Hearing Churchill’s question, Marshal Pound, the First Minister of Maritime Affairs, shook his head gently and said, “Prime Minister, this battle in the Eastern Mediterranean shows that the maritime advantage of the Eastern Mediterranean belongs to the party with air superiority. Germany and Italy have huge advantages over the Mediterranean. They have huge numbers of 88, 79 and Folk Zero, and a new type of fighter with a shape similar to 36 but better performance than Folk Zero and 109.”

On the evening of January 15, during the battle of British aircraft's air strikes on the Italian aircraft carrier fleet, several "Blenheim" aircraft fled back to Crete. From the crew members of these aircraft, British senior officials learned about the existence of the 190. After analysis by RAF air combat experts, it is believed that this aircraft may have a larger range than the 109 and can be matched with the Folk Zero in the air far away from the airport.

The British used high and low matching with Spitfire aircraft. Since Hessman brought the Zero to Europe, the 39 Flying Snake, which has a tactic of high and low matching, has been proved to be no match for the Folk Zero at all. As for the British's own "Tube Swallow" carrier-based fighter, it has also been proved to be poor in performance and cannot beat the Folk Zero at all, let alone the latest fighter.

The First Minister of Maritime Affairs continued to say with a frown: "Mussolini's claimed target Crete is only more than 500 kilometers away from Italy's large base in North Africa. If the Germans deployed 10 squadrons of Folk Zero there and the same number of 88 and 79, our fleet would not be able to reinforce Crete."

Folk Zero, the combination of 88 and 79 can only be described as horror!

88 can dive bombs, and can also drop 2 500 kilogram armor-piercing bombs at a time. The Royal Navy is also worried that this type of aircraft will soon be equipped with a 1,000 kilogram armor-piercing bomb. If it weren't for war with Germany now, the Royal Navy would want to buy this type of aircraft.

The 79 is the fastest torpedo bomber, and even a slower carrier-based fighter can't catch up with it. Moreover, its low-altitude operation performance can be excellent. It can turn off the engine on the nose to improve low-altitude performance, and it can almost be compared with biplane such as "Swordfish" and "Big Blue and White Fish". It is simply the shore-based torpedo bomber that the navy in the world has always dreamed of!

As for the Folk Zero, let alone the pilots of the Royal Navy have wanted a copycat version of the Folk Zero since the 39th year of the Battle of the Azores.

Churchill looked at the Minister of Aircraft Production and looked a little haggard Baron Beaverbrook, "Baron, we can produce 1,600 aircraft a month now, which is likely to exceed Germany. But among the 1,600 aircraft produced every month, there are no aircraft that can be of great use as 88, 79 and Folk Zero. This puts us in danger and has lost many excellent pilots in vain."

The loss of aircraft is not a problem, because with the support of "leased" materials from the United States, the production of aircraft in Britain has grown rapidly and has now surpassed Germany. However, the training of pilots, especially excellent pilots, is more difficult than aircraft production. In the English Channel, the North Sea, the northwest waters of Ireland, the Mediterranean and the Balkan battlefields, the competition between British aircraft and German aircraft is staged every moment, while the losses of British pilots are far greater than those of opponents, which has caused British pilots and crew members to become fast consumables and it is difficult to accumulate enough air combat experience. Moreover, the pilot schools of the Royal Air Force have been forced to repeatedly shorten the training time of trainees, which has caused the quality of pilots to decline and the losses on the battlefield to become greater.

The carrier-based pilots lost by the Mediterranean Fleet in the battle on January 15 must be supplemented by truly excellent and strictly trained pilots. If the trained rookies are used to make up the numbers, they may not even have the ability to take off and land from the aircraft carrier!

"Prime Minister, we actually have several very good aircraft, too."

Baron Beaverbrook defended: "For example, the mosquito aircraft that the German Havelland company is developing is very outstanding. During the test, it flew at a speed of 631 kilometers per hour, and any German fighter can't catch up with it at such an altitude, and its range is large and its combat radius is enough to cover the entire Germany. With such performance, we can even bomb Germany during the day. In addition, the Lancaster bomber that has just begun delivery is also very excellent, enough to undertake strategic night bombing missions against Germany.

If we can start a large-scale strategic bombing of Germany by the end of this year, we will surely make Europe realize that Germany will surely fail and that we must win the future.”

"But we have to wait until the end of this year." Churchill was helpless. Defeating Germany with strategic bombing and blockade was the current general line of war for Britain. Because it was not successful to win over the Soviet Union, the German army seemed too capable, so the top leaders of the British Empire could only come up with the two moves of bombing and blockade.

Therefore, the focus of Britain in aircraft research and development is heavy and high-speed bombers that can implement strategic bombing on Germany. However, now that Britain's strategic bombing is not ready, Germany is going to break the blockade first.

"Well, a large-scale bombing can be started at the end of the year. But the Germans are preparing to seize Crete in a month, and they will also invite naval observers and journalists from all over the country to visit." Churchill looked at the Navy Minister and the First Sea Minister in pain, "Do you know what this means? It means that the whole world will know that the invincible Royal Navy of our British Empire is no longer able to do it, and even the Italian Navy can't defeat it! Why can a Britain that can't even defeat Italy lead the world?"

In fact, after the Battle of the Eastern Mediterranean, Churchill's enthusiasm for the Balkan front was no longer high. If the Germans quietly seized the island and made a sudden attack, he might have taken the opportunity to retreat. But now Mussolini shouted and wanted to bring naval observers and reporters from various countries to the scene to visit!

If this is what makes people see the Italian Navy show its might and the British Royal Navy shrinking its head. Then the people who love democracy, freedom and pounds in the world should not be discouraged and turn against the Nazis and fascists?

So Hessman's "advertising war" strategy suddenly forced Churchill and the British Empire to the corner.

"So we can't back down," Churchill said gritting his teeth, "otherwise France, Spain and Türkiye will all turn to Germany, which will have fatal consequences!"

Once France turns to Germany, the German navy will immediately "get" two "Riceliu" and two "Dunkirk" classes. Spain's reversal to Germany will cause Britain to lose the Gibraltar Fortress that blocks the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Turkey's resignation to Germany will allow Germany's armored troops to enter the Middle East, and the oil problem will no longer bother Germany.

If these three situations occur at the same time, then Germany can attack the British mainland in 1941!

The two French "Riceliu" and two Italian "Veneto" and two German "Bismar" are not built with level. These six super battleships can kill the British Empire.

"Marson," Churchill looked at the Imperial General Staff Sir John Deere and Marshal Pound, the First Minister of Maritime Affairs, "The Middle East War Zone and the Mediterranean Fleet must defend Crete! At all costs, also inform our military delegation in the United States and tell the Americans about our plight and ask them to help anyway."

The "military delegation" that Churchill refers to is the "delegation of the three armed forces" led by the former chief of the Imperial General Staff Baron Ironside and Sir Forbes, the former commander of the local fleet. The purpose of the delegation to the United States was to meet with the US side to discuss the strategic policy of defeating Germany.

Although the United States is still holding a neutral sign, the Roosevelt administration and the U.S. side have made up their minds to go to war against Germany.

However, it is one thing to make up your mind, and it is another thing to really join the war. Although the isolationist sentiment in the United States receded sharply on the eve of the 40-year presidential election, most Americans still opposed joining the war "immediately". Therefore, President Roosevelt also needed an excuse to convince all Americans to join the war, and before this excuse appeared, he could not directly send the army to help the British fight.

"Two generals, how do you think we should help Britain and save it from terrible failure in the Mediterranean?"

In the Oval Office, President Roosevelt asked his two main military staff members, Army Chief of Staff Marshall and Naval Operations Secretary Stark.

"Mr. President, I don't think there is such a way!" said Admiral Stark of the Navy. "The attacks between Germany and Italy will begin in a month if the fascist leader keeps his word. Even if we are willing to send a fleet, we cannot be able to deploy within one month."

"And we can't send a fleet!" President Roosevelt said lightly. "At least it can't be done at the moment."

"It's too late to provide tanks and planes," said Marshall. "Even if it's shipped out now, it may not be possible in a month. Even if it's shipped to the Mediterranean battlefield, it will take time for the British to master our weapons."

"So, we can't do anything?" Roosevelt asked with some disappointment. "Can you only watch Britain lose the war alone?"

Marshall and Stark looked at each other, and Marshall said: "Mr. President, maybe the British can consider implementing strategic bombing plans in advance, which may reduce the pressure on some Mediterranean fleets. We now have some ready-made 17s that can be rented to Britain."

"Will it work?" Roosevelt was skeptical, "As far as I know, the Germans have high-altitude aircraft."
Chapter completed!