Arc of Fire-Chapter 747: Bloodstained Adriatic Sea
Chapter 747 -4 Bloodstained Adriatic Sea
Erwin held the camera specially customized for him by the Leica company, pressing the shutter button on a beach filled with debris and crowded with surrendering soldiers.
The highest commander on the beach hastily arrived, saluting Erwin, “Congratulations, Marshal, on achieving a splendid victory.”
Erwin nodded and looked towards the sea, “Where did the enemy fleet go?”
"The Imperial Academy of Sciences deployed new anti-ship missiles, firing a total of 200, among which 6 successfully resisted enemy interference and hit their targets, and then the enemy fleet retreated.”
Erwin huffed, “Six out of 200, even a child in a scout camp could aim better than that!”
All the generals present looked embarrassed.
...
The liaison officer from the Imperial Academy of Sciences also felt awkward, as the hit rate was indeed dismal. Only Lieutenant Colonel Oliver May, responsible for launching the missiles, spoke loudly in defense, “The enemy released chaff to interfere, employing other measures as well. To make a hit amidst such heavy interference shows our weaponry is reliable and efficient!”
Erwin turned and pointed towards the sea, “But I haven’t seen a single Allied ship being sunk. Are they out of sight or what? Colonel Franz of the Air Force, did you observe the fruits of the Imperial Academy’s efforts? As far as I know, it takes hours for a large warship to sink!”
The Air Force Colonel shook his head, “Our observation aircraft clearly saw the hit Allied cruisers safely leaving the battlefield. Also, Lieutenant Colonel May is slightly mistaken; indeed many missiles were disturbed by chaff, but nearly as many were shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire.”
Lieutenant Colonel May, “What?”
Colonel Franz, “The missiles from the Imperial Academy are too large and, although fast, slightly lack penetration capabilities against enemy anti-aircraft fire utilizing VT fuzes.”
"Frankly, if the Air Force deployed 200 Stuka, we’d definitely achieve more than six hits.”
Oliver May, “But if a Stuka is shot down, we’d lose both a pilot and a rear machine gunner, turning all those precious talents into prisoners as we’ve entirely lost control of the sea.”
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Officers from the Navy felt embarrassed.
The Prosen Navy had just lost its last large vessel in the Kingdom of Sardinia theater and now only had destroyers and torpedo boats available.
Moreover, the Prosen Navy’s anti-air capabilities were weak, fearing Allied planes, and could only operate within the Air Force’s coverage.
Colonel Franz attempted to argue, but Marshal Erwin raised his hand, “Alright, the enemy fleet has been driven away, and it’s a fact that they couldn’t provide cannon support. We had planned to use the K5 rail guns to drive away enemy battleships, but, unfortunately, the firing rate of the rail guns was too slow to effectively strike the constantly moving enemy warships.”
"General,” Erwin’s Deputy Officer stepped forward, “Our naval guns in Navalon are completed, with radar providing the firing data. The cannons are built inside a cliff, and unless enemy bombers deliberately crash into the cliff, they won’t be able to destroy these two massive guns! Within the range covered by the guns, it’s impossible for the enemy to launch an amphibious operation.”
Marshal Erwin, “Whether the enemy lands or where, we will drive them back into the sea.”
He handed the camera to his Deputy Officer, looking over the turbulent Adriatic Sea with his hands clasped behind his back, “In Mamluk, limited supplies restrained my performance! Now we have ample supplies, and neither Mary nor Eck from the Allied Forces is a match for me!”
After a brief pause, Erwin said, “I now rather fancy visiting the Eastern Front and meeting Marshal Rocossov. Isn’t it time for him to be promoted to Marshal?”
Deputy Officer, “According to the latest news, he has indeed been promoted to Marshal.”
Erwin, “Good, I believe clashing with him will be very enjoyable!”
At that moment, the communications staff ran over, standing at attention and saluting, “Marshal, Your Majesty’s call.”
Erwin, “The phone line was set up so quickly?”
Communications staff, “We kept laying down phone lines as we approached, ensuring direct contact with the Eagle’s Nest.”
Erwin nodded and strode towards the command vehicle, where another staff member was already waiting with the phone by the door.
Taking the handset, Marshal Erwin spoke loudly, “Your Majesty, I salute you; congratulations on achieving another victory!”
"It’s your victory, Erwin, or perhaps, should I call you teacher? You taught me my infantry tactics.”
Marshal Erwin, “Are you still bothered by the B- that I gave you?”
The Emperor, evidently in high spirits, laughed heartily, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten.”
All emperors of Prosen had to undergo military school training, and when Erwin was assigned as the new infantry instructor at the school, no other instructor dared to teach the Emperor, so they handed the task to him. ȑ𝓪ΝȎBÈŚ
After some pleasantries, the Emperor’s tone suddenly became serious, “Marshal Erwin, I ask you, if I appointed you as the overall commander of the Western Front Headquarters, commanding the Prosen Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Carolingian Empire, do you have the confidence to take on the role?”
Marshal Erwin, “I would rather head to the currently critical Eastern Front and have a match with Marshal Rocossov.”
"No, no, no, no, no!No’ in Prosenese the Emperor’s voice raised an octave.
"Once you arrive at the Eastern Front, you will need several months to familiarize yourself with the situation, and Rocossov’s next attack is imminent.”
"Generals believe Rocossov might launch an attack after the muddy season ends, when the river surface freezes, confidently claiming that Rocossov likes to utilize the winter advantage that winter brings to Ante!”
"Their opinions make military sense, but they do not take into account Rocossov as a person! I couldn’t be clearer!”
The Emperor sounded very confident.
"Rocossov will definitely attack in September, if the generals all think he will rest until early November and attack with the ice, then he will definitely cross the river in September!”
"He has always been using this method, teasing our well-trained Junker officer corps, achieving victory after victory!”
"I firmly believe that Rocossov will cross the Dibo River in September!”
Marshal Erwin frowned slightly, as he didn’t quite agree with the Emperor’s conjecture, finding it absurd to make judgments based on “understanding the enemy’s commander.”
But he didn’t object, “But if the attack is in September, what can we do except change generals?”
"Of course, there is.” The Emperor paused, “We have nine Armored Divisions in Carolingian and Sardin, four under your command. If I appoint you as the Commander of the Western Front, do you have the confidence to withstand the Allied Forces’ attack with just four Armored Divisions?”
Marshal Erwin’s brows twisted into knots, “Four Armored Divisions? To defend Carolingian and Sardin?”
"Yes, you have already faced the Allied Forces, and before you, Marshal Katherine had also dealt with them in Sicily, where one division alone caused huge trouble for the Allies.”
Marshal Erwin sighed, “Your Majesty, it’s impossible.”
"Why? You reached the outskirts of the Alexandria port with two Armored Divisions and one Light Armored Division in Mamluk!” The Emperor’s tone became serious.
The Marshal stood his ground, “That’s because Mamluk, although vast, has its main settlements highly concentrated, making the actual battle area not that extensive. But Carolingian, Flanders, and Burgundy have considerably vast battlefields. Carolingian alone would need at least three Armored Divisions.
"Sardinian Kingdom would need at least three Armored Divisions too!”
After a brief silence, the Emperor said, “Five Armored Divisions, no more. I need to bring four fully manned Armored Divisions to the Eastern Front to deal Rocossov a strong counterblow at the Dibo River! That’s much simpler and more effective than transferring you there!”
Marshal Erwin, “Alright, may I ask when these four Armored Divisions can return?”
"After defeating Rocossov’s winter offensive, they will be transferred back to the Western Front. By then, the Armored Divisions on the Eastern Front will have been replenished, equipped with sufficient Leopard Tanks and Tiger Kings. We should also have manufactured our ‘steel helmet’ tanks specifically to counter Rocossov!”
"Understood,” the Marshal stood tall before the telephone, “I assure you, the mission will be accomplished.”
"Very good, I have other matters, that will be all.”
The Emperor hung up the call.
As the Marshal handed the receiver back to the communications officer, the Deputy Officer asked with concern, “What happened?”
"His Majesty has appointed me as the overall commander of the entire Western Front, in charge of our forces in Carolingian and Sardin.”
Officers around immediately applauded, “Congratulations, Marshal!”
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"Congratulations!”
Erwin waved his hand, “Don’t rush to congratulate me. His Majesty is about to withdraw two of our four Armored Divisions, and two of the five Armored Divisions in Carolingian!”
The Deputy Officer frowned, “How could this happen? Previously, the priority of equipment upgrades for the Western Front’s Armored Divisions was always high. This year, however, new tanks were first provided to the Eastern Front, and improved models of the third and fourth tanks were all replenished first to the Eastern Front, and now they’re withdrawing Western Front’s Armored Divisions?”
Erwin returned to a rock overlooking the beach, looking out towards the Adriatic Sea with his hands behind his back, “Perhaps my successes have made him think the Allied Forces are not to be feared, thereby deciding to pull forces from the Western Front.”
The Chief of Staff of the Sardin Army Group murmured, “We have once galloped through the plains of Carolingian, it’s very difficult for three Armored Divisions to defend. Especially in the Norman Region, where there are hedges everywhere, it’s not suitable for Armored Troops to fight, yet counterattacks must involve Armored Troops.”
Erwin, “His Majesty said, we just have to hold our ground till the end of the year, then once the Eastern Front has thwarted Rocossov’s offensive, the troops will be moved back.”
The officers present all fell silent, since the war began, whenever Rocossov attacked, the Prosen Army had not once held back.
Indeed, not even once—although Rocossov was always called the Empire’s iron wall by the Anteans.
Erwin looked again towards the Adriatic Sea, noticing the sea surface stained red by the sunset.
He suddenly smiled, “Our confrontation with the Allied Forces has become interesting now, hasn’t it?”
The generals looked at each other, unsure.
