Chapter 129: Great Strength Produces Miracles
After spending two days in Prague gauging the progress of the half-track vehicle and tank projects and issuing important instructions.
Lelouch quickly took another 20-hour train ride without stopping, crossing more than half of Germania along the way, traveling over 800 kilometers to Wilhelmshaven in the state of Hanover on the North Sea coast.
Here was the main force of the Germania Navy fleet, as well as the Wilhelmshaven Naval Shipyard and Warship Design Bureau.
Lelouch wanted to implement his plan of “using sea control in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea, striking with both wings to further hit the Lushans.” The last few key shortcomings were related to the navy.
So this stop was extremely important. Lelouch needed to meet with the naval general Hipper, with whom he had a good relationship, and Admiral Spee to discuss some matters with them.
He also needed to connect with people from the Warship Design Bureau to provide some ideas for new mine-sweeping equipment for the navy, so that the navy could enter Riga Bay in the future.
Lelouch had previously been to Wilhelmshaven. At the end of October last year, he had flown in a reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Immelmann, who was just a captain at the time, to Wilhelmshaven to meet with General Hipper and convey Duke Rupprecht’s intentions, requesting the other’s cooperation.
Unexpectedly, three full quarters had passed in the blink of an eye, and now he was returning to Wilhelmshaven again.
When the train arrived at Wilhelmshaven, the welcome Lelouch received was even grander than the scene in Prague.
Two big shots with general stars personally came to the train station to greet him: Admiral Spee and Vice Admiral Hipper.
“The duke has long told us that you’ve planned another big operation for him, a sea-land coordinated one at that. We’re really looking forward to it— this time, can you give us another chance for a satisfying enemy annihilation like during the Battle of Dunkirk?” Vice Admiral Hipper was the most familiar with Lelouch and immediately asked for battle opportunities without any reservation.
Lelouch smiled in response and said sincerely: “No problem, but this time, you’re mainly reaping results from the Lushans, while General Spee over there can reap from both Lushans and Britannians—
And this operation doesn’t require any radio secrecy, so no need to worry about whether our ciphers have been deciphered by the Britannians. Just maintain radio silence throughout, fight your own battles, and no intelligence deception—purely relying on overwhelming force.”
Hearing this, Vice Admiral Hipper’s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment. As a Germania Navy general, everyone yearned to better kill the British, so dealing only with the Lusha Navy wouldn’t bring as much sense of achievement.
Meanwhile, Admiral Spee, hearing he had chances to kill both Lushans and British, couldn’t help but feel a slight secret joy.
“Why can I only fight Lushans?” Hipper asked persistently while ushering Lelouch into the sedan.
Lelouch did not answer directly but countered: “I remember you’re in charge of the fast strike fleet, right? And General Spee was in charge of the overseas fleet pre-war. Now, if General Staff Headquarters approves sea-land coordination and striking with both wings, it will naturally require one general to lead the homeland fleet in the Baltic Sea War Zone.
At the same time, another general is needed to operate on the Southern Front, actually commanding the Black Sea Fleet flying the Ottoman Navy flag. Do you think you’ll be left in the Baltic Sea or sent to the Black Sea?”
This question required no thought; Hipper blurted out: “I’d definitely be left in the Baltic Sea, and Senior Spee would go to the Black Sea—so your point is, the Black Sea side not only faces the Lusha Black Sea Fleet but might also face the British Navy? Do you think that if fighting breaks out around the Black Sea in the future, the British Navy can pass through the straits controlled by the Ottomans and break into the Black Sea?”
Lelouch: “I don’t guarantee whether Britannians can break into the Black Sea in the future, but I guarantee that when things reach that point, driven desperate, they will definitely attempt to rush into the Black Sea at all costs. As for the outcome of the attempt, that’s uncertain and depends on our performance.”
Hipper and Spee exchanged a glance upon hearing this; Hipper’s eyes held some sympathy, while Spee’s flashed with a trace of hidden worry.
Both understood without words that the Black Sea side would definitely be tough to fight.
For the Baltic Sea side, the key was whether they could obtain effective new mine-sweeping weapons in the future. In terms of absolute combat power, the Germania Navy crushed the Lusha Baltic Fleet.
Hipper commented candidly: “The Black Sea side seems to only have 2 Moltke-class battlecruisers, right? Not even one dreadnought battleship. Plus some pre-dreadnoughts that were phased out pre-war and sold to the Ottomans, along with some light cruisers and a few destroyers.
These warships wouldn’t dare claim to crush the Lusha Black Sea Fleet, and if Britannia Navy slips into the Black Sea, it’d be completely hopeless.”
Spee, who had long managed the overseas fleet pre-war, knew the export history of these warships even better and listed them fluently:
“Yes, the new sharp warships in the Black Sea Theater are only Moltke and Goeben, plus all 5 Vichersbach-class pre-dreadnoughts. Additionally, the Empire sold 4 light cruisers and several destroyers to the Ottomans pre-war.
The Ottomans also have an 1874 old ironclad turret-era battleship, 20 years older than the Empire’s pre-dreadnoughts, basically scrap. Plus 2 early imported armored cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 11 destroyers/large torpedo boats of their own.
Additionally, Romanians can provide 6 destroyers and 6 large torpedo boats. Bulgaria has no organized navy, only some gunboats and minesweepers.
All tallied up, the Empire can mobilize in the Black Sea: 2 battlecruisers, 5 pre-dreadnoughts, 1 old ironclad turret warship, 2 armored cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 14 destroyers, 17 large torpedo boats, and several minesweepers/sub hunters.
Facing them is the Lusha Black Sea Fleet with 2 completed dreadnoughts of the Maria class, its third ship launched but not yet completed with fitting out. Plus 2 St. Eustathius-class pre-dreadnoughts, 2 Potemkin-class, 2 Kagul-class armored cruisers, 7 old protected cruisers, 23 destroyers—including 9 Bespredelny-class, 6 Peydonis-class, and 8 Novik-class.”
After hearing Admiral Spee’s tally, Lelouch and Hipper quickly sorted out the key comparison of enemy and friendly naval forces in the Black Sea region in the future:
Both sides were even in battlecruiser/dreadnought numbers. Historically, the Lusha Navy’s “Maria class” second ship wasn’t completed so quickly; it was only finished in October this year. But clearly, this timeline’s Germania selling 2 Moltke-class to the Ottomans stimulated the Lushans, making them rush out the rough Ekaterina.
Historically, this Lusha class had serious issues. Lelouch recalled from previous life materials that the Maria class was so rushed from design to construction that even weight distribution wasn’t done right, resulting in severe bow burial after completion, with the bow naturally sinking several degrees and the stern rising, truly shoddy workmanship.
Later, they had to empty the bow compartments and forbid storing anything there to barely balance the hull. For the following second and third ships, they planned to temporarily reduce bow armor thickness to cruiser-thin to balance the weight.
Fortunately, historically, Germania only had one Goeben in the Black Sea, and with Ottomans lacking large enough shipyards for major repairs if Goeben was heavily damaged, Germania used Goeben very cautiously. Thus, these paper-undetectable flaws in Lusha battleships never got exposed.
In this life, with Lushans forced into even more urgent rushed construction, they would likely build them even worse.
For pre-dreadnoughts, this timeline’s Ottomans bought a batch of Germania’s obsolete Vichersbach-class, outnumbering Lushans 5 to 4.
However, compared to Lushans’ St. Eustathius-class, Vichersbach-class had disadvantages. Though both pre-dreadnoughts, St. Eustathius-class was built nearly 10 years later and more technologically mature.
Vichersbach-class had only 4 240mm main guns, while St. Eustathius-class had 4 305mm main guns; the firepower output gap was qualitative. Secondary gun firepower was similar, but Germania’s slightly stronger.
As for Lushans’ 2 Potemkin-class, they weren’t much; though 305mm caliber, they were old guns with a firing rate of one shot every 1.5 minutes.
It was unlikely these Germania pre-dreadnoughts could effectively output against enemy capital ships, but using numerical advantage to sweep enemy light ships, screen for Moltke-class, and prevent torpedo attacks would be useful. They could also serve as meat shields upfront to draw enemy capital ship fire.
For light ships, following the original trajectory, Germania side would be completely outmatched—historically on Earth, Goeben didn’t dare rampage in the Black Sea during the window before Lusha’s Maria class completed in June 1915 mainly due to insufficient Germania torpedo screen ships.
Ottomans originally had only 8 destroyers and 11 large torpedo boats; facing Lushans’ 23 modern destroyers, if Lushans rushed with torpedo mass attacks, Ottomans couldn’t hold.
But now, due to Lelouch’s butterfly effect, Romania joined early, got crushed quickly, new king installed and switched sides.
So Romania’s 6 destroyers and 6 large torpedo boats, which should have gone to Lusha side, went to Ottoman side instead. This shift of 12 destroyers and 12 large torpedo boats evened the light torpedo screen strength gap.
After this analysis, Lelouch felt that current paper strengths were even, but Lusha ships were shoddily made with many undetectable paper flaws. Striking now, then breaking enemy key naval base channel minefields, could heavily damage the Lusha Black Sea Fleet!
If achieved, future Black Sea coast supply situation would reverse entirely—from “Lushans can sea-transport supplies, Germanias cannot” to “Germanias can sea-transport, Lushans cannot.”
This would not only radiate to the Kievan Rus’ Great Plain battlefield but even to Transcaucasia—currently, Ottoman Army and Lusha Army were in ongoing bloody battles from Georgia to Azerbaijan in Transcaucasia, both committing 200,000-300,000 troops.
Logically, on that battlefield, Lusha supplies should be worse as they had to cross Caucasus Mountains to fight south of them. Ottomans also crossed some mountains, and the easternmost root of Anatolian Peninsula lacked railways, but their mountains were less extreme than Caucasus.
But in reality, in Transcaucasia battlefield, Lusha supplies were always better than Ottomans’ due to prior Lusha Black Sea sea control. Lusha Army could not only supply via Batumi port in Georgia but even capture Ottoman frontline port Trabzon there.
Ottomans could only rely on land transport for Caucasus front, leading to peak Ottoman three times Lusha manpower yet unable to push the three Transcaucasian states.
If Germania gains sea control in future, just capture Trabzon etc. ports, then advance along railway to Baku Oil Fields in Azerbaijan—Lushans in Transcaucasia built a branch narrow-gauge railway connecting Caspian coast Azerbaijan Baku Oil Fields to Black Sea coast Georgia Batumi port. Lusha needed oil domestically and relied on this route to transport it out.
Because building a direct oil pipeline over Greater Caucasus Mountains was too hard. Better to build pipeline/railway along valley between Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains to Batumi port, then ship by tanker to Rostov/Odessa ports, and pipeline to Lusha heartland.
Seizing Black Sea sea control meant half the task of appropriating Lusha oil resources was done.
One move securing Kievan Rus’ Plain great granary and Baku Oil Fields—truly a divine stroke.
……
After chatting idly like this and clarifying enemy-friendly strengths, Lelouch struck while the iron was hot to persuade General Spee, soon heading to Black Sea:
“……So that’s how I see the naval strength comparison in the Black Sea direction. As long as our forces are decisive enough to seize a chance to lure out the Lusha Black Sea Fleet and heavily damage it, the entire battle situation around the Black Sea will change dramatically in the future!
And seizing the opportunity isn’t hard; there are just a few possibilities.
Either wait for our forces to develop new mine-sweeping weapons to counter Lushans’ habitual moored minefields, then sneak attack an enemy port—except Sevastopol, whose defenses are too tight.
Or, when Lushans send escort fleets and supply ship convoys to transport supplies and reinforcements to Transcaucasia, our forces scout ahead, dispatch fast warships to intercept and kill, forcing Lushans out!
In short, current paper strengths are even, but Lushans’ dreadnoughts are rushed jobs; heard the first completed in June, second just these past few days.
Right now is surely enemy’s most arrogant, lax time; they’ll underestimate, thinking ‘Germanias missed best attack timing; they didn’t attack when Lusha had only 1 dreadnought, now with 2, no longer a threat.’
But we do the opposite: provoke when they think they can fight. In reality, enemy ships just commissioned have crew training and break-in issues; even good ships may not perform fully. Hope the general doesn’t miss this golden opportunity! Our army will cooperate fully; perhaps even attack Odessa then!”
Lelouch couldn’t directly reveal “I know Lushans’ Maria class design is rotten, can’t even balance weight, bow armor thinned to paper,” so used “Lushans’ training break-in insufficient, now their actual weakest time” to boost Spee’s confidence.
Otherwise, if old-school Naval Ministry staff decided specific sorties, looking only at paper strength, they might not dare risk or responsibility to allow Spee to sortie.
Lelouch could only encourage Spee to dare take responsibility and seek battle. Then find raiding pretext, like intercepting enemy transport info, pretend just sending Moltke and Goeben to kill enemy transports, actually detour mid-way for other opportunities.
Another “wartime adaptability.”
This adaptability was just flexible execution of superior orders, not “insubordination,” hard for enemy to suspect post-action.
After thorough psychological buildup, Vice Admiral Hipper and Admiral Spee finally realized the opportunity was rare. Plus Lelouch had led them to two and one great merits respectively before; their promotions tied closely to his ideas.
So of course, trust him once more, bet their futures!
They all believed Staff Officer Lelouch was for the Empire’s good, and everyone’s good.
The two naval heavyweights rarely unified thought again, willing to follow Lelouch’s plan.
Thus, only one issue left: could the mine-sweeping weapon to crack Lusha moored mines be developed?
……
Just as Lelouch unified the two generals’ battle eagerness, Hipper’s staff car arrived at the Warship Design Bureau of Wilhelmshaven Naval Shipyard.
As a navy bigwig, Hipper personally and familiarly led Lelouch to the Torpedo Weapon Research Institute under the Design Bureau. It handled not only torpedo and mine weapon R&D but also mine-sweeping and anti-torpedo methods, though the latter was just a tiny sub-branch since mine-sweeping had little technical content.
Once there, relevant experts were quickly brought up. While introducing the Empire’s current mine-sweeping tech and syncing info with Lelouch, Hipper et al., they emphasized subsequent R&D difficulties and bottlenecks, hoping Lelouch wouldn’t oversimplify.
Researchers most feared half-knowledgeable bureaucrats oversimplifying, issuing brain-fart bad ideas, wasting effort on useless overtime.
Lelouch patiently listened for a while first.
The lead engineer introduced: “The Empire’s current anti-moored mine sweeping gear is mainly towed net-type sweeping cables. This weapon uses a very long thin steel cable, each end held by two destroyers, pulling a net forward along the channel like twin trawlers.
The sweeping cable has cutting blades; once it hits a moored mine’s anchor cable, it severs it, causing the mine to float up due to lost weight.
Once surfaced, it’s easy: like primitive drift mines, visually spot and blast with rapid-fire cannons.”
（Note: The following figure is a schematic of the existing sweeping cable tech by 1915. Or return to end of Chapter 126 last paragraph, click book friend “Jiyu Li Er Da Ren” chapter comment illustration for detailed step-by-step diagrams and explanations.）
Lelouch nodded frequently while listening, then asked after: “So this thing’s principle has no major issues; any difficulties or accidents in actual use?”
The navy engineer dimmed: “Our concept was perfect, but in practice, reliability severely lacking; often moored mine anchor cables not severed.
Sometimes mines just dragged off position, but as sweeping cable pulls on, doesn’t 100% ‘catch the neck’; mine escapes and drifts back.
As early as May, during peak Lithuanian Campaign, navy tried this existing sweeping cable to clear safe channel into Riga Bay; due to unreliability, lost two destroyers, had to abort.”
Hearing this, Lelouch fully understood current tech status.
Existing tech was already decent, just short on reliability; later Earth history post-WWI, Germanias painfully improved sweeping cables second time.
As a 《Hearts of Iron4》 thousands-hour veteran player pre-transmigration, Lelouch knew relevant war and weapon history inside out.
He finally pinpointed the exact improvement breakthrough, sharing openly:
“I know your problem: insufficient reliability, sometimes fails to cut anchor chain, sometimes doesn’t catch at all. Key is your sweeping cable depth-setting issue!
Your current sweeping cable end gear still floats in water, requiring fine-tuning average density like torpedo depth-setting. If off, deeper ok, shallower misses or skips mines!
And have you considered, Baltic Sea is nearly isolated from ocean circulation, annually receiving massive Scandinavian glacier melt and coastal river inflows; its salinity and density lower than other major seas! You probably used North Sea data directly, amplifying error.
To permanently solve reliability, change approach: from depth-set towing to ‘bottom-scraping towing’! Forget depth-setting; change sweeping cable material from normal steel cable to iron chain ten times heavier! No more suspending below surface—sink and drag bottom! Scrape three feet on seabed!
And this works poorly in deep waters but perfectly in Riga Bay, Gulf of Finland, even Crimean Peninsula surrounding straits/shallows. Bottom-scraping sweeping chain’s main issue is inefficiency in deep drafts. But target areas are shallow; direct bottom-scraping fine!”
Lelouch’s words stunned the “precise control”-obsessed Germania engineers.
They’d never thought sweeping cables could be used this way.
But factually, Lelouch’s “brute force miracle” was most suitable; once understood, nothing unacceptable.
Like trawlers: later many used suspended nets between two boats, skimming surface catching whatever fish.
But harsher “household-ruiner nets” weighted bottom edge to scrape seabed, shattering even coral reefs.
Such nets banned for “destroying seabed ecology,” wiping bottom-dwellers clean, but efficiency undeniably high.
Lelouch’s proposal was exactly historical Germania Navy’s 20-years-later lesson-learned improvement for Baltic/Black Sea failures.
Matching later “trawler evolution from suspended to bottom-scraping nets.”
Bottom-scraping ensures no moored mine escapes due to depth issues.
As for “scraping under mine anchor,” no worry: anchors embed deep in seabed sand/gravel; even scraping can’t reach like razor missing hair follicles.
“Shall we… try this method?” Navy Weapon Design Institute engineers were convinced by Lelouch’s new idea; experiments cost nothing, perfect to verify.
Seeing pros swayed, Hipper and Spee urged: “Quickly try it! Colonel Lelouch’s ideas always solve problems!”
The chief designer stroked beard thoughtfully: “But heavier chain would multiply sweeping gear weight; destroyers may not tow. After mod, first test with two 10,000-ton armored cruisers.”
Navy Weapon Design Institute acted fast, prototyping new heavy bottom-scraping sweeping chain that day.
Simultaneously requesting dispatch of two high-power cruisers for towing tests.
All effortless; from production to test, absolutely done in half month.
No deep principle difficulty; just puncturing paper window, requiring all parts much heavier to shift from float to bottom-scrape.
Pure “brute force miracle”; just precision-loving Germania engineers hadn’t thought of this crude solution before.
Lelouch pointed it out; they got it instantly.
Ten days later, all ready; repeated tests with empty moored mine props achieved nearly 100% clearance rate!
When Admiral Spee and Vice Admiral Hipper saw final test results, their eyes widened.
The Lusha moored mine problem plaguing Empire so long, solved just like that?
Lelouch this guy was simply too miraculous! Indeed, follow him to seize merit opportunities and battle chances!
