As the battle alarm sounded inside the ship, the officers and sailors in their cabins all in uniform and sleeping on their shifts jumped out of their beds as quickly as possible, opened the cabin doors and rushed to their respective combat positions. The warship was like a maze. The numerous and winding passages were immediately filled with the sound of footsteps. After only a few minutes, they were empty again with only the battle warnings that were still being repeatedly announced on the radio.
Admiral William Machar, who was on the battlecruiser "Gneisenau", was carefully studying the situation, hoping to find an opportunity for victory in the confusing situation. William Marshall kept writing and drawing with a pencil, his eyes bloodshot. Perhaps he had realized the danger was coming, so he analyzed it so desperately.
"Your Excellency, Admiral, the captain of the Scharnhorst, Reinhard von Lohenkramm, called." Just when William Machar was distressed, a naval staff officer lost no time in reporting.
"Read!" Admiral William Machar's answer was simple and clear.
"It is reported that..." The staff officer quickly finished reading the coded telegram that Royce Ram had photographed, and then stood at attention and waited motionless for his superior to issue the order.
Admiral William Machar paced back and forth in the command room on the front bridge. It was not that Admiral William Machar did not believe in the young captain Roynkram, but that he was worried that Roynkram was too young. , fearing that he would be deceived by the British's false information. The sea is not a continent. Once you make a mistake, you won't even have the chance to regret it.
After thinking for a long time, Admiral William Marshall still felt that he could not take the risk and said, "Send a report to the Scharnhorst and say..."
"Your Excellency, Marshal Redel at the Imperial Base Camp is calling!" Another staff officer walked in hurriedly. The tall staff officer was a little out of breath. One can imagine the importance of this telegram.
"Huh? Read it!" Admiral William Marshall really doesn't know what's going on? Why are you calling at this time
"It is reported that..." What the naval staff officer read was exactly the same as the coded telegram sent by Royce Ram. At this time, Admiral William Marshall really felt that the world was so wonderful. Although he didn't know why his naval commander and his old boss would send such a telegram, at this time Admiral William Machar really didn't dare to doubt it anymore. In his opinion, the intelligence that can be believed by the Imperial Headquarters must be true. After all, whether it is the Military Intelligence Bureau or the Gestapo, there are professional personnel to analyze the intelligence.
What Admiral William Machar didn’t know was that this intelligence was really false and was created by Lin Wei. Regarding the Battle of Norway, Lin Wei knew that the Battle of Norway in history caused heavy losses to the German Navy. The result of the battle was that the German navy captured enough ports, but lost the navy stationed at the ports.
However, although Lin Wei knew this situation, he had no choice but to do anything. With Lin Wei's level at sea, he was not much better than others, and he was just cannon fodder. So after thinking for a long time, Lin Wei decided to create this false information.
However, although it is false information, its veracity is reassuring. There are many people like this in the Gestapo. Lin Wei was not worried at all that he would be exposed. With such confidence, Lin Wei felt that it was still not safe after Luoyan Kram sent the report, so he simply sent another identical message to Navy Commander Marshal Redel.
Marshal Redl was initially skeptical, but when Lin Wei patted his chest and solemnly assured its authenticity, Marshal Redl finally decided to trust the SS intelligence department. Nowadays, the traditional Wehrmacht officers in Germany still don’t understand the only thing about the SS that is its intelligence agency. This is not because of its vast power, but because of Heydrich’s deliberate management, the Gestapo became the most important part of the SS. The mysterious department.
After careful consideration, Admiral William Machar finally made up his mind and ordered: "Give power to the Scharnhorst, and the battlecruiser Gneisenau will go to Nasdaq together with the Scharnhorst. Erwick Port, support Major General Bundy, and immediately hand over to Major General Bundy to take strict precautions and do not give the British any opportunity."
"Yes, Your Excellency, General!" The staff officer happily accepted the order and left.
on deck. The huge main gun turret moved slowly, with the muzzles pointing in the same direction as the ship was found. In the ammunition compartment deep below the deck, sailors were ordered to load armor-piercing or high-explosive bombs into the bomb hoist at any time.
At 16:30 on April 9, the battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst turned northeast and rushed towards the port of Narvik at a high speed of 30 knots. The two German battlecruisers sailed in standard battle formation from the time they left Wilhelmshaven. At this time, you can enter the battle directly without adjusting.
The 1st Battle Group has reached a maritime crossroads - conveniently to the northeast is the Westfjord leading to Narvik. The fleet can see the Narvi> Tower after traveling along this fjord for almost 20 nautical miles. Heading north, you can leave the coast of Norway and go deep into the Norwegian Sea located in the Arctic Circle. 450 miles to the west-southwest is the most famous station of the British Home Fleet and the lingering sadness of the German Navy - Scarpafer. Luo.
In terms of main gun fire rate, a British battleship usually fires 1.5 rounds per minute or 2 rounds per minute. Before the "Bismarck" was put into service, Germany's Scharnhorst-class triple-mounted 280-meter main gun fired at 2.5 rounds per minute. The rate of fire is the highest among European capital ships, but the Bismarck, which uses semi-automatic loading, has an ultra-high rate of fire of 3 points per minute, even though its main gun caliber is several levels higher than that of the Scharnhorst. The "Emhorst" was equipped with the "Tirpitz" main gun system in advance and was inherited. Even taking into account the factor of gunner proficiency, today's "Scharnhorst" can still reach a rate of fire of 22.5 per minute. When operating in conjunction with the "Gneisenau", the two-ship formation can fire twice per minute. The salvo speed suppressed the firepower of the opponent's six 15-inch guns.
Admiral William Marshall raised his telescope. At this time, the sea was still dark, and a huge storm seemed to be brewing on the dead sea.
The British were indeed not idle at this time. On the previous day, April 8, four British destroyers had just laid a mine barrier at the entrance of Westfjord, commanded by Captain Walburton Lee. The 2nd Destroyer Group provided cover for these mine-laying ships. After the news of the German occupation of Narvik came, the British Admiralty ordered the 2nd Destroyer Group to immediately destroy the German fleet and recapture Narvik. Although the situation was unclear, Captain Walburton Lee still called back: It is planned to be in April On the morning of the 10th, we entered Narvik. Vice Admiral Whitworth, who was commanding the war in Norway from the battleship "Warspite", was worried that the destroyer was not powerful enough. He called Walburton Lee to ask how he would act. The latter replied concisely: Attack immediately!
On the night of April 9, outside the port of Narvik, there was thick fog, wind and snow, and visibility was less than 400 meters. Walburton Lee's five destroyers cautiously sailed into the Westfjord. He used his flagship " The Valiant took the lead, followed by the Hunter, Havoc, Hotspur and Enemy.
Everything is so perfect. The German fleet in the port is parked quietly in Narvik Port, like a sleeping beauty, letting herself do whatever she wants. Thinking of this, Walburton Lee couldn't help but feel excited, as if a huge victory was waiting for him. And through this battle, he will be regarded as a hero and accepted by the entire British people like his predecessors in World War I.
After cleverly avoiding the cordon deployed by four U-boats, the British rushed into the harbor. At this time, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy was also watching these uninvited guests indifferently on his flagship. Under the order of Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy, the four U-boats that deployed a cordon outside the port were still patrolling the situation outside the port in a rigid manner as usual.
Walburton Lee found nothing unusual. After observing for a moment, he calmly issued the order: "The "Hotsper" and the "Enemy" were responsible for suppressing the shore artillery, and the other three ships went straight to attack unprepared. German destroyer".
"Boom..." The three triple 150mm main guns began to roar first, but contrary to Walburton Lee's expectation, it was the German "Wilhelm Heidkamp" destroyer that showed off its power first. At the same time, the huge searchlights in the port were all lit up, making the British Navy destroyer, which was unable to advance or retreat, turn into an iceberg exposed to the sun, making it appear so conspicuous. At the same time, the German destroyer formation, which had been sleeping quietly just now, seemed to be waking up lions, constantly pouring shells on the British fleet that was in a dilemma.
The destroyer "Hunter" suffered first, because at the beginning, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy began to deploy secretly after receiving information from Admiral William Marshall. The three German destroyers "Schmitt" and "Lüdemann" concentrated on attacking the Hunter at the first time. It can only be said that the Hunter was unlucky.
Although Walburton Lee was stunned by the shell, he quickly reacted and began to command the fleet to counterattack, and looked for his own withdrawal from Narvik Port. At this time, Walburton Lee, I also know that my plan has failed, and my current only purpose is to retreat to a safe place.
However, Rear Admiral Fritz Bundy did not want his guests to leave so quickly. Four U-boats outside the harbor were under the sea, firing torpedoes to harass the British destroyers, and at the same time guiding the German destroyers to attack.