actually meets the standard for return to flight for repairs. However, meeting the standard does not mean that it can return to flight, because now, in order to ensure the surveillance mission in this sea area, unless another airship comes
Take over, otherwise No. 18 needs to continue to hold on.
Of course, if the N18 airship really suffers irrecoverable damage, it can send an emergency telegram and ask the Navy to send an airship to replace it. Of course, this emergency telegram must be used when the airship has been unable to complete its mission, and now N18
The airship has not yet reached this state.
For the Italian military, they are also aware of the various problems faced by small airships like the N18. However, the three major advantages of small airships are low construction cost, small number of personnel required, and low maintenance costs. They are used for reconnaissance missions.
can only rely on this kind of small airship, even if it has various shortcomings.
In fact, all countries are similar at present. The airships used for reconnaissance are all small models, even in the United States, which is rich and wealthy. Of course, it is not realistic to just rely on small airships to monitor the vast sea area between Crete and Malta. Only medium and large airships can be deployed.
As a supplement, this even affects the strategy for the island of Malta.
However, for Italy and even the Allied camp, the British Mediterranean Fleet is far more important than the island of Malta. Therefore, even if the Malta strategy does not go well, priority must be given to ensuring that the Mediterranean Fleet is known to the United Fleet as soon as it appears.
The N18 airship can only be parked in mid-air for maintenance, but the repair time is not long. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the N18 was finally restored after three hours of maintenance.
"Now we are going to area b3, we need to catch up on the progress."
Captain Hartsey held up a chart divided into countless small grids and talked about his next mission destination.
Each airship can patrol the sea area on its own. Generally speaking, each airship needs to patrol thousands of square nautical miles of sea area a day. Although the patrol range is not too large, there are requirements for the number of patrols. It must patrol once in the morning and afternoon.
, to ensure that the Mediterranean Fleet will not slip past.
Just as the N18 reconnaissance airship was preparing to finish its inspection this afternoon, suddenly the observer shouted loudly as if he had discovered something.
"At 10 o'clock on our left, we found a plume of smoke. There should be a large group of ships preparing to pass over there."
"What?"
Captain Hartsey took out his binoculars and looked over, and found that there was indeed a smoke column at 19 o'clock. Based on the size of the smoke column, there must be many ships.
"Turn around, let's rush towards the 10 o'clock position at full speed to see what ship caused it."
While issuing orders to the pilot, Hartsey picked up the ship identification chart issued by the Navy.
At this time, a large group of ships suddenly appeared, which made him feel something was wrong, so he first took the ship identification map in his hand.
His actions made other people on the airship quiver in their throats. This was not due to nervousness but excitement.
Soon, driven by a 920-horsepower diesel engine, the N18 airship rushed towards the direction of the suspicious fleet at an altitude of 3,000 meters and a speed of 117 kilometers.
At this time, the advantage of aerial reconnaissance is revealed. Although the speed of the airship is only over 100, it can see far from the height. In addition, compared with the speed of the battleship, which is only about 20 knots, the airship is much faster (one knot = 1.85 kilometers).
).
Half an hour later, the crew on the N18 was able to observe through clear telescopes what ship was emitting the smoke column.
At this time, Captain Hartsey and the lookout both showed surprised expressions, and then their expressions turned into surprise.
"This is the British fleet, we have captured them."
Captain Hartsey then carefully observed the fleet on the sea while flipping through the ship identification charts, trying to detect which warships they were.
"These are the enemy's Orion, Conqueror and Centurion..."
"That's the enemy's St. Vincent, Collingwood, Vanguard, Neptune..."
As captain Hartsey and other members chanted, they chanted all the main battleships of the British Empire's Mediterranean Fleet.
"Immediately, send a message to Taranto and tell them that we have discovered the Mediterranean Fleet sixty nautical miles west of Crete, including all its main warships."
When Hartsey was so excited that he shouted at the discovery of the Mediterranean Fleet, the Mediterranean Fleet at sea also discovered the airship in the sky.
"Admiral, we have been exposed to the eyes of the Italians."
A staff officer reported to Admiral Cardon who was also observing the N18 airship on the flagship Orion.
"I've seen it, go down."
After sending the staff officer away, Lieutenant General Robek, the chief of staff, said, "Now we have been exposed to the eyes of the Italians. I believe that tomorrow the eyes of the Italians will be attracted to us."
Kaden put down the telescope and looked at his chief of staff and said, "Isn't this what we planned?"
Yes, exposing the fleet to the Italians was a premeditated plan.
In order to reduce the pressure of discovery for the reinforcement formation, the Mediterranean Fleet decided to take advantage of the fact that it was a thorn in the eyes of the Italians, intending to attract all their attention to itself and create favorable conditions for it to pass through the Central Mediterranean.
And this is why the Mediterranean fleet will choose to appear in the eyes of the Italians two or three hours before the sun sets. Using the cover of night, Kaden can advance, attack, retreat or defend, and can decide whether to rush forward thousands of miles or retreat to a hiding place.
This is also a strategy set up by Carden to take advantage of Italy's convenience in investigation. Since the Italians have weaved an investigation network with great fanfare, and it is so airtight, if they don't take advantage of it, wouldn't it mean that the Italians underestimate the prestige of the British Empire?
.
Therefore, sometimes the investigation is too good and can be easily taken advantage of.
And in addition to the reinforcement formation, Kaden also has backup forces.
Therefore, it is still unclear who will win the upcoming naval battle.
