"Didn't the Navy already have two great victories over the British fleet and achieve absolute superiority in the North Sea and the Atlantic? Why is there still a shortage of ships? Keitel saw Hitler's brow furrowed slightly, and immediately opened his mouth to Raeder to ask. Being robbed by a layman like this, Raider, who was already in a bad mood, suddenly became angry, he snorted coldly, turned his head and said, "General Brom, please come and explain to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief." ”

Fang Yan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly found that almost everyone's eyes in the office were focused on him. In the flash of light, Fang Yan quickly sorted out some thoughts and data in his mind, and the corresponding words had already blurted out: "Your Excellency Keitel, the navy is currently only a small scale of the main warship. In the field of light ships, especially ships with a displacement of less than 1,000 tons, the Navy still has obvious numerical shortcomings. And the most important thing that the army needs most in this sea-crossing campaign is the support of these light ships. ”

Fang Yan stretched out his right hand to Halder, his eyes showed an inquiring look, the latter was stunned, and then handed the command pole in his hand to the other party. Fang Yan thanked him, then his eyes became sharp and solemn, and he pointed to the map and said: "The most important point of cross-sea landing operations is to open up a sea area for transport ships to sail safely and ensure that personnel and materials can go ashore smoothly. And in the English Channel, this task could not be accomplished by battleships, nor by aviation, but only by fighting with a large number of light ships. ”

Hearing this statement, Hitler, who had been silent beside him, gradually showed a serious look. He gave Fang Yan an approving look and motioned for the latter to continue analyzing the topic in detail.

"The English Channel is 560 kilometers long, and the width of the area where our troops are preparing to land is generally only 30 to 80 kilometers, and this narrow body of water is the stage for the performance of aircraft, submarines, torpedo boats, and mines, and our heavy aircraft carriers and battleships that dominate the Atlantic are obviously not allowed to sail into them at will. Even if our air force was able to suppress the enemy's air power and deal a serious blow to the ports of southern Britain, the enemy's last three threats would remain, so it would be necessary to sweep a safe area with light ships. Otherwise, the transport ship will be destroyed. ”

"And unfortunately, the Navy does not yet have the ability to suppress the adversary in the straits. We have only 14 small destroyers, 8 submarines, 32 torpedo boats to use against British ships, and another 50 minesweepers to clear mines; However, the number of British warships is more than three times that of our army, and our army is at an absolute disadvantage in carrying out artillery battles, torpedo quick attacks, or underwater sneak attacks, and it is difficult to even protect itself. In such a situation, if a landing campaign is forcibly launched, the fate of the transport fleet can be imagined. Fang Yan said in a solemn tone.

Halder's eyes struggled a little, as if he wanted to fight for something more, but when he saw the same serious and determined face of the commander-in-chief of the Navy next to him, he finally nodded slowly and reluctantly. In any case, the other party is an expert in naval operations, and no matter how much dissatisfaction and grievance he has with this result, he has no qualifications to be beaked in front of the other party. It's just a pity that today's invincible armored iron cavalry of Germany was blocked by this trench. Halder suddenly fully understood Napoleon's mood - if he could control this strait for 6 hours, the European hegemon could become the master of the world!

Hitler's brow furrowed slightly, as if he was quite dissatisfied with this result, he pondered the map, and a touch of imperceptible madness crept over his face. Fang Yan was keenly aware of Hitler's abnormality, and his heart suddenly froze, and he immediately released the last big move to suppress and seal it: "In addition, the navy does not have enough ships to transport supplies and troops at present. In the previous landing in Norway, we used warships to transport our troops directly to the harbor because of the very weak strength of the enemy's land forces and the need for internal help. And this time when it landed in the UK, it was obvious that the same trick could not be implemented again, and all personnel and materials needed to be transported by small boats. ”

Fang Yan quickly and silently calculated the data, and after confirming that it was roughly correct, he continued: "In order to meet the needs of the army's first batch of 10 landing divisions, the navy needs to collect about 3,500 barges, 2,000 motorboats, 800 tugboats and 150 transport ships. As far as I know, less than 40 percent of the ships sail on the rivers of Germany in the whole of Germany. Even if we dig a few feet in France and barely have enough ships, it will be extremely difficult for them to navigate the English Channel, not to mention that doing so will deal a fatal blow to the country's economy, which relies on inland waterways. ”

Nearby, Rydell's eyes were amazed, Rao was a man who had witnessed Fang Yan's extraordinary talent countless times, and at this moment, he still couldn't help but feel a heartfelt admiration for this young man. You must know that this time he impulsively asked Fang Yan to speak, without any prior notice of him, and in this case, Fang Yan's response can be so coherent and full of persuasiveness brought by accurate data, which is really commendable.

Raeder froze and was about to make a summary of what Fang Yan had just expounded, but before he could speak, he saw that Hitler had already spoken to Fang Yan: "Jonas, since you have talked about so many factors restricting our army, what are your views and strategies on this British campaign?" ”

Looking at Hitler with a serious expression in front of him, and the high-level generals who were also quietly waiting, Fang Yan found an excellent opportunity to put forward his strategic ideas to the commander-in-chief, and the door had been opened to him. Fang Yan took a deep breath, kept his mind calm, groaned slightly, and then narrated his plan.

"Since the Navy is currently unable to cover and transport the Army across the strait, I personally advocate postponing the date of the offensive until May next year. During this 10-month preparation period, the Navy's lack of light vessels will be radically alleviated – we can massively build easy-to-produce M-type minesweeper frigates and S-type torpedo boats to compete for control within a specific area of the strait. The construction period of the former is no more than 4 months, and the latter can be launched in only 2 months. As long as input can be guaranteed and production can be coordinated, then by March 1941 the navy will receive no less than 120 M ships and 180 S boats, which will be enough to start a decisive battle with Britain in the strait. ”

"In addition to this, the lack of landing ships can also be completely solved during this period. This kind of small boat used for beach grabbing does not have any complicated production process, and ordinary steel processing plants can produce it in mass production, and it is not difficult to produce 1,000 boats per month. Speaking of this, Fang Yan showed a confident look on his face, and said, "As for their design, please leave it to me." I promise that they will please the landing force. ”

"General Brom, perhaps the navy, as you say, will not be ready until May next year. But the Army clearly can't afford to wait that long. With the appearance of an unfamiliar voice, the only yodel in this room with the same rank as Fang Yan stepped forward. In the High Command, Jodel held the key position of chief of operations, and in many cases played the role of an important thinker and adviser to Hitler. At this time, Yodel's tone was full of stiffness, and the gaze that looked at Fang Yan was not at all as gentle and friendly as his boss Keitel. In his eyes, the other party is really ridiculous: at this level of strategy, what qualifications do you have to point fingers here?

"It should be pointed out that the scale of the landing of 10 divisions and the operational plan for landing from three locations proposed by General Halder just now were formulated on the premise that the British Army was extremely weak at present and its main forces could not resist our attack at all. If we drag it out until May next year, Britain will have 30 to 50 main divisions, and how will we be able to land at that time? Yodel's eyes were slanted, and his voice was thick with mockery, "Your strategy is to treat the British as fools who will not react. ”

Fang Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his sharp and pressing eyes flashed. It seems that for a long time, he has been incarnated as a moderate general and has not been intimidated. The last time he showed his sharpness to little Ziano in Rome, it was mainly for personal life reasons, and I wanted him to honestly respect and recognize his brother-in-law. Between the lightning and the fire, the corners of Fang Yan's mouth hooked up a sneer. On the road to the top of the country in China, let's take the first step by stepping on Yodel's face.

"I originally thought that the chief of operations of OK, as the arm and arm of the Führer, must be an outstanding person who is well versed in the army and navy. Today, however, I realized that General Yodel's consciousness was still on the surface of the land. ”

In the midst of Yodel's sudden and fierce gaze, Fang Yan said unhurriedly: "Indeed, during the period when we are preparing to land, the British will desperately strengthen their home defenses, whether it is building fortifications or expanding their troops. But some people have apparently forgotten that the expansion of the army requires not only a large number of personnel, but also an abundance of weapons. The latter is the most fatal flaw of Britain's home defense. ”

"Thanks to the Führer and the Army for their epic work on the Western Front, Germany's maritime disadvantage over Britain for a millennium has now completely disappeared. In the next battle against the British, the naval fleet will be based on the west coast of France and start a real hunting feast in the North Atlantic! Fang Yan's tone suddenly raised, and his bright eyes stared at the major general in front of him, "I can guarantee 100% that the UK's material input will plummet like a cliff, and the reduction will be at least 70%!" Even if they had the third largest arsenal in Europe, they would not be able to arm another 30 new divisions in this situation. ”