In the battle that would later be known as the Battle of the North Atlantic, the Japanese European Expeditionary Fleet, consisting mainly of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Fleets, along with the First Fleet, decisively defeated the British fleet. Despite the significant loss of carrier-based aircraft and their crews, as well as damage to several surface strike vessels, no Japanese ships were sunk.
On the other hand, the defeated British fleet suffered a devastating blow to its carrier-based fighter squadrons during Japan's first attack on the morning of the first day of the battle. In the second attack, all seven carriers, including four armored carriers, were sunk. The third attack resulted in the sinking of the state-of-the-art battleships King George V and Duke of York, along with the battlecruiser Renown. The fourth attack, conducted in the afternoon, further sank numerous cruisers and destroyers.
On the second day of the battle, a naval artillery and torpedo engagement occurred between Japanese and British surface strike vessels. The British battleships were heavily defeated in the artillery duel, and all of them were eventually sunk. Additionally, nine British destroyers accompanying the battleships were overwhelmed and destroyed by the superior Japanese light forces. Simultaneously, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Fleets attacked and sank damaged British cruisers and destroyers attempting to retreat from the battlefield, eliminating almost twenty of them. In this series of battles, Admiral Pound, the supreme commander, went down with the HMS King George V, while Admiral Cunningham, the second-in-command, shared the fate of the HMS Nelson.
Parallel to the fleet engagement, the aerial battle over the British mainland also ended in Axis victory. The British Royal Air Force, having lost many ace pilots to the carrier-based air squadrons, faced a decline in overall strength. In contrast, the German side, supported by both Western and Eastern Front air units, received additional assistance from elite Italian squadrons dispatched by Benito Mussolini. With such a significant disparity in strength, even the resilient Royal Air Force couldn't endure.
Having dealt with the nuisance of the British fleet and witnessing the decline of British aerial power over their homeland, the European Expeditionary Fleet initiated the second phase of their operation—conducting commerce raiding, specifically hunting down British merchant ships.
The European Expeditionary Fleet had three mobile task forces under its command—the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Fleets. One of these task forces was dedicated to the mission of disrupting maritime traffic, while the remaining two engaged in rotation for movement and maintenance. Though only one mobile task force was actively involved in operations at any given time, the ability to split the fleet into two or even three groups, each with five carriers, provided flexibility. Furthermore, there was no remaining British naval force capable of countering the Japanese mobile task forces, allowing the European Expeditionary Fleet to operate freely at sea.
The primary mission for the participating mobile task forces was to disperse two or three carriers and conduct the hunting of British merchant ships. After the start of the operation, Japanese carriers became a formidable and ominous presence for British merchant vessels, possessing superior scouting and attacking capabilities that surpassed even U-boats.
In this commerce warfare, the four battleships of the First Fleet were absent. The Yamato, Musashi, Nagato, and Mutsu had all suffered damage ranging from moderate to minor in gun battles with British battleships. These four ships, along with escorting destroyers, had already begun their return journey to the homeland shortly after the British fleet was annihilated.
As the Japanese mobile task forces initiated their operations, U-boat units, the German Luftwaffe, and the Italian fleet mobilized their full strength to defeat Britain. Exploiting the dire situation of the British Royal Navy, which had lost a significant number of destroyers and skilled sailors in the Battle of the North Atlantic, the U-boat units wreaked havoc.
On the other hand, the United States Navy couldn't offer effective support to its Allied partners in their time of need. While the introduction of the Fletcher-class destroyers allowed for a reasonable increase in the number of escort vessels, the wounds suffered in battles like the Battle of the Marshall Islands and the Battle of Oahu were too deep. The US Navy had yet to fully recover from the personnel losses.
Germany's determination for maritime disruption extended beyond torpedo attacks by U-boats. They strategically deployed stockpiled mines around major ports, delivering additional blows to Britain's maritime traffic.
The Luftwaffe also played a significant role. With the absence of bothersome fighters like the Spitfire and Hurricane in the skies over mainland Britain, German planes freely conducted daily bombing and strafing missions. Particularly impactful were bombings of food factories and markets, as well as the systematic firebombing of granary areas using outdated and civilian aircraft, causing a decisive disruption. This harassment led to a rapid deterioration of Britain's food situation. In the first place, Britain's self-sufficiency in food was less than 50%. Being subjected to a naval blockade essentially meant depriving the country of its means of procuring food.
As a result, the availability of food in the market sharply decreased, leading to rapid inflation. First and foremost, those unable to afford food, primarily from the impoverished class, began to emerge. Some even succumbed to starvation. It didn't take long for the affluent class, who could afford the soaring prices through back channels, to find themselves in a situation where they were spared from hunger. Even the children of the middle class were emaciated, and lives were steadily lost, with survival depending solely on the availability of something to eat.
Furthermore, malnutrition and starvation easily lead to the spread of epidemics. As a result, the shortage of medical supplies worsened. In addition, every city suffered severe damage to infrastructure due to bombings, leading to a drastic deterioration in hygiene conditions. The unsanitary environment further accelerated the spread of diseases. Additionally, whether due to instigation by German agents or not, looting, destruction targeting shops and food warehouses, and frequent riots occurred.
Amidst the shortage of supplies and the associated stress, people agitated by their circumstances filled the streets. Meanwhile, individuals losing not only physical strength but also morale due to illness and hunger were on the rise. With the skyrocketing crime rate, the police were virtually helpless, and hospitals could only silently watch as patients succumbed.
The prevailing mood was no longer just war-weariness. Under these circumstances, continuing the war was simply not feasible. The health and lives of the citizens were exposed to dangers at an intolerable level. In this situation, Britain had no choice but to opt for a de facto surrender under the guise of a ceasefire agreement. Of course, Prime Minister Churchill escaped from Britain, established the Free British Army with the support of the United States, and hoped for a comeback.
After the ceasefire agreement took effect, Germany promptly provided food aid to Britain. This was, of course, a measure to somewhat alleviate the negative sentiments of the British people toward Germany. While Germany did not mimic imposing heavy taxes on the British people, it carried out harsh confiscations against the government, nobility, and wealthy individuals.
The wealth that Britain had extracted from around the world over several centuries was immense. As a result, Germany, which had been grappling with a financial crisis, saw its treasury rapidly replenished. Furthermore, in recognition of Japan, which played a crucial role in bringing down Britain through the European Expeditionary Fleet, Germany also bestowed appropriate assets as a gesture of gratitude.
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Cash-Loaded Fleet
Historical Fiction「As long as you have money, you can strengthen the fleet as much as you want.」 Born with a natural inclination for gambling, or perhaps a true gambler at heart, Binta Satsutaba is drawn by his instincts to immerse himself in the tumultuous world of...
