Capítulo 198: Chapter 8 The Apex of Tactical Airpower
As Logan had feared, the proposal of four-engine long-range bombers faced unanimous opposition from the technical and logistics departments at the high-level meeting of the German Air Force. Fortunately, Udet and Milch were somewhat considerate in their wording towards the newly appointed Chief of Air Force Operations, and the usual atmosphere of verbal sparring did not arise. However, at the end of the meeting, Hermann Göring, who had resumed control of the air force affairs, criticized the "New Ural Plan" outright, calling it a "waste of manpower and resources, completely contrary to Germany's strategic plans," and dismissing it as "ideas that only amateurs would entertain!"
This meeting marked Logan's first real experience of Göring's "autocratic behavior" within the air force. Regarding the issue of operations against Britain, Yechnenek and Logan both believed that the German Air Force should continue bombing British aircraft factories to weaken the enemy's ability to recover. Therefore, the next phase, deploying two dive-bomber squadrons in southern England, should focus on attacking British airfields and transportation facilities around Birmingham, Coventry, and Huntingdon. Meanwhile, four twin-engine bomber squadrons stationed in the Isle of Wight and northern France should carry out intense bombing of the British industrial areas in Manchester, Doncaster, and Grimsby. However, Göring bluntly redirected the German Air Force's focus to coastal ports in Britain, aiming to destroy the British military's maritime capabilities. The first target would be Liverpool, the largest supply port for the British military at the moment!
As the second-largest trading port in Britain, Liverpool's freight throughput during wartime far exceeded that of any port on the European mainland. Especially with the German navy's destruction of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet and successful landings in southern England, many ports in the English Channel were either occupied by the Germans or heavily defended by the British. Liverpool and Glasgow in the north were even more crucial for the entire British Isles. Consequently, the British not only deployed fighter squadrons to protect this port but also concentrated a large number of anti-aircraft guns around it. According to estimates from the German Air Force staff, its air defense capabilities were second only to London.
Attacking Liverpool during the day would undoubtedly face fierce resistance from the British military. Despite Logan's desire to argue, he was silenced by a glance from Chief of Staff Yechnenek.
After the meeting, Logan found Yechnenek and asked in frustration, "Do we have to just go and hit that nail? How much will we lose?"
"In any case, the nail will eventually be pulled out!" Yechnenek took a deep breath, exhaling a long stream of white vapor in the cold air.
Two air force officers happened to pass by, noticing their leaders' troubled expressions. After saluting, they quickly walked away.
"If the attack goes smoothly, it's fine. But if we suffer major losses, it will inevitably affect the bombing of the British industrial areas. This means our decisions may leave openings for the British to exploit! We only have half a month left until the army launches its full-scale operation! Half a month! If the British Royal Air Force manages to rebuild its strength and counterattack, we will lose even more!" Suppressing his anger, Logan spoke in as calm a tone as possible.
Yechnenek lowered his head, habitually hiding his gaze under the brim of his cap.
"I know, many people know, but we cannot accurately predict what will happen in the future. Without one hundred percent certainty, we can do nothing!"
"So, do we just do nothing?" Logan understood Keiselin's helplessness to some extent, and of course, he also thought of the active atmosphere throughout the German Air Force during Göring's coma. Why could one person make such a big difference, just because he held unique power?
"In our position, we do our best!" With these somewhat helpless words and a lonely figure, Yechnenek turned and left.
Four days later, after the storm that ravaged the British Isles finally subsided, and after two days of rest and preparation, the German air force units deployed in England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands launched their largest-scale aerial operation since late September. This operation was named "Sunrise" to coincide with the return of the Field Marshal.
As Chief of Air Force Operations, Logan, along with Yechnenek, personally inspected the situation at the Air Force Eastern Front Command Headquarters located in Southampton. In the cold command room, they met Field Marshal Keiselin, whose expression was just as icy.
"Generals, all personnel and aircraft of the 2nd and 3rd Air Fleets are ready for combat, and our British opponents must be as well!"
The tone of Keiselin's voice indicated his attitude toward this "Sunrise" operation. In fact, the other Air Marshal, Schleper, also opposed the strategic adjustment, but just like the Battle of Dunkirk, no one could persuade Göring. In another timeline, at Stalingrad, Chief of Staff Yechnenek and the actual executor, Stuudent, clearly recognized that the German Air Force did not have the capability to sustain the besieged German army's combat needs through airlift. However, Göring remained stubborn, ultimately leading to a turning point unfavorable to the German army on the Eastern Front!
Regarding the former Chief of Air Force Staff, Yechnenek said quietly, "I'm sorry, Marshal! We are powerless in this matter!"
"Let's wish our boys good luck!" Logan sighed heavily as well.
Amidst the tremendous roar, over 1,600 German aircraft took off successively from 36 airfields in the forward and depth areas. Among them, approximately 300 fighters and bombers were responsible for conducting feints in the London area, while 423 "Stukas," under the cover of a large group of fighters, launched assaults on British airfields across England. Finally, the main actors of this bombing operation—two squadrons of Ju-88 bombers and three squadrons of He-111 bombers—appeared. The remarkably organized formations of numerous twin-engine bombers crossed the English Channel in neat queues, visible from Southampton as if a river of combat aircraft adorned with German insignia was flowing northward. Faster and higher-flying squadrons of fighters came one after another from behind, resembling brave cavalry escorting their baggage train.
In London, hundreds of anti-aircraft guns began roaring early, and the black cotton candy-like clouds almost obscured the upward sightline. However, the whistling black specters continued their fearless dives, dropping heavy bombs on British artillery positions, patrol boats on the Thames River, and the few remaining shipyards. Amidst the ear-shattering explosions, the ground of London and the hearts of Londoners trembled together. Despite German bombers being shot down at an average rate of one per minute—some trailing long black smoke, some exploding in mid-air from direct hits, and others spiraling down with broken wings—the majority of the British military and civilians, trapped within the defenses of Greater London and anxiously guarding against German tanks entering the city, were unable to witness this spectacular scene, hiding in deep air-raid shelters.
In the north of England, the British fighter squadrons chose to avoid combat. German bombers could only futilely bomb the already abandoned or soon-to-be-abandoned airfields, turning the runways into pockmarked lunar surfaces. There was hardly a warehouse that could escape the strafing of German aircraft. In fact, some Hurricanes and Spitfires deployed at the front were carefully concealed near trees or in farm sheds and haystacks. When the German bomber formations, especially those covered by fighter escorts, attacked, they remained hidden like ostriches burying their heads in gravel. Only when isolated bombers or reconnaissance aircraft appeared in the sky would they reveal their sharp teeth.
On this sunny day, the real battle began in Liverpool.
Fifty-three BF-109s from the German 2nd Air Fleet escorted a full sixty Stukas as they appeared first in the airspace north of Liverpool. It was difficult to imagine how these two types of combat aircraft, with vastly different speeds, could take off from the same territory and arrive at the same destination at the same time. However, under the careful arrangement of the German Air Force staff officers, they did just that. Thus, when two squadrons of Spitfires and a slightly smaller number of Hurricanes appeared in the airspace north of Liverpool, the German fighter formations thundered to meet them, and a fierce large-scale aerial battle erupted near Liverpool. In terms of quality, both British and German sides deployed seasoned veterans who had participated in multiple battles, with each side boasting ace pilots. In terms of momentum, the Germans had a slight edge, but they suffered from the limited range of the BF-109s, meaning they could only stay on the battlefield for a limited 20 minutes. This also meant that the Stuka formations had only about a quarter of an hour to attack the British anti-aircraft positions around Liverpool.
With over 400 anti-aircraft guns and numerous machine guns deployed around Liverpool, the defenders put up a stubborn resistance against the attackers from the air, firing with unprecedented intensity. However, General Udet and General von Richthofen's favorite Ju-87s proved to be the top aerial stars of the early stages of the war. They descended from high altitude with piercing screams, dropping 50 or 250-kilogram high-explosive bombs with extreme precision onto areas that looked like ignited matchsticks from the air. Their attacks often had an immediate impact—after the huge explosions, the firepower behind them would sharply decrease.
In less than fifteen minutes, the German formations quickly returned, leaving behind a chaotic scene in Liverpool and the Royal Air Force, who had gained little advantage. However, the climax of the battle had obviously not yet arrived. The sky to the south was dotted with countless black spots, astonishingly numerous, and at the British radar stations, the dots on the screen even led some officers to believe that the Germans had set up jamming stations at the forefront of their positions.
Soon, a warning came through the phone line from the British observation post, and the tenacious Sir Dowding seemed to realize that this was a great opportunity to deal a heavy blow to the German Air Force. Without waiting to report to the Combined Command, he urgently ordered all fighter planes stationed in Scotland to take off. For a moment, Liverpool was caught in the eye of the storm—black clouds descended from both north and south, assaulting the city from all sides!
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