I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Naval Warfare

The development of the British Navy is quite fascinating, as it repeatedly invented its own natural enemies.

During World War I, there was no doubt that the British Navy was the world's foremost, outpacing others in tonnage, numbers, and technological advancement.

Standing at the very top, the British Navy only needed to maintain this advantage and continue its development to avoid any issues. Even if some strange ideas crossed their minds, they should keep them hidden and develop them in secret.

However, the British Navy's "enterprising spirit" was essentially a boon for its adversaries.

Or perhaps, one could say it was a form of crisis awareness. With the largest and most advanced battleships, the British Navy was constantly wondering if there was some cheap, simple equipment that could defeat a battleship.

Thus, the torpedo boat was invented.

Across the English Channel in France, things were not looking so bright. What could be done if France's navy couldn't keep up with Britain's? Britain was right across the channel, only about a hundred kilometers away. With the speed of their battleships, it would take just three hours to reach French shores. If Britain ever provoked France, it could easily destroy the French navy and encircle France from the sea...

Would France eventually become a vassal of Britain? Could France's African colonies be controlled? Would British naval blockades cripple French trade?

The French were at a loss, but then the British invented the torpedo boat, and the French Navy was overjoyed. While they couldn't compete with large warships, they could certainly build torpedo boats.

Thus, two hundred torpedo boats were produced, and the development continued.

The British Navy regretted their decision. Had they not made the torpedo boat, now even a small nation could build a few and threaten a battleship. A surprise attack could easily result in a catastrophe!

No, they had to figure out a way to deal with these torpedo boats.

And so, the "torpedo boat destroyer" was born.

These ships were equipped with larger engines, enabling them to sail faster than torpedo boats. They also carried primary and secondary guns, offering protection to battleships by driving torpedo boats away to a safe distance.

Moreover, these ships were small, cost-effective, and even if they were sunk by torpedo boats, they wouldn’t be a great loss.

Additionally, they were equipped with torpedoes themselves, posing a threat to the slower-moving battleships and capable of engaging in combat as well...

The British Navy thought they could now relax, handing the task of dealing with torpedo boats to the "torpedo boat destroyer"!

However, little did they know, this "destroyer" – designed for auxiliary duties – would ultimately replace battleships in World War II.

"I still don’t understand!" Tigani pondered for a moment before looking at Charles with confusion. "Can torpedo boat destroyers really confront battleships? I mean, in the future?"

"They don't need to confront battleships, General," Charles answered calmly. "They just need to be faster than the battleships. Once a torpedo boat destroyer outruns a battleship, it’s effectively out of reach, and to the destroyer, the battleship becomes irrelevant."

Naval warfare is different from land warfare. On land, one can ambush, surprise the enemy, and is limited by roads.

Naval warfare, however, is open and vast. As long as a ship is fast enough, a battleship with its slower speed can almost never catch up. In this case, its guns become useless.

This is also why the British, while producing dreadnoughts, also developed battlecruisers. Battlecruisers sacrificed armor and firepower in exchange for speed, and only with speed could they catch up with their targets.

But if even battlecruisers can’t catch up with destroyers, then the destroyers would be in the perfect position for mobile warfare at sea.

(Note: Battleships typically had a speed of 20-21 knots, battlecruisers 25-26 knots, while the first destroyers could reach speeds of 27 knots, with later destroyers exceeding 30 knots.)

Tigani was still somewhat skeptical. "But destroyers can't get close to battleships either…"

Charles interrupted him: "First, destroyers don’t need to get close to battleships. They can use their higher speed and better maneuverability to engage with battleships at a distance. For instance, they can attack unprotected ports or merchant ships, or blockade sea routes."

Tigani was momentarily stunned before nodding.

He had studied Charles's tactics before, and this approach was similar to how Charles used tricycle units in mobile warfare, leaving the enemy in the dust while attacking their weak points.

And the enemy could not possibly protect every port or every convoy with heavy battleships and cruisers.

"So!" Tigani nodded slightly. "Our direction is to continuously improve the performance of the torpedo boat destroyer, equipping it with more advanced engines to increase speed, while also enhancing its firepower and armor!"

Charles nodded in agreement. Tigani's insight was impressive.

If other warships could not catch up to the destroyer, then its only real adversaries would be other destroyers.

To carry out mobile warfare at sea, the goal should be to gain an advantage in firepower, armor, and speed over enemy destroyers.

Tigani felt a surge of excitement.

Until now, he had been worried that Charles's talent for equipment might be limited to the army. If that were the case, his father would never have been able to work with Charles long-term.

But now, after hearing Charles’s "third faction" approach, he felt that it was a novel and sensible idea, likely representing a completely new tactic for naval warfare. His father might be pleased with this.

Tigani eagerly asked, "Major, from your tone, does the torpedo destroyer have other advantages?"

"Of course!" Charles replied. "The torpedo boat destroyer itself carries torpedoes, essentially making it a larger version of a torpedo boat. It too can pose a threat to battleships."

Tigani furrowed his brow. "But that's difficult. Getting close during the day is almost suicide. Even if they manage a lucky attack at night, they might not hit the target because of visibility issues. Once they’re spotted, escape becomes nearly impossible. The chances of success are slim."

"You’re right, General," Charles answered slowly. "But that’s the situation now. What if, in the future, we could increase the range and accuracy of torpedoes?"

Tigani’s eyes widened in an instant. He had never considered this possibility.

But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. If torpedo performance could be significantly improved, then destroyers might be able to hit battleships from much farther away.

One day, if the range of the torpedoes exceeded that of the battleships’ guns...

The more Tigani thought about it, the more he agreed. Without realizing, he exclaimed, "My God, as long as the torpedoes are advanced enough, battleships will be helpless against them. One day, they will be obsolete!"

Charles smiled silently, tacitly agreeing.

In truth, Charles was misleading Tigani. The true game-changer in naval warfare would be aircraft.

What Charles had in mind was bombers dropping torpedoes into the sea.

No matter how fast a destroyer was or how meticulously an ambush was planned, it would never be able to compete with aircraft carrying torpedoes.

Aircraft are fast, inexpensive, and a single torpedo could sink a battleship. What could be more cost-effective than that?

However...

Charles could develop aircraft, but he could not develop torpedoes.

That would depend on Wells.

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