"Your Majesty, Marshal," Qin Tian suddenly interjected as their conversation neared its conclusion. "I have just realized that our navy requires another type of warship. If we could construct a fleet of these, it would be an excellent means to enhance our naval power."
"Oh? Oscar, what kind of warship do you propose?" Both Emperor Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz were captivated, sharing a profound desire to bolster naval strength.
"A disruption warship!" Qin Tian replied.
"A disruption warship? Your Highness, do you mean a vessel designed to attack the British maritime supply lines?" Marshal Tirpitz furrowed his brow.
"Yes, Marshal. As the name implies, a disruption warship is specifically intended to assault the enemy's transport routes. This poses a particularly lethal threat to an island nation like Britain. Although their industry is advanced, the vast majority of their resources rely on maritime transport. Additionally, all produced industrial goods must be shipped elsewhere. If our disruption warships were to obliterate their maritime supply lines, it would deal a fatal blow to the British. Their industrial products could not be exported, essential resources would not arrive, and even the grain needed to satisfy domestic demands would fail to return home. Under such circumstances, could they possibly continue to resist us? An empire unable to feed its people would surely crumble swiftly!" A smile crossed Qin Tian's face.
Targeting maritime supply lines would undoubtedly be fatal for an island nation. In another timeline, both the Second and Third German Empires employed such tactics. However, lacking advanced surface ships, they could only utilize submarines. Though this caused significant losses for the British, the impact diminished as the British enhanced their escort vessels. In this timeline, if Germany could deploy a substantial number of disruption ships to sever British maritime supply lines, it would greatly assist in achieving a swift victory in the war.
"That's a commendable idea; the navy has considered this as well. However, Britain is not far from us, and constructing dedicated disruption warships may not be necessary. Conventional battleships and cruisers could accomplish this task," Wilhelm II shook his head. In his view, with Germany's naval budget being tight, all funding should be allocated wisely without unnecessary expenditure.
"Father, it is indeed possible to utilize general warships for disruption operations. However, let us not forget that the British possess a formidable navy. Their battleships and cruisers, while inferior in combat effectiveness, far outnumber ours. If we send our battleships and cruisers to undertake disruption missions, we risk being encircled by their forces. Moreover, each of our warships is precious; losing one would be a great misfortune," Qin Tian elaborated.
Both Wilhelm II and Marshal Tirpitz nodded in agreement, acknowledging Qin Tian's reasoning.
"Your Highness, do you have any suggestions?" Marshal Tirpitz inquired, clearly persuaded by Qin Tian's argument. Despite the current financial constraints, if a ship beneficial to the German navy's efforts against the British could be built, it would be worth the sacrifice. Ultimately, all they sought was victory in this war.
"Marshal, we need a battleship that is both fast and heavily armed. Regarding its defensive capabilities, it should also be enhanced. This way, our disruption warship would be relatively composed while attacking the enemy's maritime supply lines. In the event of an enemy encirclement, its speed would allow for an easy escape. Even if the enemy sent cruisers in pursuit, while they might catch up due to their speed, our disruption warship's formidable firepower would make their actions akin to delivering us victory," Qin Tian said, beaming with confidence.
"Indeed, such a warship would hold significant advantages in disruption operations," Wilhelm II nodded approvingly.
"Father, I propose naming this disruption vessel a battlecruiser, a type of ship that exists between a battleship and a cruiser. Its firepower would rival that of a battleship, while its speed would not be inferior to that of a cruiser. In terms of defense, it would be slightly less robust than a battleship, yet vastly superior to a cruiser. The small-caliber guns of cruisers would hardly pose a lethal threat to it."
"Your Highness implies that this battlecruiser would be capable of defeating enemy battleships yet too swift for them to pursue, while it could outrun enemy cruisers yet overpower them in combat," Marshal Tirpitz chuckled.
"Precisely. Furthermore, despite its weaker defenses, our battlecruiser would be no less formidable than British battleships. The British overly prioritize firepower and speed, leading them to compromise defense within limited displacement. Thus, our battlecruiser's defenses could very well surpass theirs, making confrontation possible. Nevertheless, to preserve our strength, we should strive to avoid direct engagements with enemy battleships," Qin Tian concluded.
The primary role of the battlecruiser would be to target the enemy's maritime supply lines and to bully smaller vessels such as destroyers and cruisers, rather than to engage directly with enemy battleships.
"Your Majesty, the Prince's proposal is indeed excellent, illuminating another path for the navy's development. While I maintain that the decisive factor in naval warfare remains the defeat of the enemy's capital ships, the inclusion of battlecruisers is equally indispensable, granting us greater advantages and more strategic options," Marshal Tirpitz asserted.
Should Germany's battlecruisers deploy at the onset of war to strike British maritime supply lines, not only would this weaken Britain's wartime potential, but it would also undermine their morale, compelling them to reconsider their participation in the conflict. This could afford Germany valuable time.
Wilhelm II nodded, "It seems the battlecruiser is indeed a vital addition to our navy."