2234 Thomas' counterattack 1
The main force of the British Fleet suffered heavy losses in the battle just now. Five Super Fearless and two Dreadnoughts were sunk, accounting for one-third of all the main ships! The rest of the warships were also injured. In fact, it was already on the verge of collapse when the battle reached this point. It can even be said that until now, the large fleet can still ensure that it is very rare to fight against the enemy in an established manner, although the resistance of the main force of the large fleet is now causing some trouble in front of the German Fleet.
But if you say that the entire fleet is really over, it is too early! Don’t forget that the most elite part of the British fleet is not in the fleet itself! And when Ruprecht beat Jericho, Thomas also beat Hippel up!
Let's retreat the clock back half an hour ago, that is to say, when the main force of the German High Seas Fleet and the Navy Air Force concentrated their efforts to launch a general attack on the British Fleet, Thomas also launched an attack. Moreover, this attack was very successful to some extent, and it can be regarded as the biggest highlight of the British Fleet's battle level in this battle!
"The commander, the Germans seem to be about to launch a general attack. Their planes are about to arrive." An officer said to Thomas.
"Very good, now, it's time for us to take action! Order the destroyer team to carry out offensive smoke screen operations immediately, turn left to fight and rush towards Hippel's fleet at the maximum speed under the cover of the smoke screen! Send a report to Major General Hood and let him follow us!" Thomas issued this most radical and even extreme attack order in the Naval Battle of World War I!
"General, then we will directly hit the German fleet's T-shaped cross-head! It is now the 20th century, no longer the Battle of Lissa or the Battle of Trafalgar." An officer exclaimed. Thomas obviously wanted to quickly turn to the rhythm of close-up with a large angle! This is definitely against the convention. In fact, since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, once the battle lines of both sides were opened, few fleets would choose this kind of cutting tactic similar to the period of the sailing war! Because, as the range of artillery strikes increases, the fleet that adopts cutting tactics will be destroyed by the opponent's fire, just like the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Tyrannosaurus in history!
Is it Thomas crazy? Absolutely not! To outsiders, Thomas actually thought about the tactics of almost dying. After fully studying the fighting situation between the enemy and us, he came up with a seemingly risky way, but it was the only opportunity for the British fleet!
Thomas didn't know whether he could succeed, but he knew that if he still fought on the battlefield, the British fleet would undoubtedly lose!
Thomas had to admit that the Crown Prince Ruprecht on the opposite side is worthy of being the most naval general of this era! It can even be described as perfectly calculated that the Germans have learned more than 80% of the British fleet's plans! They have made targeted deployments,
Thomas understood very well that the Hippel fleet, which was hostile to him, could not have 8 battlecruisers. If the Germans had this foundation, they could really eat the large fleet head-on, and it would not allow Earl Spey to kill from the Mediterranean to the Norwegian Sea. According to his understanding of the German fleet, these warships can only be mixed with armored cruisers. Judging from the speed, they can only be Mainz-class armored cruisers, this guy who made himself look dirty in the night battle in the Dover Strait!
Well, to put it bluntly, the Hiper Fleet opposite is actually 4 battlecruisers and 4 armored cruisers. If the battle line is set up, it will definitely be suppressed by himself and Major General Hood's 11 battleships. However, it may take some time to completely eliminate it. After all, the camouflage used by the opponent for the first time is still very useful. The Hiper Fleet does not have to last long. At most one hour, the main force of the High Seas Fleet can clean up the large fleet itself. At that time, even if Thomas wiped out the Hiper Fleet? The large fleet was almost done, so Thomas and 12 Bavaria were just facing each other? What are you thinking?
Therefore, Thomas's only breakthrough point is to quickly cause a large reduction in the German fleet. The specific point is to kill or destroy the Hippel fleet in a short time, allowing the latter to temporarily leave the battlefield, and then attack the High Seas Fleet together with the four Revenge-class battleships of the First Battleship Detachment. Thomas keenly discovered that the four battleships led by the German High Seas Fleet are Helgolan-class battleships, which are weak ships in the High Seas Fleet. As long as the Hippel fleet can be repelled, it will only take 20 minutes. Under the concentrated attacks of Thomas Fleet, Hood Fleet and Revenge-class, the Helgolan-class battleships are not that strong!
Of course, if you want to tell whether there are potential risks, there must be. For example, other warships in the Fleet could not hold on, and then before Thomas launched an attack on the Helgolan-class battleship, the Bavarians brought the muzzle over! The situation was embarrassing...
So there is only one way now, which is to rush up quickly, use naval guns, carrier-based aircraft given by Betty, and torpedoes from light cruisers and destroyers to crush the Hippel fleet as fast as possible! Anyway, there are only 4 battlecruisers in the Hippel fleet, so it's OK to resist!
In order to take into account the efficiency of artillery, the German fleet will not have too fast speeds, nor will it easily change formations on a large scale. For the safety of the main fleet, Hippel must stand in front of Thomas. If the former chooses to evade, it will be better for the British fleet. It will directly attack the Helgolan-class battleship, and more than ten warships attack 4 warships at the same time. Thomas can't think of a reason for the other party to hold on! After temporarily removing the battle sequence from the Hippel fleet and the German Fourth Battleship Detachment, the entire battlefield will be revived! As for what the result will be? That is the future. After all, the core of the German Navy, the 12 Bavarian-class battleships, is nothing, and the warships temporarily removed from the battlefield are still combat-capable. You can wait for a repair and return to the battlefield!
"It was the British destroyer, they rushed out of the battle line!" On the flagship Seedlitz, a German officer reported to Admiral Hippel.
"It's finally here." Hippel couldn't help but sigh. The most critical moment of the entire battle has finally arrived. To face the 11 main battleships of Thomas' fleet, Hippel said it was impossible not to be afraid, but now, in a short period of time, Hippel can only rely on himself!
Chapter completed!