"What? The Germans are going to drop the atomic bomb? ”

Since President Roosevelt had testified before his death in Congress about the German atomic bomb, the British (Canadian) military top brass actually knew more about the atomic bomb than their German colleagues. Most senior officers of the rank of Vice Admiral Fraser www.biquge.info who have heard all kinds of "rumors" about the atomic bomb and know that it is a very powerful bomb, and that an atomic bomb can produce an explosive power equivalent to 10,000-20,000 tons of high explosives.

"Is that really what Lieutenant General Collins' telegram says?" Fraser's face was gloomy and solemn, and the victory on Newfoundland was on the horizon, but the Germans were about to use their most terrible secret weapon......

"Yes." Colonel Cook was lower in rank than Fraser, but he had heard the news of the atomic bomb a few times, but he didn't know as much about the situation as Fraser, so he lowered his voice and asked: "Lieutenant General, I heard that what kind of atomic bomb can destroy a city as big as New York with just one one?" ”

"No," Fraser shook his head and sneered, "Scientists have long used formulas to calculate that the scope of destruction is only about 10 square kilometers, and it will not destroy New York at all...... If you want to throw it on Newfoundland, you can probably blow up half of the Churchill naval fortress. ”

The Pentagon and the British (Canadian) Imperial Staff have long organized experts to study the German use of the atomic bomb on the battlefield of Newfoundland.

After expert research, it was believed that the most likely to be bombed was the Churchill naval fortress. However, by the time the Churchill naval fortress was built, the Americans and the British already knew that the Germans were working on the atomic bomb. So there was a defense for a long time - the four twin 406mm turrets of the fortress were far apart from each other, more than 3 kilometers, and there were tall mounds around the turrets to cover them. Unless the atomic bomb explodes nearby, it is unlikely that the turret will be destroyed.

In addition, the other shore artillery positions of the fortress were very scattered and protected by strong fortifications.

As for the core part of the fortress, it is more than ten meters underground, and the specific location is strictly secret, and it is unlikely that it will be directly hit by the atomic bomb falling from a high altitude.

In addition to Churchill's naval forts, the waters near Newfoundland's beaches could also be hit by atomic bombs - this is the idea of tsunami bombs. The Germans may have used the atomic bomb to create a huge crash to destroy the American defensive positions off the coast of Newfoundland and clear the way for a landing.

And this tactic is not very threatening to Newfoundland, because the main terrain of Newfoundland is a plateau, the average altitude of the island is as high as 300 meters, and cliffs and cliffs that are tens or hundreds of meters above sea level are everywhere, and it is impossible to be destroyed by shore waves.

But for Fraser, who was commanding the fleet in Concepson Bay, the atomic bomb falling into the sea was what he needed to worry about - in fact, he didn't need to worry too much, because Concepson Bay is a few hundred square kilometers, and it would be nice if the power of the atomic bomb could reach one-tenth of it.

Moreover, the Royal Navy's Newfoundland Fleet had already drawn up a corresponding plan, called the "Turtle Plan", which was actually to disperse the fleet in the bay and hide it away from the beaches that could become the landing sites of German troops.

"Carry out the Turtle 2 plan," Fraser did not dare to slack off, and immediately gave the order, "the destroyer formation withdrew to the back of Belle Island to take refuge, and all the torpedo boats and submarines were immediately dispersed.

In addition, the destroyer formations were ready with smoke grenades...... We also have to guard against the anti-ship missiles of the Germans. That's the real big threat! ”

"Yes, Lieutenant General."

……

"Lieutenant Colonel, no enemy aircraft were spotted at an altitude of 8,000 meters above Concepson Bay."

Rudolph. Feng. At noon on April 29, 1945, Lieutenant Colonel Heinsberg-Yusupov-Hersmann was hovering 5,000 meters off the coast of Concepson Bay on a Bv138E-3 AWACS aircraft that had just been put into service.

This maritime AWACS aircraft is the latest model of the Bv138E, and the nose used to mount the radar has been redesigned to look like it has a large protruding nose (similar to the later Y-8 AWACS), so it has a better upward detection capability. Therefore, at an altitude of 5,000 meters, this Bv138E-3 can "see" targets above 13,000 meters, which is enough for Hirschman Jr. to command the extremely high-altitude Me262T jet fighter to fight.

However, the current American fighters have also learned smartly, and once the Me262 jet fighters appear in groups, they will immediately reduce their altitude and hide in the airspace below 5,000 meters, so Hirschmann Jr.'s clever air combat command means cannot be brought into play at all.

"What about below 5,000 meters? Are there enemy planes? Little Hersman asked again.

"There are a lot of enemy planes in the airspace below 5,000 meters, and they are engaged with our Fokker planes." The electronic officer on board the AWACS aircraft reported to Hersman Jr.

In the airspace below 5,000 meters, the fighters of the US military and the British (Canadian) army were entangled with Fokker 636 fighters that took off from aircraft carriers. They were originally coming to Newfoundland to support ground operations, but they were entangled with hundreds of F4U, F6F, F7F and P51s, and as a result, the air support mission could not be carried out, and they also became a mess with the superior enemy aircraft.

The fierce air battle has lasted for more than one hour, but because of the large number of US fighters, there is no winner. The air was littered with piston fighters dragging white exhaust fumes up and down, and from time to time planes were dragging fire and black smoke spiraling downward.

But as the jets commanded by Hersman Jr. arrive on the battlefield, the stalemate in the air immediately changes.

"Lieutenant Colonel, Electronic Eye 81 has just sent a telegram: Thunder is approaching the island of Newfoundland." At this time, Hesman Jr.'s communications officer also reported loudly to him at this time.

"Okay, got it." Hersman Jr. actually doesn't know what the "Thunder" fleet is for? An officer of his rank is not qualified to have access to that level of secrecy at all.

However, the plan he received before departure stipulated that once the "Thunder" group arrived, he would have to obey the command of the "Thunder" group's command plane, Electronic Eye No. 81.

"Is it Rudolph? I'm Helmut from Electronic Eye 81. Lund. Soon the on-board radio sounded Helmut. Lunt's voice, Colonel Lunt used to be a teacher at the Karlsruhe Air Force Non-commissioned Officer School in Karlsruhe, and Hirschmann Jr. was very familiar.

"Colonel Lunt, shall we talk in code?" Hessman Jr. was a front-line air commander and was very vigilant.

"Alright, well," came Colonel Lunt's voice over the radio speakers, "in codeword, Kitty Hawk 1, I'm Electronic Eye 81, and now I'm in command." ”

"Yes." Little Hersman replied, "E-Eye 81, please give the order." ”

"All Charizards are 10 stories tall."

"10 stories high?"

"Yes, and then the Wind Eagle will also go up to the 7th floor." Colonel Lunt said, "You also go up to 7 floors." In addition, all Wind Hawks are under your command from now on. Your mission is to take charge of the air superiority of The Pirate Bay, and you must ensure that the 7 floors and above are clean. Do you understand? ”

The "Pirate Bay" is Concepson Bay, the "Spitfire" refers to the Me262T jet fighter, and the Wind Eagle is the Fokker 636 fighter. "More than 7 floors" means more than 7,000 meters in the air.

Colonel Lundt's order was for Hersman Jr. to command all Fokker 636 and Me262 fighters taking off from the aircraft carrier, to control the airspace above 7,000 meters above Concepson Bay, to clear the Allied fighters there, and to create conditions for the entry of the atomic bomb drop group.

I don't know if it's because the previous series of air battles have played the prestige of the Me262 high-altitude killer? Anyway, when the hundreds of Me262 and Fokker 636 commanded by Hersman Jr. rushed to the airspace above 7,000 meters above Concepson Bay, not a single American fighter dared to compete at all.

At 12:45 p.m. on April 29, 1945, Newfoundland time, Hersman Jr. reported to Colonel Lunt, who was in charge of directing the entire atomic bomb dropping operation: "Electronic Eye 81, I am Kitty Hawk 1, and the air supremacy mission has been completed." ”

"Good!" Colonel Lunt then asked the electronic officer beside him, "Is the passage into Concepson Bay clear?" ”

Colonel Lunt's command plane, which is also a Me264H radar early warning aircraft, is now escorting 6,000 meters to the right rear of the two Me264K bombers responsible for dropping and maneuvering atomic bombs, and the altitude has reached 12,000 meters.

In addition, there is another Me264H 6,000 meters behind the left of the two Me264K bombers, also at an altitude of 12,000 meters.

The high-power S-band radars on the two Me264H aircraft can clearly detect enemy and own aircraft within tens of kilometers around the two Me264K bombers. Especially in today's weather, it is basically impossible for an enemy aircraft to sneak past the detection of two Me264Hs and get close to two Me264Ks, even if there is a chance to slip through the net, the 16 He219Gs serving as escorts are not vegetarians, and they can definitely be shot down.

"Sir, the passage into the bay is unimpeded!"

"Good!" Lun nodded, picked up the intercom and said, "Electronic Eye No. 82, what's the situation ahead?" ”

"Sir, there's a vacuum ahead," replied the air combat commander on the Electronic-Eye 82 (another Me264H) in coded words, "not a single speck of dust was found." ”

"Attention all!" Colonel Lunt commanded loudly, "I'm Electronic Eye 81, and now I order, enter The Pirate Bay, 11 stories high." Thunder 1, Thunder 2, ready to drop bombs. ”

Chapter 1262 Atomic Bomb XIX

Newfoundland, Port Grace Airport. As the roar of the tank motor faded away and the sound of gunfire and artillery gradually thinned out, the German paratroopers guarding the trenches and fire strongholds let out a long breath.

Grayshaven Airport is still in German hands for the time being, but no one knows if the next American attack will take the lives of these Nazi supermen.

Captain Brandt is still alive and well, and his platoon was left with only 15 officers and men left to fight after the last American attack was repulsed, including a Frenchman with terrible marksmanship, Mitterrand.

Still, Brandt found Mitterrand a suitable position - making him a sniper's assistant. In fact, he was an assistant to Brandt himself, because there was only one squad of soldiers left, so Brandt did not personally command them. Instead, 13 of them were reduced to a squad, and according to the anti-tank fire point of one squad, an 88mm "Doll" anti-tank rocket launcher and an "Iron Fist" 200 anti-tank grenade launcher that were airdropped on the 28th were used to deal with the American tanks that rushed into the airfield.

Brandt himself and Mitterrand formed a sniper team, which was responsible for supporting the squad's firepower with accurate shots.

In the battle that just ended, Brandt's FG42 paratrooper rifle claimed the lives of 6 more American freedom fighters. And the fighters under him also did a good job, destroying 3 American tanks, one of which was an M26 type.

However, the retreat of the attacking American troops was not due to the heroic fighting of Brandt and other German paratroopers. In fact, these paratroopers with only "light equipment" fought very hard against the heavy mechanized units of the United States. By noon on the 29th, the German paratroopers guarding the Grayshaven airfield were already at the end of their crossbows, and the Americans would have been able to take the airfield with a little more determination. But just when they saw that they were about to succeed, they suddenly retreated for some reason.

And Brandt, who was smoking a cigarette without a puff, knew very well that if the airport was not reinforced, the next American attack would be successful! And then he will become a captive or ...... Heroic sacrifice for the cause of Nazis and fascism!

As an anti-fascist and anti-Nazi socialist, this way of dying is so ironic.

Just when Brandt felt extremely depressed, a herald from the headquarters of the 101st Air Assault Battalion suddenly rushed to the crater where he was and shouted, "Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel Schwarzenegger ordered to put on all the protective gear and enter the bunker." ”

"What?" Brandt was stunned, "What did you say?" ”

"Put on all the protective gear and enter the bunker, this is the lieutenant colonel's order!"

"Orders? All right...... I have to obey! Brandt shook his head, threw away the cigarette in his hand, staggered to his feet with the FG42 paratrooper rifle, and then beckoned to Mitterrand, who was in a daze, "French, let's go back to the stronghold." ”

"Oh." Mitterrand replied with some numbness, and then stood up, and walked with Brandt to the anti-tank stronghold not far away.

At the same time, in Port Grace, which had just changed hands, Major General Ross, commander of the 16th Armored Division of the U.S. Army, was arranging for his men to take shelter from a possible atomic bomb attack - he had only received the news of the arrival of the atomic bomb from the 20th Army headquarters 10 minutes earlier.

But he wasn't much worried about the atomic bomb...... Even if that bomb had the equivalent of 20,000 tons of high explosives, it could only be used against a large densely populated city, so what good is it in a place like Newfoundland? What kind of atomic bomb is a large desert island of 110,000 square kilometers afraid of?

As for throwing the atomic bomb into the sea to create waves on the shore, he was not worried. Although Graceport is on the coast, the altitude of this harbor is not very low, only the area near the pier is easy to flood, and the rest of the place is quite high, unless the Germans drop the atomic bomb near Graceport, there is no need to be afraid at all.

So Rear Admiral Ross rejected Lieutenant General Walker's suggestion to withdraw his forces from Gracehaven - although the process of capturing the port was surprising (in fact, the Germans gave it up on their own initiative, and most of the high ground on the outskirts of the port was still in German hands), Major General Ross was reluctant to try again.

So he simply moved his troops to a slightly higher position, or simply occupied houses that looked stronger to withstand the crashing waves. As for Rear Admiral Ross himself, he moved the headquarters to the headquarters of a torpedo boat brigade. I also deliberately occupied a window seat, just to see with my own eyes what the atomic bomb explosion looked like?

"Major General, is this okay?"

Major General Ross heard someone talking to him and looked back, and it turned out that one of his lieutenants had set up a camera. Not only did he want to see the atomic bomb with his own eyes, but he also wanted to record it on film and send it back to the United States to open the eyes of President Truman.

"Well, that's it, that's all." Major General Ross nodded, and said in his heart: Isn't it an atomic bomb? What's there to be afraid of?

Major General Ross was not afraid of the atomic bomb, but Major General Collins, the commander-in-chief of the ground forces on the island of Newfoundland inside Churchill Fortress, was very afraid. Because he felt that the atomic bomb was coming to blow him up, and nine times out of ten it would fall on Churchill Fortress. The whole island of Newfoundland is the most critical to this fortress, what is it to bomb without bombing the fortress?

The fortress was very strong, but it was an atomic bomb after all! One bomb has a yield of 20,000 tons of explosives!

So as soon as he got the news that the atomic bomb was coming, Rear Admiral Collins immediately moved his headquarters and left the fortress and ran to the conceptual bay naval base near Bell Island - Concept Bay is a rare "lowland" on Newfoundland, with long beaches and many harbors where light ships can dock, so it is an important base for the Newfoundland fleet of the British Royal Navy.

And this harbor is sheltered by Belle Island and two other small islands, and it is deep in Concepson Bay. Therefore, they are not afraid of the enemy's landing, nor are they afraid of the waves that will be blown up by the atomic bomb.

In addition, there was already a reserve command here in Concept Bay, which was intended for the Newfoundland Ground Forces Command after the destruction of Fort Churchill. It is now in advance of the opening as the seat of the temporary headquarters of Lieutenant General Collins.

"Sir, the radar station at Fortress Churchill reports the sighting of a large German fleet about 30 nautical miles east of the entrance to Concepson Bay."

"Sir, the Newfoundland Air Defense Command reports that about 300 German warplanes are hovering at an altitude of 7,000-12,000 meters over Concepson Bay."

"Sir, Vice Admiral Fraser reports that his fleet has completed its evacuation and is now not afraid of atomic bombs."

Not afraid of the atomic bomb? Lieutenant General Collins stood in front of a fort observation with a view of Concepson Bay, looked across the sea at Belle Island, and thought: If only I could not be afraid......

……

"Sir, Thunder 1 has arrived at the designated location and requested the installation of the fuse."

At this moment, the Me264K bomber, which was responsible for dropping the atomic bomb, had reached the entrance to Concepson Bay and circled at an altitude of 11,000 meters.

"It was agreed to install the fuse and perform a final test." Colonel Lunt gave the order.

Because the atomic bomb will be dropped into the sea, two sets of fuses will be installed: depth and time. As soon as a set of fuses is activated, the atomic bomb will be detonated. And for safety reasons, the fuse must be installed before it is dropped.

After the fuse is installed, it is the last test, mainly to check whether the indicator light and remote control device at the tail of the atomic bomb are in good condition. This Heisenberg Device-3, which was intended for real combat, was actually a remotely controlled missile bomb. The drop point of the bomb can be changed to a certain extent by the shaking of the tail.

In addition, the parachute bag at the tail of the atomic bomb is also the focus of the inspection - in order to prevent the atomic bomb from damaging the detonating device due to a violent collision with the water surface when the atomic bomb falls into the water (according to the design of the fuse can withstand such a collision), the atomic bomb will open the parachute at the tail when it falls to an altitude of 1000 meters, and then slowly fall into the sea, and when it sinks to a depth of 50-60 meters, the depth fuse on the atomic bomb will be detonated, and through the explosion, the plutonium-239 charge inside the atomic bomb will mix together, causing a violent chain reaction......

"The fuse is installed, all the tests are done, everything is fine."

"Good!" Colonel Lunt did not immediately give the order to drop the bomb, "How's the situation in the air below?" ”

"There were some American fighters below 6000 meters, and no large American ships were found on the water."

"Order the Thunder 1, Thunder 2 and escort aircraft squadrons to descend to an altitude of 7000 meters." Colonel Lunt added, "We also descended to 7,000 meters, so that the Electronic Eye 82 continued to stay above 11,000 meters." ”

The group of bombs dropped soon circled down to 7,000 meters, and Colonel Lunt raised his binoculars and looked out to sea through the portholes. Visibility was good and you could clearly see the entrance to the bay.

"Tell Thunder 1 to allow the bomb!"

As Colonel Lunt gave the order to drop the bomb, the voice of the on-board radio was heard: "5-4-3-2-1-put!" ”

When Colonel Lunt heard the "release", he hurriedly held a telescope to search the air, and soon found a flashing and eye-catching red point of light falling rapidly. Colonel Lunt realized that it was the atomic bomb!

The bomb has been successfully dropped!

"I'm Electronic Eye 81," he immediately told Hersman Jr., who was in charge of directing the fighters to protect the bomb delivery group, on the radio, "Call Kitty Hawk 1!" ”

"I'm Kitty Hawk 1, please instruct."

"All fighters immediately increased their altitude and evacuated over Concepson Bay! All fighters evacuated, be sure to hurry! ”

Little Hersman didn't quite understand this order, but he immediately replied: "Yes, we will evacuate immediately!" ”

Immediate evacuation is unnecessary, because what will happen is not an atomic bomb air explosion, but an underwater explosion, and nuclear radiation and shock waves simply do not threaten aircraft at an altitude of 7,000 meters. However, for safety reasons, all but two Me264K bombers with a radiation-proof design were to stay as far away as possible before the atomic bomb exploded.