Liverpool has neither a peerless beauty nor endless treasures waiting for Churchill, there is only one fleet - the last remaining blood of the Royal Navy, including the two newly launched Grudge-class aircraft carriers of the British Empire. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

The construction of these two aircraft carriers was completely started after the start of the war, and the construction period lasted as long as five years, not only in terms of the latest standards in design, but also in the course of subsequent construction in the light of the experience and lessons learned from the war. But the wait was undoubtedly worth it, as the two carriers were heavily armored and reinforced for the harsh waters of the Atlantic, allowing them to be used in high winds and rough seas – a capability that the Essex class did not have.

The overall number of carrier-based aircraft can reach 70 (58 commonly used + 12 spare), the maximum speed can reach 32 knots, and the endurance is 11,000 nautical miles at 14 knots and 8,000 nautical miles at 20 knots.

These two aircraft carriers not only surpassed Britain's previous aircraft carriers, but also surpassed the German hand of a bunch of aircraft carriers that quickly rebuilt their hulls and became home, compared with the Zeppelin, which was completed at the same time, reflecting Britain's superb attainments in aircraft carriers, and the quality of the entire construction did not decline because of the tension of the war or the lack of materials. The British government even cut the materials of other warships, gritting its teeth to ensure the construction of several capital ships. While a large number of shipwrights and engineers were on their way to North America, the construction crews of several capital ships remained untouched.

If you have to say that there are aircraft carriers that are better than the Grudge class, then there is only the Taiho in the Japanese Combined Fleet, but unfortunately there is only one Taiho in the world, which was built by Japan with the strength of the whole country, although Germany began to build new buildings on the mainland after revising the drawings of the Daiho, at least until 1946, time really can't afford to wait.

In addition to the strength of these two warships themselves, their appearance time is also crucial.

At this juncture, the U.S. Navy has only 3 aircraft carriers, and Germany has 5 aircraft carriers after the Icelandic Campaign, although the latter number is slightly more, but the German aircraft carriers are mostly halfway home transformation, the King belongs to the integrated aircraft carrier, and the Ise aircraft carrier, which was injured in the early stage, only carried out emergency repairs due to the urgent needs of the operation, and the injury has not been completely recovered, and the maximum speed can only reach 25 knots. On the whole, the combat performance is not so exaggerated as 2 more than that of the United States.

Churchill saw very well that if he could bring these two carriers to Canada, the Allies would have a significant advantage in aircraft carriers, and this gap will be further widened as the United States continues to serve two Essex-class aircraft carriers in August and September, while the German army does not have new aircraft carriers. This not only laid the foundation for seizing control of the Atlantic Ocean, consolidating the defenses of North America, and countering the invasion of South America, but also had the opportunity to counterattack Africa -- for the time being, he did not dare to think about counterattacking the European continent.

If these two aircraft carriers are obtained by Germany, then before August, the German army has twice the aircraft carrier advantage, and will still have the advantage before the end of the year, after entering 1945, Germany's new aircraft carriers will be put into service one after another, and the United States may be better in the number and speed of the Essex class service in the same period, but at most it is a parallel situation.

The most important thing is that the German army, which has obtained these two aircraft carriers, has an absolute superiority window period, and it is completely possible to use overwhelming forces to fight in the South American direction within half a year. Once Germany was given control of Brazil and Central America and the Caribbean, Churchill had 10,000 reasons to believe that Germany and the United States would take the lead in making peace.

In this case, the departure and stay of the two aircraft carriers became the focus. The Germans did not even want to destroy the aircraft carriers that had not yet been built in the air raids - of course, the British also deployed strong defensive forces, and the Germans did not necessarily succeed. But it reflects the unanimous expectation of Germany: take Iceland, the British Empire is about to armistice, these two aircraft carriers are in Germany's pocket, why bother to blow up what is about to belong to itself?

Of course, the new government led by Attlee and the three major military leaders would not give these capital ships to Germany in vain, but the price offered by Hoffmann made them have to be moved: if the Royal Navy handed over the warships and other military supplies, Germany would give them a handsome reward:

1. Solve the problem of raw materials, energy and food supply in the UK;

2. Do not claim additional compensation from the UK;

3. Promised to reserve a part of Indian territory (Pakistan) to the British Empire, and promised that South Africa would be controlled by the London government, and that the EU voting power could not be increased to the United Kingdom, but the future voting rights of South Africa could be added to London within the United Nations system;

4. Promise to treat Newfoundland as the mainland of the British Empire and agree to annex it (whether it is substantially occupied is another matter);

5. In the event of the eventual independence or merger of Northern Ireland with Ireland, the public and private property of the United Kingdom in that area shall not be affected.

Several other articles were secondary, and the most important third was implemented after repeated consultations.

South Africa's affairs were easy to handle, and Germany even said that it did not need Britain to send troops. As long as there is an armistice on the Eastern Front, millions of army forces can be freed up, and the huge logistical supply system can also be turned to Africa, and with the military strength of South Africa, an SS Panzer Army can defeat the Americans to ashes.

Pakistan's affairs were more difficult, and although Kohl repeatedly mediated in Tokyo, the Japanese government hummed and refused to let go, but fortunately, Horikichi believed that after Germany ended the war in Europe, the situation in Japan deteriorated, and East Russia and the United States were under tremendous pressure, and the German line must not be lost, and it was not impossible to leave the Northwest India (Pakistan) to the British.

He made great efforts to convince the higher-ups to make a formal demand after the capture of Delhi - that the territory of Pakistan should be purchased by Britain from Japan! Although the army red deer was a little reluctant to cut out a large piece of territory, the price offered by Admiral Hori also made them smack: 2,000 tanks, 5,000 aircraft, 5 Axis-class aircraft carriers (or equivalent), 500 guns of 100mm caliber or more, 10 million tons of steel (one-third of which was delivered in special steel), 5 million tons of oil, 1 million tons of ship tonnage, and at the same time, Britain transferred radar, aero engines, Agreements on patented technologies such as tank guns are guaranteed by Germany as an intermediary on behalf of the European Union and are to be fulfilled within three years. If Britain was unwilling to hand over the goods, it would be fine to pay gold or any other equivalent, and Japan would buy it from Germany.

Even the top brass of the Japanese Army, who were reluctant to cede Pakistan, had to boast about this condition: General Hori's business experience is amazing!

Except for 10 million tons of steel and 5 million tons of oil, everything else is not particularly difficult for the British Empire, tanks, aircraft, and artillery are a few months' output, and the Axis class is not difficult to build, as long as there are raw materials, it is more than enough to cope with the strength of British shipyards. The 5 million tons of oil Germany said it could coordinate and withdraw its share from the Middle East to meet the Japanese side.

All in all, the delivery of these things was somewhat difficult for the British Empire, but it was not impossible to do it with the help of Germany, and as for the price, no one dared to say that it was not worth it. In Hoffman's words: "If I were to send this list to the French, and to keep the territory of the north-west India, the equipment and materiel would be as difficult as it would be for an agricultural country, but it would be easy for an industrial country like England and France." ”

Of course, Germany cannot be an intermediary in vain, and Britain's quick handover of its fleet and equipment is a benefit to Germany, and as for Japan, it is also a painful cut of flesh for the sake of seeking friendship with Germany. In Hori's words: "The Reich has given Germany such a big face, and even if there is a truce between Germany and the United States in the future, Germany will look at Japan differently - what good will it do to Germany if Japan falls?" As for the British Empire, everyone will be door to door in the Indian subcontinent in the future, and they can make friends with each other, 20 years ago, Britain and Japan were the best allies, don't say me and Yamamoto-kun, which officer above the rank of rear admiral was not influenced by the Royal Navy in his junior naval days? ”

It was only after the conclusion of the negotiations on the Pakistan question that the Anglo-German armistice agreement was finalized, and only then did it begin to follow the script -- Berlin knew a little about the situation, and Hoffmann openly said that he could go if he wanted to, and it was not difficult to leave Germany behind.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the script started, it was ruined by Churchill's unconventional routine, and Attlee and others were angry and anxious: if they couldn't control the situation and caused a catastrophe, how would they face the countryman and Edward VIII, who was about to return to China?

In the darkness of the night, under the protection of nearly 300 Task Force 101, Churchill's convoy continued to move in the direction of Liverpool.

The Spider had already made preliminary arrangements and arrangements, and Major Effler was shocked to find that the path that the other party had shown him either did not have any bayonets, or the bayonet was easily released, and the whole process was extremely smooth, and there was no need for the task force to intervene, let alone provoke endless pursuits.

"Master, it's more than 300 kilometers to Liverpool, do you want to take a nap first?"

"I can't sleep......," Churchill sighed, "I won't be able to get to Liverpool as soon as possible, and I won't be sure if I don't get those two aircraft carriers." Are they all at the docks? ”

"It's all there, according to the intelligence learned in advance, they are replenishing fuel and supplies in Liverpool today, and tomorrow they will start new exercises and sea trials, which are expected to be completed on July 10."

"Who else but Fraser?"

Jonathan thought for a moment: "There is no one else except the officers and men of the Royal Navy...... Not a single American either. ”

"That's good, that's good."

"What if they refuse to carry out your orders?"

"They'll do it?" Churchill pouted at the car behind him, "Aren't there still those three guys?" ”

"Them?"

"I don't want to embarrass them, everyone break up quickly, I'll take my aircraft carrier to Canada, and they will go to their new masters to continue to serve."

The carriage fell silent again, save for the dull sound of engines.

After a long time, Jonathan saw Churchill take out another cigar, so he lit the fire for the other party, and hesitantly asked: "What will the British think of us in the future?" ”

"What happens to Great Britain matters, as to what others think of us...... Insignificant. Churchill slowly exhaled a smoke ring, "I never live for other people's ideas!" ”