The German mine-sweeping team worked for two days to finally clear a channel leading to the port of Cobh in Ireland.
Several Liberty ships that had set off from Bordeaux, France, sailed into Cobh.
During World War II, due to the ravages of the German U-boat fleet, British transport ships suffered heavy losses. For Britain, which relied on maritime transport, cutting off sea routes was like a noose around the neck of the British Empire. After research, the most effective countermeasure against German submarines was determined to be - building transport ships faster than German submarines could sink them! (Did this really need research?)
The Thompson Shipyard in Britain, using research from the National Physical Laboratory, designed an unconventional ship type rarely seen at that time: with a raked stem and a V-shaped bottom rather than the common U-shape. This design had less resistance than U-bottomed ships, thus increasing speed and being cheaper to build. According to estimates from the Thompson Shipyard, the cost of one such ship could be kept under £100,000. Since this type was first built by the Thompson Shipyard, it was also called the Thompson design.
At that time, British shipyards were busy building more crucial warships and had no capacity for transport ships, so Britain commissioned the United States to build these vessels, sending over the "Empire Liberty" and its blueprints.
The American side improved the design by largely replacing riveting with welding (except for the ribbing). This had several benefits: it significantly sped up construction, saved steel, reduced overall weight (a welded Liberty ship could save about 200 tons of steel compared to a riveted one), and since experienced riveters were scarce in the U.S., the less skilled welders were easier to train and could start work more quickly, which was crucial during wartime.
Because the design was based on the "Empire Liberty," and in February 1941, President Roosevelt announced in his "fireside chat" the intent to build many new transport ships to supply the European theater, stating these ships "would bring freedom to the European continent." At the launch of the first ship, Roosevelt quoted a famous line from the American Revolutionary War statesman Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death." Hence, this type of transport ship was named "Liberty Ship."
The Liberty Ship design was simple but practical, with a significantly higher cargo capacity compared to ships of similar tonnage, which was the main advantage. It had five holds, three in the front and two in the back, capable of carrying 10,800 tons of cargo.
Typically, a Liberty Ship could carry 2,840 jeeps, or 440 light tanks like the "Stuart," or 260 medium tanks like the "Sherman," or 525 armored cars, or 390 half-tracks, or 425 2.5-ton trucks, showcasing its impressive carrying capacity.
Amid the roar of engines, Jackal tanks, with their long gun barrels held high, drove out of the Liberty Ship's holds one by one, heading towards the nearby railway station.
The mobility of armored units' tanks and tracked armored vehicles comes in two forms: short-range and battlefield tactical movement, where the vehicles move under their own power. However, the engines and tracks have a lifespan, and the cost of tracked movement is high, with strict limits on engine running hours to conserve them. Therefore, for long-distance road marches, tank transporters are used, and for even longer distances, rail transport is preferred.
The Irish army had already gathered near the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, ready to strike.
The animosity between Ireland and Britain was longstanding, and now with a chance to strike a fallen foe, not only were young men within Ireland eager to enlist, but Irish descendants from around the world were also coming to support Ireland. Just from the United States alone, over ten thousand had arrived, causing Roosevelt quite a headache. After all, these "Americans" armed with German weapons aiding the Irish against the English was quite the conundrum.
Yet, he couldn't order these people not to go to Ireland, as such an order would only alienate the many Irish descendants in the U.S., potentially further lowering his already low approval ratings.
"Has Britain reinforced Northern Ireland?" Wilhelm inquired about the situation in Ireland during a regular defense meeting.
Gerd von Rundstedt replied, "Your Highness, it seems the British have no intention of reinforcing Northern Ireland; they've even withdrawn a significant number of troops and equipment from there. Many Northern Irish have also fled back to mainland England."
As mentioned earlier, the British had occupied Ireland since 1169, beginning to dominate its culture and politics. In 1541, King Henry VIII of England, to strengthen control, sent a large number of settlers from England to Ireland. These settlers were not only English but also Scottish, mostly settling in the province of Ulster in northeastern Ireland, living alongside the native Irish.
As the British settler population in Northern Ireland grew, the descendants of these settlers eventually outnumbered the native Irish.
Now, most of these British descendants were fleeing back to mainland England, fearing retribution from the Irish if Northern Ireland fell.
Therefore, the port of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, has been extremely busy these days, with everyone rushing to board ships. Fortunately, Belfast is only about 50 kilometers from Scotland, so each ship can make several round trips a day.
Air Force Commander Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen asked, "Your Highness, should we bomb Belfast port?"
Wilhelm thought for a moment and shook his head. "No need, let them evacuate as much as possible. Reinhard, have our agents in Northern Ireland spread the rumor that the Irish plan to massacre these English descendants. Encourage as many of these English descendants to flee back to England as possible."
Currently, Northern Ireland has a population of about one million, with more than half being descendants of the English. The food consumption by hundreds of thousands fleeing back to England would be substantial.
"It looks like there's no doubt we'll take Northern Ireland. I heard the British fleet from Alexandria has withdrawn to India?" Even before Rommel reached Cairo, the remaining British fleet in Alexandria had escaped through the Suez Canal to India.
"I wonder if the British royal family will leave." In the original timeline, the German Luftwaffe bombed London for eight months, yet the British royal family stayed in London, with some royals even serving in the military, though symbolic, the moral boost to the Commonwealth was immeasurable.
It remains to be seen whether the royal family will stay in London this time, especially since the fall of Northern Ireland would pose significant risks to any royal evacuation.