The appearance of carrier-based aviation really shocked the admirals of the Admiralty and the fleets of various naval countries. If the previous attack on the coal carrier made them think that the conditions for the exercise were favorable to the carrier-based aviation, then this attack on the battleship 'Ming Taizu' is undoubtedly a more direct proof of this. The results of the exercises were already clear, and even the most powerful battleships of the Imperial Navy could not withstand the attack of carrier-based aviation, let alone other battleships. Such a result made them speechless, and at the same time convinced.

"Your Majesty, it seems that we are too much to sit in and watch the sky. We are so superstitious about the cannons of giant ships that we have forgotten that the progress of science and technology can change the mode of warfare. More than 20 years ago, it was with the power of science and technology that we defeated the navies of Western countries and enabled the empire to rise under the threat of the Western powers! Marshal Wei Yong, Minister of the Navy, said.

The other admirals also nodded. Even the staunchest supporters of the Giant Ship Cannon agree with this statement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the 'Kunlun' aircraft carrier is just a real aircraft carrier, all kinds of technology are not perfect, and the number of fighters it carries is not much. The fleet aircraft carrier that the Imperial Navy really wanted to build carried almost twice as many fighters as the aircraft carrier Kunlun. You can think about it, once it is besieged by the real fleet aircraft carriers of the Imperial Navy, even the battleship 'Ming Taizu' will definitely not be able to escape. One fleet aircraft carrier, enough to sink two or more battleships. After the carrier aircraft drops bombs, they can relaunch the attack after returning to the carrier to reload the bombs and torpedoes. As long as the speed of the aircraft carrier is fast enough. Able to keep a distance from battleships all the time. Well, even more battleships. Nor is it an opponent of aircraft carriers. If the two aircraft carriers can fight in formation, I'm afraid. can inflict heavy damage on a detachment of our Navy. If there are a few more aircraft carrier formations, then our existing navy will probably be destroyed! Long Yufei said solemnly. He knew that with the help of this exercise, his goal had been achieved, and these naval generals, their original ideas of resting on their laurels had been knocked open.

"Majesty, what should I do? If the power of aircraft carriers is so powerful, isn't the Imperial Navy in crisis now? Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, asked anxiously. Originally. Everyone thought that the Imperial Navy had secured the position of sea supremacy. But now it seems that this hegemony is completely in jeopardy! If any opponent can have a few aircraft carriers, they will be able to threaten the Imperial Navy.

"Haha! Old Lu, you're thinking too much! In the whole world, the development of the empire in the field of aviation is already at the forefront of the world, and no country can compare with us. Therefore, the only one that can threaten the Imperial Navy is the Empire. Moreover, after seeing the power of the aircraft carrier. Would the Imperial Admiralty let such a weapon not be used? As long as the Empire starts building large aircraft carriers now, it won't be long before the strength of the Imperial Navy will increase exponentially. Perhaps, in the event of a decisive battle with the German Navy. It can also come in handy! Chief of the General Staff, General Liu Zhongming, said with a smile. The Empire was undoubtedly the first to develop aviation technology and the first to use aircraft for the battlefield. In this area, the Reich was going faster and further than the Germans. The Germans, who were already ahead for a long time, were far away. If the Germans wanted to catch up with the Reich, it was simply impossible.

"Haha! Oh, yes! Aircraft carriers are in the hands of the Reich. The Empire could have built aircraft carriers one step ahead. Admiral Lu Haipeng laughed.

"Your Majesty, the 1st Fleet fully supports the construction of aircraft carriers. This weapon of naval warfare. The 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy was supposed to equip a few ships first, which were used to explore tactics. When the tactics are completely figured out, the entire world ocean is imperial. No country can stand up to an empire! "Admiral Xu Haihai, commander of the 1st Fleet, jumped out first and wanted the aircraft carrier force to join the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy to strengthen the strength of the 1st Fleet.

However, Admiral Lu Haipeng, the commander of the 5th Fleet, quit, and he immediately jumped out: "Your Majesty, can you favor one over the other!" The 5th Fleet has always been at the forefront of the fight against the German Navy, as long as the 5th Fleet is given two aircraft carriers, we can send all the German Navy to the bottom of the sea to protect the Empire's maritime interests! ”

"Let's not talk about aircraft carriers. The empire will do its best to build aircraft carriers, but after the aircraft carriers are built, how they will be used, this will be discussed at that time. Although, carrier-based aviation will become the master of future naval warfare. However, at least at this stage, the role of the battleship remained irreplaceable. At a time when the Germans had not yet discovered the power of carrier-based aviation, we could not let them know. Otherwise, it will pose a great threat to the Empire! Long Yufei said. The scientific and technological power of the Germans was not weak, and after the Reich equipped the aircraft, the Germans were already equipped with the aircraft. It's just that in terms of performance, it is slightly inferior to the aircraft equipped by the Empire. If the Germans had known that the aircraft could still be used in this way, they would soon be able to use the aircraft to counteract the superiority of the Imperial Navy. Therefore, the Empire must not be able to do such a thing.

"That's right, the aircraft carrier is the most important secret of the Imperial Navy, and it must not be known to the Germans until the war begins." Marshal Wei Yong, Minister of the Navy, also said. This kind of weapon of war, if in the hands of the Empire, will become a weapon for the Empire to consolidate its sea power. However, if it is mastered by the enemy, then it will pose a great threat to the sea power of the empire.

"Hmmm! The Military Intelligence Agency and the Admiralty must strengthen the secrecy of the aircraft carrier project, and must slow down the time for the Germans to learn this information. In addition, war is about to break out, and the Imperial Navy must also be prepared. The Admiralty came up with a plan to refit the Navy's warships in batches. The power system, fire control system and communication system will all be upgraded. In addition, all warships need to be equipped with air defense systems, and light cruisers and destroyers should also be equipped with anti-submarine systems. Ideally, these modifications can be completed within a year! Long Yufei admonished. Now, the Empire's preparations for war are almost complete. The Army, Air Force, and Navy will all reach their peak in strength within a year. In the event of a decisive battle with the Germans at this time, the Reich would undoubtedly have a great advantage.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Marshal Wei Yong, Minister of the Navy, nodded. Everyone seems to have smelled the smoke of war, and it is getting closer and closer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, war between the Reich and the Germans has been practically inevitable since the end of the last world war. After the defeat of the old powers, the world entered a new order dominated by empires. However, the Germans annexed the territories of Austria-Hungary and other European countries and became a powerful empire, although inferior to the Empire, but the gap between us was not large. If the Germans could not be defeated in this war and the whole of Europe could be turned into small divided states, then the world hegemony of the Reich would be challenged by the Germans. So, this battle is inevitable! You are Empire* soldiers, and your mission is to defeat the enemy and defend the interests of the Empire! Long Yufei said sternly. The duty of the Empire* soldiers is to fight for the strength of the Empire, even if it is at the cost of their own lives.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the ministers will fight to the death, defeat the strong enemy, and defend the glory of the empire!" This was stated by the Chief of the General Staff, General Liu Zhongming.

The other generals also expressed their determination. War is what these soldiers desire the most. Although, war will cause death, and it will make the country's financial resources enormous. However, war can also create glory one by one, so that these soldiers can achieve great military achievements. Soldiers in peacetime are sad, and wartime is the best stage for them to show themselves.

The exercise was successfully concluded, and the carrier-based aviation units on the Imperial aircraft carrier "Kunlun" proved their strength and pointed out the direction of the future development of the navy. Again, the admirals of the Navy recognized this. It can be said that the future direction of the development of the Imperial Navy has become clear. The battleship, a giant on the sea, will exert its last residual heat in this war. After that, it's time for the stage of aircraft carriers. Fortunately, the Imperial Navy has once again come to the forefront of the world in this regard. Therefore, in the future, the world's oceans will still be dominated by the Empire.

After returning to the capital, the Admiralty and the Logistics and Equipment Department immediately developed a new large aircraft carrier for the Imperial Navy, and according to the experience gained during the design and construction of the 'Kunlun' aircraft carrier, the design of the 'Wuyue-class' aircraft carrier was completed in only one month.

The 'Wuyue-class' aircraft carrier has a standard displacement of 20,100 tons, a full load displacement of 25,800 tons, a length of 246.7 meters, a width of 33.38 meters, and a draft of 8.53 meters. It is equipped with 18 new oil-fired boilers, four steam turbines, a power of 100,000 horsepower, four propulsions, a maximum speed of 26 knots, and a cruising range of 9,000 nautical miles/12 knots. Capable of carrying 80 combat aircraft and eight seaplanes. It is armed with eight 105-mm high-level guns, four twin 88-mm anti-aircraft guns, eight 37-mm anti-aircraft guns and 24 7.62-mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

The 'Wuyue-class' aircraft carrier will be the first class of real fleet aircraft carriers of the Imperial Navy, and five will be built at one time, namely the 'Taishan', 'Hengshan', 'Huashan', 'Hengshan', and 'Songshan'. The previous 'Kunlun' aircraft carrier will mainly serve as a training ship to train more excellent naval carrier-based aircraft aviation for the Imperial Navy. (To be continued......)

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