(Chapter to)
"How long will it take for the port to be cleared?" Boult landed on Guernsey and came to St. Peter Port, frowning as he looked at the blocked port and asked. Due to the blockage of the port, large ships could not dock, so small ships had to be used to transfer the supplies and soldiers on the transport ship to the island. But this is really time-consuming. The news of the British fleet calling for help must have been sent back, maybe the British fleet is on its way. If the British fleet is overwhelmed by that time, and all the transport ships are crowded here, it will be a terrible disaster for Iberia.
"General, the information about the port blockage is not very serious, but we are short of manpower and equipment. I am afraid it will take at least two days to clear the port." The commander of the engineering brigade reported to Bulthui with sweat profusely.
"Two days? No. I don't have that much time. I'll give you one day. I don't care what method you use within one day. You must clean up the port. In addition, if there are not enough manpower, I may be recruited from the Marine Corps." I'll transfer it to you." Boult said sternly.
"Yes, General." The commander of the engineering brigade only obeyed Boult's order.
"What should we do now?" Chief of Staff Sucrete asked.
"What else can I do! Order the ships to pay close attention to the situation on the sea. We can only stay here until the materials and personnel are loaded and unloaded. By the way, how is the battle on the island going?" Bult asked road.
"It went very well. The British resistance was basically wiped out in St. Peter Port, and now two battalions of the 2nd Marines are clearing the island. Regiment headquarters and the remaining battalion guard in St. Peter Port ’” Sucrete replied. "By the way, what about the 3rd Regiment? Do you want to land on Guernsey Island first, and then make other plans?"
"That's the only way to go. But our previous goal was to use Guernsey Island as our material transfer base. The third regiment should also land here temporarily, but the materials can be loaded on the ship. When we solve the problem here, Then we can attack Jersey." Boult said lightly.
"Let the people from the 3rd Regiment help clean up the port. It might be a lot faster. If the port is not cleared, heavy weapons can't be transported to the island at all." Sucrete suggested.
Burt nodded.
In the afternoon of the second day, after a day and night of hard cleaning, the port was finally cleared. The transport ships began to enter the port, unloading the various supplies they had loaded, mainly food, ammunition and coastal defense artillery. It seems that Boult is determined to insert a nail deep here.
"Leave 4 'Iberia'-class warships guarding here, and the soldiers of the 3rd regiment will board the ship immediately and prepare to set off for the next island." At 3 pm on November 4th, Burt suddenly issued such an order .
"Why? The transport ships have not yet finished unloading their materials. Although there are 4 warships left, I'm afraid they won't be able to stop the British fleet if they attack." Sucrete asked in surprise.
Burt smiled and said: "We have such a strong strength here, the British fleet will not appear. The fleet of the British Navy stationed here is very weak, they must not dare to fight. We have not wasted time at all. Here. Besides, I think if our fleet leaves here, the British fleet will definitely attack here, and we will take the opportunity to kill it at that time."
"That is to say, it was false that you attacked Jersey, and it was true that you attracted the British fleet?" Sucrete asked, he was not Benz, so he guessed what Boult was going to do.
Burt shook his head: "No, our fleet is very powerful. Even if it is divided into two parts, it can completely destroy that fleet. So one part can stay here to ambush the British fleet, and the other part can attack Jersey."
"Then what if the British Channel Fleet or other powerful fleets arrive there?" Sucrete asked with some concern.
"Don't worry. Even if such a situation occurs, only half of our fleet can hold the British fleet, and the other half of the fleet can come to support at that time. Anyway, Jersey is only more than 20 nautical miles away from here, only two The hour is up."
"Very well then. Who will attack Jersey, and who will stay and prepare to ambush the British fleet?" Sucrete asked.
"Alright then." Sucrete didn't refute Boult's arrangement. Down to the boat, to the 'Prince Joseph', which will be his flagship.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the huge fleet left Guernsey, leaving only 4 'Iberia;' class battleships guarding here, while 30 transport ships were crowded in the port of St. Peter Port, constantly Unload the supplies on the ship to the island. At a place 10 nautical miles away from Guernsey, Boult led two "Bonaparte" class warships and four "Iberia" class warships to leave the fleet. Here they will wait until the British fleet appears or the British Channel Fleet arrives. And Sucrete led two 'Bonaparte' class battleships and eight 'Iberia' class warships, and more than 30 huge transport ships continued to sail eastward. Their goal was Jersey, an island with an area of 116 square kilometers, almost twice the size of Guernsey. Of course, there is also a whole regiment of defenders on the island. St. Helier in Jersey is also a very good harbor and one of the main targets of the Iberian fleet this time.
"General, the Iberian fleet has left Guernsey and is heading east. They only left 4 warships and more than 30 transport ships in Guernsey." In the evening, the fleet of the British Navy stationed in the Channel Islands On his flagship, a second-tier battleship, a junior officer reported the news that the main force of the Iberian navy had left Guernsey to the British rear admiral.
"To the east? They must have gone to attack Jersey." The major general murmured.
"General, what are we going to do? Do we go to rescue Jersey or stay here?" asked a commodore. He is the chief of staff of the entire fleet.
"The strength of the Iberian navy is very strong. If we go there, we will only have a dead end." The major general said angrily. He really didn't know how he could have such a brainless partner.
"But if we don't go, we won't end well if we lose the Channel Islands." The Brigadier General said with some fear. If such an important defense zone is lost, what awaits them will definitely be a trial by a military court.
The major general was silent. He knew that what the brigadier general said was true. After returning to China, the two generals who lost their land would definitely not end well. But what to do? Going to Jersey would be a dead end. The Iberian artillery is not vegetarian. "Hey, there is!" The major general suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of a solution to the problem.
"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, maybe we have the opportunity to redeem our sins this time." The major general said happily.
"Really? That's really great. What should we do?" the brigadier asked very excitedly.
"We are not going to Jersey. Under the attack of the Iberian superior force, Jersey will definitely not be able to defend. We will go to Guernsey, where there are only 4 Iberian warships and more than 30 transport ships Ship. Although their warships are very powerful, we still have a chance. As long as we can kill those landing fleets on Guernsey Island, it will be a great achievement." The major general said happily.
"Yeah, that's a really good idea." The brigadier general admired.
"What do we unless?"
"It's getting dark now, and sailing at night is not good for us. If we hit a rock and lose the warship, it won't be worth it. We will set off early tomorrow morning. It will take a day or two for the Iberians to attack Jersey. Go ahead. Don't worry, we have enough time to kill them." The major general said confidently. In order not to be discovered by the Iberian fleet, the major general led his fleet to the island group at the bottom of Guernsey. There are many archipelagos and reefs, which are suitable for hiding small fleets, but at the same time, it is very easy to hit the rocks.
Just after dawn on the morning of November 5, the major general couldn't wait to lead his fleet to set off. At this time, his fleet consisted of 1 second-tier battleship, two third-tier battleships (the other one was killed at the beginning), 4 gunboats and 4 three-masted clippers.
After 3 hours of sailing, UU reading www.uukanshu. Major General com and their fleet finally came to the waters of Guernsey Island. But as soon as they appeared, they were discovered by the remaining Iberian fleet. "All ships are ready for battle, and immediately send power to the general. The British fleet has appeared. Let the transport ship withdraw from the port and sail to the east. The coastal defense batteries are not ready for battle." The captain of the 'Lisbon' ordered, he Appointed Commander of 4 'Iberia' class warships stationed in Guernsey.
"General, just received the telegram. The British fleet has appeared." A major excitedly told the news to Boult who was waiting anxiously.
"What? Good. Let them hold the enemy, and we will rush back to support them immediately." Boult jumped up from his chair.
His fleet is only 10 nautical miles away from Guernsey, and it can be reached in less than an hour if sailing at full speed.
"General, a telegram from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. How is the progress on your side? The 3rd Division has swept across the entire Normandy peninsula and is marching north." The major appeared with another telegram.
"Please inform His Royal Highness that the progress of the navy is going well."