"The Imperial Navy now has two 'Longteng-class' battleships, two 'Longxing-class' battleships, four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers and two 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers. Five 'Five Emperor-class' battleships will also be commissioned next year. In this case, the Imperial Navy will have a total of 17 capital ships. As a result, the Imperial Navy has surpassed the United States in terms of cutting-edge capital ships and has become the third in the world. After the decisive battle between the British and German navies, it is even more likely that the Imperial Navy will sit on the sidelines. Under such circumstances, was it necessary for the Imperial Navy to build new battleships on a large scale? Wu Haoxuan asked.

So many capital ships, plus the Empire's vast fleet of heavy, light and destroyers, as well as submarines underwater. In the entire Far East and even in the Western Pacific, the Imperial Navy was an invincible presence.

In addition, the lead ships of the Navy are too expensive. The cost of each of the 'Five Emperor-class' battleships alone was as high as 35 million Chinese dollars. Five ships were built, and a total of 175 million Chinese dollars were spent. It can be said that the Imperial Navy was simply piled up with money. In the daily maintenance, these warships also cost a lot of money. If it weren't necessary, the Empire would certainly not have kept so many capital ships for long.

"Your Majesty, the goal of the Imperial Navy is to compete with the British Navy for world supremacy in the future. After this world war, no matter who wins or loses in the Western world, the winner will definitely make a comeback and approach the Far East again. Plus the relationship between the empire and the United States is already very bad. The United States is again strengthening the construction of the navy, and the imperial navy is really under too much pressure. Under such circumstances, it is very necessary for the Empire to maintain a strong navy. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said. He argued on the basis of reason, and did not completely obey Wu Haoxuan's orders just because he was the emperor.

Wu Haoxuan couldn't help but hesitate, indeed, the Imperial Navy seemed to be very powerful. But. The enemies of the empire are even stronger. After the British won this world war, their naval power would be further expanded. Unless the empire does not expand westward. Otherwise, the empire would have had a fierce collision with the British. In addition, the main danger of the empire has always been Japan and the United States across the ocean. The United States' strong industrial strength makes it inevitable that once they make up their minds to develop their navy, they will inevitably be able to launch warships like dumplings. When the time comes. The advantages that the Imperial Navy had so hard to possess would soon be surpassed. It's just that building so many battleships, in Wu Haoxuan's opinion, is completely too wasteful.

"Your Majesty, when the empire has dealt with this crisis, it is completely possible to gradually seal up the surplus warships. Anyway, the empire received a large amount of reparations from Japan, in terms of funds. There are no gaps left. Marshal Sa Zhenbing continued.

"Lord Saga, in your opinion, what is the main force of the navy?" Wu Haoxuan asked.

Sa Zhenbing was stunned, he didn't expect why Wu Haoxuan would ask this question. Needless to say? Of course, it is the capital ship carrying the cannon of a giant ship. Or rather, battleships. Battlecruisers, to some extent, could not be compared to battleships.

"Your Majesty, the main force of the navies of various countries is still battleships." Marshal Sa Zhenbing said.

"Now. Battleships are indeed still the main force. In my opinion, though. Battleships will soon become obsolete. It's only a matter of time before it's eliminated. Therefore, the empire must be prepared. If too many battleships are built, it will be a huge waste at that time. Wu Haoxuan said. He hoped that the Imperial Navy would save as much as possible on battleships, and use the surplus funds and resources for the construction of future aircraft carriers. That's the only way. In order to make the most of limited resources.

"Battleships will become obsolete, this, how is this possible?" Marshal Sa Zhenbing was dumbfounded, and seemed a little difficult to accept.

"With the development of technology, this is normal. Originally. Before the advent of battleships, cruisers armed with several medium-caliber rapid-fire guns became the main force in naval warfare. After the dreadnoughts turned out, all the former dreadnoughts became obsolete overnight. With the application of new technologies, the obsolescence of battleships is not impossible. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Your Majesty, in your opinion, what is the main force of the future naval battle?" Marshal Sa Zhenbing took a deep breath.

"Airplanes, aircraft carriers. The so-called aircraft carrier is a platform for aircraft to take off and land at sea. Aircraft take off from aircraft carriers and deliver direct strikes to the enemy. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Airplanes? Aircraft carrier. Your Majesty, the minister knows the plane. However, can that kind of thing really sink a huge battleship of tens of thousands of tons? Sa Zhenbing seemed skeptical. It's really that the current airplane is too simple, and the wooden-skinned airplane is like a toy. In front of a huge battleship, it's like a fly. The idea of such an aircraft to sink a battleship is too whimsical no matter how you look at it.

"Of course, with the current technological conditions, of course it is impossible. The current planes are too rudimentary. However, more than a decade later, as technology evolves, so does the performance of aircraft. When the time comes, the aircraft will be able to carry blow-ups weighing hundreds of kilograms or even a ton, as well as heavy torpedoes. Dozens of planes carrying heavy aerial bombs and heavy torpedoes attacked together from the sky and the sea. Will the battleship really be able to resist? Wu Haoxuan said with a look of longing. In his plan, in the future, the Imperial Navy will build a number of fleets with aircraft carriers as the core. This is the Imperial Navy's weapon to defeat other powerful enemies and dominate the world's oceans.

Sa Zhenbing couldn't believe what Wu Haoxuan had described. However, if you think about it, if the plane is really capable of carrying heavy aerial bombs and heavy aviation torpedoes, it seems that it will not be difficult to sink the capital ship!

"Your Majesty, are you serious? Not kidding? Marshal Sa Zhenbing asked.

"Seriously, of course. It's about the future of the Imperial Navy, how could I joke about it. Soon, the Air Force will organize an exercise. When the time comes, I will have the senior generals of the army and navy go and see it. When the time comes, you will see the power of the Air Force. Wu Haoxuan said.

Over the years, the Reich has invested a lot of money and manpower in the development of the Air Force, and at the beginning of the World War, the Reich has already obtained aircraft that can be used in real combat. Although in Wu Haoxuan's eyes, these planes still seem so simple. But it's certainly a good start. The empire has once again come to the forefront of the world in the development of aviation weapons. With the help of Wu Haoxuan, the empire's achievements in aviation weapons will become bigger and bigger with other countries.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Marshal Sa Zhenbing nodded. Since Wu Haoxuan was so sure, he had to believe that the battleships that seemed to be powerful now might really become obsolete. Although, it's hard to accept. But if that's the case, you have to accept it!

"Your Majesty, will the Imperial Navy focus on the development of aircraft carriers and stop the development of battleships in the future?" Marshal Sa Zhenbing asked.

"It's a long-term plan. After all, the performance of the current aircraft is too poor. Wait until the performance of the aircraft meets the requirements before proceeding with this development. Wu Haoxuan said.

The development of science and technology did not happen overnight, and now the Imperial Air Force is only equipped with a small number of fighters and bombers. It is not yet possible to develop a bomber capable of carrying heavy aerial bombs and heavy aviation torpedoes. Without ten years of scientific and technological accumulation, don't even think about it. Therefore, Wu Haoxuan can only make a plan to use aircraft carriers as the main force for the future development of the Imperial Navy, instead of starting to implement it now.

"Your Majesty, since the aircraft carrier is a long-term plan, then the battleship construction plan of the empire at this stage cannot be stopped. Otherwise, once the war is over and the Western world is back, it will be very difficult for the empire to resist. The empire itself, with a powerful army, did not dare to do anything to us with the Western powers. However, the empire also has great interests overseas. If the navy is unable to maintain its superiority, it is feared that its overseas interests will be lost. Marshal Sa Zhenbing reminded.

Wu Haoxuan nodded, if it was ten years before the Imperial Navy began to equip aircraft carriers. So, in this decade, the Imperial Navy must not fail to build new capital ships, right? Once the development of the Imperial Navy ceased, it could easily be surpassed by the Western powers. When the time comes, the pressure on the empire will be great.

"Your Majesty, I believe that now other countries do not recognize the role of aircraft. If the empire had switched to aircraft carriers at a time when all countries were accelerating the development of capital ships. Perhaps, this will give a hint to other countries. Rather than this, it is better for the Imperial Navy to develop battleships on the surface, and aircraft carriers on the inside. In this way, the Imperial Navy will have a huge advantage in the future. Marshal Sa Zhenbing said.

Wu Haoxuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he was also thinking about this problem. If China increases the development of aircraft carriers, it will be too maverick in the eyes of all countries in the world. When the time comes, this will inevitably attract the attention of other countries. Once everyone understands the role of aircraft carriers, the development of this aspect will certainly be accelerated. And even if China can rely on its first-mover advantage, it will occupy an advantageous position. But the gap won't be too big. On the contrary, if the Imperial Navy secretly developed aircraft carriers, it ostensibly accelerated the development of battleships. When the decisive battle comes, if the Empire's aircraft carriers replace the battleships as the main force, it will definitely have a very good effect. Of course, in this case, the investment of the empire will be even greater. The development of aircraft carriers and battleships at the same time, the investment is naturally much greater than the development of only battleships. (To be continued.) )

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