November 25, 3 pm, a lot of clouds.
North Atlantic Ocean, 100 kilometers off the coast of Virginia.
An albatross-type reconnaissance airship as white as a floating cloud flickered in the clouds. This four-seater, stubby, small rigid airship was developed by the airship factory under the jurisdiction of the British Admiralty after the Battle of Great Strait. special reconnaissance boat. Because the attempt to use airships for air combat or air raids was completely abandoned, this type of airship no longer "grew bigger" but began to "grow smaller." The size is reduced by more than half compared to the previous large airships that can drop human-powered gliding bombs at high altitudes, and the crew is also reduced to a mere four people. The cruising range has also been greatly reduced, reduced to about 2,500 kilometers - at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, a range of 2,500 kilometers is enough to fly continuously for 25 hours!
However, the Albatross reconnaissance airship has some improvements compared to the previous airships. First, the ceiling has been greatly increased to 5,000 meters - which allows the airship to climb up to take refuge when encountering danger; second, the airship is equipped with a higher-quality A good shortwave radio station can be used to contact ground bases and surface ships at any time; thirdly, the environment of the airship cabin has been improved a lot. Not only does it have comfortable seats and a cabin that can be completely enclosed and has heating and oxygen supply, there is even a space for the airship. A rest room for staff to take a nap.
But Lieutenant Diodorus Bailey, who commanded the airship, still hoped to fly a truly combat-ready aircraft into the sky, instead of floating slowly in the sky in an airship that was only suitable for sightseeing.
Outside the window, white clouds floated like cotton wool, one after another, making people feel peaceful and comfortable, as if the war was still very far away from them.
But Lieutenant Bailey and his crew members have been clearly informed that the despicable yellow people have invaded Texas without declaring war, and the United States may also be attacked, so they must discover the enemy fleet hiding in the Atlantic in advance. This is the only way to protect America from the Yellow Peril.
The two detective lookouts in the back seat held up binoculars and carefully observed the sea surface. No one was teasing each other or making dirty jokes. The atmosphere seemed very solemn. Several people on this airship knew that they were currently off the coast of Virginia, which was only more than 100 kilometers away from the Norfolk Naval Port, the home port of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and only 200 to 300 kilometers away from the U.S. capital Washington!
If the "Yellow Peril" fleet has arrived in this area, then...will the White House in Washington be burned down again? If that's the case, then the life of the United States of America is really miserable. Just after opening, we fought against the world's second-largest power, "Yingba". One fight was not enough, so we had to fight a second time! After finally reconciling with the "British Father", the world's largest power, the "Yellow Peril", the Ming Dynasty colluded with the Mexican Empire and sent their lackeys, the Japanese, to Texas. Now a fully armed fleet has been sent. It is said that there are one or two aircraft-carrying battleships and dozens of aircraft in this fleet!
If the Atlantic Fleet cannot drive away or destroy this fleet, won't the U.S. coastline become a battlefield?
Therefore, Lieutenant Bailey and the others had better find this "Yellow Peril" fleet from the boundless ocean as soon as possible!
But the problem is that the Albatross airship is only armed with two machine guns. If it really encounters the "Yellow Peril" fleet and the "Yellow Peril" carrier-based aircraft, their small, clumsy airship with almost no resistance You won't be shot down, right?
Just as Lieutenant Bailey wanted to suppress this terrible thought, Henry, the lookout behind him, suddenly shouted: "Captain, three o'clock, two biplanes!"
Lieutenant Bailey looked quickly and saw two black spots in the distance emerging from under the clouds and approaching quickly. The boat quickly shouted: "Everyone, sit down, it's time to raise the altitude. Henry, get ready." Shoot...Cook, get ready to send the telegram! No matter what, send the telegram!"
"Yes! Captain..."
"Captain, this is a new aircraft, a single engine and two wings... God, it is so beautiful!"
"Captain, they don't seem to have noticed us."
The next report from the submarine crew made Lieutenant Bailey feel a little relieved, but then he realized something was wrong. Since these small planes didn't find themselves, why did they take off? Also, where did they come from? There should be an enemy aircraft-carrying battleship underneath, right?
At this moment, Lieutenant Bailey saw two more biplanes soaring into the clouds, and then hovering behind the two small planes that had flown up before.
"Captain, over there!"
Following the direction of co-pilot Cook's finger, Lieutenant Bailey saw the smoke column. Then, regardless of the risk, he turned the direction of the airship and flew towards the location of the smoke column.
After a while, a fleet appeared in front of them. Lieutenant Bailey saw that on two large warships equipped with angled flight decks, small black dot-like biplanes were flying one after another. To the left, right and right in front of each aircraft carrier, there were different There is a cruiser of three to four thousand tons serving as an escort.
"Six Guogong-class ships, and two aircraft-carrying carriers of unknown type!"
"Two motherships are launching planes...the speed of these planes is so fast!"
"Where are these planes going? Are they going to attack our patrol unit?"
The three crew members discussed each other and immediately came to a very scary conclusion!
Bailey quickly ordered: "Quick, power up the Pennsylvania!"
...
"Lieutenant General, the Albatross airship has discovered the enemy's fleet, fifty or sixty nautical miles east of the Norfolk base... There are a total of 2 motherships and 6 Duke-class armored cruisers... Moreover, the enemy’s mothership is launching planes!”
Holding the telegram he had just received, Major Farragut hurried to the side of Vice Admiral David Porter, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet. According to David Porter's order, his Atlantic Fleet was now divided into three. Rear Admiral Perry led the battleship squadron to block the Yucatan Peninsula, while Colonel Halsey led the cruiser squadron to continue to siege the Gulf of Texas, while he himself Then he led an armored cruiser detachment with two airship carriers and some fast cruisers and destroyers out of the Florida Strait and into the Atlantic Ocean, and then followed the traces of the "main formation" from the Texas Sea all the way north.
Although there was assistance from a British airship sent from Port of Spain, and a cruise ship from the White Star Company encountered the Texas Marine Fleet and reported their location. But it’s still difficult to “catch” them!
And since Lieutenant General Porter did not have an aircraft carrier or carrier-based aircraft at his disposal, he did not dare to approach the enemy formation during the day. He only dared to follow from a distance during the day and then suddenly rush forward at night. It was too passive.
"How far away are they from us?" Beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Lieutenant General David Porter's forehead.
"Almost 60 nautical miles!"
"Damn it," David Porter said, "We must be within their attack range... I order, turn around, turn... full speed!"
"Yes, sir!"
The helmsman shouted back, turning the wheel hard.
The Pennsylvania, with a standard displacement of 13,000 tons, immediately drew a graceful arc on the sea, and its bow also turned from north to southwest. However, the Pennsylvania had just turned and had not begun to accelerate away. Major Farragut suddenly shouted again: "Lieutenant General, the Albatross airship reported that the enemy's two motherships released a total of about 80 aircraft, all flying westward... ....They flew towards the land of the United States of America!"
"Fly, fly to the land of the United States?" David Porter was shocked, "What do they want to do?"
Major Farragut's expression suddenly changed: "Lieutenant General, I think, I think they want to bomb the Norfolk base!"
"Norfolk Base..." Lieutenant General David Porter roared, "Quickly, give power to Norfolk Base so that they can prepare to attack enemies from the air!"
"Yes, sir!"
Major Farragut reminded: "But, Lieutenant General, there is no anti-aircraft firepower in the Norfolk base!"
Lieutenant General David Porter roared: "Then use rifles, use pistols...use any weapons they can use to fight!"
"Yes, sir......"
