Long live Joachim

Chapter 207: Emergency Reverse In the afternoon, the sea was swept by strong winds and rolling waves. Four huge warships were escorted by light ships and bounced forward. The leading large ship had a slender and straight body like a razor, with simple and thick lines showcasing a strong German style. The pairs of cannons protruding from the turrets and turrets added a lot of dominance to it, and the brightly colored Black Eagle Iron Cross flag proudly fluttered in the wind. The "Mackensen", the first ship of the German Mackensen class battleship cruiser, inherited the powerful protection of the "super battleship" Derfflinger class and demonstrated amazing survival ability in the Battle of San Miguel Island. Its Krupp 50 caliber 15 inch SK-C21 naval gun also left a deep impression on the world in terms of precision and penetration when fired from a long distance. However, the peak period of the giant ship's artillery has passed. The three Mackensen sisters, who dominated the sea, sank and were injured during the Battle of Azores, and now only the "Mackensen" is fighting alone. In the sturdy and heavy combat bridge of this German cruiser, Paul Bernck, dressed in the usual attire of a German admiral and adorned with a large cross at the collar, calmly patrolled the sea. In the current situation, half of the Allied forces' main fleet has returned to San Miguel Island. This commander, who has made outstanding contributions and fought calmly, is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for the great task. Upon receiving a telegram from the communication soldier, the lieutenant colonel's staff officer quickly glanced at it and reported to Baink, "General, the theater command has sent a telegram stating that as of noon today, our reconnaissance aircraft have not detected anything within a 100 kilometer radius of San Miguel Island and Santa Maria Island. According to the reconnaissance photos taken by the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft at 10 am, the main US and British ships are still anchored in the northern part of Pico Island and have not left Baink frowned lightly and said, "The more so, the more we can't take it lightly! Maybe that unknown Major General Jin is really a Joachim style madman Do you also think that His Majesty Joachim I's military deployment is often too radical? "This lieutenant colonel, who had served under Bayncke for many years, knew that his superior was a traditional soldier who had no political inclination and was loyal to the monarch and the country. Although the genius figure from the Hohenzollern royal family was suspected of being overly praised by public opinion, Bayncke always respected him. Suddenly hearing the derogatory term" madman ", he was curious, and he used a" also "in his questioning, which was to actively put himself in the same position as Bayncke. Baink shook his head and said, "Madness does not only refer to radicalism, but also to a personality that is wild and unrestrained, bold and fearless, and incomparable to ordinary people. In my own opinion, if we were to confront His Majesty Joachim I with the same force, there would only be about a one in ten chance of victory Although the early combat operations were not very smooth, there is no need for you to underestimate yourself. The Jane's Naval Yearbook published last year listed you as one of the top five naval commanders of our time, and gave you high praise. Even arrogant British people admire your abilities, which I think is the best proof. Although there is a stubborn side to Baink's personality, stubbornness does not mean stubbornness. He has a more objective and rational view of himself: "No, war is the true test of a commander's ability. Unfortunately, I was unable to deliver an ideal answer sheet, and in this exam, His Majesty Joachim I is currently the only one who has not lost points The lieutenant colonel moved his lips and realized that their conversation had caught the attention of the surrounding officers, so he swallowed back the doubts he had just wanted to say. With the passage of time, the sea conditions have become increasingly severe, making it difficult for aircraft carriers to take off and land planes normally in such weather. The closer to San Miguel Island, the officers and soldiers wanted to enter the harbor as soon as possible to avoid the wind. However, Baink's mind was filled with various speculations from yesterday's conversation with the Irish king, and his hidden worries quietly heated up. An hour later, the theater command sent a reconnaissance report as usual. Although land-based reconnaissance aircraft can be deployed in such weather conditions, the visible range of pilots is greatly reduced, making it difficult to see the sea surface conditions from the air. Airborne radar is still in small-scale use and is also affected by weather. As a result, the existing advantage of the Allied forces in the Azores is equivalent to being reduced by half. Not long after, Baink's concerns were confirmed - the German submarine U-2432, located in the northern part of San Miguel Island, was suddenly attacked. It had not been able to send a complete telegram before losing contact, but based on the only paragraphs of the telegram, there were large enemy ships appearing in that area. When Bayncke received this battle report, His Majesty Joachim I, who personally led the main fleet stationed in the northern waters of Azores, must have also received the same report. However, for the next two hours, Bayncke did not receive any instructions from the flagship, and the fleet gradually approached the island of San Miguel. If nothing unexpected happens, they will be able to enter the port of Ponta Delgada, which is protected by fortresses and mines, before dark. Bainke anxiously waited for the second report on the enemy's main ship. After U-2432 went missing, the theater command quickly dispatched planes and ships to its normal operating area. As long as the enemy did not hastily withdraw, they should have discovered it. As time continued to pass, the outline of San Miguel Island had already appeared in front of the line of sight. The guard fleet stationed in the port of Punta Delgada dispatched a navigation ship, preparing to guide the fleet into the harbor through a minefield. The conflicted Bayncke ordered three aircraft carriers and some light ships to enter the harbor first, and the "Mackensen" and two light cruisers turned from the navigation to the rear position. The light on the sea gradually dimmed, and the officers and soldiers under his command returned to the intersection of their distant homes like wanderers on a long journey. One by one, they were eager to return home. However, at this moment, the unease in Beink's heart reached an unprecedented level, even he himself felt inexplicable. Was it his excessive nervousness or the so-called battlefield intuition? Three aircraft carriers and escort ships sailed through the minefield one by one, while Bainke stood in front of the porthole on the right side of the bridge, staring blankly to the east until his subordinate officers came to remind him. I've never seen Bainke look like this before. The lieutenant colonel couldn't help but show a worried expression. He cautiously asked, "Sir, the pilot ship wants us to follow. Do we need to notify it to wait a little longer Bainke hesitated for a few seconds, looking east for the last time. The rain curtain is like a pearl curtain, and the vision is vast. Follow me up! "Banke commanded in a low voice. The lieutenant colonel tentatively asked, "Sir, if you really feel uneasy, let the security fleet send more ships to strengthen patrols in the surrounding areas Bainke didn't respond, but signaled the lieutenant colonel with his eyes to do as he had just instructed. The last three ships also followed the navigation ship into the minefield. Since the fall of Texel Island, the Allied forces have been continuously strengthening the defense of San Miguel Island, turning it into an impregnable naval fortress. Over 4000 anchor mines have been deployed no more than ten kilometers from the coastline - no island in history has ever used such a large number of mines for defense, which not only intimidated the enemy but also made our own ships walk on thin ice when passing through here. Suddenly, Baink heard a loud bang, as if it were the usual dull thunder of spring. Before all the officers could react, he held up his telescope and looked east. The water droplets on the portholes affected his line of sight. He adjusted the focus knob slightly, and then it sounded like the first scout to detect the arrival of Hun cavalry at the head of Orleans. He shouted in a trembling voice, "It's a large caliber naval gun! The enemy's target is actually San Miguel The most unlikely scenario turned into reality, and Banke was emotionally excited, not because of fear of the enemy, but because he was amazed by his accurate intuition and surprised by the appearance of another madman. After being surprised, Baink softly repeated what someone had said yesterday: 'This Ernest Joseph King is really not easy!' The officers on the battle bridge turned their gaze to the east, and in a moment, an observation report came from the watchtower: at 8400 meters in front of the starboard side and about 500 meters offshore, waves caused by heavy shells were discovered. In just a moment, the communication room was already busy. Received the enemy attack alert from S09 Received an enemy alert from AS20 Received a battle alert from the San Miguel Island Defense Command The communication officers and sergeants were busy verifying the codes and then sending these emergency telegrams to the combat bridge. During this period, another heavy shell fell near the No. 9 coastal defense fortress on San Miguel Island, and the one that exploded on the shore made the entire island tremble. Sir, the navigation ship has replied to us that the safe passage is very narrow, and only small vessels can turn around, "Colonel's staff officer hurriedly reported to Baink. If it were an ordinary general, at this time, 70-80% of them would lead warships into heavily defended ports, relying on coastal defense works and land-based aviation units to fight against attackers of unknown strength. However, Bainke was well aware of the deployment of Allied forces on the Azores battlefield and knew the positive significance of retaining a mobile naval force here. Therefore, he made a decisive decision: "Reverse, retreat the original way Even in the 1930s, it was not an easy task to make such a large ship with a displacement of over 40000 tons turn upside down, let alone the current sea conditions are very bad. Upon receiving instructions, the captain, first mate, and all the officers involved in the ship's control immediately faced a great enemy. The slow-moving "Mackensen" quickly stopped and then began to slowly retreat. The two light cruisers behind them acted in unison, struggling to reverse in the wind and waves. The small boat they were piloting was agile, and the crew's courage was commendable. It calmly turned around and quickly sailed past the three warships, guiding them in the opposite direction to exit the minefield. The wind and rain continued, and the sky gradually darkened. The enemy in the distance did not notice these three strange Allied ships, thus missing the excellent opportunity to cut off hidden dangers and clear obstacles.