"Besides aircraft carriers, His Royal Highness also places great emphasis on submarines. In his discussions with Admiral Tirpitz, he asserted that the future navy will consist of only three types of vessels: aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines, with perhaps a few specialized ships extending beyond that," Admiral Reinhardt Scheer continued.
Vice Admiral Hippler was clearly taken aback by this revelation, left momentarily speechless. Such a declaration from Qin Tian was utterly inconceivable to him. The navy currently boasted a plethora of ship types; what would naval warfare resemble if only three remained? Hippler found it difficult to envision.
Nevertheless, he felt a sense of relief. The genius of the Crown Prince was a German; it was precisely this fact that enabled Germany to triumph over formidable foes in the war.
"The foresight of His Royal Highness is beyond our comprehension. Since he is so certain, there must be sound reasoning behind it. I believe he is right; he has never erred," Hippler affirmed.
Admiral Scheer nodded, "In matters of naval development, we are but mere mortals, while His Royal Highness is nothing short of divine, possessing a vision akin to that of a god."
Hippler concurred with this sentiment.
This conviction further bolstered their confidence regarding future conflicts. With a leader as visionary as the Crown Prince, how could the Imperial Navy possibly face defeat?
"By the way, Commander, speaking of submarines, a submarine officer has submitted a rather intriguing combat plan. Perhaps you might like to review it," Hippler suddenly interjected.
"Oh? What combat plan?" Admiral Scheer inquired. Although submarines were not yet formidable, the fact that they were included among the three ship types favored by Qin Tian heightened Scheer's regard for them.
"This operational plan was proposed by a submarine captain named Dönitz, who currently holds the rank of commander. His submarine has sunk numerous British merchant vessels during the war, demonstrating considerable talent in submarine warfare," Hippler explained.
"Oh?" The mention of Dönitz piqued Admiral Scheer's interest.
"Commander Dönitz has proposed that he take his submarine into Scapa Flow to launch an attack on the Royal Navy vessels anchored there. If successful, this could deliver a devastating blow to the Royal Navy's main fleet, presenting a significant opportunity to weaken their power," Hippler elaborated.
"What? Launching an ambush in Scapa Flow? Good heavens! I must admit, Commander Dönitz is remarkably audacious. However, if successful, it would indeed constitute a significant victory," Admiral Scheer remarked.
The Royal Navy's main forces were currently concentrated in Scapa Flow, comprising over seventy percent of their fleet. Should the German submarines infiltrate their ranks, they could potentially unleash torpedo strikes against the British warships. Even with limited torpedoes aboard a single submarine, sinking two or three British capital ships would inflict severe damage. For the severely weakened Royal Navy, every capital ship was invaluable. The loss of an 'Elizabeth-class' or 'Revenge-class' battleship would represent a major triumph. Currently, these classes posed the most significant threat to the German Navy. Destroying them before the decisive battle would further enhance the chances of victory for the High Seas Fleet.
"Yes, Commander. This is indeed a highly perilous plan. The British have assembled the Royal Navy's main forces in Scapa Flow, and their defenses will undoubtedly be formidable. Moreover, we are not well-acquainted with the hydrological conditions there. Thus, infiltrating Scapa Flow is no simple task," Hippler conceded.
Admiral Scheer nodded. The entire plan was undeniably fraught with risk; a single misstep could lead to failure. Should that happen, the consequences would be dire.
"Why would Commander Dönitz submit such a reckless operational plan?" Admiral Scheer inquired.
"I have heard that one of his friends, also a submarine captain in our ranks, was sunk during the British's baiting operation. Thus, he seeks vengeance for his friend, prompting him to propose this plan. The staff agrees that it is too risky; however, Commander Dönitz remains resolute," Hippler reported.
"The British baiting operation has already cost us numerous submarines; it's no wonder Dönitz wishes to avenge his friend. Yet, as a military officer, he should not be driven by emotion. This operational plan is far too dangerous," Admiral Scheer contemplated rejecting the proposal.
"While the plan is indeed perilous, if it succeeds, the rewards could be substantial. I believe we should consider attempting it," Hippler offered a differing opinion.
"Commander Dönitz is our most talented submarine officer. Allowing him to undertake such a hazardous mission would be a tremendous waste if it were to fail," Admiral Scheer shook his head.
"Commander, precisely because Dönitz is our finest submarine commander, we should place our trust in him. I am confident he will succeed," Hippler asserted.
Admiral Scheer and Vice Admiral Hippler found themselves at an impasse on this issue. Consequently, they decided to escalate the combat plan to the naval command.
Qin Tian also learned of this operational plan from Admiral Tirpitz and was quite intrigued. He distinctly recalled that in another timeline, at the onset of World War II, a premier U-boat captain had infiltrated Scapa Flow to launch a surprise attack on the Royal Navy. In this timeline, the British defenses in Scapa Flow were nowhere near as formidable as in the other timeline. Therefore, the chances of success for the submarines were significantly heightened.
Thus, Qin Tian promptly approved the operational plan, instructing the navy to provide Commander Dönitz with all necessary preparations and support!