Published at 13th of February 2023 06:59:00 AM
U.S. Department of Naval Operations, Chief of Operations Admiral William Benson, Atlantic Fleet Commander Henry Mayo, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Daniels, all gathered in the war room.
After the seaplane discovered that the German fleet was approaching Norfolk, they immediately began to discuss how to deal with this German attack.
"The Germans are less than two hours away from Norfolk. Fortunately, we have been prepared, otherwise, this time the Germans will succeed again." Admiral Henry Mayo said.
After Boston, New York, and Baltimore were all attacked by the German navy, the U.S. Navy is also judging where the German navy's next attack target is. The Norfolk Naval Base is undoubtedly one of the options.
However, someone raised an objection at the time, that is, the Norfolk Naval Station is located in the Chesapeake Bay, and the sea conditions here are different from other places. If the German Navy dares to enter the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Navy can just use the terrain to attack the German Navy. Therefore, they believed that the German fleet would not attack the Norfolk naval base, but would go all the way south.
"It seems that the Germans are much bolder than we imagined. In order to destroy the foundation of our navy, they have spent all their money!" Admiral William Benson looked serious. He believes that since the German navy dared to do this, it naturally has its own credentials. If you don't prepare well, maybe this time the Germans will succeed again.
"Is our navy ready? Although we lost our capital ship, we still have many small and medium-sized warships and submarines. This time, the Germans dared to enter the Chesapeake Bay, so we must not let them You succeeded again." Daniels said with a dark face.
Now, the reputation of the U.S. Navy is completely rotten, and the people are very dissatisfied with their inability to protect their own safety. Under such circumstances, the U.S. Navy felt very aggrieved, and at the same time was eager to teach the German Navy a lesson to wash away its shame.
"Your Excellency, we have assembled forty destroyers, twenty light cruisers in the Chesapeake Bay, and more than twenty submarines deployed outside the Chesapeake Bay. As soon as the German fleet arrives, we will Just launch an attack. Even if there is no capital ship, our torpedoes can sink them!" Admiral Henry Mayo said.
Minister Daniels nodded. He also hoped that the U.S. Navy could win a battle here, so that they could feel proud. In this case, not only can they regain the love of the people, but they can even contain the German attack in one fell swoop.
The ports and shipyards of three cities in succession were destroyed, which made the entire east coast jittery. If the Germans are allowed to continue like this, the entire east coast will really become a dead place without chickens crowing for thousands of miles. This will deal a fatal blow to the US economy.
"Very well, since this is the case, then I wish you success and let the Germans know how powerful we are!" Minister Daniels said.
"Yes, Your Excellency the Minister." Everyone else replied.
After the orders were issued, the entire Norfolk Naval Base entered a state of emergency combat readiness. The anti-aircraft soldiers rushed to their positions one after another, with anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns pointing at the sky. Once the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft appeared, they would immediately open fire on it. Destroy it with heavy artillery fire.
In the Chesapeake Bay, the US Navy's destroyer formation and light cruiser formation have also entered a state of combat readiness. They guarded the bay, and as soon as the German navy entered, they would use lightning strikes and torpedoes to sink the German navy that had brought them endless shame.
Outside the bay, more than 20 submarines are ready to fight. Because the water depth in the bay is not suitable for submarine operations, submarines can only go outside the bay. At the same time, they were also the force that launched the first wave of attacks on the German fleet.
Time passed bit by bit, two hours, whether it was long or short.
Before the fleet arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, the German Navy had already launched a seaplane and conducted a reconnaissance there. The U.S. Navy has deployed destroyers and light cruisers in the Gulf, which cannot be hidden from anyone at all. Fortunately, the U.S. Navy never thought about hiding anything. They were so prepared that if the German fleet did not give up attacking the Chesapeake Bay, battle would be inevitable.
"It seems that the Americans have already deployed. More than 60 light cruisers and destroyers are deployed in the bay. This is undoubtedly a very big test for the fleet's lightning protection mission." Admiral Hipper Said.
"General, there are more than sixty light cruisers and destroyers in the joint fleet. What's more, we can still get the support of capital ships. I believe that the American light cruisers and destroyers will launch a decisive attack. However, waiting for their It will inevitably be the result of being sunk." Lieutenant General Burdick said.
"Before entering the Chesapeake Bay, we seem to find out the nearby American submarines and kill them. That way, it will be safer." Lieutenant General Schmidt reminded.
Admiral Hipper nodded: "Send five light cruisers to protect 10 anti-submarine destroyers, and go to the Chesapeake Bay to search for American submarines first!"
"Yes, General." Lieutenant General Richter Fels replied.
Subsequently, 10 new anti-submarine destroyers, under the protection of five light cruisers, accelerated to the Chesapeake Bay. Their task is to clear out the underwater enemies before the main fleet arrives.
At 10 am, the battle officially started.
The anti-submarine destroyer began to use sonar to search for submarines hiding underwater.
Although the U.S. submarines are hiding thirty or forty meters underwater, the U.S. submarine technology is not up to standard and the noise is very loud. The sonar soldiers of the German Navy can clearly find them.
"At 12 o'clock, about 400 meters, an American submarine was found." The sonar soldier reported.
An anti-submarine destroyer of the German Navy immediately accelerated to this sea area.
"Drop depth charges!" the captain ordered.
Several depth charges were thrown underwater, and a few seconds later, a dull explosion sounded underwater. Columns of water rushed out of the sea.
The U.S. submarine hiding underwater was crushed to pieces in the violent explosion. Amidst the exclamation and screams of the American submarine soldiers, it sank into the sea.
A large piece of oil and some other sundries floated to the surface of the sea, indicating that the target had been destroyed.