"When will the two Bismarck-class battleships be put into service next year?" Scheer came to Tirpitz's office after a naval meeting and asked.

"You have asked this question many times, and I can't explain clearly, but if it can be put into service in 1918, it will be after August. Unless we don't take any action in the first half of the year, otherwise, these two battleships will not be able to serve."

France is counting on it. I very much hope that the battleship named after me can participate in the operations of the High Seas Fleet, but it is a pity that the construction period is very difficult.

Too early." Just after the Battle of Jutland in 1915, the whole of Germany was excited, happy that the High Seas Fleet could defeat the British Grand Fleet in a regular naval battle, and many people even thought that the navy would

The war ended early, and Tirpitz took advantage of this time to ask the government to agree to the construction plan of two additional Bismarck-class battleships.

Finally, after some bargaining, Bismarck's wish was finally realized. Germany started construction of two new Bismarck-class battleships in September 1915. They were named Deutschland and Tirpitz respectively! Named after themselves

Germany's most powerful warship made this old man who had worked hard for the High Seas Fleet for decades very pleased. He even personally attended the groundbreaking ceremony of this giant ship. And these two warships

The battleship has become the only battleship that the German Navy can look forward to joining so far. According to the scheduled construction period, these two battleships will take three years to complete. Although there was a period of time in the middle of the war that was affected by insufficient raw materials, but subsequently

Working overtime seems to have recovered the lost time, and these two battleships will become the new hope of the German Navy! The German Navy hopes to win the 1918 North Sea Battle with this.

"There are also auxiliary battleships and aircraft units. We lost too many light cruisers and destroyers in the battle on the British mainland. We were even stretched to defend against the opponent's lightning strikes. Not to mention the opponent's air strikes, and

As for airplanes and seaplanes, our seaplanes are far behind Shanghai's competitors in terms of quantity and quality. Fortunately,

Because fighter jets cannot be used in the ocean, otherwise our seaplanes will become targets. Even if we cannot install torpedoes on planes like the British, at least our fleet can resist the opponent's air attacks?" As if opening up a conversation, Scheer said

I kept asking what would happen when the German High Seas Fleet arrived in 1918.

"In addition, if possible, I heard that the Chinese Navy can already allow fighter jets to take off and land on ships. They call such warships aircraft carriers. We can also try to build a warship that uses aircraft as weapons and is specially used for air defense.

This time the air defense level of our fleet has been greatly improved." Scheer thought for a while and said.

"You think too much. The empire's resources are not enough to realize your dream. Maybe after the war is over, after we have completely digested Russia's territory, we will be a very huge empire. At that time, we can build the world's first

One fleet. But not now." Tirpitz looked at the somewhat disappointed Scheer and smiled and continued: "Next year, the number of aircraft the navy can replenish will be about 700, plus the current various aircraft.

Our available number of aircraft will be around 400. As for building aircraft carriers? This can only wait until the end of the war. We do not have the aircraft and pilots that can take off on the battleships, nor do we have enough resources to build such capital ships. As for destroyers

Is it? We can bring the number to the level of early 1917, but the light cruisers will be supplemented by up to four 3,000-ton ships, and the number of submarines will increase, but the specific number is hard to say."

The war is about to enter its fourth year, and both sides are somewhat exhausted after more than three years of fighting. However, neither the Entente nor the Central Powers have any intention of giving up, at least at the highest levels. The Entente has greatly increased its strength and confidence after the United States joined.

full, and

The Allied Powers have always had the advantage on the scene. After successfully drawing Spain into the Allied Powers group, the entire Mediterranean became the Allied Powers' internal sea, and North Africa became an isolated island. Coupled with the support of the Chinese Republic, the Allied Powers believed that they were not far away from victory.

distant.

While the German Navy is tightening its belt and can still replenish its capital ships, Italy and Austria-Hungary are also expanding their naval power as much as possible. Italy, in particular, has given top priority to naval construction. The reason is simple.

The performance of the Italian navy and Italian army, which had repeatedly won battles, could really be described as pathetic, so much so that at another internal Allied meeting, German representatives implored Italy to increase naval investment, and even stated that all land issues could be left to the allies.

Italy did not have enough power to complete new main warships at this time, but the Italians started to build a large number of submarines and converted some civilian ships with better conditions into camouflaged attack ships. After gaining access to the Mediterranean

After the passage of the Atlantic Ocean, the Italian navy had a greater geographical advantage than their German counterparts

A lot. They are too close to the hunting grounds, and there is a huge Allied Mediterranean fleet to contain the actions of the opponent's capital ships, which makes the submarines face a lot less threats. Those old destroyers face the Allied powers that come and go without a trace.

A fast battleship cannot even guarantee its own safety, and its anti-submarine capabilities will naturally be greatly reduced.

While increasing their submarine combat power as much as possible, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Spain are also trying to establish an aviation reconnaissance network with Spain as the core. Reconnaissance on the west coast of France will be the top priority. Tycho gave this reconnaissance mission

It is to withstand all ships entering and leaving France, whether they are warships or civilian ships. These twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft do not carry any

It has ground or sea weapons, but it has greatly improved the efficiency of the Allies' sea operations. Often the whereabouts of the U.S. fleet will be discovered by the other party, and with intelligence support, the fast warships of the Allied Mediterranean Fleet can more easily avoid the other party's

Hunting. This is like a dexterous cheetah dodging the attack of an elephant. Although the latter is powerful, it can never catch its opponent.

Compared with the navies of the Allied Powers, the shipbuilding plans of the Allied Powers, especially the United States, are terrifying. In the United States, three Maryland-class battleships equipped with 8 16-inch L45 naval guns have been launched and are expected to be completed in 19181

To 2 battleships of this level

It can be seen as replacing 12 14-inch L45 guns with 8 16-inch L45 main guns on the basis of the Tennessee class. The speed has not changed much, but the defense has been improved. The thickness of the side-chord sloped armor has reached 350mm and is tilted at 20 degrees.

The firepower has increased a lot. Americans

I believe that with a strong charge, Maryland's 16-inch naval gun can completely penetrate the main side armor of the Bismarck class at a medium distance. At the same time, in order to combat the increasingly rampant submarine warfare, the United States has to invest considerable resources in the shipbuilding industry.

Part of it is used to produce various destroyers. These destroyers

Some ships will be organized into fleets to perform escort missions, while others will be organized into small groups to hunt on the ocean. In addition to these warships, the United States also needs to supplement a large number of civilian ships to offset the loss. Because the main fleet has been pinned down

, so the loss rate of transport ships remains high.

As for the British? The Hood-class fast battleship, known as the "Flashing Hood" within the British Navy, will also enter the final sprint stage in 1918. The British started construction of a total of 4 Admiral-class battleships in 1918.

At the end of the year, the first battleship Hood will join active service. The British will once again have the advantage in firepower, and the Hood class is given by the British Navy.

There were high hopes. Even a British naval officer once described the Hood in private: "It will completely suppress all the battleships in the Allied navy. Bismarck meets Hood just like the current König-class battleships face the Revenge-class battleships."

"The British Empire Navy will regain its technological advantage." This shows that the British are still very confident in their new warships.

Like the Allied Powers, the Allied Powers also tried their best to strengthen their aviation forces. In the face of the Allied Powers' reconnaissance planes scurrying around the coast of France, the Allied Powers also specially equipped twin-engine fighter jets that could carry out long-distance patrol missions. Thanks to the advanced aeroengines of the British,

As a result, the twin-engine aircraft of the Allied Powers had better range and speed. With the entry into service of the first Coast Patrol Air Force, the Allied Powers' maritime aviation reconnaissance was gradually curbed.

While Britain and the United States were still ambitiously considering further expanding their fleets to completely destroy their opponents, the French had given up on the war at sea. After being beaten hard by the Italian and Austro-Hungarian navies, the French tried to cheer up.

After receiving the support of the British Navy, the two sides once again fought a war in the Mediterranean. However, the result was still a failure. Then the United States Navy strongly joined, and France once again secured its southern coastline. However, the good times did not last long because of the involvement of Spain.

, the U.S. fleet withdrew from the Mediterranean Sea despite the objections of the French government.

The French Navy, which was once considered a hegemon, now only has two Super Dreadnoughts left. Its status has even been lowered to the same level as a third-rate existence like the Dutch Navy. Moreover, due to the intense consumption of land battles, the French are simply unable to replace the losses.

Battleships. A decadent thought spread within the French Navy, and the fierce battles on the mainland even made the French feel desperate. So much so that there was a saying circulating in the country, "I don't know the final winner of this war."

Who could it be, but definitely not France, Germany and

I don’t know whether the Austro-Hungarian Empire will fall, but France will definitely become a burial object.” If we talk about the war until now, the country that least wants to fight is probably France. The war has made France, which does not have sufficient human resources, even more stretched.

, millions of casualties have almost wiped out this country for a generation! Although the Americans have gradually replaced part of the French army on the defense line, the French Army is still the main force in the war against Germany. In fact, the French are now

I have already begun to think about quitting. I cannot afford to fight this kind of battle!
Chapter completed!