Unlike ordinary people, as a military expert, Hoffmann was very familiar with the development of radar in the Third Reich: Although radar was first invented and put into use by the British, and it shined in the Battle of Britain, the Third Reich except in the early days of the war It did not pay much attention to the application of radar and fell behind. After subsequent research and development, its development speed was faster than that of the United Kingdom. The "local chain" radar used in the UK has a maximum detection range of 190 kilometers, but it can only detect a 120-degree sector-shaped airspace. Its antenna is an iron tower nearly 100 meters high, and its maneuverability is extremely poor. The similar "Freya" radar developed in Germany has a maximum detection range of 120 kilometers. It can not only achieve 360-degree rotation, ensure the flexible maneuverability of the equipment, but also provide the earliest identification of friend or foe. Immediately afterwards, as an improvement of "Freya", "Mammoth" not only had a detection range of more than 300 kilometers, but also was more reliable in accuracy. Unfortunately, like "Freya", it could not accurately measure altitude. The newly developed Aquarius radar has been upgraded a step further. It is placed on a rotating 60-meter steel tower for continuous scanning. Thanks to improvements made by German scientists, it can detect up to 300 kilometers (the improved version can detect up to 380 kilometers). ), not only can the direction and distance of the incoming enemy aircraft be known, but the altitude of the aircraft group can also be measured more accurately, which is enough to provide an effective early warning.
After thinking for a moment, Hoffman asked in confusion: "Could it be that the British have been able to effectively interfere with the Aquarius radar?"
"No." Kamhuber looked a little unwilling, "But they can interfere with Mammoth and Freya more effectively. The problem with the Aquarius radar is that there are too few of them. There are less than 5 in total on the Western Front, including one in Berlin. But the area where MAN was bombed yesterday happens to lack such early warning radar."
"Why not decorate more?"
"Due to priority, the number of radars produced is very limited. Moreover," Jeshunek interjected, "This kind of radar is built on a 60-meter-high steel tower, and a corresponding command center must be built. The Air Force has other Early radars spent a lot of resources and lacked necessary follow-up supporting facilities."
"Resources?" Hoffman turned to ask Speer, "I have stopped all the base camp fortifications that the Army was going to build. Can't these resources be transferred over?"
"My head of state, these resources have already been assigned to the U-boat cavern project and the Atlantic defense line project along the French coast." Speer replied expressionlessly, "This is the arrangement Marshal Lundstedt is not very good at." Satisfied, wish I could provide more steel and concrete."
"The order of priorities must be changed. Preventing air attacks on the Western Front is the first priority, U-boats are the second priority, and the Atlantic fortifications should be moved back temporarily - it is a joke that those steel triangle cones can block the Allied forces. "Hoffman pondered for a moment before making a decision, "If the Allied forces cannot stop interfering with the empire's industrial production, supplies and resources will become increasingly scarce. By then, even if the Atlantic Barrier is built, it will not be able to guarantee its own safety."
"The second reason is that we lack enough night fighters." Kamhuber added, "The night fighters currently have three wings, namely NJG1, NJG2 and NJG3. So far this year, we have shot down many There are more than 350 British bombers, but the British still retain at least 1,000 more aircraft. However, our night fighter wing has less than 300 remaining aircraft and lacks experienced pilots. What's even more terrible is that we received a call from May Seschmidt Company informed that according to the aviation rearmament case, the BF-110, which is currently used more at night, will be discontinued next month..."
Before Hoffman said anything, Speer jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on: "General Kamhuber, you can't blame me for this. The discontinuation of BF-110 is the result of the overall consideration of the high command. In the demonstration meeting of the Air Force Technical Department, you also believed that the Ju-88 would be more ideal as a night fighter after necessary improvements, and could replace the role of the BF-110. And I also promised you that once the Heinkel Hs-219 project matures, , will be included in the priority procurement..."
Kamhuber laughed awkwardly: "Minister Speer, it's exactly what you said. I don't mean to blame you, but, it's just..." He said "only" three times in a row, but couldn't say it. As for the subsequent twist, I only focused on Jeshunek's face. The latter looked embarrassed, his face flushed, and his body was actually trembling slightly - this was an obvious sign of anger.
Now everyone knew there was a hidden secret. Seeing that Jeshunek himself refused to say anything, Hoffman named Garland and asked: "Garland, you should know the situation. Tell me what is going on."
Garland had no choice but to reveal the whole story: the Ju-88 was usually used as a bomber. The Western Front Air Force did not have many bombing missions, so the inventory was very small. Marshal Speller refused on the grounds that he also needed to take care of the anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. Although the Eastern Front Air Force was equipped with more Ju-88s, Graham also refused to let the Ju-88 combat units return to China for transformation on the excuse that the war was tight and the need to support ground operations was high. , only 15 BF-110s were handed over to deal with the problem, and then they spread their hands and said that this was the only remaining BF-110 that was idle on the Eastern Front. There were dozens more that had been converted into ground attack aircraft, and they could not be handed over either. come out.
Marshal Keitel keenly discovered the problem: the strategic adjustment on the Eastern Front has long been clear, focusing on shrinking and consolidating. Most of the existing salients will gradually be leveled. Even the troops who have been maintaining an offensive posture and pounced on the Caucasus and Stalingrad The Sixth Army had stopped to rest and recuperate. Where could there be a situation where "the war situation is tight and the ground forces need to be supported in operations"? It is clear that General Graeme, who is in charge of the Eastern Front Air Force Operations, does not take the Chief of Air Force General Staff General Jeshunek in his eyes. Maybe this list also includes Marshal Speller.
As Garland spoke, Jeshunek clenched his fists tighter, his face so gloomy that it almost dripped with water. Hoffman understood: It was not that Jeshunek had not tried hard, but that his efforts had been ignored, or that they looked down on the Air Force Chief of Staff at all and used all kinds of baseless excuses to fend him off - -The problem still lies in the bureaucracy of the Air Force. The young Chief of Staff of the Air Force cannot suppress these arrogant and powerful generals.
Jeshunek became a fighter pilot in 1917 when he was only 15 years old, and successfully shot down two enemy planes. His qualifications as a second lieutenant were quite acceptable. But the problem came later. After World War I, when he was under 20 years old, he had been working in the Army Ordnance Department. He became an officer of the General Staff in 1928. By the time he transferred to the Air Force in 1933, Kesselring, Stumpf and others had already Although he was a colonel, he was still a lieutenant. He worked as an adjutant to Marshal Milch and was promoted to captain the following year - it took him 17 years to go from second lieutenant to captain! His talent in the staff business was recognized. In 1938, he became the Chief of Operations of the General Staff. Thanks to the appreciation of Goering and Milch, he was promoted successively, as if to make up for the lost time. Since then, he has been promoted eight times. Within a year he was promoted from captain to general. But at this time, his qualifications seemed too shallow. As the chief of staff of the Air Force who was "promoted by rocket", he could not restrain the frontline generals such as Kesselring, Speller, and Graeme. Of course, Goering and Milch's purpose in arranging Jeshunek to serve as Chief of the Air Force General Staff was not simple either. UU Reading www.uukanｓhu． com just took a fancy to his ability, shallow foundation, and easy control, so he was often caught in a dilemma between two people, always relying on others. Because he was unsociable and promoted too quickly, he had no friends among the top brass of the Air Force. He only had a good personal relationship with General Richthofen, but Richthofen was arranged by Hoffman to go to the Navy to become the commander of the aviation force. , Jeshunek became even more isolated and helpless in the Air Force Command.
Marshal Keitel thought more: In addition to his qualifications, there may be factional reasons why Jeshunek was excluded - Jeshunek was promoted by Goering and Milch to become the chief of staff of the Air Force, and he had served as Milch's adjutant, in the eyes of many people, Jeshunek has long been marked as a confidant of the two. After the head of state removed Goering and exiled Milch, Jeshunek will also be on the purge list, allowing him to continue to serve as president. The chief of staff is nothing more than a transitional arrangement. Keitel remembered that he had corresponding concerns at the time, but was denied by Hoffman. The head of state stated bluntly: "I chose Jeshunek to continue to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force after careful consideration. In addition to his outstanding staff ability, his age Good understanding, high obedience, and strong execution are the reasons why I am more interested in people. The Air Force is full of too many old officers. How can we do it without relying on young people?" But Keitel knows this problem well, but others don't. He said To put it bluntly, these senior generals were not convinced by the arrangements made by the head of state at the previous personnel adjustment meeting. They did not dare to target the head of state and just vented their anger on Jeshunek.
Keitel cast a sympathetic look at him: the aggrieved Jeshunek was originally the victim of Goering and Milch, and now he has become the scapegoat of the Führer. This life is really sad.
UU Reading welcomes all book lovers to come and read. The latest, fastest and most popular serial works are all in UU Reading! Mobile phone users please go and read.