While the "Bismarck" sank the "HMS Hood", it was also damaged by the "Prince of Wales".
Accompanying the "Prince of Wales" and "Hood" in encircling and suppressing the "Bismarck" were three cruisers. Among them, the "Suffolk" cruiser was equipped with an advanced sea search system and was following not far from the "Bismarck". Report the location of the "Bismarck" at any time.
Considering the combat effectiveness of the "Bismarck", the "Prince of Wales" did not take the initiative to attack the "Bismarck". At this time, the failure of the "Prince of Wales" had not been repaired. Once the naval battle broke out again, the outcome would be unpredictable.
In the previous naval battle, the "Bismarck" was also seriously damaged. It kept leaking oil during its voyage, leaving a significant mark on the waterway.
At this time, the "Bismarck" had not even turned around and returned, but continued southward. The Southern African military therefore determined that the purpose of the "Bismarck" was to threaten the waterway between southern Africa and the United Kingdom.
On June 1, the number of warships encircling and suppressing the Bismarck increased to 11, including the aircraft carrier "Victory" which had just been commissioned.
After the outbreak of the European War, the United Kingdom increased its emphasis on aircraft carriers. In just one year, four aircraft carriers were put into service, and the strength of the Royal Navy was greatly increased.
However, British carrier-based aircraft pilots are not skilled enough. They cannot even fly at night, and the performance of the carrier-based aircraft is not good enough.
Despite their many flaws, British pilots were brave.
On the afternoon of the 1st, the "Victory" dispatched nine "Sailfish" torpedo planes in heavy rain to launch an air attack on the "Bismarck".
There were numerous anti-aircraft guns on the "Bismarck". Three of the nine "Sailfish" were shot down. Only three "Sailfish" successfully fired torpedoes at the "Bismarck". The other three lost their way in the heavy rain and could not find the "Bismarck". "Bismarck".
Two of the three torpedoes missed, and only one hit the "Bismarck".
The "Bismarck" had the strongest protection capabilities at the time and could still sail after being hit by a torpedo.
However, this also made the commander of the "Bismarck" realize that even if it escaped the Royal Navy's encirclement and suppression, the "Bismarck" would not be able to complete its mission, so on the night of the 1st, the "Bismarck" turned around and tried to return to the port of Brest.
This was beyond the Royal Navy's expectations.
It was stormy and stormy on the night of the 1st, and the heavy raindrops hit people blindly. The "Bismarck" suddenly disappeared from the radar of the "Suffolk", which frightened everyone.
Regardless of the serious injury of the "Bismarck", if it encounters any British warship alone, including the latest "King George V" class battleships, there is no guarantee of victory against the "Bismarck".
What's more, an aircraft carrier like the "Victory" will definitely be sunk as long as the "Bismarck" gets close.
However, when the "Bismarck" disappeared, planes could not take off due to bad weather, so the British warships stopped the search operation, which had a huge impact on the search the next day.
On the 2nd, more warships joined the search for the "Bismarck", including the "Basutoland" belonging to the Southern African Atlantic Fleet, and the "Madagascar" which rushed from Halifax.
So far, the number of Allied warships rounding up the "Bismarck" has increased to 27.
"The Bismarck was severely damaged in the previous battle, and the speed dropped to less than 20 knots. We have dispatched reconnaissance aircraft to search the surrounding waters centered on the missing dot of the Bismarck." In the Madagascar bridge, First Officer Anthony
Kit frowned. What he was most worried about now was the sudden appearance of the "Bismarck" near the "Madagascar".
Although "Madagascar" was surrounded by six Atlantic Fleet cruisers for protection, Anthony felt no sense of security in his heart.
The combat effectiveness of the "Bismarck" is too terrifying.
As an aircraft carrier, "Madagascar" never considered the issue of protection when it was built.
Even the "Hood" with more than 10,000 tons of protective armor was sunk by the "Bismarck". The fragile protection of "Madagascar" was useless to the "Bismarck".
Of course, as long as the distance is kept, "Bismarck" has no chance to attack "Madagascar".
The maximum speed of the "Bismarck" is only 30 knots.
The maximum speed of "Madagascar" can reach 32 knots.
As long as the distance is increased, the "Madagascar" can use the kite tactics to consume the "Bismarck" alive.
"The torpedo aircraft force is ready to attack at any time. Once the Bismarck is discovered, it will immediately launch an attack." Li Ao had anger in his eyes.
Last night, a southern African fleet was attacked and two transport ships were sunk.
What's worse is that because of the bad weather last night, the escorting destroyer failed to find the German submarine that launched the attack, which made Li Ao feel very bad.
After Southern Africa entered the war, Southern African merchant ships also became targets of attacks by German submarines.
In order to avoid greater casualties, both southern Africa and the United Kingdom adopted a convoy system, sending destroyers and cruisers with powerful anti-submarine capabilities to escort transport ships. The effect was quite good, effectively reducing the losses of merchant ships.
The Germans would definitely not sit idly by. After southern Africa and the United Kingdom adopted the escort system, the "lone wolf" tactic of launching an attack by a single German submarine gradually lost its effectiveness. The Germans then upgraded the "lone wolf" tactic to a "wolf pack"
The tactics involved multiple submarines cooperating to launch attacks on southern Africa and the British fleet.
The Atlantic Fleet and the Royal Navy once again increased their escort efforts, and the intensity of the battle between the two sides continued to escalate.
"An American merchant ship sent a telegram. They seem to have discovered the Bismarck." The communications officer looked in disbelief when he took off his earphones.
Like the relationship between Russia and Germany, the relationship between the United States and Germany is equally complex.
Merchant shipping continued to be lost throughout the Atlantic, in southern Africa, and in Britain. American merchant ships plying between Europe and the United States were never attacked by German submarines.
This makes people very angry.
The key point is that many of these American merchant ships are heading directly to the European continent. Although Americans no longer do business with Germany in name, southern Africa and the United Kingdom have no control over the trade between Americans and the Dutch, Norwegians, and even the French.
French
Vichy France is now nominally neutral, but it attacked Britain after Operation Ballista.
Britain was worried about pushing Vichy France further into Germany, so it did not make any further attacks on Vichy France.
The latest news is that French Navy Commander Darlan is negotiating with Germany regarding Vichy France's navy.
The Germans hoped that the Vichy French navy would join the Italian Navy in attacking the British Mediterranean Fleet and the Southern African Cyprus Squadron.
Darlan hoped that the French navy would remain neutral and preserve its strength as much as possible.
Darlan's current position is very embarrassing. He once told people around him: There are at least four people from four factions who want him to die.
The four are easy to understand, the French, the Germans, the British, and the southern Africans.
It's really not easy for Darlan to persist in living in such a dangerous environment.
Darlan in another time and space was assassinated in Algiers after he decided to join the Allies.
It is difficult to say about this time and space, because the final decision has not yet been made on whether Darlan will be destroyed or not.
"Location!" Li Ao became energetic.
The relationship between Americans and Germans cannot be said to be good.
For the sake of gold, Americans don't care whether German expansion is evil or not. As long as there is money to be made, Americans can sell their souls to the devil.
The Germans still have gold.
Americans can still make money.
So the United States is in no rush to join the war.
If one day the Germans run out of gold, the Americans will end up as quickly as possible.
Just like the last world war.
The communications officer quickly reported the location.
Not the English Channel.
Nor Brest, France.
Looking at the course, the destination of the "Bismarck" should be a port in Spain.
Li Ao was now certain that the "Bismarck" should be severely damaged and unable to return to Brest on its own, so he could only head to the nearest Spanish port.
Speaking of the relationship between Germany and Spain, there is no doubt that the mustache and the fat bald head were put together by Franco.
During the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy gave huge help to the Falangist Party led by Franco, and the Falangist Party was able to defeat the Spanish Popular Front supported by Russia and win the Spanish Civil War.
After the Spanish Civil War, Germany and Italy once again provided economic assistance to the Spanish Falang Party in order to win Franco's support and help Spain regain its strength.
Unexpectedly, after the outbreak of the European War, Franco repeatedly rejected the requests of Germany and Italy. Not only did he not cooperate with Germany in attacking France during "Operation Sickle", but after France gave up its resistance, Franco also refused to attack the British-controlled Gibraltar.
Makes Mustache very angry.
The reason why Franco rejected the mustache and bald head had a lot to do with the wooing of southern Africa and the United Kingdom.
Like Mustache and Fat Bald, Rock and Winston also hope that Spain can join the Allies, at least not join the Axis Powers. For this reason, after the outbreak of the European War, Southern Africa and the United Kingdom also gave Spain a lot of assistance.
This probably gave Franco the illusion that Spain could continue to benefit as long as it dealt with the Allies and the Axis powers.
Regarding Franco's ability to have both sides.
Winston was in a bad mood.
Rock was disgusted.
So before Li Ao sent torpedo planes to attack the "Bismarck", he very cleverly sent a telegram to Pretoria.
Soon, Pretoria replied: Telegraphing to the Spanish government that the "Bismarck" was not allowed to enter Spanish ports, let alone provide supplies for the "Bismarck".
Anyone else would probably be confused about this command.
If you want to sink the "Bismarck", you don't need to go to such trouble at all. Just order "Madagascar" to send out torpedo planes and launch a wave of attacks on the "Bismarck".
When the American merchant ship sent the telegram, the "Bismarck" was still nearly 200 kilometers away from the nearest Spanish port. With the "Bismarck"'s current speed of less than 20 knots, the "Bismarck" could not escape even if it had wings.
Sending a telegram to the Spanish government posed a problem for the Spaniards.
Should we let the "Bismarck" enter the port?
If they are not allowed to enter the port, the "Bismarck" will definitely be sunk, which will lead to an overall deterioration in the relationship between Spain and Germany.
If it is allowed to enter the port, it will offend southern Africa and the United Kingdom.
Don't forget that Gibraltar is also home to an airborne division from Southern Africa.
There is also a powerful Third Army fishing in North Africa.
Franco was not optimistic about the prospects of war if relations between southern Africa and Spain deteriorated.
In fact, just two months ago, Franco sent a telegram to Ribbentrop.
At that time Ribbentrop wanted Spain to join the Axis powers.
Franco's reply was: If Ribbentrop could produce evidence that the Axis powers would win, then Spain would immediately join the Axis powers.
Ribbentrop's reply was "Just wait."
meaning of waiting
It's not that Germany wants to retaliate against Spain.
But Plan Barbarossa.
With the dispatch of the telegram, the problem came to Spain.
The Spaniards are probably very confused and in a dilemma now.
However, the Spaniards did not have much time to think. The speed of 20 knots was not fast for a warship, but 200 kilometers was not very far. The commander of the "Bismarck" did not know what was happening.
The commander of the British warship was also very depressed.
"Bismarck" sank "HMS Hood" before, and all Royal Navy officers and soldiers vowed to sink "Bismarck" and bury "HMS Hood" with her.
Now the "Bismarck" is not far away, sailing hard to the Spanish port. All it takes is to send out a torpedo plane group to sink the "Bismarck".
However, in order to force the Spanish government to express its position, the military in Southern Africa refused to launch an attack on Bismarck, and also refused to allow the Royal Navy to initiate action. This made the generals of the Royal Navy very dissatisfied.
Admiral John Tovey, the new commander of the British Royal Navy's Home Fleet, who had already boarded the battleship "King George V" and personally commanded the hunt for "Bismarck", was even more dissatisfied.
"Never mind the conspiracy of the Southern Africans, soldiers should not be involved in politics, our mission is to sink the 'Bismarck' and avenge Lieutenant General Lancelot Holland and the 'Hood', everything else is fine
Put it on hold for now!" John Tovey had a tough character and insisted on ordering the "Victory" to send torpedo planes to attack the "Bismarck".
"It is raining heavily where the Victory is located, and the weather conditions are bad. It is very difficult for us to dispatch torpedo planes." John Tovey's adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Richards Burke, euphemistically said that soldiers do not get involved in politics? Stop being ridiculous, just count them.
Several fleet commanders entered politics after leaving office.
"Storm and night are not our enemies, cowardice and incompetence are!" John Tovey was stern.
Speaking of last night, if the captain of the "Victory" ignored the night and storm and insisted on sending torpedo planes to attack the "Bismarck", then there would be no story today.
Of course, as for whether the pilots who braved the storm and dark night to take off from the "Victory" could successfully return to the "Victory" after completing their missions, this was certainly not within the scope of John Tovey's consideration.
