Chapter four hundred and sixty seventh bad feeling
North Africa, the important town of Tobruk in Libya.
This is an important port city. So far, the British and Italian air forces have repeatedly competed for air supremacy in this area for many days.
The strength of the Italian Air Force certainly has a huge advantage in the African battlefield. Unfortunately, the quality of the fighter planes is so poor that they are always chased and attacked by British aircraft.
The air force couldn't win, so they called in the Italian Navy and dispatched some warships with anti-aircraft artillery to support them.
But the Italian Navy also knows that the little anti-aircraft firepower on its warships is basically of little use.
On the contrary, in order to support the Air Force and send warships to join the air battle, the cost-effectiveness is definitely not worth the loss.
After all, the cost of one battleship is enough for them to import hundreds of German me-109 fighter planes.
But the Air Force has come to ask for help, so it doesn't seem too good to deny the favor.
Therefore, the Italian Navy made a compromise and sent a retired cruiser Girgio in the late 19th century, plus several small ships equipped with small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery to support.
It seems that the Navy has sent a tall cruiser. But in fact, this is an old cruiser that is about to be scrapped. It will not hurt if it is destroyed.
How old is this cruiser?
Let's put it this way, when it was put into service, airplanes had not yet been born.
Because this cruiser was decommissioned in the 19th century, when there were no aircraft, it did not even have an anti-aircraft gun.
The captain was a very responsible guy, and he believed that anti-aircraft guns should be installed to prevent enemy air attacks.
But his superiors thought it was not necessary because they had no hope of reporting this broken ship in the first place.
But the captain of the cruiser repeatedly argued his arguments, which annoyed all his superiors.
In the end, the superiors approved the installation project of anti-aircraft artillery on the Gildeo to keep their ears quiet.
Now, when the Air Force asks the Navy to send out ships, the first thing the Italian Navy superiors think of is to send this old cruiser equipped with 6 anti-aircraft guns.
One is to sell the Air Force a favor. You see, the Navy has already dispatched all the cruisers, and only the battleships have not been dispatched.
On the other hand, the naval admirals didn't know if this shabby cruiser could still be used, so they simply sent it to test the water.
If the cruiser Gilzio performs well this time, then let it continue to serve. If not, just sell it to Spain at a low price in exchange for money.
Of course, it doesn't matter if it is bombed and sunk by British fighter planes, it can be regarded as scrapped.
So, these few navy ships sent warships for the sake of the air force and embarked on their journey.
It was a long way to Tobruk. In order for this old cruiser to reach Tobruk smoothly, the Italians even had to dismantle its secondary guns and part of its main guns to reduce the load. This way it finally managed to make it to Tobruk.
Tobruk.
Because the cruiser Girzio, a backward warship with horizontal armor, was difficult to deal with aerial targets, his conscientious captain specifically ordered after arriving in Tobruk to recruit from the local army and pile a large number of sandbags on the warship.
, turning this cruiser into a water fortress.
.........
On the other side, Italian Air Force Marshal Balbo, who is also the Italian Governor in Libya, was sitting on an Italian Air Force S.79 aircraft with Count Florio and his companions, heading to the North African battlefield to direct the upcoming war.
Since there were so many senior officials traveling with them this time that one plane could not accommodate them, the group was specially divided into two S.79 planes and flew to Libya together.
"Count Florio, the weather seems to be good today and the view is very good." Marshal Balbo looked out the window and said to Count Florio at the endless clear sky.
"Very good, I think this will be a good sign, indicating that we will soon win the victory in the North African battlefield." Count Florio also replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, is that right? Actually, I think so too. After all, we have many more soldiers and planes in North Africa than the British."
Accompanied by the joyful laughter of the two, they flew out of the sky above the Italian mainland and arrived in the Mediterranean airspace.
.........
At the same time, in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian cruiser Girgio was performing their air defense mission.
To be honest, the waves of bombings by the British Air Force gave them a headache not long after they arrived here.
"Damn British Air Force, I don't know how many times it has come here in the whole day? Why don't you let people stop?" Coradio Mazzola, a sailor on the Italian cruiser Girgio, complained.
Faced with frequent bombings by the British Air Force, this young man in his twenties obviously felt fear.
Just fifteen minutes ago, British Bristol bombers had just arrived, killing several of his comrades.
Just when he was annoyed by the British bombing, two black spots appeared in the distance in the northern sky, accompanied from time to time by the roar of aircraft engines.
This sound was as terrifying as a nightmare, frightening the hearts of these young Italian sailors.
"The enemy plane is here again!"
Not only did someone yell, everyone was at a loss for a moment as if they were in a panic.
Fortunately, at this time, their captain stood up in time and stabilized everyone's mood: "Don't panic, everyone is in position quickly. Don't rush to fire the anti-aircraft guns. Wait for the enemy plane to get slightly closer before firing. This time
They only have two planes, so they pose little threat to us!"
.........
"Where are we?" At the same time, Marshal Balbo, who was above the ocean, looked at his watch and asked his staff.
"We are now in the southern waters of the Mediterranean and are about to arrive at Tobruk." The staff officer replied truthfully to Balbo: "According to the naval department's response to our support application some time ago, this sea area should belong to the navy. With Gildio
The cruiser patrolled the waters for the flagship's squadron."
Balbo also breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he was about to arrive at his destination. To be honest, he always felt something was wrong after getting on the plane today, as if he had a premonition that something unexpected would happen.
But now it seems that his worries were overblown, after all, his plane has entered the sphere of influence of the Italian army.
"Tell the flight crew that I'm hungry and prepare some lunch for me." Balbo couldn't have breakfast because he got on the plane too early, and the fatigue of the journey made him even more hungry.
Wanting to reach his destination soon, he felt that he should fill his stomach first so that he could better direct the work after landing.
"Okay, Marshal!" the staff officer replied: "There is also a bottle of fine French red wine on the plane, which you can try."