Hoffman, of course, does not do good deeds for no reason, and the motive is entirely self-interested. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

The existence of the Azores base and the complete axialization of control of the Mediterranean, coupled with the fact that the surface ship forces were far more effective than in history, the rate of German submarine losses was greatly reduced, and the area to be used was also reduced - there was no need for submarines in the Mediterranean, and there was almost no need for them in the Indian Ocean, because British and American merchant ships were extinct. In addition to the Anglo-Canadian route in the North Atlantic, there are only two key areas in the world, one is the South Atlantic waters of South America, the Caribbean and South Africa; The second is the South Pacific waters from the west coast of the United States to Australia and New Zealand.

The early Type VII submarines had a relatively short range and were acceptable for the Anglo-Canadian route in the North Atlantic, but not very practical in the South Atlantic, so Dönitz appropriately controlled the size of the submarine force according to the changes in the actual situation, and prepared to retire two Type VII for every new Type XXI submarine. Of course, the Type VII submarines based in Western Europe cannot undertake the task of breaking diplomatic relations in the South Atlantic and the South Pacific, which does not mean that they cannot set off from other places, so it is necessary to find a more suitable place for Type VII and Type IX submarines to break diplomatic relations.

In addition to this reason, human resources are also now the German Navy needs to focus on consideration, because Hoffmann promoted a vigorous naval expansion, the surface forces demand for sailors increased rapidly, the total number of naval forces continues to rise, the momentum is far more fierce than the army, like the departure of the Aquila aircraft carrier because it could not find a suitable person to serve as the captain, after Ozawa proposed, Mashal and others all the way to the green light, by the Japanese advisory group, the former captain of the Akagi Taijiro Aoki with the rank of rear admiral of the German Navy as the captain, Germany sent three deputy captains to study and assist in command.

Under such circumstances, it is naturally impossible to increase the number of submarine forces indefinitely, and as the first deputy commander of the Navy, Dönitz cannot only care about submarines, he must have an overall comprehensive balance. At present, with the exception of the last batch still produced at the shipyard, Germany has completely stopped the production of Type VII and Type IX submarines, and has started to work on Type XXI submarines in full force. In addition, the Jumbo XXX (Type 30) submarine, which was improved according to the drawings of the I-400, was also in full swing and was ready to start construction in March 1944.

Compared to the 6,500-ton I-400, the XXX submarine has a displacement of up to 9,600 tons, and can reach anywhere in the world from Germany and return safely. Of course, the XXX type submarine was not designed to break diplomatic relations, and it was not like Japan to carry special seaplanes for special diving bombing -- those levels of use were too low. The submarine has only one target and is equipped with a modified Super V2 rocket with a payload of 5 tons and a range of 800 kilometers.

Dr. Braun had patted his chest and assured Hoffman that by the end of 1945 at the latest, such a Super V2 rocket would be built, not far from that goal - the current V2 rocket has a maximum payload of 2.5 tons and a maximum range of 400 kilometers.

In addition to the submarine-launched version (first float-launched, then submarine-launched), the Super V2 rocket has two other mobile platforms - a modified armored train, and a super-heavy truck that is currently in full swing, and as for what Braun is not sure what these things are going to be used for, Speer knows very well - will be used to carry the German superbomb.

In Hoffman's mind, Germany's nuclear power deployment in the next 20 years will be a six-in-one strike platform: heavy bombers, ground fixed silos, railway maneuvers, road maneuvers, surface ship maneuvers, and submarine maneuvers. Therefore, after the super bomb and super rocket, there is a plan for super submarines -- the initial plan is to build four.

There are two motives for providing submarines to Japan: first, Germany has sent a group of submarine officers to Japan for training, which has also achieved practical results, but Japan's own submarines are limited in number and use them logically wrong, so it is necessary to provide more German submarines; Second, under the current circumstances, the use of submarines to suppress, blockade, and counteract the US moves in Australia and New Zealand will yield results; although it is impossible to blockade Australia and New Zealand with submarines alone, for every ton of US supplies sent to sea, the US counteroffensive in the direction of Australia and New Zealand will be forced to postpone by one point -- this will be of great benefit to the overall war situation.

In addition to Japan, as a reward for providing battleships to the Italians to participate in the South American war, Hoffman also gave the Italian Navy 12 Type VII submarines, and then Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Iran, Iraq, and even Egypt and other small partners also half-gave and half-sold a batch to them.

"There is still a way for the Combined Fleet, so that at least 500 million to 600 million yen will be saved, and the construction requirements and quantity mentioned by Lord Haixiang just now will be guaranteed." Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi of the Naval Aviation Headquarters immediately stood up to pick up the stubble.

"It's really good, the construction plan just mentioned by His Highness can also be approved." As soon as his words fell, Fu Liufan, head of the Operations Department of the Military Command Department, stood up and said-for-tat.

The meeting immediately began to debate what type and quantity to purchase, and asked when the submarines would arrive. Only King Fushimi Miyahiro asked, "Did the Germans do this because they asked us?" ”

"Your Highness clearly sees that the German side has put forward two demands: first, that the Combined Fleet launch a second westward expedition this winter and next spring -- the specific conditions will be discussed separately; Second, it is hoped that we will cut off as soon as possible the US supply ships that were counterfeit to the Soviet Union and cut off the Soviet Union's supply routes in the North Pacific. ”

Some people said that the price of the second western expedition should be higher, others said that it was better to postpone it, at least to completely control India first, and some said that they should not go westward, but should take the opportunity to go south, recover the islands in the South Seas and wait for the opportunity to occupy Australia and New Zealand; Others were eager to cut off Soviet supply lines, believing it to be a good time to take advantage of the fire.

Inoue Narumi saw that the meeting was really too off-topic, and hurriedly knocked on the table to stop everyone from talking nonsense: "Let's talk about these things at the meeting later, let's continue to discuss the shipbuilding plan first, and please continue to report the agreed results to Chief Horikichi." ”

The staff officer in charge of the record read aloud again: "Fifth, accelerate the research and development of new weapons. This time, the aircraft engine technologies acquired from Germany, including the Zero War Reform, the Tianshan Reform, and the Comet Reform, were thoroughly mastered, and the new types of electric detectors, underwater hydrophones (sonar), acoustic torpedoes, new aviation machine guns, antiaircraft guns and ammunition, communication radios, aircraft catapults, and other facilities were studied and mastered as soon as possible. Before the successful localization, we will temporarily import physical objects from Germany for transformation and upgrading......"

The fifth item is not strictly speaking, it is not shipbuilding, but it is only necessary equipment in the construction of ships, but since it is involved in the discussion, it is discussed and recorded.

"After the above situation is reported, please check the minutes of the meeting."

"The results are still very fast...... I wasn't here just now, so I don't know what your differences are, can you tell me all about your opinions? After reading the minutes of the meeting, Horiyoshi said with a smile, "Onishi-kun, why don't you say it first?" ”

Hearing this, King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong couldn't help but frown, and felt very uncomfortable. This discomfort began when Horiyoshi said that he would give away and sell submarines, and his remarks just now ostensibly confirmed Germany's support for the Japanese Navy, but in the ears of those who were concerned, it was almost equivalent to the self-praise of the Combined Fleet. Why the Germans sent and sold submarines for no reason -- it was certainly not the leadership of the Chief of the Military Command Department or the good offices of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but the only thing that could be explained was the exploits of the Combined Fleet, which greatly strengthened Horikichi's right to speak.

Horikichi now said that the two factions would take their own positions, and not only would they immediately separate the position of the Combined Fleet, but also put themselves in the position of arbiter—how could King Fushimi Miyahiro Kyoshi swallow this breath? But now it's different from the past, Hori Yoshi, as a marshal and admiral, has a transcendent status, and everyone has no problem saying that. Although King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong is also a marshal admiral, he knows from his own family that in the minds of the navy, he, the marshal admiral, completely relies on the skin of the imperial family, and if you really want to talk about merit, not to mention that compared with Hori Tsukichi, even Yamamoto is stronger than him.

"The opinion of Lord Haixiang is: no more battleships will be built in the Marushin plan, and it is required to build 4 new Yunlong and 2 Dafeng every year from next year, of which the construction period of Gaiyunlong will not exceed 22 months, and the construction period of Dafeng will not exceed 36 months, plus the 8 Yunlong class (4 ships are expected to be commissioned in 1944), and strive to complete the construction of about 40 new aircraft carriers in 5 years, that is, by the end of 1948; Considering that the battleship suffered a lot of losses, if there is still room for the budget plate, the Yamato-class No. 4 ship can be considered, and now that there is budget space, the No. 4 ship can be built. "As the head of the aviation headquarters, Takijiro Onishi was of course the vanguard of the aviation faction, but he still saved face for the fleet faction - agreeing to build the Yamato-class No. 4 ship.

"His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief's opinion is that in the new Maru plan, 2 more will be rebuilt to Yamato and 2 super armor cruisers, and the aircraft carrier will be built 4 Changyun Dragons every year, and if there is budget space, 2-3 Dafeng will be considered, of which the size and displacement will be 75,000 tons, equipped with 510mm caliber guns, and the completion time will be 48 months, and the displacement of the super armor patrol will be 30,000 tons, equipped with 6 410mm guns, and the completion time will be 40 months. The overall construction period is also considered for 5 years, and strive to be fully completed. "At present, there are 8 Yunlong-class ships under construction, and about 20 new ships will be added in five years, which has exceeded the target of 13 ships in the original plan to change the five." The reason for the increase in capital ships is that the recent losses of battleships have been relatively large, the Kongo-class has lost 2 ships, the Fuso class has lost 2 ships, the Ise class has sold 2 ships, the Nagato-class has lost 1 ship, and there have been 7 fewer battleships in a year, and only 1 Shinano has been replenished, and I am afraid that it will be overstretched in the future, after all, the battleships have played an important role in the last few battles, and the Yamato-class has formed an important psychological deterrent to the enemy. (To be continued.) )