Chapter 2569 Some people don’t think it’s too expensive
Many things are no secret. The cost of the "Island" class aircraft carrier is only about 50 million, and many people know this.
Of course Wilson also knew that his official position was field marshal, head of the British Joint Staff Mission in Pretoria, and he was more familiar with the situation in southern Africa.
"This price is not an offer to a friend!" The smile on Wilson's face gradually solidified, and he could not accept the offer.
Prices in 1944 had not yet inflated to the point where a warship easily cost hundreds of millions.
The most advanced "King" class battleship in the UK currently costs about 8 million pounds each, the K-class destroyer costs only 100,000 pounds, and the famous "HMS Hood" only costs 6 million pounds.
Although the "Island" class has been in service for more than 10 years, its performance is still at the forefront of the world. Britain's current "Giant" class is not at the same level as the "Island" class.
It's embarrassing to say that Britain's "Giant" class aircraft carriers, although six have been built so far, have never participated in any battles and have truly become a fleet.
Compared with aircraft carriers in southern Africa and the United States, the performance of British aircraft carriers is too lagging, which makes the Royal Navy very dissatisfied.
Due to British defense needs and its own image needs, the Royal Navy also hopes to build a new aircraft carrier. This aircraft carrier is named the "Malta" class. Its full load displacement reaches 57,000 tons, its top speed is 33 knots, and it can carry aircraft.
With 80 aircraft in production, the cruising range can reach 7,100 nautical miles, equivalent to 13,149 kilometers, and its performance has basically reached the first-tier level.
The plan is good, but Britain's poor financial situation has caused this aircraft carrier to not actually start construction so far, and the cost of this aircraft carrier is only 25 million pounds.
Of course, this is just the budget given by the Royal Navy and does not represent the final cost.
Referring to Britain's past experience in building large warships, if this aircraft carrier is put into production, the final cost will most likely double.
Doubling it would only cost 50 million pounds, which is similar to the cost of the "Island" class.
"Island" is one of the most powerful aircraft carriers in the world. According to convention, even if southern Africa is sold, the price will double to about 100 million rand.
This price is also acceptable to Wilson. Before this, Wilson had been mentally prepared.
"I have to remind you, this price does not include carrier-based aircraft -" Sidney Milner's next words made Wilson furious.
The "Island" has a carrying capacity of about 120 aircraft. If it is equipped with the latest "Goshawk" fighter jet from southern Africa and sold together with the "Island", then it is not completely unacceptable. After all, the UK can build on the "Goshawk"
Conducting research and development can be justified as a country with supremacy in sea power.
But if carrier-based aircraft are not included, then this price is completely insulting.
"Sidney, as an ally, this price is completely unacceptable to us!" Wilson was very angry. This price was completely taking advantage of Britain.
"Haha, don't worry, my friend, I can give you -" Sidney Milner pretended to look at the time, with a very leisurely expression: "-As a friend, I can give you a day to think about it!"
consider!
One more day!
Wilson didn't say a word, pushed away his chair angrily, turned around and left with an angry groan.
Then at the door of Sidney Milner's office, Wilson saw Leon Bloom, a famous writer from France and a well-known literary and drama critic.
Leon Blum is a Hebrew who once served as French Prime Minister. He was arrested by the Vichy government in 1940 and was just released last year.
After his release, Leon Blum once again became the leader of the left-wing party Popular Front. Although France was not invited to the Yalta Conference, Leon Blum still came to Yalta and worked hard for France's post-war reconstruction.
France's post-war reconstruction is estimated to require R15 billion.
The current French government cannot afford this money, so Leon Blum hopes to get a Southern African loan.
The loan is naturally conditional.
So Wilson has reason to believe that Leon Bloom will definitely accept some unreasonable offers for the loan.
In addition to Leon Bloom, Wilson also saw Alcido Gasbelli from Italy.
Italy is also facing post-war reconstruction——
Well, this reason is not important. What is important is that wherever the French appear, the Italians will not be absent.
So the price of 200 million is really not high, because as long as the French and Italians express interest in the "Island" class aircraft carrier at the same time——
Well, it doesn't matter whether you are interested or not. Even if the French and Italians are not interested, the profiteer Sidney Milner will make them interested.
To Wilson's surprise, he even saw Vice Admiral Quentin Collins from Australia in the lounge of Vorontsov Palace.
"Oh, is Australia also interested in the 'Island' class aircraft carrier?" Wilson was very angry. The fact that the Australians appeared here did not surprise him.
I don’t know since when, Australia, a member of the Commonwealth, has had better and better relations with southern Africa, and has become further and further away from the British suzerainty.
Like southern Africa, Britain also faced the problem of massive disarmament after the war.
Although the Royal Navy currently only has a few pitiful light aircraft carriers, the number of battleships has reached 15. These battleships will also face retirement or sale in the near future.
When World War II first broke out, Britain had a total of 13 battleships.
During the war, Britain built five more "King" class battleships, bringing the total number of battleships to 18.
During the entire World War II, a total of three British battleships were sunk, so there are a total of 15 British battleships still in service.
It should be noted that this does not include battlecruisers.
The once powerful battleships have now become a hot potato of the Royal Navy. Admiral Cunningham, who is also a member of the British delegation, has lamented countless times how great it would be if the five "King" class battleships were replaced by aircraft carriers.
.
This can only be conjecture. When Cunningham became the First Sea Lord, the fifth "King" class battleship had been completed and put into service. Cunningham once wanted to stop the "Vanguard" battleship under construction, but because of the
Faced with huge resistance, I had to give in and compromise.
This makes it impossible to do anything.
At a time when battleships are on their last legs and aircraft carriers are becoming more and more popular, the UK cannot afford to build a "Maltese" class aircraft carrier due to the mere cost of 25 million pounds, but it spends precious funds on the construction of battleships.
A mere 25 million may be the last straw for the Royal Navy.
"Why not? Australia also needs a powerful fleet to protect Australia's interests -" Quentin showed a serious lack of respect for Wilson. He didn't know whether he had forgotten or was deliberately neglecting him. He didn't even salute.
This statement also means something else.
After Japan launched the Pacific War, the Malayan Tiger Fengwen Yamashita swept across the Malay Peninsula, the Z fleet was completely wiped out, Big Thumb was killed in the battle, and Australia was abandoned.
It cannot be said to be abandoned.
At that time, Britain was in the critical period of the North African Campaign and was really unable to fight against Japan. This became the main reason why Australia completely fell to southern Africa.
During World War II, the United Kingdom not only sought loans from southern Africa and the United States, but also received a large amount of financial aid from overseas colonies. From Australia alone, the United Kingdom took nearly 1 billion pounds.
The cost of a "Malta" is only 25 million pounds.
One billion pounds, how many Malta would be built?
Quentin's meaning is obvious. Since Britain cannot protect Australia, Australia must work hard to protect itself.
Or find a new dad.
When looking for a father - or a godfather, you always have to pay a protection fee.
Two hundred million is a very suitable price for Australia.
Unlike the UK, it is relatively easy to make money in Australia. After all, it is a country that sits on a mine cart.
Walking out of Vorontsov Palace, Wilson looked up to the sky and sighed, times are really different.
Unlike the depressed Wilson, Sidney Milner was in high spirits. He now truly tasted the benefits of a strong country.
Sidney Milner also knew that southern Africa was a powerful country.
But where exactly it is reflected, Sidney Milner's feelings are not clear.
Now Sidney Milner finally understands what the dignity of a great power is.
200000000?
It's drizzle. Not only the French and Italians said they wanted two ships, but Australia also said that since there is no "island" class, the "city" class is not unacceptable.
The key point is that the Australians, citing the lack of sufficient operating manpower, hope to hand over the purchased aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean Navy for continued management. This means that the Australian government will spend money to help the Southern African Navy maintain two aircraft carriers.
These two aircraft carriers, including carrier-based aircraft, as well as the salaries of the officers and soldiers serving on the ships, are paid by the Australian government.
"General Collins, thank you very much for your trust. I believe that the Southern African Navy will be able to protect Australia's interests." Sidney Milner felt that it was not very real. Is this 400 million rand?
Also included is annual "maintenance" costs of R10 million.
An aircraft carrier has about 2,500 officers and soldiers serving on it, and two ships only have about 5,000 people.
According to Southern African standards, the annual cost of an aircraft carrier during service is about 4.5 million.
The Australians were very generous and directly offered a price of 10 million rand, which Sidney Milner simply could not refuse.
"We also think so. The Southern African Navy has become a key force in maintaining world peace. Congress is discussing matters related to withdrawing from the Commonwealth. We will work with Southern Africa to become the guardian of order in the Indian Ocean and even the Pacific." Kun
Ting Collins is full of confidence, money is not an issue, what Australia wants is respect.
During the two world wars, the United Kingdom made many promises, especially this time. The United Kingdom promised that if Australia could fully support the British Empire as it did in the previous world war, then after the war, the United Kingdom would allow Australia to do what it did in southern Africa.
, becoming an independent sovereign country.
Now it seems that the UK does not intend to fulfill its promise not to let Australia leave.
This is also understandable.
In this world war, although Australia did not send an expeditionary force equivalent to one-tenth of the country's population to participate in the war like in the previous world war, it still contributed 1 billion pounds, which alleviated Britain's financial difficulties to the greatest extent.
Not just monetary assistance.
When the Australian mainland was threatened by the Japanese army, Australia still had two divisions fighting with the British army in North Africa. At its peak, there were a total of 6 divisions.
The combat effectiveness of the Australian army is not comparable to that of the British and Indian troops. Even compared with the British native troops, the combat effectiveness is not inferior. In some aspects, it even far exceeds it, such as the will to fight.
In addition to money and troops, Australia also supported the British mainland with valuable grain, wool, iron ore, and other important mineral resources and living supplies during the World War, which the British mainland desperately needed.
Under such circumstances, Britain abandoned Australia at the most dangerous time and returned its defense focus to North Africa.
This is very disappointing for Australia.
Is Australia even less important to the British Empire than that barren land in North Africa?
"We are also considering absorbing more countries to join the Southern African Union after the world war." Sidney Milner sent an important signal to Quentin.
The Southern African Union has not admitted new members for a long time.
Compared with the Southern African Union, the new League of Nations has become seriously less attractive to Australia.
However, Southern Africa still hopes that Australia will join the new League of Nations. After all, Australia's vote is still very important to Southern Africa.
"That's great. When I return to Canberra, I will definitely report the good news to John." Quentin Collins was very happy. With Australia's relationship with Southern Africa, as long as the Southern African Union absorbs new members, Australia's chances will increase.
Very big.
Of course, this must be based on the premise that Australia withdraws from the Commonwealth.
Unlike the Australian demands, the French do not want to join the Southern African Union.
Leon Blum expressed his anger at not being invited to the Yalta Conference. He believed that France did not receive the respect it deserved. Although France fell for a time during the World War, France is still the most important member of civilized society.
"Leon, I hope you can understand that Southern Africa has never disrespected friends, but we have also encountered great resistance in this matter." Sidney Milner took the initiative to explain to Leon Bloom
, it’s not that Southern Africa doesn’t invite the French, it’s that some people disagree.
Obviously, the biggest resistance comes from the UK.
If the French were asked to make a list of the most hated countries, Britain would undoubtedly be at the top of the list.
As a participant in the two world wars, France was the largest victim country in the two world wars, not even one of them.
Not counting Germany, which is the largest responsible country.
