It was a day in mid-August. At around 11 a.m., a he-25 combat reconnaissance plane taking off from San Miguel Island flew to Formegas Island as usual. Seeing a simple watchtower standing on the collapsed lighthouse, a German battle flag with white background fluttering on the top of the tower, the German pilot reported to his command via radio that "everything is normal", then climbed up, took a long circle in the nearby waters, and flew to the north.

As the roar of the plane gradually faded away, the first-class sailor Lofle, who belonged to the German Marine Force, returned to the bunker with the first-class sergeant Bohr, and played bridge again with two second-class sailors Vogel and Schbis. The second-class corporal Otner, who was left alone, continued to watch on the watchtower.

Formigas, this oceanic island with a total area of ​​only 9 square kilometers, is the most inconspicuous among the Azores. As the US and British camps successively conquered six islands in the northern and central Azores, the Allied forces confronted them in San Miguel and San Maria, and its military significance was unexpectedly highlighted. After the second recapture of Formigas, the German army further strengthened the defense facilities on the island. They exploded solid volcanic rocks, covered steel plates, poured concrete, and built traffic trenches, anti-aircraft bunkers and firing bunkers.

If there is such a configuration on the dangerous land on the land, only a small number of troops can withstand the attacks of many enemy troops. In this vast sea, the garrison troops may not even see the appearance of the enemy clearly, and they will be sent to a nest of large-caliber artillery shells flying from afar. Therefore, the German army only deployed half a combat squad here, equipped with a generator, two searchlights, a radio station, a mortar, and a relatively sufficient firearms and ammunition. In addition, German ships laid anchors and lightnings and floating anti-submarine networks on the surrounding sea surface to prevent the island from being attacked by American and British ships.

Although it was still summer, the resident personnel did not have to endure the invasion of the cold and cold rain. Once they encountered strong winds and waves, the seawater would spread to the islands and reefs. When there was a lighthouse, they could still hide from the wind and waves. Now there was no lighthouse, so it was common to be soaked in the seawater. The garrison conditions here were so difficult and it was difficult for ordinary people to adapt. The German army only arranged for a firmly determined volunteer to come, and they were rotated once a week.

The four people in the bunker were all experienced bridge players. They devoted themselves to the full force, making the game as fierce as a naval battle. Just as the outcome was gradually clear, the call of Corporal Otner came from the watchtower. The four of them quickly climbed out of the bunker. Sergeant Boer rushed to the mirror of the binocular artillery team set up outside, skillfully adjusting his perspective. A faint cloud of smoke could be seen on the sea and sky communication line. After a moment, the masts of warships, one, two, and three...

The watchtower was high and far away. Corporal Otner shouted in the voice of a sailor: "Northeast...three cruisers!"

Sergeant Boer, the highest military rank among the five, suppressed his tension and ordered Lofle, the first-class sailor in charge of radio operation: "Send a report to the command center, an enemy fleet was found on the northeastern sea, and it was initially judged to be three cruisers."

Lofle hurried back to the bunker and sent a newspaper.

Previously, the US and British troops seized Formegash twice, once by night attacks and once by force on rainy days. They avoided the allies' aviation troops and experienced submarine troops, which had a slightly superiority in the southeastern waters of Azores. This time, when the arrival of the wind and liri was in broad daylight, it was indeed beyond the expectations of the Germans. However, since the enemy warships appeared, they must have come prepared and the visitors were not good. The two privates had no optical equipment to operate anyway, so they simply retreated to the side of the bunker early so that they could quickly hide when the enemy ship fired their guns.

After a while, a loud voice came from the watchtower again: "Revised report... Five enemy ships were found in the northeast, and it was initially judged to be two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and two destroyers!"

Sergeant Boer's face was pale and his brows were frowning. The gunfire of the heavy cruiser was not something that ordinary steel plates and concrete could withstand. He hurriedly asked Lofler to send a telegram and told him to send it again through the backup frequency to avoid this important information being blocked by enemy radio interference.

In the next few minutes, there was no new report on the watchtower, and Sergeant Boll kept peeking at the lineup of the enemy fleet through the gunner mirror in front of him: the leader was a snow-white American light cruiser, followed by two ship types. The most direct and effective way to distinguish light and heavy cruisers was to carefully observe their bridges and masts. The bridge masts of the light cruiser were like small hills and small trees, with relatively thin profiles, and the bridge masts of the heavy cruiser were like large mountain trees, with thicker profiles. The more experienced naval personnel were, the more they could make accurate judgments based on the target profile.

Following behind the three cruisers were two inconspicuous destroyers like the ugly duckling. They all used a large white background, the hull seemed to have camouflage ripples, and the mast lines were simple, unlike new ships equipped with radar equipment.

After a while, a familiar voice came from the watchtower: "The enemy fleet is still 20,000 meters away from us!"

Sergeant Boer adjusted the angle of the artillery mirror and obtained a more accurate reading through professional ranging equipment. The five enemy ships had indeed approached 20 kilometers. Through the magnified field of view of the artillery mirror, the high-rise gun barrels could be vaguely seen.

"Sergeant, the command headquarters called back and received our telegram!" The first corps in the bunker reported with relief.

"Very good!" Sergeant Boer replied loudly. Then he muttered to himself: "The most important task has been completed, and the next thing is death or life, we can only leave it to fate!"

A moment later, the second-level corporal on the watchtower shouted: "The enemy ship is turning!"

Sergeant Boer stared at the cannon mirror. Sure enough, the outlines of the five enemy ships were getting bigger, and the long silhouettes began to appear in sight. Are you adjusting your posture and preparing to perform a side volley?

He re-measures the distance. At this moment, the distance of the enemy ship is still 16,000 meters. Although it is within the effective range of the medium-sized naval gun, the longer the distance, the lower the shooting accuracy. Isn’t the enemy worried that the German army has laid the mines ten kilometers around the island and reef? Or... they just happened to pass by?

The fantasy in Boer's heart was soon shattered by the flames of the flashing sea in the distance. When the enemy ship opened fire, Corporal Otner climbed down the warning tower like a flying trench and ran towards the bunker along the traffic trench. Before he could run ten meters, the shells brought by the enemy ship roared and fell down, and burst into a mass of water columns on the nearby sea. Without saying a word, Boer picked up the artillery mirror and hid back in the bunker. With the help of two second-class privates, he placed him at the observation port on the edge of the bunker, and carefully observed the situation on the sea.

The five enemy ships all face Formigash on the starboard side, but only three cruisers were shelling, and the two destroyers were obviously watching from the wall because of insufficient range. Judging from the frequency of the blitzing of the muzzle flame, the shooting rate of the US-British cruiser is about 4 to 5 rounds per minute. The theoretical firing rate can reach 7 to 8 rounds, and the 6-inch naval gun is even more so. However, considering the time-consuming range measurement and sighting and re-calibration, it is very good to be able to reach more than 4 rounds in actual combat.

The fierce artillery fire of the three American and British cruisers was intuitively reflected in the rising water columns of the sea. In just a blink of an eye, most of the areas of Formegash were wet by the waves stirred by artillery shells. Some shells fell near, some were flying over the islands and reefs and landing in the distance, but the three enemy ships neither carried out a volley of full main artillery, nor followed the shooting order from front to back or other shooting orders. They looked like they were rushing to pour out artillery fire, rather than pursuing the highest hit rate as possible. Even so, in this shelling that lasted about five minutes, more than a dozen shells fell on Formegash Island, but in addition to blowing up the warning towers built by the German army, they only left craters of various shapes on the islands and reefs.

Otner, who returned to the bunker safely, and Sergeant Poll explored the enemy situation through the observation port. When the sound of artillery subsided, they found that the outline of the enemy ship in their sight began to narrow, the sharp bow gradually disappeared, and the low stern of the ship came into view. They should be turning east, and the distance measurement results of the artillery mirror also confirmed their judgment. About a quarter of an hour later, the traces of the five enemy ships completely disappeared.

Five soldiers stationed in the island were killed and killed, and they should be very happy. But Ultrana said to his partner: "I smelled a bad smell and felt that there would be a big war here. What do you think?"

"My thoughts are similar to yours." Boer replied, "The enemy will not come here for no reason, and turn around and withdraw after a while."

"What exactly is their purpose?" Otner said in confusion.

Sergeant Boer curled his lips and said, "I don't know, let's take a look!"

The two talked for a while, and then they heard a voice from the watchtower: "The plane was found in the west, it should be our plane!"

Boer turned the artillery mirror in a direction, observed it carefully for a while, and said certainly: "It's our bomber, with two squadrons. Judging from time, they should be able to catch up with the enemy's fleet and hope to achieve ideal results."

Otner quietly watched his land-based bombers flying from the west, lined up in two beautiful herringbone formations, one was a dive bomber with inverted gull wings, and the other was a torpedo bomber with long fuselage and wide wings. When they flew close to Formegash Island, the third team rushed up from behind. All the Folk G-51s looked particularly powerful.

The roar of the fleet obviously inspired the lonely guardians of the island and reefs. Sergeant Poll said: "As long as we can get a steady stream of supplies, the enemy will not want to take San Miguel and Santa Maria from us."

After saying this, he suddenly figured out something, turned his head to his partner and said, "So the enemy needs to find ways to cut off our sea route. Let's see if a fleet of transport has arrived in the past two days?"

Otner realized what Sergeant Pole said, but they were both in a low position, so how could they be qualified to plan for the generals? So he comforted himself: "The officers of the command center should be able to predict this. Besides, just two heavy cruisers want to defeat our escort warships?"

Sergeant Poll looked up at his fighter planes passing over the islands and reefs, and the sailors waved happily to them. After three flight formations flew over one after another, Poll said: "I'm afraid that the five warships just now were just the enemy's advance squad. If a Lexington-class battlecruiser appeared in front of us, I don't know if I have the courage to not hang the white flag."

The US Navy's Lexington-class battle patrol was equipped with the largest caliber 18-inch naval gun to date. In the Battle of Texel, many German coastal defense fortresses built to the highest standards were destroyed by such naval guns. Later, in the Battle of San Miguel, these big guys also participated in the opposite shore artillery attack. At that time, everyone on San Miguel Island deeply felt the terrible power. Although Formigas' area was 9 square kilometers, its island structure was completely different from that of common volcanic islands. If a shell weighing up to one and a half tons fell on the island, it would likely kill all lives here in an instant.

Otner took out a cigarette from his pocket: "If a Lexington-class targets the muzzle at us, it is not shameful to raise the white flag, because this is a wonderful trick to lure the enemy. Think about it, if we hang the white flag, the enemy can no longer attack us. They will send ships to transport soldiers to the island to take over, and they will pass through our minefield on the way. Then we will sit here and watch them sink one by one. What a great thing!"
Chapter completed!