"Is this our aircraft carrier? It seems construction is nearly complete," remarked Admiral Count Tirpitz as he observed the two carriers under construction on the slipway.
Both carriers' main structures were almost finished, with much of the deck already in place, making the silhouette of the ships visible.
Qin Tian nodded. "It's expected that they will enter service by mid-next year. At that time, the carrier-based aircraft squadrons will begin training. Within a year, we should have combat-ready forces. If war breaks out in 1914, we will be prepared."
"Your Highness, will these aircraft carriers truly change the course of naval warfare as you claim?" Admiral Tirpitz still seemed slightly skeptical.
"Rest assured, Admiral, have I ever deceived you? Soon, the aircraft carrier will become the protagonist of naval battles, replacing battleships as the core of our fleet. Therefore, our primary focus should be on developing both carriers and carrier-based aircraft. As long as we advance on both fronts, the German Navy will continue to reign supreme over the seas," Qin Tian declared with confidence.
This was self-evident. If Germany could maintain a leading position in the development of such a powerful weapon, other nations would find it nearly impossible to challenge its dominance.
The engineers responsible for the carriers' construction then briefed Admiral Tirpitz on their performance.
These two aircraft carriers, christened the *Pioneer-class*, were named *Pioneer* and *Victory*. The *Pioneer-class* carriers had a standard displacement of 17,500 tons and a full load displacement of 23,700 tons. They were 195.6 meters in length, 31.2 meters wide, with a draught of 7.6 meters. Equipped with 12 large oil-fired boilers and two new steam turbines, they boasted 48,000 horsepower, achieving a top speed of 27 knots (28.5 knots during trials) and a range of 9,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. They carried a complement of 1,200 crew members, including 200 officers. Their armaments included eight 105mm rapid-fire guns, 12 twin-mounted 88mm anti-aircraft guns, and 24 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns. However, the most formidable weapon aboard was not its guns, but the complement of aircraft it carried. The lead carrier was designed to host 48 aircraft and four seaplanes. The aircraft were intended for offensive operations, while the seaplanes, with their longer range and easier takeoff and landing capabilities, would be used for reconnaissance and target acquisition. The 48 aircraft would comprise 12 fighters and 36 torpedo bombers.
The absence of dive bombers or horizontal bombers was due to technical limitations in developing dive bombers, and the poor accuracy of horizontal bombers against fast-moving naval targets. By comparison, torpedo bombers were far more suitable. Although the current torpedo bombers were only capable of carrying 350mm light aviation torpedoes, which were limited in their effectiveness against large surface targets, they were still adequate against the British Navy's lightly armored carriers. Even if they couldn't sink them, damaging them sufficiently to force them out of battle, or creating opportunities for the German fleet to engage, would be invaluable.
"The 350mm light torpedo lacks sufficient power," Admiral Tirpitz pointed out.
"The aviation research center is developing more advanced torpedo bombers that will be able to carry 450mm medium torpedoes. While the 350mm torpedoes may not do much damage to our battleships, the British battleships have always been poorly armored. Once damaged, our battleships can take care of the rest," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Admiral Tirpitz nodded repeatedly. If the aircraft carriers' planes could damage the British Navy's main ships, the ensuing battle would undoubtedly be much easier. Given the strength of the German surface fleet, it would be an easy task to finish off a crippled British fleet.
"Your Highness, once these two aircraft carriers are completed, will they be handed over to the navy?" asked Admiral Tirpitz.
"Of course. Consider these two carriers as a personal gift from me to the navy. I hope the navy can crush the British in future naval battles," Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Your Highness, rest assured, in the coming naval battles, we will certainly defeat the British!" Admiral Tirpitz declared confidently. With a powerful surface fleet, a large submarine force, and the addition of these aircraft carriers, if the German Navy could not prevail, he felt he might as well throw himself into the sea.
Time passed quickly, and soon the Balkan Wars began. The once mighty Ottoman Empire, which had dominated three continents, was now being severely beaten by the small countries it had once colonized. Of course, those countries were supported by Britain and France. Otherwise, no matter how weakened the Ottoman Empire was, it wouldn't have fared so badly.
Throughout the Balkan Wars, Germany maintained neutrality, offering occasional support to the Ottoman Empire, with the sole objective of wooing the Ottomans into joining the Central Powers.
Though the Ottoman Empire had not made any definitive commitments, their growing hostility towards Britain and France made it increasingly likely that they would side with the Central Powers.
By the end of 1913, at a court meeting, Crown Prince Qin Tian made a proposal that shocked everyone, including Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Qin Tian suggested abandoning Blue Island, the German stronghold in the East.
"Your Highness, the empire has very few footholds in the East, and Blue Island is one of the most important. We expended significant effort to secure it. Abandoning it now would make all of our previous efforts for nothing!" Little Moltke was the first to jump up and criticize Qin Tian's suggestion. He was eager to see Qin Tian make a mistake, as it would displease Kaiser Wilhelm.
Indeed, upon hearing Qin Tian's proposal, Wilhelm II's expression darkened. Due to Germany's late rise to power, the world had already been mostly divided among the other great powers, particularly the Eastern world. Germany had gone to great lengths to find a foothold in the East. It was, after all, a German general who commanded the Eight-Nation Alliance during the invasion of China.