Published at 13th of February 2023 07:03:36 AM

"General, the German bombardment was too violent. Our front-line fortifications were severely damaged. If this continues, I am afraid that it will not be long before the Germans use powerful artillery to wipe it out. The front-line Generals, hope to use artillery to counterattack!" A staff officer reported to Admiral Ian Hamilton.

"Idiot! Competing with the Germans in shelling now, isn't that courting death? The German naval guns are much more powerful than our artillery. In addition, their planes are still bombing. Letting the artillery fire now is not courting death." Way?" Ian Hamilton scolded.

Although the British Army also attaches great importance to the construction of artillery, each full-staffed infantry division is equipped with 18 114mm howitzers and 54 83.8mm field guns. This kind of firepower is already very powerful. Of course, compared with the German Army with enhanced artillery, it is undoubtedly worse. But in the whole world, it can be considered very powerful.

At the same time, the artillery of the British Army was also supported by the coastal defense artillery of the Navy. On the front line, there are many naval coastal defense batteries. Those coastal defense guns are all large-caliber main guns, ranging from 155 mm caliber coastal defense guns to 305 mm caliber coastal defense guns. Moreover, these coastal defense forts are all poured with reinforced concrete, and their defense is very strong.

However, even so, Admiral Ian Hamilton did not think that their artillery strength could compete with the powerful German navy. The main guns of the battleships dispatched by the German Navy are not easy to deal with. What's more, Admiral Ian Hamilton didn't think it was a good thing that precious artillery was spent in artillery battles with the Germans. Their real role should be played against the German landing forces, and that is the most effective.

Under the order of Admiral Ian Hamilton, the artillery and coastal defense artillery of the army should remain hidden. Those coastal defense forts are also under cover. Although some of the battleships of the German Navy were destroyed, many survived.

The bombardment formation of the German Navy's bombardment of the army's defensive positions lasted for a whole day. They didn't evacuate the British coast until the evening, and the gunners were also exhausted. Although, the main gun has a semi-automatic loading machine, which can save a lot of effort. However, other secondary guns and rapid-fire guns still require soldiers to carry the shells by themselves.

During the whole day of shelling, the fortifications of the British Army have been almost destroyed. Many positions have been plowed several times by them with naval guns. Except for those carefully hidden artillery positions, it can be said that the fortifications built by the British Army after months of hard work have been completely destroyed.

British capital London, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and War Secretary Richard Haldane are discussing the war situation.

"The Germans have been attacking our defensive positions with naval guns and aircraft all day. The defensive positions at Margate, Dover and Folkestone have been almost destroyed by them. Our efforts for several months are now in vain. For nothing!" said Richard Haldane. The strong attack power shown by the German Army made the British Army feel heavy pressure.

"The Germans paid a lot of money to defeat us this time. However, we also have no other choice. If we can't resist their attack, the British Empire will be over." Churchill said.

Richard Haldane nodded: "Don't worry, Your Excellency Prime Minister. The soldiers on the front line will definitely do their best. If the Germans want to land on the British mainland, they must pay an unimaginable price!"

"May God bless the British Empire!" Churchill said.

Although most of the elite troops of the British Army have assembled in the southeastern theater, Churchill and Richard Haldane are still a little uncertain.

Among the more than 4 million troops of the British Army, 500,000 were deployed in Ireland and 500,000 in Scotland. The remaining three million were assembled in England and Wales. Especially the southeast of England and London are the key points of defense. The elite units of the five armies, three of which are deployed in the southeastern theater, and the other two are deployed in the London theater. It can be seen that the British Army undoubtedly hoped to prevent the Germans from landing and wipe them out on the beach.

After the bombardment by the German navy ended, Admiral Ian Hamilton immediately asked the soldiers on the front line to rush to repair the position overnight. Although, it is almost impossible to restore those destroyed positions overnight. But if it is repaired a little more, at any rate, it can play some role in the next battle. Among other things, it is not a problem to reduce the casualties of the troops a little.

Of course, Admiral Ian Hamilton also knows that tomorrow the German naval guns and aircraft will further attack their fortifications. It is very difficult to say how much will survive by then. But even so, General Ian Hamilton did not give up.

Sure enough, at 7 o'clock in the morning on the 21st, the German naval artillery formation attacked the British Army's defensive positions again. After a night's rest, the gunners, who had regained their spirits, once again manipulated the cannons and began to destroy the British Army's defensive positions.

When shells fell one after another and destroyed the fortifications of the British Army that had been busy all night, Admiral Ian Hamilton and other officers and soldiers of the British Army were extremely aggrieved.

This time, the German army did not dispatch the Army Aviation anymore, although the fighter jets and bombers on the airport were all ready to take off. However, this time their mission was to provide fire support to the Marine Corps that was about to launch a landing operation, rather than to destroy the British Army's fortifications. The fortifications of the British Army can be dealt with by naval guns.

"Marshal, the naval bombardment of the British fortifications has lasted for two hours." The adjutant reported to Marshal von Falkenhain.

"The Marine Corps is ready?" Marshal von Falkenhain asked.

"Already prepared!"

"Then let them launch a landing operation!" Marshal von Falkenhain immediately issued an order without any hesitation.

"Yes, Marshal!"

When the order reached the front line, the firepower of the German Navy's warships began to extend to the British Army's positions. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the German Marine Corps launched landing operations against Margate, Dover and Folkestone respectively.