"Oh!" Paul responded without saying anything. Although, he also wondered why the Navy Command didn't stop him, even though he was ready to defy orders.
In fact, although the situation facing the Mediterranean Fleet is very critical, as Paul said, if it is handled well, it may not be impossible to retreat, and it may even severely damage the US Navy. The French Naval Command saw this and did not stop Paul. The reason is also very simple. Judging from the current situation in the entire Atlantic naval battle, after the United States and Canada joined forces, France is slightly at a disadvantage. In addition, in land warfare, aesthetics has a very large advantage, so the overall situation is very unfavorable for France. It has to be said that this time is an opportunity to stand up. If the Mediterranean Fleet can fight this battle well, the situation facing France will be reversed, and it will have an advantage in the naval battle in the Atlantic. Therefore, after Bult asked Xiao Jie for instructions and got Xiao Jie's approval, he did not stop Paul. As long as he tries to save the Mediterranean Fleet as much as possible.
"General, Godfrey sent an urgent call, claiming that they are being attacked by the French Mediterranean Fleet. The 5th Fleet has suffered heavy losses and has lost half of its strength. If they cannot be rescued in time, their entire army may be wiped out. A communications officer reported to Davis with the telegram he had just received.
"Tell General Godfrey to hold on, the reinforcements will be here soon." Davis said with a smile on his lips. Now, he can be completely sure that the French Mediterranean Fleet has completely fallen into the trap he set. All he has to do now is to close the net.
"General Aldrich, where is the 5th Fleet now?" Davis asked looking at the chart.
"They're 20 nautical miles southeast of us," Aldridge replied.
"Okay, order the fleet to prepare to move forward, aiming at the southeast direction. In addition, send a report to the 4th Fleet, asking them to start action immediately and prepare to outflank the rear of the French Mediterranean Fleet." Davis ordered with a smile. He seemed to have seen that the goddess of victory had lifted her skirt towards him. Judging from the current strength comparison between the two sides, with the addition of the Fifth Fleet, the ratio of the number of warships between the U.S. Army and the French Army is 1:2.5. In the case of one to three, the loser will only be the French Mediterranean Fleet. Moreover, for the U.S. military, the only real scruples are the "Dreadnought" class warship and the 4 "pre-Dreadnought" class warships of the Mediterranean Fleet. For this problem, Davis has long thought of a solution. Although the American "New York" class warships are much inferior to the French "Dreadnought" class and the "Pre-Dreadnought" class, the French "Dreadnought" class It is also quite difficult for the 'Fearless' class to destroy the American 'New York' class warships, at least in a short period of time. At that time, Davis will use the 'Philadelphia' and 'Boston' of the 3rd Fleet, the 'Topeka' and 'São Paulo' of the 4th Fleet, and the remaining 'Chicago' of the 5th Fleet. New York' class warships pinned down the 5 large warships of the Mediterranean Fleet, and the rest of the warships besieged the remaining warships of the Mediterranean Fleet. Davis believes that in the case of 1:2.5, the United States will definitely be able to win. After the other warships of the Mediterranean Fleet are settled, the 5 large warships of the Mediterranean Fleet will be besieged. As the saying goes, "Ants kill elephants more often", when they were besieged by the US military, even if the five large warships of the Mediterranean Fleet were more armored and had more powerful firepower, they would only end up being sunk in the end.
For the opposite sides advancing fast, the distance of 20 nautical miles is not far, and the two sides encountered each other in less than 40 minutes.
"General, we found a new US fleet." The watchman spotted the approaching US fleet and immediately sounded the alarm.
"It seems that this is the 3rd Fleet of the US Navy." Paul put down the binoculars and said.
"It's only the size of a fleet, it's unlikely." Clarence hesitated.
"Whatever, it's better to have a fleet, fight first," Paul said. Then, under Paul's order, the Mediterranean Fleet formed a battle formation and killed the US Fleet.
The United States also quickly made adjustments. After the 3rd Fleet arrived, in order not to disrupt the formation of the 3rd Fleet, Davis ordered the remaining warships of the 5th Fleet to go around from both sides and re-form a combat formation behind the 3rd Fleet.
Even if the U.S. 3rd Fleet plus the 5th Fleet, which is still half of its strength, is still not the opponent of the French Mediterranean Fleet. In the confrontation of large warships, the U.S. Navy, which currently has only 3 "New York" class warships, is not at all an opponent of the 5 large warships of the Mediterranean Fleet. Under the fierce attack of the Mediterranean Fleet, the situation is already quite critical. In the other two battlefields, although the Mediterranean Fleet does not have an advantage in numbers, it can still be tied. As long as the battle of large warships can be won, then the elimination of the U.S. military will naturally be a no-brainer.
"Damn it, where is the 4th Fleet, and why did it even reach the battlefield? What the **** is that stupid pig of Druk doing?" Davis growled. According to the plan, the 4th Fleet should have gone into battle a long time ago, but there is still no sign, and the current situation is very unfavorable to the US military, which made Davis very angry.
"Boom!" A shell exploded less than 100 meters away from the 'Philadelphia'. The huge pressure and waves almost lifted the 'Philadelphia' out of the sea. Davis and others also became unstable and fell on the deck. superior.
"Damn it." Davis got up from the deck and cursed loudly. I don't know whether he is scolding the Mediterranean Fleet or Duruk.
Finally, under the eager expectation of Davis and others, 30 minutes after the battle started, the 4th Fleet appeared on the battlefield. The place where they appeared happened to be the rear of the Mediterranean Fleet.
"Damn it, another American fleet has arrived. It seems that the situation is not good." Paul murmured. Seeing victory is in sight, but now the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse.
"Order the fleet to retreat. Immediately disengage from the Americans and withdraw from the battle." Clarence suggested eagerly. In his opinion, the Mediterranean Fleet has achieved very good results, and it is time to stop. From the beginning of the battle to the present, the Mediterranean Fleet has severely damaged the U.S. 5th Fleet, and the U.S. 3rd Fleet has also suffered a lot, while the Mediterranean Fleet has not lost much. If the battle is withdrawn now, then this naval battle will end in a complete victory for the Mediterranean Fleet.
"Okay. Order the ships to immediately break away from contact with the US fleet and break out to the southeast." Although a little unwilling, Paul finally compromised and issued an order to withdraw troops. He can't lose the entire Mediterranean fleet for his own selfish desires.
However, after seeing the arrival of the 4th Fleet, the US military's will to fight quickly increased and launched a fierce counterattack. It became very difficult for the Mediterranean Fleet to get rid of the US military for a while. "Bite them, the French are going," Davis yelled.
Under Davis's order, the U.S. warships rushed towards the Mediterranean Fleet fearlessly, making it impossible for the Mediterranean Fleet to get rid of the entanglement of the U.S. military. UU reading www.uukanshu. Slowly, the 4th Fleet of the U.S. Navy approached from the southwest, forming an encirclement of the French Mediterranean Fleet with the 3rd and 5th Fleets of the U.S. Navy.
"What should we do? Break through? Or fight the Americans to the end?" Clarence broke out in cold sweat on his forehead.
Paul is also very contradictory now. According to the current situation, the US fleet is about to encircle them, and only a forced breakout can escape the fate of being wiped out. However, in order to successfully break out of the siege, there must be battleships left behind, and they must also be battleships with powerful firepower. Moreover, in order to successfully break through, the battleship must have a fast speed, otherwise it will be impossible to escape the pursuit of the enemy fleet. This means that if you choose to break through, the Mediterranean Fleet will have to give up five 'Dreadnought' class warships and 'Pre-Dreadnought' class warships. In this case, even if the breakout can be successful, the Mediterranean Fleet will lose most of its combat effectiveness. Definitely not what Paul wants to see.
"Alas!" In any case, the operation of the Mediterranean Fleet failed, or the entire fleet was ruined. For Paul, whether he chooses to break through or fight to the end, he has an unshirkable responsibility. "If we break through, the Mediterranean Fleet will exist in name only. But if we choose to fight to the end and fight to the death with the U.S. Navy, maybe our entire army will be wiped out, but it will definitely cause unimaginable damage to the U.S. Navy." Paul looked at Clarence said.