Southern Africa's need for precision-guided bombs is actually far less urgent than that of the German army.
There are only a few ships in the entire Mediterranean Axis. Even if they are equipped with precision-guided bombs, they still lack targets worthy of using precision-guided bombs.
The cost of precision-guided bombs is much more expensive than ordinary bombs. Most of the tasks that precision-guided bombs can complete can also be completed by ordinary bombs. The British have already begun to use bombs weighing ten tons. It is not impossible to build heavier ones.
came out, but there were no suitable bombers, and even the "Super Flying Fortress" couldn't fit it.
Of course, precision guided bombs must be developed. The Axis powers are weak in the Mediterranean, but Japan still has two super battleships. These two battleships are a serious concern for the Allies.
Although Rock has always disliked battleships, when two super battleships with a full load displacement of more than 70,000 tons appeared on the battlefield, Rock still felt worried.
This is the largest displacement battleship in the history of the world. The latest "Iowa" class battleship in the United States has a full load displacement of only 57,000 tons. The "Yamato" and "Musashi" are a whole circle larger than the "Iowa".
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The main gun of the "Yamato" is three triple-mounted Type 94 45 times caliber 460 mm naval guns. This is also the largest caliber artillery in the world. The Japanese army equipment has been criticized, but the naval strength is still very strong.
In addition to nine 460mm main guns, the Yamato's armament system also includes four triple-mounted 60-caliber 155mm naval guns, 12 twin-mounted 127mm naval guns, 45 triple-mounted guns, and 21 single-mounted 25mm naval guns.
naval guns, and 7 carrier-based aircraft.
In May this year, a patrol fleet composed of two US destroyers and a Southern African light cruiser unexpectedly encountered the Yamato in waters north of the Philippines.
The Allied fleet bravely launched an attack on the "Yamato". The captains underestimated the intensity of the firepower output of the "Yamato". The "Yamato" did not even use its main gun, relying only on its 155mm naval gun to defeat the "Morris".
The superstructure of the USS destroyer was completely flattened, and the USS Anderson was also sunk. Of the 375 officers and soldiers on the two warships, only 13 survived. The cruiser USS Irvine luckily escaped with its high speed of 34 knots.
The Japanese are too focused on displacement and ignore the speed of warships. The fastest speed of the American "Iowa" can reach 33 knots, while the fastest speed of the "Yamato" is only 27 knots. This is the biggest weakness of the "Yamato".
When the news reached the Lion City, both Angel and MacArthur were troubled.
The Japanese have a total of two such warships.
With these two powerful warships, the Japanese are actually capable of threatening Changi Naval Base. No Allied warship can confront these two giant ships head-on. The Allied forces also have powerful air forces. If the "Yamato"
If it breaks away from the fleet's air defense system, it will still be sunk by the swarming fighter planes.
Time has come to October, and winter has arrived on the Russian battlefield as promised.
In the Russian battlefield in the past two years, every summer, the German army would launch crazy attacks.
The Russians counterattacked in winter, and the weather was their biggest help.
This year's situation is different from previous years.
In previous years, although the German army's offensive was weak in winter, at least it was able to hold on and was not at a disadvantage on the battlefield.
This year the German army lost the initiative in the Russian battlefield. Russia launched a counterattack against the German army on almost all fronts at the same time. The big beard used Russia's almost endless human resources to give the little beard no chance to breathe.
The Germans were actually at the end of their rope. After two years of bloody fighting, the Russians suffered heavy casualties. At the same time, life for the Germans was becoming increasingly difficult. Not only were their resources about to be exhausted, but their military strength was also becoming increasingly stretched.
Under this circumstance, the Allied counterattack in the Mediterranean put Mustache into an increasingly desperate situation.
The fall of Fat Bald forced Mustache to send more German troops to reinforce Italy.
After the North African campaign, the Axis powers were virtually defeated in the Mediterranean region, and Rommel was unable to reverse the defeat.
After experiencing the unspeakable Battle of Sicily, Eisenhower and Alexander finally understood the strength of the British and American armies. It was so difficult to defeat Hubei, and Rommel was even more difficult to defeat, so Eisenhower
And Alexander had to rely more on the cooperation of southern Africa.
"My staff have formulated a battle plan. If we launch an attack north from the direction of Greece, we can join the Russian army somewhere on the Black Sea coast. This will cause the heaviest blow to the Germans. If we cooperate
If the troops are in one place, the war can be ended in the shortest possible time." Patton's idea was different from Eisenhower's.
Eisenhower and Alexander wanted to rely on Sicily to launch an attack on the Apennine Peninsula.
"If it were Greece, we would have to face more difficulties. The damage caused by the Russian winter does not distinguish between ourselves and the enemy, and I seriously doubt whether our army can withstand the cruelty of the Russian battlefield." Alexander has lingering fears about the German army.
It was so difficult for the Allied forces to defeat the German partial divisions in North Africa. If they were to fight against the main force of the German army in Russia, the Sikhs in the British and Indian troops would not be able to do it.
"Of course we can do what the Russians can do." Patton was dissatisfied and could not use the combat effectiveness of the British and Indian troops to measure the combat effectiveness of the Southern African Expeditionary Force.
"Marshal Patton, has Pretoria approved your plan?" Eisenhower was more direct. He didn't believe that old fox Roark would agree to Patton's plan.
"This plan is still being perfected-" Barton was really not sure.
"Then let's take a look at our plan -" Eisenhower took the initiative to introduce Patton.
Compared with Patton's plan, Eisenhower's plan was much less difficult. The Allies already had a fairly complete logistics base in Sicily. Through Sicily, they could directly launch an attack on the Apennine Peninsula.
The Apennine Peninsula is a slender strip with many ports along the coast. After the Italian Navy surrendered, the Axis powers' maritime strength was greatly reduced. The Allies could launch landing operations at will through the ports.
Another advantage of launching an attack on the Apennine Peninsula is that the resistance encountered will not be too strong.
In Sicily, Eisenhower and Alexander seriously underestimated the Italian army's will to resist when fighting on the mainland, resulting in heavy casualties. Patton Jr. and Montgomery also made a lot of jokes and made a fool of themselves.
After the Italian King went into exile, the Kingdom of Italy was declared destroyed, and the Italian army's will to resist quickly declined. No one was willing to shed blood and sacrifice for a hopeless war, especially the romantic Italians.
"The Germans also know that the Apennine Peninsula is difficult to defend, so the German defense lines are concentrated in northern Italy. There are only a few German troops in the Apennine Peninsula, and the Italians are disorganized. We only need to send ten divisions, or five divisions.
We can capture the Apennine Peninsula." Eisenhower was overly optimistic. Ten divisions wanted to capture the Apennine Peninsula. Even if all the participating troops were Southern African Expeditionary Force, they could not do it.
The Allies were fighting away from home in Italy. Even with the support of the fleet and air force, ten divisions were not enough.
"I think we need to send at least twice as many troops to have any hope of occupying the Apennine Peninsula." Alexander also thought so.
"No, we still have a powerful fleet and air force. Even if we don't use airborne troops, we can land at any port on the Apennine Peninsula at will, appear behind our enemy, and cut off the enemy's logistics supply, so that the enemy will collapse quickly.
." Eisenhower was confident. Patton and Alexander looked at each other, both of them expressionless.
Don't listen to Eisenhower's nice words. This is actually another attempt to shirk responsibility.
The Allies did have a powerful fleet and air force in the Mediterranean, but they were mainly based on southern African troops and British troops.
In Eisenhower's plan, the fleet and air force were used everywhere, and the troops dispatched by the US military were mainly the army.
This is bad intention.
Everyone knows that battleships cannot reach the shore, and the battle must be resolved by the army.
At that time, the southern African army and the British army were working hard as coolies, and the American soldiers appeared as saviors in the Apennine Peninsula to save the Italians.
Isn't this exactly what Eisenhower wanted?
"The first starting point for the landing, I suggest, is Rome, so that the morale of the Italian army can be broken down as quickly as possible, and we also need to take into account the influence of the Vatican City State." Eisenhower attached great importance to the influence of religion.
force.
When Winston and Big Beard met in Tehran in another time and space, Big Beard asked Winston: How many armored divisions does the Vatican City State have?
This question has become a famous scene for various netizens to make fun of the bearded man and the Vatican City State.
In fact, we must not underestimate the role of religion. The Vatican City State does not have a single armored division, but its position in the minds of Christians around the world is irreplaceable. The influence of Christianity on Europe does not need to be emphasized. In the early years when European kings ascended the throne, all
You need to ask whoever is to be crowned, otherwise your name will be incorrect and your position will not be correct.
A more important point of the Vatican City State is its control over religions in various countries.
The appointment and dismissal of archbishops in various European countries is decided by the Vatican City State, and national governments have no right to interfere.
This is theoretically the case in Southern Africa, but how could Roque allow this to happen? After many friendly communications with someone known as a prisoner of the Vatican, the federal government of Southern Africa agreed in principle to the leadership of the Vatican City State over Christianity in Southern Africa.
The Vatican City State selects its archbishop from among those provided by the southern African federal government.
Both parties are quite satisfied with the result.
"If the Vatican City State gives an order, can the German troops lay down their weapons?" Patton asked nonsense. If the Vatican prisoners had such great influence, Christ would have unified the world long ago.
"Marshal Patton, you still have to respect God." Alexander reminded Patton that his words and deeds now represent the North African Allied Forces.
The influence of religion in southern Africa is divided into two. It has a huge influence among the white group and a very small influence among the Chinese group. Although many Chinese are accustomed to going to church or temples to burn incense on weekends, in fact
Most people just seek psychological comfort, not how faithful their beliefs are.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in North Africa, Patton's words and deeds had great influence. The British, American and French troops in North Africa had many devout believers. If Patton's words spread, it would still have an impact on the morale of the Allied forces in North Africa.
"The plan to attack the Apennine Peninsula needs to be improved. The Free French Army is ready to attack Corsica. Corsica is French territory, and the Free French Army has a strong desire to fight." Patton's routine report, the previous paragraph
In order to respond to the Italian Navy, the Southern African Air Force swept the airports and ports of Corsica, which cleared the way for the Free French Army's attack.
"Then we will take Sardinia first -" Eisenhower also had plan B. Attacking Sardinia was also less difficult than attacking the Apennine Peninsula.
Since all parties have plans, let each fight his own way.
De Gaulle still attached great importance to the attack on Corsica, and dispatched the only armored division in the Free French Army, the two "Richelieu" ships of the navy, and the "Clémenceau" aircraft carrier just purchased from southern Africa.
They came out in full force, and the total number of participating troops exceeded 200,000.
Intelligence showed that the number of Axis troops in Corsica did not exceed 50,000, most of whom came from Vichy France.
These Vichy French soldiers did not have a strong will to resist the Free French Army. During this period, the Southern African Air Force dispatched reconnaissance planes many times to spread leaflets on Corsica to promote the North African Allied Forces' prisoner policy and urge Corsica to
The Vichy French troops on the island surrender.
The Vichy French Army was the former French Army. The French Army had already surrendered once during the Battle of France and was very familiar with the process.
On October 15, the Free French Army officially launched an attack on Corsica.
The Vichy French army did not have a strong will to resist. When the two "Richelieu" ships appeared outside the port of Ajaccio, the defending Vichy French army defected in front of the formation. The German officer responsible for supervising the battle was attacked by the angry Vichy French army.
The soldiers killed about one battalion of Italian troops and surrendered. The Free French Army occupied Ajaccio with almost no effort.
Ajaccio is the capital of Corsica. There are only a few towns on the island. Most of the residents live in Ajaccio and Bastia in the northeast. As long as these two cities are captured, Corsi will
The German-Italian forces on Kashima had no way to retreat.
On the 17th, de Gaulle arrived in Ajaccio on the aircraft carrier "Clémenceau".
By this time, the fighting in Ajaccio had completely ended, and the Free French Army held an entry ceremony for de Gaulle. When a photo of de Gaulle entering Ajaccio in an open-top off-road vehicle was published in The Times, de Gaulle's personal prestige reached a new peak.
France needs heroes so much. Since Joan of Arc, few people have fought as tenaciously in adversity as de Gaulle.
The Vichy government slandered De Gaulle in newspapers on the grounds that De Gaulle had betrayed French interests, which aroused more French people's interest in De Gaulle.
Nowadays, France cannot even protect its homeland. How many people still care about colonies thousands of miles away?
