Battle of the Third Reich
v5 Chapter 17: rummage
Near the end of the month, the North Atlantic, which had been roaring for more than half a month, finally became quiet.
The rising sun was shining on the dark green deep sea, and each wave was covered with a golden coat.
Several fat seagulls screamed cheerfully, as if celebrating the end of the difficult monsoon season. They glanced lightly across the sea, and the black wingtips occasionally brought up a string of shiny splashes, exuding pearl-like charm under the sunlight.
Looking at the dream-like scenery, no one would believe that it was a nightmare place just yesterday.
The violent monsoon filled the whole world with mountainous waves, and the North Atlantic flaunted her horrific and primitive power.
No one dares to doubt the power of that kind of power, because there are already too many fools who want to blame the power of that kind of power to prove their mistakes with their floating, swollen bodies.
Two fat seagulls float on the sea and rest comfortably. These are the two strongest and strongest seagulls. Now their stomachs are full of small fish snatched from the mouths of their weak companions. Enjoying the feeling of long-lost warm sunlight shining on white feathers. This is a wonderful after-meal rest time. Know that snatching also requires physical effort.
Suddenly, something alarmed the two fat robbers. They flapped their wings struggling with their short legs and left the water. Then they shook and joined the group of companions that were flying around.
In the distant sky, two plumes of smoke appeared faintly where the sun was rising, followed by two towering masts, and then the bridge, and in a moment, the black silhouettes of the two battleships appeared on the horizon .
As the ship approached quickly, the black ship shadows revealed their true colors in the golden sunlight.
These are two destroyers with smooth lines, a square bridge and a tall first floor. The sharp bow of the battleship cut through the waves with ease, causing a burst of white waves. The pearl-like water droplets splashed and fell on the hard gray shell of the battleship, and then condensed into a string of crystal drops of water gliding into the green sea. The white British Royal Navy flag fluttered in the wind on the rear mast.
Any British person who has witnessed this scene will be proud of this. This is the glorious Royal Navy of the British Empire. As long as the white cross Red Flag is still on the sea, the sun will not set for the empire.
The two destroyers were moving side by side at a rapid pace, with a distance of only one hundred meters. The warship on the right flank slightly behind the half-bow on the left.
Obviously, this is a standard formation of the British Navy destroyer patrol formation, the one on the left is a long ship, and the one on the right is a wing ship. ]
Although these two warships maintain very high speeds, it seems that they are not in a state of high combat readiness. Several sailors washed their decks naked with their upper bodies under the supervision of an officer, and the sailors on duty also wiped their weapons lazily.
Several officers were leisurely wandering on the deck, and a group of sailors who had just changed their guards were leaning on the railing of the stern, smoking and talking. Like those officers, they also want to enjoy the rare weather at sea.
But no one would think that the bridge of this battleship is now another scene.
"What's the speed now?"
"Section 25, sir."
The marine officer reported loudly to the captain.
"Section 25..."
The captain lowered his head and studied the chart carefully, then nodded slightly.
The first officer on the side quickly drew a course on the chart with a pen, and then picked up the slide rule on the side to start a quick calculation.
"It seems that we have caught up, gentlemen."
The captain turned and announced loudly to the officers in the bridge, and at the same time a smile of satisfaction was raised in the corner of his mouth.
"Before that, our actions should be said to be very smooth. Now let’s see how this last step has gone. If we succeed, then we will add a brand new stroke to the glorious history of the Navy, and you will Witness and participant of this history.
Remember, now the entire imperial navy is looking at us from behind, and I absolutely cannot tolerate any stupid mistake affecting the success of this operation.
So I hope that in the upcoming battle, each of you will be able to fulfill your responsibilities and contribute all your strength for the glory and future of the navy and for our great motherland. "
"Observe. Sir!"
All officers and soldiers in the bridge were excited to raise their chests to salute the captain.
"The ship was found ahead!"
The watchman yelled loudly.
"Where is it!"
The captain picked up the telescope.
"Fifteen degrees on the port side and a distance of 28,000, she is coming directly to us."
The watchman answered loudly.
"Oh?"
The captain lifted his telescope and looked forward.
"It seems to be her, what do you think?"
The captain put down the telescope and turned his head to look at the first officer.
"I'm not sure, I hope she is, sir."
"Keep heading and slow down to twenty knots. We leaned in. Contact H17 and follow the original plan. They should see the boat too."
"Observe, sir."
As time progressed, the silhouette of the ship in the distance began to slowly clear up.
"It's her, it's her!"
The first officer yelled happily.
"Are you sure?" the captain asked.
"I'm sure it's her. It's exactly the same as in the atlas. The Alexandria Bulk Carrier has a displacement of 8,500 tons and a maximum speed of 18 knots. The registered company is the Canadian Ferry Company."
"Great, gentlemen, success and failure are here in one fell swoop, ordering the entire ship to prepare for battle."
"Comply, Captain." The first officer replied excitedly.
The distance between the two sides was slowly approaching. At this time, the Canadian flag flying on the freighter could be clearly seen.
"Signal!" The captain gave a cold command.
"This is the destroyer Echo of the Royal Navy. Please report your identity, origin and destination, and the cargo loaded."
The British destroyer sent an inquiry to the Canadian freighter with international signals.
"The Canadian freighter Alexander Empire, departing from Halifax and destined for the port of Grimsby, England, loaded with 500 tons of aluminum ingots, 40 tons of rubber and 5,000 tons of iron ore. See you very much happy."
Canadians have never encountered this kind of thing. Although they were very puzzled, they still answered honestly. In the end, they did not forget to get close to these British guys.
At this time, the distance between the two sides was close to one thousand meters, and the outline of the sailor working on the other's deck could be distinguished.
"Canada freighter Alexander Empire, please stop immediately for inspection."
The British destroyer issued a ship suspension order.
This order completely confused the Canadians. How to say that Canada and the United Kingdom are allies, and the cargo loaded on their ships are used to support the continued resistance of the United Kingdom. How to stop the ship for inspection.
The captain of Canada was almost angry and almost yelled on the spot. These arrogant Englishmen are still holding their **** racks. I knew that I would be treated like this, even if the company boss gave me more salary, I wouldn't run this trip.
I was afraid that I would send these valuables to Britain at the risk of being sent by a German submarine to feed fish at any time. Even if you don’t send an **** ship, you should even stop me for inspection. This is really unreasonable.
As the Canadian captain struggled to suppress the fire and considered how to respond to the **** British, the British destroyer signaled again.
"Alexander Empire, immediately stop the ship for inspection, this is the final notice, immediately stop the ship for inspection."
"Shut down!"
The captain of Canada issued an order to stop the ship angrily. As the engine stopped, the huge freighter slowly slid forward for a distance and then stopped.
The depressed captain of the cargo ship stepped out of the bridge and looked angrily at the two British destroyers approaching him slowly.
"It is the British Navy's e-class destroyer."
At this time, the cargo ship mate, who was also indignant at the scene before him, went to the captain and said that the mate had worked in the navy for a few years, and he knew the British navy ship well.
"I don't know what these British people are thinking. In this situation, they still have the mood to engage in this kind of inspection. Do they think we Canadians are all smugglers?" The captain felt that his personality was insulted.
"They didn't come to investigate smuggling, Captain. They wouldn't be rich enough to do this kind of work with this fleet destroyer, there should be other reasons. But it still makes people feel uncomfortable, we did this for their war With huge sacrifices, they are still wary of us." The first officer said angrily.
The two British destroyers slowly approached the Canadian cargo ship. One of them stopped slowly at a distance of 100 meters from the cargo ship, while the other destroyer circled from the tail of the cargo ship to the other of the cargo ship and stopped. The destroyer sandwiched the huge ship in this way.
The two British destroyers each put down a motorboat and a lifeboat, and then the two motorboats dragged two lifeboats full of sailors towards the Alexandria.
The Canadians depressed down the ramp on both sides, waiting for these nasty British people to board the ship for inspection. But when the British navy officers and men boarded the deck of the freighter, Canadians felt that things might not be as simple as they thought.
These British sailors are all heavily armed, with Li in their hands. The Enfield rifle was also equipped with a sharp bayonet, which revealed a chilling fierceness in his eyes.
It was totally a vision of the enemy. The Canadian suddenly felt a little overwhelmed.
Seeing this situation, the captain of the freighter also felt that the situation was a bit serious. Maybe these British people really have any special reasons to check their own ship.
The captain of the cargo ship has now forgotten the anger just now. He is ready to cooperate with these British guys to complete the inspection as soon as possible, so that these arrogant guys leave their ship as soon as possible. The eyes of these British sailors really make him feel uncomfortable.
"Who is the captain of this ship."
A young British naval officer asked lightly while holding the pistol holster around his waist as he scanned the Canadian crew on the deck with cold eyes. ]
"I'm."
The Canadian captain hurriedly ran down the bridge ladder while answering loudly.
"I'm the captain of the Alexander Empire, David. Hardwin. May I ask what I can do for you, Mr. Captain."
"Captain Huck of the Royal Navy. Mr. Rosebert, respected captain." The captain of the navy paid a tribute to the captain of the cargo ship.
"It's such a nasty hypocrisy of British courtesy." Captain Harding cursed in his heart, but his face had a big smile on his face.
"Dear Mr. Navy Captain, I dare you to swear, I only have those materials declared on the ship, absolutely no prohibited items. If you don't believe me, I can take you to the cargo hold for inspection."
The captain took out a full set of shipping documents from his pocket and handed it to the British captain.
"It seems that your procedures are complete, my captain, but we are not going to check your goods."
Captain Rossbert looked through a few pages of the document and then raised his head to coldly say to Harden that he folded the document and handed it to a British lieutenant on the side.
"Then... can I know what you want to check?"
"Please order all the crew of this ship to gather on the deck immediately." Rossbert continued to speak in that cold tone.
"What do you say, let my crew gather on the deck, I can take the liberty to ask, why is this?" the captain of the cargo ship asked in confusion.
"Please give orders, Mr. Captain."
"Is it all?"
"All crew members, I don't want to repeat it a second time." Still a cold tone.
"Mr. Sanders."
Harden felt he was fed up with the hateful attitude and pretentious look of the captain, and he shouted at the first officer loudly.
"Order all the crew to gather on the deck, remember, everyone."
"Observe. Mr. Captain."
The first officer glanced at the British captain with a disgusted look, then quickly walked towards the cabin behind him.
"Mr. Captain, can you come here?"
The captain of the navy walked slowly to the side of the ship and waved to Hardwin.
"Is there anything else, Mr. Captain." Hardwin asked before walking to the captain with a sullen face.
"This matter is very important. It's not easy to say in front of so many people."
Rossbert said softly and mysteriously: "Actually, we are here this time to arrest the German spy."
"German spy!" Harden exclaimed.
"My respected Mr. Captain, you can't whisper, do you want everyone to know about this?" Rosebert said with a frown.
"Oh, yes. I'm really sorry. I don't know what I can do for you."
"We have sufficient evidence that a senior German spy is hidden on your ship. I do need your help. Can you take me to your captain's room?"
"Of course, you follow me."
German spies in Harden's impression are all cold-blooded killers and spoilers. When he thought of a German spy on his ship, Hardwin couldn't help feeling cold in his back.
"This way, please."
Harden hurried towards his captain's room, and Robert followed the two armed soldiers closely behind him.
"This is my captain's room, Mr. Captain."
Harden opened the door and Rossbert walked in with two sailors.
The captain of the navy slowly turned around in the captain's room and then stopped at Hardwin's desk.
"Is this the ship's logbook?" Rossbert asked, picking up a thick notebook from the table.
"Yes, Captain, this is the voyage log of the Alexander Empire. Soon after I took over the ship, this was the first time she was driving her to sea. This log was recorded by the previous captain. He encountered a day before going to sea. The unfortunate car accident was really a tragedy, that poor man..."
"These charts were also left by him." Rosebott asked, pointing at dozens of rolls of charts on the chart shelf.
"Yes, Captain. This was left by the former captain."
"Very well, take all of them." Rossbert ordered the two soldiers.
"Captain, these..." Hardwin was puzzled, but he was interrupted by Rossbert without waiting for him.
"These are important evidences, Mr. Captain, please forgive me for not telling you the real reason now. But I assure you that you will soon understand all this, definitely faster than you think." Rose After Burt said these words, he took the two sailors with a large pile of materials out of the captain's room.
When Harden followed them to the deck, the deck was already full of his sailors.
"Is the crew all here?" Rossbert turned to look at Hardwin.
"It should be all here... yes, it's all here, a total of sixty-two people." Harden replied.
"Very good." The captain nodded.
"Have you checked all?" Rossbert asked the lieutenant.
"Everything has been checked, and nothing is missing."
"Let's start." Rosebert said with a smile. ]
"Observe, major!"
The naval lieutenant pulled a semaphore from the holster and then fired a flare into the air.
A piercing jingle sounded on the sea in an instant. The Canadians were taken aback by the sudden sound of sound, and they all looked at the sides of the ship's side in panic, but then the sight they saw made them stunned.
I saw that the sailors on the two British destroyers were busy running around, and those horrible artillery pieces were turning fast in their own direction.
A few seconds later, the Canadian freighter Alexander Empire was held in the head by two h-class destroyers with a total of ten 120 mm caliber artillery.
"What's going on, Captain." The chief screamed to Harden in panic. He looked at the muzzle of the destroyer's black hole and the rifles held flat by the British navy soldiers in front of him. Understand what happened.
Those Canadian sailors have long been scared, and it seems to them that it is one thing to be a brave man on the sea, and it is another thing to bravely face ten cannons outside the muzzle of more than thirty rifles.
"Captain, what happened?"
The first officer screamed, but he didn't know that the person he was asking had already entered a state of dementia.
When Harden heard what the second lieutenant said to Rosebert last time, he swore he heard a sentence. . . . A sentence in German.
Harden turned slowly to look at the destroyer, the snow-white Royal Navy flag was slowly descending, and a fiery iron crusader flag was flying high on the mast.