I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 1012: Actually, Shire Misled You

However, what shocked them even more was beyond just this.

Or rather, the Minister of Military Supplies and others had no idea what it meant for an aircraft carrier to be bombed and sunk.

In World War II and subsequent naval battles, if aircraft carriers were completely sunk, it meant "failure," total failure.

All other ships would have no choice but to flee, or they would be hunted down by aircraft carriers and sunk one by one.

The Minister of Military Supplies and others didn’t realize this, they were still thinking:

"We still have battleships, their firepower can’t be matched by French aircraft carriers."

"Yes, the ’Hundred-eyed Giant’ was converted from a merchant ship, and the ’Furious’ from a light cruiser; being able to sink them doesn’t prove anything."

"Sinking a battleship is not so easy, General Winter will teach these arrogant French a harsh lesson!"

(The picture above is of the British ’Hundred-eyed Giant,’ converted from the ’Count of Ross’ merchant ship, with poor sinking resistance)

But the front-line battle once again gave them a harsh blow.

"Prime Minister," the aide reported, "two of our battlecruisers have been sunk, and General Winter has ordered the fleet to retreat!"

Prime Minister George, along with others, was calculating the time it would take for the fleet to catch up and sink the French aircraft carrier using a nautical chart, even starting to envision battleships’ giant cannon bombardment of vulnerable aircraft carriers.

Their conversation was filled with laughter, sweeping away the gloom from when the aircraft carriers were sunk.

Upon hearing the aide’s report, they all looked up in unison, some with smiles not yet turned to embarrassment, managing awkward, forced smiles.

Prime Minister George asked with difficulty, "Was it the carrier-based bombers again?"

"Yes, Prime Minister," the aide nodded, "General Winter said, the new French aircraft can also drop torpedoes, and ’Renown’ was sunk by a torpedo."

Minister of the Navy Belfort was shocked: "That is to say, they have the capability to sink battleships."

Although battleships have thick skins and good sinking resistance, they can’t withstand torpedoes blowing several holes beneath the waterline.

The Minister of Military Supplies, with a stern face, focused on different concerns than the others. He angrily said to the aide:

"Order General Winter to continue advancing."

"We need to close in on the enemy, not distance ourselves."

"Now is the best opportunity; perhaps the enemy’s aircraft carriers are right in front of them, and all he needs to do is step forward, just a small step."

The others nodded in agreement.

In the dictionary of the world’s strongest, the Royal Navy, there is no word for "retreat," always advance.

But they completely ignored a common-sense issue:

How can battleships traveling at speeds of 18 knots, 19 knots catch up with an aircraft carrier moving at 21 knots?

Moreover, the battleships do not know the aircraft carrier’s position, while the aircraft carrier has a clear view of theirs!

This is a strategic intent that can never be realized, unless the sentries on the enemy aircraft carrier have all gone back to their bunks to sleep.

The following situation left those who didn’t understand the real front-line condition astounded:

"Prime Minister, ’Canada’ has been bombed by enemy bombers."

"Sir, General Winter is preparing to surrender to the enemy."

"We’ve lost contact with ’Canada,’ possibly due to damaged communication equipment."

...

The Minister of Military Supplies, glaring fiercely, gritted his teeth and commanded: "Immediately contact ’Queen’ and ’Prince of Wales.’ If ’Canada’ surrenders, they must sink her!"

The fact that the British Royal Navy would surrender without even seeing the enemy is a monumental disgrace!

This cannot be allowed to happen!

Especially since "Canada" is the flagship, its surrender would demoralize the entire fleet.

Yet, the replies from "Queen" and "Prince of Wales" were:

"We will not do that, Prime Minister. We believe we should surrender."

"Because this battle is meaningless and continuing won’t change anything."

"We must act responsibly for the lives of all onboard, General Winter’s decision is correct."

"If sacrificing our lives could achieve something, we are willing to sacrifice. But it cannot, we have already failed!"

...

One report after another stunned everyone into silence.

What happened?

Those were truly battleships.

Though they were the relatively outdated pre-dreadnoughts, their armor and artillery weren’t that different from dreadnoughts, the only differences being speed and uniform gun caliber.

(Note: Pre-dreadnoughts typically traveled at speeds between 18 to 19 knots, while dreadnoughts usually reached 21 knots)

And yet, they had to surrender under the bombing of aircraft?

Then they thought of another, more terrifying issue: if pre-dreadnoughts were forced to surrender, does it mean dreadnoughts would also do the same?

If so, then can the Royal Navy still exist?

Is it still the most powerful navy in the world?

With these questions, everyone turned their gaze to the Minister of Military Supplies.

They didn’t say it out loud, but their eyes revealed their thoughts:

"This was your idea, you were the one who suggested declaring war on France, what now?"

"Didn’t you believe this campaign would be a crushing defeat for the French Navy? Now it’s a crushing defeat? It’s we who are being crushed by France, isn’t it?"

"You claimed your battle plan was ’foolproof,’ but now it’s ’full of flaws,’ should you not take responsibility for this result?"

...

Prime Minister George considered another issue and asked the Minister of Military Supplies:

"I recall you said before that you misled the construction of the French aircraft carrier."

"So the French aircraft carrier wouldn’t have strong combat capability; now it seems otherwise."

"Don’t you want to explain this?"

The Minister of Military Supplies couldn’t stop the beads of sweat from seeping out on his brow:

"I, I believe, this is a change Shire made."

"Perhaps he improved the aircraft carrier while developing a new type of carrier-based aircraft."

"So..."

Prime Minister George understood:

"So, he deceived you, did he?"

"He made you believe that the French aircraft carriers didn’t have a straight-through deck, making us underestimate them."

"And the reality is exactly the opposite, is that what you want to say?"

Prime Minister George’s gaze was cold.

If that were the case, the Minister of Military Supplies had been a pawn of Shire from the start, a pawn Shire used to lead Britain step by step into the abyss.

Only the Minister of Military Supplies didn’t know it himself.

"I, I’m not sure, Prime Minister." The Minister of Military Supplies replied, though he already understood what was happening but didn’t dare to say it.

At this point, the telegram and sketches sent by the aide confirmed this.

It was the layout of the French aircraft carrier sent by General Winter to Major General Duncan, which Duncan then forwarded to London.

George took the sketch, glanced at it, gave a bitter smile, and helplessly handed it to the Minister of Military Supplies:

"This is what you called a backward French aircraft carrier. An aircraft carrier without a straight-through deck."

"You thought you misled Shire, but actually, Shire misled you!"

"Well played, Minister of Military Supplies!"

The Minister of Military Supplies took the sketch and glanced at it, and it overwhelmed him.

Two slightly slanted runways.

Is this what they call a backward aircraft carrier?

It’s far more advanced than the British Army’s aircraft carriers!