new age
One hour ago, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet’s battleship unit, ‘West Virginia’.
After hearing the news of the fleet commander’s death, the bridge continued to move busily even in the atmosphere of a house of mourning.
“If you procrastinate, everyone dies! Come on, move!”
It’s certainly not surprising.
But there wasn’t even time to be stained with bewilderment.
If you stay still and take more damage, you’ll ruin the legacy of the dead commander.
Because of this, Admiral McName, who was in charge of the fleet, focused on the most valuable thing he could do now.
“fleet! Full speed ahead on course 090!”
To save and send more lives.
Battleships Arizona, California, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.
The last battleship squadron, which was only four ships, moved forward relying on each other in a sloppy formation.
It escaped the battlefield at full speed, but it was pitifully slow to see from the side. Even the road to it was not so smooth.
“port! Keep an eye on it!”
The attacking party launched from Akagi and Kaga went after them.
“Bearing 190, distance 20,000! Bandit about 50! Keep approaching with this ship!”
“Even if you get hit by even one torpedo, your ankle will be caught! Prepare for anti-air combat! Do not allow even one shot!”
Admiral McName gritted his teeth.
Of course, at a time like this!
But then, a decision caught his attention.
“Admiral! Oklahoma, break away!”
“what?”
The admiral’s gaze turned.
Battleship Oklahoma, which was struggling to follow at the rear of the fleet, turned course.
“What are you doing now?”
Admiral McNamee raised his binoculars with puzzled eyes.
The battleship, proudly fluttering fighter jets, approached the front of the enemy raiding party, glittering the deck with the fire of anti-aircraft guns.
“I will send a return signal!”
“… No, stop it.”
With a low voice, the admiral raised his hand. Looking back at the staff, who opened their eyes wide, he calmly continued.
“Oklahoma’s speed is 14 knots. It is currently the slowest of the remaining battleships. They know that and leave.”
It is unavoidable.
Everyone understood in their head. However, there are times when emotion dominates reason.
“Admiral… but… !”
“Can’t you hear the Commander’s orders! If you don’t want those bastards to be killed, move now!”
It is the commander’s job to carry the gun at that dangerous moment.
Biting his lip and turning his head, Admiral MacName repeated that.
“Fleet, full speed forward. Oklahoma exits the battlefield while time is running out. And call the task force for cover!”
Gunfire quietly echoed behind him.
* * *
The bridge of the battleship Oklahoma.
The sound of countless propellers approaches from the sky. A large squadron, tightly packed as if to engrave a shadow in the cloudless sky.
Lowering his binoculars, Oklahoma’s commander, Capt. John D. Wainwright, smiled bitterly.
“A perfect challenge to test us one last time.”
The large army of carrier-based planes flocking like bees was a pretty formidable opponent even as a battleship. But as a proud United States Navy officer, the captain raised his head without a hint of fear.
“Prepare for anti-aircraft combat! Since we are away from the fleet, they will definitely come after us!”
I hoped that it would be so.
One regrettable thing is that there is no way to deal a big blow to that squadron.
The two 14-inch triple-barreled gun turrets that Oklahoma was equipped with were all unharmed, but they were of no use at all when catching fast planes.
There were only two remaining 5-inch anti-aircraft guns on deck and a single 28mm anti-aircraft turret near the bridge.
Upon closer inspection, it is not enough.
The captain shouted into his gun.
“sh*t! Bring out a rifle or machine gun or something! Catch some of them!”
Shortly thereafter, three biplanes penetrated Oklahoma’s air defenses and launched a gentle dive bombardment.
Although they only managed to build a column of water without a hit, they played a role in blocking the line of sight of the following torpedo squadrons from anti-aircraft fire.
The 12 torpedo bombers that came down soon after divided into four groups and approached. Some anti-aircraft batteries were successful, but they were too few in number.
“Approaching torpedoes! Defense 290! 330! Distance 500!”
“Turn the key! Fifteen to the left!”
The Oklahoma giant twisted wildly despite its slow pace. Before long, four tracks passed the hull.
However, before the personnel on the bridge had time to breathe, a follow-up torpedo bombarded them.
“bandit! 18th! Rapidly approaching at 220 and 110 respectively!”
A squad of torpedo bombers, divided into 9 units, enveloping both sides. Throws torpedoes at the same time with amazing skill.
Soon after, a wake like a net approached, strangling Oklahoma.
“Prepare for shock!”
After the captain’s desperate cry, countless water columns pounded the residence.
* * *
1 hour later
The bridge of Mobile Z Fleet’s flagship ‘Repulse’.
“Enemy ship, sinking. Survivors are now jumping off.”
While listening to the watchman’s report, Captain Tobay blinked his eyes in disbelief.
It’s not strange. There is no impermanence in the world. They are the ones who witnessed countless battleships rapidly submerging into the sea just yesterday.
But the sight he was seeing had a very different meaning.
“Battleship… Sunk in an air raid? Air raid alone?”
It was true.
The battleship ‘Oklahoma’, covered with countless torpedoes and bombs, was slowly sinking while tilting in front of their eyes.
According to the raid report, at least 8 torpedoes and 2 bombs hit the target.
The fire that had spread to the deck was flying high into the sky. But Torbay couldn’t quite accept the sight he was seeing in front of him.
“No battleship has ever been sunk by an air attack during a combat voyage! But why… ?”
Whether in the Battle of the Fleet in the Atlantic, in the narrow channels of England, or in the Mediterranean, battleships have been challenged by aircraft time and time again.
However, there is not a single battleship among them that can be said to have been truly sunk by an air raid. Just one measure!
At least, Taranto’s surprise attack knocked down a few ships.
However, that is an exceptional situation like a surprise attack by a submarine.
A battleship has never been captured by an aircraft carrier in a head-to-head confrontation.
“Do you really think the air force caught it?”
“yes… After the second air raid, it slowly slanted.”
Correspondent talking hesitantly.
Tobay shook his head dejectedly. He wasn’t ignoring the aircraft’s potential either.
It’s just that the time has come.
“Is it really an air raid?”
Above the cold dying battleship.
Several reconnaissance planes hovering in the sky seemed to protect her last.
“Gentlemen.”
A voice came from the front hall.
It was the voice of the task force commander, Admiral Lewis.
Yes, if it were this genius admiral, he would provide an answer to the phenomenon he was seeing.
Why was the battleship beaten so helplessly? How was the raid successful?
How the battleship, which still has guns and navigational capabilities, was helplessly sunk by an air strike.
As if seeking an answer from a rabbi, he listened to the whole view. Before long, a calm and cool word pierced his ears.
“You are now witnessing the opening of a new era.”
It was just one word. But I couldn’t let go easily.
With the wind blowing through the bridge window, Tobay stood in front of it for a long time.
Amidst the yellow sunlight, the giant ship sank with an echo of steel.
* * *
At 2:00 PM, all fighting in the Battle of the Marshall Islands ended with the remnants of the US fleet hiding in squalls under the aid of task forces.
The remnants of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet locked themselves in Pearl Harbor, and the Combined Fleet recovered its remaining forces and headed north.
After a fierce amphibious battle, Wake Island fell. The US Pacific Fleet had virtually lost control of the seas, and the Combined Fleet prepared for a blockade of Hawaii while recovering from the scars of the battle.
This was less than a year after the outbreak of war.
* * *
Two weeks later, the port of Alexandria, Egypt.
Task Force Z’s flagship ‘Repulse’.
After the fleet battle in the Marshall Islands was over, there was no reason to stay in the Pacific any longer. After completing simple preparations, we immediately left the Far East and crossed the Suez Canal.
The accompanying ships also included Task Force B in the Indian Ocean.
“To think that all this power is heading home. What are you up to at Navy Headquarters?”
“I don’t know. First of all, it seems certain that we are preparing something big.”
I answered that to the chief of staff who asked with a puzzled face, but in fact I roughly guessed it.
‘If this large-scale force gathers, there is only one thing to be expected.’
fleet battle.
It must be the command’s will to drive the momentum in the Pacific and throw the entire US Navy into the sea in both oceans.
If we launch an offensive, now is the right time when the enemy fleet is cut in half… .
‘Will the enemy accept the decisive battle?’
Of course, it was already too late to subtract.
Admiral Cheffield’s Mediterranean Fleet and the Austrian War Navy, including the Indian Ocean’s flagship, the Emperor of India, are also scheduled to move.
The seat they vacated is guarded by Commonwealth countries such as Australia. However, it cannot be left empty for long, so you will have to gather all your strength and finish it at once.
“The Navy Headquarters will have an idea. Let’s go and listen.”
It was all I really thought about now. It’s a very tiring day to think about this and that.
“By the way Adjutant, is Tobay all right?”
“yes? What happened to Captain Torbay?”
An adjutant tilting his head.
Well, it wasn’t really my personality.
However, having been watching his subordinates all along, I noticed that his attitude had changed.
He seemed to be restless and worried about something.
‘also… Is it because of that Nevada-class battleship?’
Yes, this is the first time an aircraft carrier has sunk a battleship.
Even in the original history, it was after the Prince of Wales was attacked in the Malay Sea Battle that naval officials felt the downfall of battleships.
A warship that was on a combat voyage after being thoroughly prepared was destroyed by an air raid, so the shock would be overwhelming.
Of course, the sinking of a battleship in the Pacific has a different excuse.
First, many of the battleship’s anti-aircraft weapons were disabled by artillery fire.
Second, the durability had already deteriorated due to consecutive hits.
Third, two carriers and two light carriers concentrated air strikes on one battleship. Since it is a 4 to 1 fight, there is no fair comparison.
But in the end, the battleship was sunk. Whatever the circumstances, the basic proof that air strikes have the power to sink battleships has been completed.
Is it because of that? Throughout the port call, Tobay’s expression was dark.
Comparable to the uncharacteristic swagger of Phillips, who played an active role in routing enemy battlecruisers. Thanks to that, Fraser had a sh*t-chewed expression throughout the voyage.
“I don’t know if it will be okay.”
“yes? What do you mean?”
“When something new appears, old people inevitably get nervous.”
Me too.
It’s actually ironic. I, who have longed for battleships, have been in a position to hasten the opening of the aircraft carrier era.
Did I come to the Navy to do this?
Of course, time just flies by regardless of my circumstances.
“Admiral, this is a call from the Mediterranean Fleet. They say they will join in Malta on the 11th and then move to Gibraltar.”
I swallowed a sigh at the report from the communications staff.
It’s been less than a day since you called, but you’re leaving again. There’s no time to rest, damn it.
Anyway, whether I intend it or not, time passes and history passes. Inevitably, mankind is destined to develop. If battleships are relics of the past, they will one day become extinct.
But now, at least their fangs haven’t rusted.
“good. Prepare to depart.”
March 15, 1931.
Task Force Z reentered the Atlantic Ocean after a long journey.
