Chapter 1124: Seventy Percent Naval Theory

Malta corresponds to Libya and Tunisia, Gibraltar corresponds to Morocco, so that from the east and west to the French Mediterranean fleet for suppression, the current time, the British Mediterranean fleet is still above the French counterparts, it seems to be no problem.

However, this strength advantage is only theoretical, in the Mediterranean Sea can not simply compare sea power, France and Algeria and not far away, the Mediterranean Sea area is not to talk about wide, the French Navy’s Mediterranean fleet, you can get the effective support of shore-based forces.

Britain, of course, also has this support, but Gibraltar and Malta’s support, or can not be compared with the French Navy to get the support, after a simple comparison, Alan Wilson can determine that the current British Royal Navy Mediterranean fleet strength, not enough to eat the French Mediterranean fleet.

This situation must be changed immediately, otherwise, those sold to the French rags will be decommissioned, Britain will have no reason to strengthen the sea power.

When sold to the French navy two grudge class aircraft carriers, from the tonnage is not to see the limitations, more than 30,000 tons of tonnage looks absolutely enough.

However, when Britain first built the Grudge class, it emphasized strengthening the protection of the hangar, which led to the narrow hangar of the Grudge class aircraft carriers, unable to adapt to the rapid development of the size of the carrier aircraft in the post-war period.

Most importantly, the reinforced hangars made it difficult to retrofit, or else Britain would not have agreed to the deal after evaluating it. Selling an aircraft carrier is not easy in itself, let alone to a dubious ally.

The two Grudge Classes are still in service with the French Navy, and the two Eagle Classes and two Queen Elizabeth Classes of the British Mediterranean Fleet, with the Eagle Classes still always in the Middle East, are facing the main French Mediterranean fleet, also originally from the UK.

In fact, the assessment of the degree of danger of the French Mediterranean fleet, all depends on how the British Navy said to the Cabinet. It can be honest and tell the Cabinet that the French carriers are difficult to upgrade. But it could also take the alternative line that the British Mediterranean fleet was unable to cope with this potential threat.

The key point was whether the navy would seize the opportunity to ask for military money to build new ships and save the shipbuilding industry in the process.

In Rome, the Italian capital, Alan Wilson returned to his duties, talking to the Italians in the diplomatic sphere, about the idea of an economic belt around the Mediterranean and, in the name of this, making a gesture of goodwill to Italy by saying that Malta would grant Italy visa-free treatment.

Italy could use this to try to expand Italy’s economic influence in North Africa.

This gesture of goodwill pleased Italian Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani, the tenth post-war Prime Minister of Italy, who had been trying to increase his influence in North Africa. Especially with the discovery of Libyan oil.

However, Italy was a defeated country, the North African countries behind either the United Kingdom or France, Italy also can not do much, in the Algerian War, Italy has always hoped that the defeat of France, so that Italy to fill the vacuum in North Africa, but the final result was not what it hoped for.

As the center-left leader of the Catholic Democratic Party, Amintore Fanfani advocated the development of the Mediterranean Economic Circle, but as an Italian, he definitely wanted Italy to be the main focus.

Britain was willing to help Italy to partially realize this wish, at least without opposition, and likewise Italy had to give Britain certain benefits to help Britain to develop the Maltese economy, a request Allen Wilson did not think was too much to ask.

At the same time, this time Alan Wilson’s visit, is also to talk about the issue of European cooperation, the flying coffins have been Britain’s skin, the nail on the board who all know that is really a failure. European defense cooperation, Alan Wilson is still very much in the heart.

Now that Pamela Mountbatten has consolidated a series of British airlines, and has gained a foothold in the British aviation sector, it is time to bring out a competitor and prove its strength.

The strategic transport is important, but the introduction of an advanced fighter aircraft is more able to demonstrate its strength.

He was also happy to see the richest woman cultivated over the years, to be able to stand firm in the field of military industry, to complete the transformation from a low-end enterprise trading raw materials, to a company like Lockheed.

For this reason, how could he not be interested in European cooperation, which was also advocated by Italian Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani? The Italian official who received Alan Wilson also articulated a positive view of the matter.

“It seems we have a lot to talk about at the next EC meeting.” Allen Wilson extended his hand to the Italian official who came out to see him off.

“European cooperation cannot be achieved without British cooperation, in fact we all understand how important Britain is to Europe.” Turias said happily, “The Prime Minister has already said that he is willing to run the Mediterranean Economic Circle with Britain on North African affairs.”

Allen Wilson nodded and took a car directly back to Her Highness’s hotel, Hedy Lamarr had already waited for him, seeing the return of the dusty man, he couldn’t help but laugh, “The French don’t know what to think if they know that you’re going around working for the checks and balances on France.”

“Of course the French know, the French know best about England.” Alan Wilson took a bite of spaghetti and said vaguely, “But there are things that it’s useless to know, and we’ll do it again. The French know how Britain will respond, and Britain knows how the French will respond afterward, but neither of us will change the way we respond.”

Listening to the words like a tongue twister, Hedy Lamarr shook her head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Like this bowl of pasta, in the field of food and drink, French food and drink reigns supreme in the world, but of course there are some countries that may not be convinced and feel that their own country’s food and drink is the best in the world. Among these unconvinced countries is Italy, where we are.” Alan Wilson made an analogy, “The Italians think that their food culture is still above France, and that doesn’t change the fact that other countries still think that France is the strongest one.”

“It’s like many countries think that France is the number one army in Europe?” Hedy Lamarr asked rhetorically in amusement.

“That was when, and now let the French themselves say that they don’t think they’re the number one in Europe either.” Alan Wilson laughed and thought for a moment, “It could be in the top three in Europe, right? It can’t be much more than that.”

“After the Soviet Union and Germany?” Hedy Lamarr cocked her head, thinking that those were the only two countries that could rank ahead of France, it couldn’t be Italy, could it?

“After the Soviet Red Army and the Soviet Border Guard!” Alan Wilson corrected nonchalantly, “If it were worldwide, it would be after the U.S. Army.”

This time he definitely did not have today’s insulting law, but a very objective realization.

In the world air power of the twenty-first century, the first and second places were the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy respectively. Then the top two ground forces now are the Soviet Red Army and the Soviet Border Guard.

Although the Soviet Border Guard is an armed force led by the KGB, but it is this Border Guard that is more than enough to fight countries other than the Soviet Union, and the Cold War in the Far East and a big country with big eyes is dominated by the KGB Border Guard.

“You usually have your head up in the air. And now you’re so fearful at the mention of the Soviet Union.” Hedy Lamarr said with good humor and amusement, “Where’s the usual confidence?”

“Why don’t you talk to the Soviets and transfer the border guards in Asia and swap them with the four major groups in Eastern Europe?” Alan Wilson chewed hard on his spaghetti as if the spaghetti was the Soviet Union, “That’s not something Britain can change, if Britain had its say, it would definitely let the Soviets pull the Red Navy out and have a showdown in the Atlantic.”

Headlight beams flashed haphazardly on the spacious driveway outside the Ministry of Defense. Car engines rumbled and splintered. The lights reflected the terrifying shadows of cars that seemed to be everywhere, patrol cars, porters, and the heavy passenger and cargo vehicles of the London Police. An ambulance sped away.

The sight caused a number of citizens to stop and wonder if something had happened, and the noise even caused Marshal Mountbatten to get up and walk to the window to watch.

Alan Wilson, on the other hand, was holding a thermos, as if he had closed off his six senses and nothing had anything to do with him.

“You mean the Royal Navy had better be seventy percent as strong as the U.S. Navy, and it needs to be at least half as strong.” Marshal Mountbatten, who had been watching the action for a while, looked at his son-in-law with a complicated face, “Did you know that William II during World War I thought so, and the Japanese in World War II thought so too, but in the end?”

“The situation is different, Marshal, and applying past experience to reality is a dangerous move. The French were the ones who suffered greatly in World War II in that regard.” Alan Wilson retorted, unperturbed, “American shipbuilding only exploded up for a brief period of time during the World War, and was quickly defeated by the British right after the war. It’s back to its original wonky self. To preserve Britain’s overseas interests, the Royal Navy is still a little short of its current size.”

“Since the American shipbuilding industry is virtually non-existent, it is perfectly possible to fight to replenish it while mobilizing it, and it is just a nice bubble for Britain. The seventy percent theory of the navy and the basis of the two world wars, has been fundamentally completely different.”

World War I and World War II fought for several years before they were able to distinguish between victory and defeat, that situation can not be applied to this time now, now the United Kingdom must put the strength in the open, to prove that they have the strength to counterbalance the U.S. Navy, a strong shipbuilding industry will play a role.

If there isn’t enough stock on paper, and a wave gets regrouped, how will there be time to mobilize any shipbuilding to replenish it? Shipbuilding only works if the scale can calm the US down.

“The justification is readily available to the Cabinet on the grounds of checking the expansion of French influence in the Mediterranean.” Alan Wilson continued to persuade, “Now is the time, after this moment, it will be difficult to fight for resources to be tilted in favor of the Navy in the future. Preserving Britain’s overseas interests requires at least over half if seventy percent is not reached.”