Chapter 964: Consultation
For the problem of their own low combat effectiveness, the Americans themselves also realized that although Majifen had made some rectification before the war, this problem still existed, and the British had not been able to pick it out for the sake of the face of both sides, but now, when it comes to the vital interests of both sides, the British cannot be ambiguous. Looking at the expressionless British naval officer opposite, the American was depressed and angry, but the appearance of his younger brother was really not excellent, so he sat opposite him like a deflated ball. "I'll adjourn." In the end, Jericho still took the initiative to leave a step for the Americans, but at the same time said that 5 for 5 is absolutely unacceptable.
"General Majifen, what are you going to do?" Back at the residence, the head of the war department, Benson, looked at the gray-faced Majifen opposite and said cautiously.
"We now have 11 superdreadnoughts, 2 French superdreadnoughts and 2 Dutch fast battleships. And the strength of the other side, after adding the Spaniard, is 14 super dreadnoughts and 1 dreadnought. The numbers on both sides are equal. We have a slight advantage in firepower, and our advantage in protection should be relatively large, after all, the Spanish class is a copy of the Moltke class, and this kind of battleship is relatively vulnerable on battleships. Ma Jifen did not immediately answer the other party's question, but calculated the strength of the two sides on his own.
"By the way, how is the upgrade program for the two Florida-class battleships going? If I'm not mistaken, they're almost finished. Magifen asked. Unlike the firepower upgrades of the Chinese Republic and Germany, the Americans considered when designing the Florida-class battleships to upgrade directly to the 14-inch turret on the basis of the original twin 12-inch guns! In other words, the position left by the gun ring is large enough! Unlike the warships of China and Germany, after the rearmament, it changed from a triple to a double. The two capital ships of the United States are still 5 twin turrets! Moreover, in addition to Saipan, these two battleships were also strengthened to a certain extent, and the plan to change guns was also put on the agenda.
"We will definitely be able to put it on active duty in February next year. This is what the shipyard has assured us. Benson said without hesitation. This news may be the only piece of good news in recent times.
"In that case, the number of our capital ships will reach 17, and 14 of them will be super dreadnought to suppress the opponent, and 3 of them will not be suitable for the battle line. Well, the British idea is not impossible to consider, but it is absolutely impossible to exchange Tennessee, at most add a New York. Magiffen said after looking at Benson. Also inform the fleet. Cancel the vacation from now on, and if they want to make it home alive for the rest of the battle, then do it! ”
Facing Majifen's Tiyì. Neither Benson nor Sims had any opinions. Doing everything possible to facilitate the exchange of the two navies, and then immediately getting to work is the first priority! It has been a year since the United States entered the war, but there has been no fundamental change in the situation of the war, which makes the US government very worried. And the fast fleet that was scurrying around and the high seas fleet, which was licking its wounds in the North Sea, were also waiting for an opportunity. Britain and the United States don't have time for such a bickering.
For the new mention of the Americans. The British Admiralty said it was acceptable after some exchanges. Originally, asking for an additional Tennessee was a sky-high asking price, and the other party naturally sat on the ground and paid back. Can there be business only if there is a relationship, so for the US Navy, which has given up half a step, the British still accepted it calmly, and after the issue of warships was agreed, the remaining issue was command.
Sims will command this U.S. Navy detachment to join the British Royal Navy sequence, which is naturally under Jericho's command, but at the same time, Thomas will lead the team to join the U.S. fleet in the combat sequence. But it doesn't have to be the first thing to look at, why? The reason is simple. Sims was inferior to Jericho, who commanded the Grand Fleet and fought the Germans several times, both theoretically and empirically. Jericho has commanded more than 20 capital ships and nearly 100 auxiliary ships of various types, what battles has Sims commanded? The only time he was beaten by the other side in the conflict between Saipan and Huaxia, and then reprimanded. It's common to lose a battle, but it's a shame to be reprimanded face-to-face by the opposing commander. As for seniority, when Jericho PK with Magifin in the Spanish-American War, Sims was still a good student, is there a Fabi? So being obedient is the only way out. After all, the two sides are betting on national fortune rather than anger!
If you look at Magiffen and Thomas, the situation is different. Compared with Sims and Benson, the senior officers of the British Royal Navy still have a high opinion of Magiffin, at least in the Spanish-American War, Jericho had learned Magiffin's tactics, and he was cunning and cunning. Even in private, Jericho had mentioned to others that if Magiffin had commanded the entire American fleet, Spain might have lost. So for this former opponent, the people of Jericho's family still respect it very much, Betty was actually unconvinced at first, but after several defeats, there is no way to be unconvinced! Want to laugh at someone? Let's win a few games first!
But after all, Thomas can also be called a hundred veterans, and during the Battle of Malta that year, Thomas made a small profit. In the North Sea, 2 dreadnoughts were exchanged for two super dreadnoughts, and they suffered losses in the Second Mediterranean War, and the last engagement in the British coastal waters was okay, after all, the strength of the Hipper's fleet was stronger than its own, with 2 wins and 2 defeats. And more importantly, the main goal of the Anglo-American Atlantic Fleet this time was to destroy the Allied Mediterranean Fast Fleet, that is to say, it was mainly to fight with Earl Spee, and of course Thomas was more experienced in the rapid fleet engagement, and only one of the four major wars that Thomas participated in was to command the main fleet to fight, and the other three were fast fleet engagements. No matter how senior Majifen is, he has never commanded a fast fleet!
It stands to reason that even if everyone wants to destroy the opponent's fast fleet, then a qiē tactic will be launched to find the British Atlantic Fleet, and in order to cooperate with Thomas's actions, Magiffin should be British to obey the other side. But this construction is difficult for the United States to accept. The Americans wasted half of their time pushing this plan to eliminate this difficult guy, not to hand over command. Not only did the U.S. government disagree, but even Magiffen didn't want to delegate power like this, because after seeing the relevant reports of Thomas's fleet, Magifin felt that it was not so easy for Thomas to deal with Earl Spee's fleet, not that he couldn't beat it, but that he couldn't catch up!
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The collection of this book is finally tens of thousands~~~. It's not easy~~~, sigh -! There is a change this afternoon, I hope you will support a lot~~~. (To be continued......)