The sharp bow of the ship cut through the icy and calm Atlantic sea, breaking the tranquility.

Helmut stood on the bow deck wrapped in a padded jacket, smoking a cigarette and letting the bitter cold wind blow in his face.

"The Leblercht Math calls the George Tiller, over." Inside the bridge, a radio station was broadcasting to another warship not far away.

"Captain! The Lebrecht is calling us! A sailor pushed open the hatch of the bridge and shouted to Helmut, who stood in the sea breeze.

Helmot nodded, threw away half of his cigarette, and strode back to the bridge.

"The Leblercht Mass calls the George Tiller, hears the reply, over." There was another call over the radio.

"George Thiele received, please speak." Helmut grabbed the microphone hanging next to the radio station and said.

"Man, how does it feel to fly our new destroyer?"

"Oh, Carl, you bastard." Helmut laughed.

As soon as he heard the mocking tone, he knew that it was his good friend, the captain of the destroyer Lebrecht, Carl von Ekkelt, who was talking to him.

"I thought you were calling me in a hurry, so I threw away half of the cigarette in my hand and ran back to the bridge."

"Haha, tell me, how about our new destroyer?"

"The new destroyer, of course it's great." Helmut laughed and said, "It's better than any of our previous destroyers!" ”

They came from the 1st Destroyer Detachment of the German High Seas Fleet, which had five destroyers, all of which were Germany's newest Z1-class destroyers.

German Z1-class destroyer with a standard displacement of 1700 tons, a full load displacement of 3156 tons, and a maximum speed of 38 knots.

In terms of armament, it is equipped with five single-unit 128mm high-level dual-purpose guns, six twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns, and three three-unit 610mm torpedo launchers, firing G/7A torpedoes with a range of 8 kilometers and a speed of 63 knots (an improvement from the eight-year type No. 2 torpedo provided by Japan).

This class of destroyers is arguably the most powerful German destroyer of the first class to date.

"Hey, have you been to the Deutsche Shipyard? Our first aircraft carrier is being built there. Karl said.

"I haven't been to the Deutsche Shipyard, but when I went to the Königsberg shipyard to pick up the cruiser Königsberg, I saw the battleship Admiral Schell under construction, my God, it's a big ship. I've heard it's a lot bigger than our previous largest battleship, the Bavaria. ”

"Guys, can any of you tell me why you should be silent on the radio now, and you can talk so vigorously as if no one was around?" A voice interrupted the conversation, "We're on a mission right now. ”

"Mr. Rear Admiral, our mission is going well, you see, the cruisers Königsberg and Cologne are sailing steadily, without even the slightest big bump." Carl interrupted with a grin.

"Okay guys, I won't hold you accountable, but from now on, maintain absolute radio silence, my intelligence indicates that there were once French warships nearby." The Major General ordered.

"Understood, Major General." Helmut replied, then hung the microphone back in his place.

The 1st Destroyer Detachment is at the moment carrying out an important task - to protect two of Germany's newest Königsberg-class cruisers from sea trials.

Königsberg-class cruiser with a standard displacement of 7000 tons, a full load displacement of 8500 tons, and a maximum speed of 34 knots.

In terms of armament, it is equipped with four triple 128mm high-level dual-purpose guns of the same model as the Z1-class destroyers, four twin 88mm anti-aircraft guns (the first artillery sent by Gustav to Lyon, which was loaded on naval ships by Lyon), 10 twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns and four triple 610mm torpedo launchers.

"It's the most boring kind of task, and nothing will happen, and it has to keep us on radio silence." Helmut complained to his first mate, "I'm going to take a break, you're on duty, what's going to wake me up." ”

"Okay Captain." The first mate nodded.

But just as Helmut was about to enter the captain's lounge, located behind the bridge, the radio went off again.

"Look, all ships, an unknown fleet appears at 9 o'clock. All the warships were reduced to 17 knots, and the Lebrecht and Georges left the fleet to go and interrogate who it was. The serious voice of the Major General appeared on the radio.

"Lebrecht received."

"George Tiller received." Helmut grabbed the microphone and agreed, then said to the driver, "Flag Whisperer ready, turn left and half rudder, and go full speed!" ”

"Understood, turn left and half rudder and go full speed ahead!" The driver repeats the command loudly in case of error.

The two destroyers quickly broke away from the formation and headed towards the target sea area.

"We're in trouble." "They are the French fleet, consisting of 3 light cruisers and 6 destroyers," Carr reported to the fleet with a telescope. ”

"This is the German High Seas Fleet, your fleet is violating our territorial waters, please leave quickly!" The Georges, who was sailing next to the Lebrecht, signaled to the French fleet a few kilometers away.

"This is the high seas, we have the right of freedom of navigation, and you have no right to let us go." The French fleet quickly responded.

"What bandit logic?! This sea area has been Germany's territorial waters since ancient times, when did it become the high seas? Helmut on the bridge slapped the table angrily, and then said to the flag soldiers, "Tell them that if they don't leave our waters again, we will take force measures." ”

The standard-bearer immediately translated this passage, but waited not for the withdrawal of the French fleet, but for a cannonball.

"Boom!" A shell landed next to the destroyer George, startling Helmut.

"I'm under attack! The French fleet fired a shell at me! Helmut grabbed the microphone and shouted, "We ask for a return shot!" ”

"George, Leblercht, don't return fire, quickly get out of the battle and come back." The voice of the major general came.

"Understood, get out of the battle and return to formation!" Karl and Helmut repeated.

"Boom! Rumble! "The French formation fired two more shells at the George.

One shot landed in the distance, and the other shot landed next to the George, almost hitting the George directly.

"The George is under attack again! Request a counterattack! Helmut grabbed the microphone and shouted anxiously.

"The request has passed." The rear admiral agreed, "All warships, go close to the Lebrecht and George, and let the arrogant French see how powerful we are!" ”