The adjusted design makes the Dunkirk aircraft carrier a standard straight-through beveled deck aircraft carrier, with a main flight deck length of 210 meters, slightly inferior to a medium-sized aircraft carrier, but an additional beveled deck with a length of 138 meters, all kinds of carrier-based aircraft can take off and land normally, and the comprehensive take-off and landing capability is basically the same as that of a regular aircraft carrier, but the carrying capacity, dispatch capacity and defense level are still the standard of aviation warships. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

The new design will adopt the scheme of sharing the beveled deck and the through deck, and the coexistence of deck tethering and single-storey hangars, with an estimated displacement of 30,000 tons, a maximum speed of 30 knots, and a capacity of 48+6 aircraft (26 hangars + 22 decks + 6 spare). The design change will result in an increase of two months in the construction period, which is expected to enter service in early September, at an additional cost of DM 10 million.

The Ise and Hyuga will also undergo similar modifications, with the same overall style, with an estimated displacement of 35,000 tons, a maximum speed of 25 knots, and a capacity of 54+8 aircraft (30 hangars + 24 decks + 8 standby), with an overall construction period of 10-11 months, and is expected to be put into service in early December. The design of the Jean-Bar, which is larger in size and slightly less complete, is expected to have a displacement of 40,000 tons, a maximum speed of 32 knots, and can carry 60 + 10 aircraft (36 hangars + 24 deck + 10 spare), and the overall transformation period is 12 months, and it is expected to be put into service in early April 1944.

Compared with the previous ships, in addition to the tonnage and defense advantages, the Jean-Bar has the longest hull, and the length of the straight-through flight deck reaches 245 meters, which exceeds the standard of medium-sized aircraft carriers, slightly inferior to heavy aircraft carriers, and its comprehensive capacity has surpassed that of the Tejas class aircraft carriers.

Compared with the aircraft carriers of the Essex-class fleet of the United States, these four "broken aircraft carriers" transformed from battleships have very obvious characteristics: first, they adopt an oblique deck design, and use a large bevel angle on the port side and a small bevel angle on the starboard side to improve the level and take-off and landing capacity of the carrier aircraft; second, it was transformed from a battleship, with only one hangar, the area was generally small, and the capacity of the same tonnage download machine was insufficient; Third, the defense capability is stronger than that of the Essex-class aircraft carrier, the horizontal armored core can resist 500 kg of bomb attacks, and the anti-torpedo capability is also stronger than that of the Essex class; Fourth, the speed is slower than that of the Essex class, and the endurance is low, generally only 6,000-9,000 nautical miles, which is lower than the Essex class of 15,000 nautical miles. In terms of comprehensive combat capability, it is not comparable to the Essex class, but it is much stronger than the escort aircraft carriers built in batches by the United States.

"In the past two years, many skilled workers have been conscripted into the army, which has affected the construction of the shipyard, and in order to ensure that the ships are completed on time, I also hope to withdraw some shipyard workers in addition to materials."

"That's all right, give you a quota of 30,000 people, draw all these workers back, and coordinate with Chief Keitel, if it's not enough, it doesn't hurt to increase some more. After the Spring Awakening Campaign is over, I will also announce a policy: Wehrmacht soldiers over the age of 40 are free to choose to retire -- middle and senior officers will probably not leave, and junior officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men will involve 200,000 to 250,000 people, and let them return to their home countries to play a role in other posts. "I've been thinking about a problem lately, and before we integrate and mobilize the power of all Europe, we have basically reached the limit of our own power, and it is impossible to expand it indefinitely." In order to ensure Rommel's supplies and supplies, the transportation and resource dispatch were insufficient in a short period of time, and in the end he was forced to divert half of Guderian's supplies from the African Army, which slowed down his offensive - I don't know how much he complained about me. ”

Speer didn't know about this news, he was stunned for a moment, and Shao Qian subconsciously asked: "Can the war in Africa end smoothly?" ”

"In the short term, we can only hold down the Americans, and it is still too early to end, but fortunately, the Americans have no way to send supplies to Kenya, and we still have some advantages overall." Speaking of the situation in Africa, Hoffman felt a burst of annoyance: the tens of thousands of British and American troops have not yet been put in his eyes, but South Africa is a big problem, the high command has estimated, to take South Africa not only needs reliable naval and air forces, but also 300,000 troops, if in the Mediterranean, there is no problem with this point of force, South Africa can be bulldozed immediately, the problem South Africa is located in the southernmost part of the African continent, tens of thousands of kilometers away from the core control area of the axis - this distance is farther than starting from Germany to fight Indonesia!

"I'm afraid it will be ...... to confront Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union for a long time," Speer asked in a low voice, "I heard that Stalin was trying to sue for peace, what are you going to do?" ”

"This year we will try to get at least one of Britain or Russia out of the war, but this will be very difficult to do: the British have the support of the Americans and the blood transfusion of the Dominion, and they will not lie down in the short term; It would be easy to achieve an armistice with Stalin, as long as I relented on the issue of the Russian Liberation Army, and the truce could be made next month, but it would not deplete and weaken the Russians to a certain extent, and the armistice would not bring peace - the Russians had never kept the treaties they had signed, and the armistice was only a respite for Stalin, and the Eastern Front would always be threatened by the Red Army. ”

"In this way, we can only hope for an Indian attack, and the occupation of India as soon as possible can be a profound blow to the confidence of the British—I do not believe that the British can hold out more than us."

Speer's remark is well-founded -- Beginning in February, the Anglo-American strategic bombing from Britain gradually decreased, and then almost stopped, and the Supreme Command, after analysis, held that the suspension of British and American bombing was a combination of many factors: First, Britain was facing a fuel crisis, and the bombing of thousands of planes at every turn consumed a great deal of fuel; Second, the air defense forces of the Western Front continued to increase, and the level of losses of British and American strategic bombers has always remained at about 14%, which is a result that is difficult to bear for a long time; Third, Britain launched a continuous bombing of the Azores in accordance with the requirements of the United States, diverting a large number of air forces, with more than 35 British bombers forced to land in Portugal alone, and nearly 200 shot down by the Germans.

"That's why I agreed to provide Horikichi with four Marine Brigades -- Churchill's life was far harder than ours." Hoffman's face did not show much worry, he was still full of confidence, "We now have the advantage and absolute initiative, we can see the results of the Battle of Spring Awakening first, and then look at the situation after the Battle of Gibraltar, I am full of confidence in the future, the final victory of this war will undoubtedly belong to us." ”

Speer nodded in agreement, after all, Germany is in a good situation now, social stability, sustainable development of production, access to all kinds of materials and resources is guaranteed, the axis system is all over the core of the world island, and even the most annoying strategic air raids have been reduced, he doesn't know what the situation is in the United States, but in his eyes, Germany is far more victorious than the Soviet Union or Britain. Under these circumstances, the head of state dared to reduce the number of troops and transfer them back to join the economic construction, and if he did not have full confidence in the war situation, he would definitely not do so.

"In addition, I have recently hatched an idea to stop the construction of the Atlantic Fortress."

Speer was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Why?" Although the construction process is not progressing quickly, at least efforts have been made to improve it. ”

"From a military point of view, these fortress lines are completely unnecessary and a waste of time and resources. The experience of the Far East tells us that it is completely impossible to hold the beachhead in the absence of sea and air supremacy, and it is better to put the enemy up and fight it. If we lose sea and air supremacy, the so-called Atlantic fortress will be just a pile of reinforced concrete waiting for the Americans to come and bomb it, and it will not cost them much effort - the fortress of Gibraltar is finally strong, right? Surrounded by the sea on three sides, full of mountains and heavy artillery fortifications, haven't we been beaten to pieces? Moreover, the entire coastline of Western Europe is so long, and after Spain joins the axis, we have to defend more and larger areas, and who knows where the Americans will land? ”

"Will Marshal Rundstedt express his displeasure? Some time ago, he was very unhappy when the allocation of construction materials was a little slow. ”

"Nope! He would have agreed! He had reported to me that he wanted to concentrate the armoured divisions and use a mobile defensive posture to concentrate on destroying the enemy when they landed and fought in depth, but I always rejected this idea because of our initial lack of armored forces. Hoffman sighed, "I initially requested that the construction should be completed in May this year, but I received reports that the overall progress is only 10-15% complete, and there are only scattered strongholds, which are simply not enough to defend against a large number of troops. 3 years? 5 years? ”

Speer was silent: not to mention five years, it may not be possible to build a complete defense line from Norway to the Iberian Peninsula in another eight years -- this is not that he is unwilling to work hard, but that Germany has so much strength, and it is impossible to maintain a strong army of more than 8 million and a navy and air force that is not weak.

"The Atlantic Fortress construction is beyond our capabilities, and we must not force it, let alone deceive ourselves. What's the use of a defensive line? The lessons of the Maginot Line are still fresh in our minds, have they stopped us? ”

Speer began to figure out how much supplies and strength he would be able to muster if the Atlantic fortress stopped construction.

"Of course, it is not that no fortifications will not be built, at least the section facing the English Channel - that is, from Brest in France to Amsterdam in the Netherlands - should still be built, and the rest of the personnel, materials and funds can be invested in the construction of air defense fortifications, airfields, roads, etc. on the Western Front, or labor can be invested in naval shipbuilding. As for Marshal Rundstedt, I will communicate with him, and the best explanation is to give him a few more armored divisions and infantry divisions with tank destroyers, which would be even more perfect if there were enough aircraft. ”

"As you wish, Führer." (To be continued.) )