Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 137: The Fleet Composition

With that, they went to the office of the Brest Naval Base.

They used the office of the Vice-Admiral.

The room overlooked the main basin through tall reinforced windows. From here, the drydock was visible. The bow of the Napoleon I rose above cranes and scaffolding like a steel cliff.

Dupotet closed the door behind them.

A large naval chart covered the central table. Pins marked the Atlantic approaches, the English Channel, the Mediterranean, and the West African coast. Several red flags stood clustered near the Strait of Dover.

Napoleon I did not sit.

He walked straight to the window and looked out again at the battleship.

"Now, let’s talk about the composition of the navy," Napoleon II said as he approached a globe made out of polished brass and mounted oak.

Napoleon II had thought of this a long time ago. It’s inspired from the US Navy Numbered Fleet from his previous life. He intends to copy the same to ensure naval dominance across the seven seas.

"We will have different naval fleets across the globe," Napoleon II said as he rotated the globe and stopped the moment he faced Europe.

"First is the Home Fleet," Napoleon II said, placing his finger over the English Channel and the Atlantic approaches.

"Based in Brest. Its responsibility is the Channel, the North Sea, and the western approaches to France. It will contain the majority of our capital ships. If Britain moves, this fleet responds."

Napoleon I remained at the window but listened.

"How many battleships?" he asked.

"Four assigned permanently," Napoleon II replied. "Two on active rotation. Two in maintenance or training cycles. battlecruisers and destroyer screens attached. Submarine flotillas stationed along the Channel."

Napoleon II turned the globe slightly south.

"Second. The Mediterranean Fleet. Based in Toulon."

His finger traced across the sea.

"Its function is control of the western and central Mediterranean. Protection of North African territories."

Napoleon I folded his hands behind his back. "Composition?"

"Two battleships minimum. Fast cruisers for rapid response. Amphibious support elements for colonial reinforcement."

Napoleon II rotated the globe westward.

"Third. The Atlantic Expeditionary Fleet."

Dupotet leaned closer.

"West Africa, Caribbean, and the Americas," Napoleon II continued. "It protects Cuba. It protects Dakar. It ensures our shipping lanes are not harassed. It will be based in Cuba. Primary anchorage at Havana once the naval yards are expanded. Drydock facilities already under construction. Naval stations established along the Atlantic corridor."

Napoleon I finally turned from the window.

"How many capital ships assigned there?" he asked.

"One battleship permanently. One rotating from the Home Fleet. Two heavy cruisers. Destroyer flotillas. Long-range submarines for Atlantic patrol."

Dupotet nodded slowly. "Enough to secure the Caribbean without weakening the Channel."

Napoleon II rotated the globe further south.

"Fourth. The West African Squadron. Dakar."

Berthier glanced at the red pins near the Gulf of Guinea.

"Purpose?" he asked.

"Colonial enforcement. Anti-raiding operations. Protection of mineral exports. It will not require battleships initially. Battlecruisers and destroyers will suffice."

Napoleon I stepped closer to the globe.

"And the Pacific?"

Napoleon II turned it eastward.

"Fifth Fleet. Based in Manila. Once facilities are completed."

He tapped the Philippine archipelago.

"It will oversee the South China Sea, protect trade routes to China and Japan, and secure our eastern flank. Now I believe that our Pacific Fleet should be as strong as our home fleet. After all, it is one of the largest maritime theaters in the world."

He kept his finger pressed over the Philippine archipelago.

"Distance alone makes it vulnerable. Reinforcements from Europe would take weeks. If we place only cruisers there, we invite opportunists."

Napoleon I stepped away from the window at last and joined the table.

"So you intend to station capital ships that far from the core?"

"Yes," Napoleon II replied. "Two battleships permanently assigned once production allows. One additional hull rotating from the reserve. Fast carriers when we finalize their doctrine. Also, there is another ship we intend to make as there is a new development in aerial technology."

"What do you mean?" Napoleon I tilted his head to the side.

"Gentlemen, we have already conquered the sky with a new invention. It’s called an aircraft. But you’ll see it in the exposition, father."

"Aircraft?"

"Yes, a machine that allows humans to fly," Napoleon II explained simply. "Now let’s move on to the next fleet. The Sixth Fleet." He turned the globe slightly north of Europe.

He placed his finger over the cold waters beyond Scandinavia.

"The Northern Fleet. Based in Cherbourg initially, with forward facilities to be constructed along the North Sea corridor."

Dupotet narrowed his eyes.

"Purpose?"

"Pressure," Napoleon II said. "Surveillance of British northern routes. Protection of Baltic trade. If conflict erupts, it prevents the Royal Navy from concentrating solely in the Channel."

Napoleon I watched the globe spin slowly under his son’s hand.

"You intend to stretch them thin."

"Yes," Napoleon II replied. "Force distribution. Deny them the advantage of massing fleets."

"Composition?" Berthier asked.

"One battleship assigned once hull production stabilizes. Heavy cruisers. Submarine flotillas specialized for cold-water operations. Mine layers."

Dupotet gave a short nod. "Submarines in the North Sea will make them cautious."

Napoleon II rotated the globe again, further south and east.

"Seventh Fleet."

His finger hovered the Indian Ocean. "Now, I do think that there’s no French territory near the Indian Ocean, so we’re just going to make one. I have an interest in the Middle East, especially this part."

He pointed at the Arabian coastline.

Dupotet followed the motion of his finger.

"The Red Sea?" he asked.

"And the Gulf," Napoleon II replied. "Specifically the southern Arabian coast. It’s a territory of the Ottoman Empire but their grip is weak there. We can simply take it militarily, especially the coastal regions. And I also learned that there is potential oil in the region. We control it, we control the whole world. One last thing, there is another thing I want to do."

"What is it?"

"I want to make a canal in this region," Napoleon II pointed at the place where Suez canal was built.