The 31 submarines lined up in two cordons under the sea surface, with a distance of 8,000-9,000 meters from each other and a distance of more than 20 kilometers between the front and rear, opening up a total of nearly 150 kilometers wide defense width. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

They are quietly suspended in the sea at a depth of more than 50 meters, flowing slowly with the current, without making the slightest noise, and blending in with the entire ocean background.

The tactic to use today is simple: wait! Wait for the enemy's main fleet to enter the ambush circle and launch the torpedoes, and shoot out all the torpedoes carried on the submarine as quickly as possible. The 31 submarines carried more than 700 torpedoes, and the price was very high, such as spears and tiger sharks.

It had been calculated before going to sea that even if the 31 submarines were able to run out of torpedoes and all return safely, the operation would be expensive, and the total consumption of torpedoes, fuel and other supplies would be enough to build 2 Axis-class aircraft carriers (excluding aircraft) or to provide all the heavy equipment of a Type 1944 armored division. In other words, only the sinking of at least 2 US aircraft carriers can save capital.

But Krank and Dönitz are still under pressure for no other reason: the South American battlefield is a key link in determining the trend of the US-German war, and the more than 100 million marks must be paid! If we do not destroy the US military's will to war as soon as possible and stifle the US military's resistance potential, we will pay more and greater costs in the future. And now, since the main German fleet and reinforcements could not catch up with Brazil for the time being, it was necessary to intensify the attack on the enemy in order to delay the advance of the American army.

To be honest, Cranke was very conflicted when the US troops shelled Victoria Harbor today, he did not know if this was a sign of the imminent landing of US troops, and he and Hintz and a group of staff officers repeatedly conducted a battle situation deduction, believing that even if the US troops landed, it was not the right time for the fleet to attack. But as an admiral, he could not simply ignore the safety of the army, so he sent a telegram to Schauken asking him what his difficulties were.

Sauken obviously understood his situation and the implication of his words, and gritted his teeth and sent a telegram back: "Even if the American troops land in Victoria, this group will resist first and repel the enemy forces one by one, and do not need naval support for the time being. ”

When it became clear that it was a false alarm, the Germans were relieved, but then the worrisome problem became another - the American fleet went south in a big way, trying to find the main force of the Kranker fleet for a decisive battle. The forces of Nimitz were clearly seen after successive reconnaissance - 3 Essex-class aircraft carriers, 6-12 escort carriers (depending on whether the landing fleet was acting as one, but at least 6 carriers).

Although Cranke also has three aircraft carriers, he clearly knows what kind of quality these warships in his hands are, and he can't fight hard, and he must use submarines to weaken the opponent in advance -- so he put the main attack target on the main fleet of the US army.

Time passed minute by minute, and the fleet led by Nimitz had slowly sailed into the ambush circle of the wolves, and the destroyer radar crews guarding around him stared vigilantly at the screen, but it was empty, and no bright spots were found, and it was not a single warship that reflected, all warships reflected like this, which basically meant that there were no German submarines.

In addition to the microwave search radar, the sonar corps also reported that there was no abnormality, but the fleet commander still did not dare to slack off and still followed the "Z" antisubmarine route in a regular manner -- although this evasion method has been proved to be not a good way to deal with the new German submarines, since there is a speed difference between the capital ship and the transport fleet, and it is impossible to reduce the speed of the capital ship to the same level as the cargo ship, taking the Z-shaped line can invisibly lengthen the distance traveled by the fleet and objectively play a synchronous role.

"Tell all ships to be cautious, pay more attention to adjusting the route, and don't maintain regularity." Nimitz did not feel sleepy at night, and handed over to his subordinates, and the staff officers immediately complied.

Smith asked with concern, "Do you think something is going to happen?" ”

"There is such a hunch, but there is no evidence." Nimitz sighed, "Today, the German reconnaissance planes came three times in a row, and although there was no German attack aircraft group coming in the end, I always thought that something would happen, so I could only be careful and careful." ”

Nimitz's hunch fully embodies the feeling of a famous general, but he can only scratch the blind when faced with technical equipment beyond his circle of ability.

German submarines are not nothing, they are quietly suspended in the sea at the moment, and since they basically have their motors turned off, the active sonar basically mixes them with the noise of the sea, and nothing can be heard.

"Sir, the sound on the sea is getting louder and louder, it should be the transit of the U.S. fleet according to intelligence."

"Good!" Major Hasler, the captain of the U3233, breathed a sigh of relief, "It's finally here, it's not in vain that we wait, the Americans still take care of us." ”

"Brethren, when the sale comes to the door, cheer up."

Hula, the officers and men of the submarine, who were still half-sitting and half-lying down just now, chatting casually, immediately flew to their places.

"How many boats?"

"I don't know...... Almost endlessly, the sound of boat engines and propellers is everywhere. The sonar soldier put down his headphones, "You know, this set of equipment can only roughly judge the sound intensity, direction and distance, and cannot indicate which ship it is. ”

"Either ship is fine, aim for the loudest hit!" Hasler waved his hand fiercely, "Torpedo ready!" Set the depth a little deeper. ”

"Captain, it's been prepared for a long time." The torpedo chief whispered.

At present, the sonar is still in a relatively primitive state, and there is neither advanced computer-aided calculation of the enemy's position, nor any voiceprint data available to identify the specific enemy ship model, and it completely relies on the strength of the voice, the distance and the proximity to make vague judgments. One thing is clear, however, any sound that is clearly open to the sea is an enemy ship, and the louder it is, the louder it should be, and the sound of battleships such as the USS Wisconsin and the USS Missouri will never be the same as the sound of a Fletcher-class destroyer.

The equipment of the probe is rudimentary, and in turn the probe's response is almost non-existent: such as simulating the voiceprint (i.e., sound signature) of a large warship with a small ship, and simulating the voiceprint of a warship with a torpedo or other object, are still unheard of.

"Torpedo tubes! I heard the torpedo tubes! "The sonar soldier on a destroyer suddenly shouted!

This sound came from the U3233 submarine, when the torpedo chief announced that the target was determined, and the moment the torpedo was fired, the sound of the torpedo tube opening was like a large stone being dropped in the otherwise calm sound.

"The enemy submarine is in a 105-degree angle!"

But it was too late to remind them of this level, and six huge torpedoes, three spears and three tiger sharks, had already swooped out of the six torpedo tubes in the bow of the ship with murderous vigour.

Soon, the submarines on both sides of the U3233 also fired torpedoes, all of which were set at a depth of more than 7 meters, making it clear that they wanted to catch big fish.

"Sir...... The destroyer report ...... "Before Smith could speak, he heard two loud explosions from the port side, which could be clearly seen even in the dark of night - a Casablanca-class escort carrier was lifted above the water by a strong impact, broke off in an instant, and then fell down heavily.

"That's the Petrov Bay!" Smith exclaimed.

This poor escort aircraft carrier ate two powerful oxygen torpedoes, each with more than 700 kilograms of high-explosive charges, the power can be imagined, the 10,000-ton treaty-type cruiser can not withstand its blow, only 8,200 tons and built with reference to the capabilities of civilian ships How can the Casablanca-class withstand it, not only was it blown up in two on the spot, but it was also forced out to the sea by the impact force that had nowhere to release, showing off the situation of excess power.

Today's explosion was like the starting gun for the whole battle, and the German submarine in the distance swooped down like a shark smelling blood, and the Tiger Shark shot by the U3233 did not miss, one accurately hit an Atlanta-class air defense cruiser, and the result was sunk without exception, and the other went directly to the Missouri - the latter was turning, and it was brushed against the tail propeller, and everyone was in a cold sweat.

The water column was constantly ringing, and from time to time ships were torpedoed, and the destroyers were firing hedgehog shells, but it was no longer clear where the enemy was and where the torpedoes were coming out - these killers were like ghosts, and by the time you saw him, you didn't know where they were.

Nimitz's face changed drastically, and when he heard the sound of torpedoes one after another, how did he not know that he had broken into the German ambush array?

"The ships turn to the southeast, advance at maximum speed, rush over! Do not turn on the searchlight. ”

The staff officers woke up from a dream and ran out desperately to give orders.

The engines that received the order immediately turned up the power to the maximum, the propellers spun rapidly, and a large number of cruisers and destroyers protected the two Iowa-class and the three Essex-class at a speed of 32 knots to the southeast, trying to fight their way out.

Nimitz did not know that there was a second fleet of submarines waiting for him in front of him, and he did not know that the high-speed spinning propellers stirred up even greater cavities and sounds, which was tantamount to telling the Germans - I am here! I am here!

After playing the first round, U3233 didn't have time to count and confirm his results, and dived into the deep sea at the first time, and Hasler nervously issued an order: "Reload again, quickly!" Let's play one more round! ”

Nimitz, who gave the order for a high-speed retreat, also ignored one point: the speed of the Casablanca-class escort aircraft carrier was less than 30 knots, and they increased the power to a maximum of only 20 knots, and at first there was no problem, but after 20 minutes, the remaining Casablanca-class ships that were originally on the left and right flanks of the fleet had quietly fallen behind.

The sea is now in chaos, with the main US forces speeding up their withdrawal on the one hand, and a handful of destroyers remaining behind to rescue the officers and men who have fallen into the water -- most of the officers and men were killed in the sea in the violent explosion just now, and only two or three out of 100 lucky ones survived.

Some of the captains of the U-boats, who failed to win the first round, began to sneak up on the surface, ready to find the remaining targets......