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Text Chapter 1438 Azores Islands

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    On April 24, German Emperor Wilhelm II and Crown Prince Wilhelm, accompanied by Marshal Tirpitz, the German Minister of the Navy, came to Wilhelmshaven to inspect the situation of the German Navy.  During the inspection, Wilhelm II and Crown Prince William watched the design training of the five "Vengeance" class battleships of the High Seas Fleet and the performance of the carrier-based aircraft unit of the "Prussia" aircraft carrier.  The scene of dozens of fighter planes taking off from an aircraft carrier, dropping bombs in groups on the target ship, and easily blowing up the target ship, shocked them greatly, and at the same time, it also became more promising for the future of the German Navy.  Confidence!

    "General Hipper, I am very satisfied with the performance of the High Seas Fleet! I believe that the powerful German Navy will be able to protect the maritime borders and maritime interests of the German Empire!" Kaiser Wilhelm II said with a smile!

    "Your Majesty, the High Seas Fleet has enough confidence and capabilities to defend the country's interests!" said Admiral Franz von Hipper, commander of the German High Seas Fleet!  In the past few years, the German Navy has also been exploring the tactics of using aircraft carriers, and has begun to imitate the Chinese Navy!  After all, the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier fleet has participated in actual combat, was established much earlier than the German Navy's aircraft carrier fleet, and has richer experience!  This makes the Chinese Navy a model for the German Navy to learn from. Germany is imitating China in terms of tactics and fleet configuration.  However, because of China's blockade of relevant technologies, Germany can only rely on itself in many cases!

    "How is the construction status of our 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier? Can it be put into service as scheduled?" William II asked.  Although the 'Prussian-class' aircraft carrier performed well, it was only the first-class official aircraft carrier of the German Navy. William II was even more looking forward to the improved second-class 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier!

    "Your Majesty, the Navy has contacted various shipyards. Each shipyard said that the aircraft carrier under construction can be commissioned as scheduled! However, the Navy Ministry requires the major shipyards to speed up the progress and finally complete the construction ahead of schedule!" Navy Minister Tirpitz  said the marshal.

    "Oh? What's going on? Why should we speed up the construction period?" William II asked with a frown.  German-made warships are generally relatively sophisticated, which keeps the quality of their warships at the world's leading level.  If the construction period is accelerated, the quality may not be guaranteed!

    "Your Majesty, according to the secret information we have received, the Chinese's latest first-class aircraft carrier has been launched! However, this time the Chinese have done a good job of keeping it secret, and the outside world does not know it! According to our estimates, the Chinese  This new class of aircraft carrier will be put into service before the end of the year and will soon become combat effective!" Navy Minister Tirpitz said.

    "The Chinese's new aircraft carrier? How is the performance of their new aircraft carrier? Can our 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier rival it?" Crown Prince William asked.  In his opinion, the German Navy's Hohenzollern-class aircraft carrier is already very powerful. It has a displacement of more than 30,000 tons and can carry hundreds of fighter planes. It is even more powerful than the Chinese Navy's Wuyue-class aircraft carrier.  .

    "We don't know the specific parameters of the Chinese new aircraft carrier yet, but the displacement should be about 50,000 tons! It can carry 120 to 130 fighter planes for combat, and its defense power has also been greatly improved! Comprehensive warfare  In terms of strength, it is estimated to be about 1.4 times that of our 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier!" Marshal Tirpitz said with a heavy expression!

    The smiles on the faces of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Crown Prince Wilhelm suddenly disappeared.  Originally, they all thought that after the German Navy's 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier was put into service, the German Navy would close the gap with the Chinese Navy, and might even surpass it.  However, the commissioning of the Chinese Navy's new aircraft carrier once again shattered their hopes.

    "Damn! Let the intelligence department find a way to figure out the specific performance of the Chinese new aircraft carrier! In addition, speed up the construction of the 'Hohenzollern-class' aircraft carrier. Finally, the Navy must come up with the next-level aircraft carrier as soon as possible  We cannot lose to the Chinese with their construction plan!" William II said!  After four years of development, Germany's economy has recovered, and with the support of overseas colonies, Germany's national power has once again entered a period of rising.  The territories of northern France annexed by Germany and the territories of the former Belgium and the Eastern European Plains have all achieved great development. In addition, Britain's industrial strength has also been restored. These have greatly enhanced Germany's war potential!

    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Marshal Tirpitz nodded. The entry into service of the Chinese Navy's new aircraft carrier has indeed put great pressure on the German Navy!  Among other things, the warships of the Chinese Navy's Second Fleet and Third Fleet often cruise in the North Sea, which poses a huge threat to Germany.  The two fleets of the Chinese Navy have 9 aircraft carriers and 12 super battleships. Before the German Navy¡¯s ¡®Hohenzollern-class¡¯ aircraft carrier entered service,The Chinese Navy simply cannot defeat these two fleets of the Chinese Navy. At most, it can only operate in the North Sea under the protection of shore-based aviation!  However, this obviously does not meet Germany's requirements. The German government hopes that the powerful German Navy can defend Germany's overseas colonies!

    "Your Majesty, I think that the Chinese Navy's blockade of us will bring us huge trouble! Once the war breaks out, the German Navy will most likely be blocked in the North Sea! The North Sea is too small. If it were the battleship era, it would still be impossible.  It can be changed. But in the era of naval warfare dominated by aircraft carriers, the North Sea is already too small. If it is blocked in the North Sea, our aircraft carriers may not be able to escape from the attack of the Chinese Navy's carrier-based aircraft forces. We need to rush into the Atlantic Ocean and  We can start a decisive battle with the Chinese on the Atlantic Ocean! However, we need to obtain a stable base on the Atlantic Ocean! Although we have some naval bases in Africa and the Caribbean, these naval bases are all on the shores of the Chinese  Under the threat of aircraft! We need a new base in the Atlantic!" Admiral Franz von Hipper, commander of the German High Seas Fleet, suggested!

    Kaiser Wilhelm II nodded, and the Chinese Air Force and Navy deployed a large number of combat aircraft on the island of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and islands in the Mediterranean Sea!  These islands are like a chain, strangling Germany's neck tighter and tighter. If this continues, Germany will suffocate sooner or later!

    "Where do you think it is better to build this base?" William II asked.

    "Your Majesty, the Admiralty believes that we can lease the Azores Islands from Portugal. Several islands in the Azores Islands can build large ports and airports, which can berth capital ships and deploy fighter planes, and can also provide supplies for submarines! In this case, we  We will be able to gain a foothold on the Atlantic Ocean!" said Admiral Tirpitz, the Minister of the Navy.  Obviously, the German Navy has been planning to establish a base on the Atlantic Ocean for a long time!  Especially after receiving increasing pressure from the Chinese Navy, this makes them even more eager to break the Chinese Navy's containment!  The establishment of a German naval base on the Azores Islands will undoubtedly give the German Navy a foothold in the Atlantic Ocean, thereby breaking the blockade of the Chinese Navy.

    The Azores are a volcanic archipelago located in the eastern central part of the North Atlantic Ocean.  It is the territory of the Portuguese Republic.  The specific location is 36¡ã55¡ä¡«39¡ã43¡ä north latitude and 25¡ã01¡ä¡«31¡ã07¡ä west longitude.  The Azores are made up of nine main islands, approximately 1,600 kilometers west of mainland Portugal.  It covers a total area of ??2,247 square kilometers.  The archipelago is divided into three widely separated groups of islands: the eastern part includes S?o Miguel, Santa Maria and Formigas; the central part includes Faial, Pico, S?o Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa  Islands; including Flores and Corvo in the northwest.

    The strategic location of the Azores Islands is very important. It is only more than 1,600 kilometers away from Portugal and the German colony of Morocco in North Africa. It only takes a little more than two days for warships to sail!  If the German Navy can establish a naval base here, it will undoubtedly enable the German Navy to break through the blockade of the Chinese Navy and increase the strategic depth of the German Navy.

    ¡°I will ask the government to contact Portugal!¡± Kaiser Wilhelm II said.  However, Kaiser Wilhelm II could not guarantee whether Portugal could agree to lease the Azores Islands to Germany or agree to Germany deploying troops on the islands!

    Portugal was a neutral country in the last world war. Not only was it not affected, but it also made a fortune by selling supplies to both warring parties!  However, Portugal has a small land area, a population of only about 6 million, and a weak military strength, so it can only be regarded as a second-rate country in Europe!  Compared with a big world country like Germany, there is a big gap!

    However, if Portugal leases the Azores to Germany, it will definitely anger China.  Portugal does not dare to offend Germany, but it does not dare to offend China even more!  Therefore, regarding the Azores issue, Portugal is likely to reject Germany's request!

    But, even so, Germany still made efforts!

    On April 25, German Prime Minister Hollweger met with the Portuguese Ambassador to Germany, and it was to him that Germany hoped to lease the Azores Islands.  Moreover, Prime Minister Holweg also guaranteed that if Portugal is willing to lease the Azores Islands to Germany, Germany is willing to provide Portugal with military security guarantees to prevent Portugal from being threatened by force from other countries!  And this other country obviously refers to China!  (To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!)
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