I Became a Captain of the British Empire - Chapter 146



Navy Police Lewis

June 20, 1931.

London, Naval Headquarters.

The morning sky is bright.

The sky, which had been consistently covered in dark clouds, shimmered with rare warm sunlight.

“We have arrived, Admiral.”

“Long time no see.”

Faced with an occasional wind, I got out of the official vehicle. The massive headquarters building cast a shadow on the floor.

“Looks like you come here quite often.”

“Aren’t you looking at official duties now? It’s good if you get used to it.”

Lt. Col. Rich, carrying a suitcase full of paperwork, walked beside me.

“That too, Rich. The less you meet the boss, the better.”

“I wasn’t like that, but… .”

Well, is it really?

It is a remark that ignores the gaze shared by all members of society, from all over the world. I don’t know if I can believe it.

While looking at the adjutant with questionable eyes, someone from headquarters saluted.

A face I’ve seen several times. He is a major in the Navy Headquarters. He gave a salute and held up my bag.

“Nice to meet you, 5th Navy Sergeant.”

Hearing the title I wasn’t familiar with yet, I met his eyes.

“The Secretary of the Navy is waiting.”

When the title changes, the treatment also changes.

Following the officer in charge of our guidance, we moved on. As I walked through the corridors, officers coming and going came and went.

Faces I don’t even know. It will take some time to adjust to the new job.

As I was moving quickly, an officer approached me and gave a loud salute.

“Bar, nice to meet you. Admiral!”

“uh… okay.”

A young officer who still looks to be in his 20s.

I tilted my head as I saw him standing there, hesitantly, nervously.

“Have you seen us?”

“do… This is Lieutenant Donald McIntyre.”

“Ahh… that!”

… Who is it? I do not remember.

Before I could even think, my mouth moved on its own.

“Hey, I remember. Long time no see.”

“Yes, Admiral! It’s an honor to see you again!”

“I have to go because I am busy with work. Let’s talk again later.”

“yes? ah… yes! sorry!”

The way to go is urgent.

Leaving the lieutenant behind, I asked the adjutant.

“Adjutant, have I ever met that friend?”

“yes?”

“that… What do you mean Lieutenant Tire?”

“… Didn’t you remember that?”

Avoiding the adjutant’s staring eyes, I looked at the yard of the Admiralty building.

It seems that the human eye still needs training.

* * *

“Here.”

kiik-

The old-fashioned door opened, revealing a landscape I hadn’t seen in a long time.

spacious office.

And a desk located in a place where the sun comes in, and a big guy who puts down a pen in front of it.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes, have you been okay?”

“I don’t know who my friend on the frontlines is worried about.”

“The wires aren’t just across the Atlantic.”

I said it like a joke, but the other person didn’t laugh. He just snorted as if it was impossible.

He has a bulldog-like face whenever he sees it.

“Nice to meet you, Minister.”

Secretary of the Navy Winston Churchill nodded as he was greeted.

“Come in. Sit down and talk.”

Carefully walking across the carpet, I approached the prepared seat. I wonder what kind of work he was doing, all sorts of papers were scattered on the desk.

Trying to take my eyes off the useless material, I looked at Churchill.

Churchill asked quietly, raising his eyes.

“How does it feel to be the 5th Navy?”

“yet… I am not used to it.”

“You will get used to it soon. It is a place suitable for you.”

Faced with a fishy laugh, I couldn’t hide my uncomfortable look.

5th Naval Police.

As one of the members of the Admiralty, it oversees the aircraft of the Royal Navy.

It was originally built during World War I. At that time, Sir Godfrey Payne concurrently held the position of Director of Naval Aviation, and then the Naval Forces were absorbed into the Air Force and abolished.

However, as the Haehangdae was revived during the war, it was newly created. And the Navy Secretary in front of me seemed to think that I was the right person for the position.

“As I participated in the design of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, my trust in you increased. Now they think they know how to do the backyard work well.”

“I’ve hardly ever served in the rear.”

oops-

Churchill laughed lightly, then took out a cigar and put it in his mouth.

A thick cloud of smoke rises above your head. I don’t know secondhand smoke, but this person.

“So, what are you talking about?”

“Yes, about the Naval Air Corps.”

Now it’s time to get to work.

I glanced at the adjutant and took out a document from my bag.

“This is a report on the development of the next aircraft carrier.”

widely-

A wad of thick paper knocks on the table.

“… It seems a bit early to apply for a budget.”

Churchill frowns at the pain of increased work.

I straightened my posture without faltering.

“It is important.”

new job. Although it is not a position to be in charge of the battle situation on top of a tens of thousands of tons of capital ship… .

“Please take a good look at it.”

“A plan like this in this situation… .”

If I’m going to do it, I’ll do it right. Especially in a place like this.

“It seems a bit difficult now.”

“Isn’t Parliament noisy?”

“joy.”

Did you stab a sore spot?

Churchill frowned and turned his head.

“It’s just noises that don’t matter. Nothing to worry about.”

“As the war is over, it will be.”

“So we need to end it more clearly.”

With a sigh, Churchill blinked his tired eyes.

Right now Congress is probably quite noisy over post-war dealings. Because the issue of interests of each power is a matter of sharp conflict.

I heard that all sorts of rubbish from South America to the Soviet Union are poised to become follicles and rush to the United States. Anyway, biting pups… . No wonder Churchill suffered from such a headache.

“Yes, Minister. And this is a tool for that ending.”

So I went one step ahead.

Because now that the Haehangdae is independent, it is an opportunity.

“The era has come in which the navy cannot ignore air power. Airplane performance is no longer a secondary issue. It is a factor that may decide the future of the Royal Navy.”

“… Do you believe that carrier-based aircraft will serve as the main gun of a battleship?”

“Maybe more than that.”

Churchill stared at me, then shut his mouth.

Is it because it is a shocking claim? However, he is also a minister who was reinstated after the Royal Navy had a bitter taste in aircraft.

“Okay, which plane do you want?”

The reason Churchill was able to return to politics was because the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Fleet suffered a fatal blow from an aircraft carrier air raid and was defeated in a naval battle.

He probably doesn’t know why he was able to return to politics, so I continued talking to him who quickly changed his complexion.

“Performance at least equivalent to that of the air force. And it is an aircraft optimized for shipboard operation.”

“Is it the development of a dedicated carrier aircraft?”

“And an all-metal monoplane.”

Churchill’s eyes wide open.

He stared back and forth between the papers and me with his mouth open, then blinked as if it were nonsensical.

“Speed is an important factor in air combat.”

“You seem to like to get ahead.”

It even looks like a laugh. Well, it’s still a design that could come out of a science fiction novel.

But monoplanes will soon become mainstream. Powers that fought fierce air battles during the war are already scrambling to make prototypes of high-performance fighters.

The Navy should not lag behind here either.

“The speed should be at least 400 km/h, the landing gear should be retractable as much as possible, and the design should focus on high-speed performance with an enclosed cockpit. All metal products are desired, but… If possible, I would like this to be done as well.”

Churchill looked at me with his arms crossed. He listened carefully and tilted his head.

“I don’t know much about airplanes. Do you think that this type of aircraft will become mainstream in the future?”

“All airplane development over the next 10 years will converge on these designs.”

It’s not even a very distant future. It is now more than 10 years until famous aircraft from World War II, such as the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, and Massachusetts Bf-109, appear.

In the end, monoplanes dominate the sky.

“Of course, these are just basic specifications. A detailed estimate will still need to be worked out over time.”

I am not an aircraft expert. That’s all I can offer right now.

Just getting directions. However, it is the foundation for the future talents of the Royal Navy. can never be handled lightly.

“Right. I get it. however… .”

Churchill, who was casually handing over the papers, asked with his chin on his chin.

“Why are you telling me this?”

As he said the essentials, the minister’s keen eyes twinkled. A sharp gaze pierced me.

It would be strange if you think about it.

If you dare to ask for a face-to-face meeting with the Secretary of the Navy early in the day, not even during the official reporting period, you will have something you want.

“What do you want, Admiral Lewis?”

As he expected, I have a wish for Churchill.

“It is because we need the Minister’s support.”

“support?”

The old lion’s eyes widened in interest. I nodded quietly.

Going forward on the first line in this war will be difficult.

The big battle has to be over, and Admiral Pound wants me to recuperate.

Then I will do what only the rear can do. Thoroughly, to the point of not caring about anything.

“The Royal Navy is still dominated by battleships. I was also the squadron commander of the battlecruiser squadron.”

The basis of the Royal Navy is the battleship.

Even during World War II, British battleships were used as the main force.

On the other hand, the Naval Aviation Corps was lagging the most among the three naval powers as biplane fighters were in active service.

In the original history, the status of the Royal Navy was so strong that it somehow led the war to victory… .

“Therefore, in order for airwaves to gain strength, strong support is needed.”

I don’t know what will happen in the future. Especially in this damn twisted world.

Churchill, who had been quietly listening to the story, immediately interrupted me. He looked around, confirmed that no one was there but us and his adjutant, and nodded again.

“Go on.”

“I hope that the Minister will support the future Royal Navy so that it can fulfill its will.”

We need a sponsor who can give us the greatest strength.

And on top of that, it would be perfect if he was a man who later served as prime minister.

Churchill quietly listened to my story. Immediately after, he tilted his face, hid his eyes in the shadows, and opened his mouth.

“What is the price?”

“I will be on your side.”

In the heavy air, Churchill smiled softly.

* * *

30 minutes later.

“Admiral? I think you should come over here for a while.”

“What is it?”

way out of the office.

Lieutenant Colonel Ritchie, who had been waiting in the hallway, hurriedly came running.

“Take a look at this.”

Is this urgent news? Breathing is rough.

After looking around for a while, he looked at me with a rather serious face and said.

“Looks like something happened in America.”

“What, did MacArthur get impeached?”

“no. But it might be similar.”

Eventually, Lieutenant Colonel Rich took out a piece of paper from his pocket.

Show me the news on the front page of the newspaper.

– Texas is under attack! –

“Mexico has declared war.”

“… The intelligence department finally did the job.”

The end is approaching.