CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: DEEP WATER BOMB

Just two days later, another Allies battleship was sunk.

This time, it was the British ship "Dignity".

Its defense was more tightly secured, besides the anti-torpedo net, there were also merchant and transport ships encircling it, along with three destroyers and two trawlers patrolling around.

Yet, the Germans submarine still successfully sunk it.

The Germans were smart; they chose to attack at dawn when the slightly brightening sky cast darkness over the water, making it impossible for sailors to spot the periscope, while the submarine could accurately judge the battleship’s position by its massive shadow.

Thus, the German submarine launched a torpedo from 500 meters away, traversing the calm water miraculously through the gap between two defending merchant ships, breaking through the anti-torpedo net and accurately hitting the center of "Dignity".

Due to the explosion being right in the center, "Dignity" sank within seven minutes.

Fortunately, "Dignity" was near the coast at the time, the hull grounded, and only over 40 sailors perished.

...

People seemed to have grown accustomed to the news of battleships being sunk by the enemy, although newspapers still placed it on the front page, it no longer stirred much discussion among the public.

Gallieni merely shook his head: "It’s unimaginable, a battleship worth millions of pounds destroyed by a small torpedo."

At that moment, Kobudo handed a telegram to Gallieni: "General, the Germans likely have five to six submarines in the Dardanelles Strait."

"How do you know?" Gallieni asked Kobudo with suspicion.

This was intelligence that even the Second Bureau couldn’t ascertain. The British might know, but they hadn’t shared it with France.

Kobudo replied: "Someone saw a German submarine refueling in neutral Spain; previously, it wasn’t noticed, but now it seems clear that it was probably heading to the Dardanelles Strait. Additionally, there are several small coastal submarines transported by train, though these are just guesses."

Gallieni nodded.

The intelligence Kobudo obtained was mostly "informal news" but was highly valuable when there was no formal information.

"Only six submarines in total?" Shire said incredulously: "And just one large submarine can make the Allies so embarrassed?"

Major Fernan sounded somewhat resigned: "Even one can be painful, let alone five or six."

Shire looked at Major Fernan bewilderedly.

The Allies Fleet had over thirty destroyers and more than ten cruisers, couldn’t even they fend off a single submarine?

Major Fernan explained: "Submarines are only at risk of being attacked when they surface; otherwise, no one can do anything to them!"

Shire was startled and then realized that deep water bombs might not have been invented yet.

After asking a few more questions, Shire found that this was indeed the case.

Warships had extremely limited means of dealing with submarines: using naval guns or direct collision, with only a few minutes of opportunity. Once it dived, they could only hopelessly watch.

Shire responded with an "Hmm", realizing the need to visit the police training base.

...

Gallieni decided to use the police training base for the 105th regiment’s training ground because its facilities were far better than most temporary military bases.

Furthermore, the police training base had been training soldiers during this period, including mortars and 37mm guns, with people accustomed to the military’s comings and goings, making the arrival of the 105th regiment unnoticed by spies.

As Shire’s car drove into the training base, he heard a roar of engines and shouts.

Following the sound, he saw dozens of cars on the playground, specifically modified cars, with their rear parts equipped with raised platforms like the landing craft’s front planks.

Shire immediately understood that these cars were used to simulate "landing crafts":

The rear compartments were packed with soldiers coming and going.

The cars were driven in reverse, going up a slope, with the platform lowered, and fully armed soldiers swarmed out of the compartments holding rifles.

Shire was impressed: It had to be Tijani; he managed to obtain so many cars at this time.

However, Shire soon realized he had underestimated Tijani.

"Colonel!" Tijani, apparently informed by a communication soldier, ran over to Shire, covered in sweat. Seeing Shire watching the training ground, he sighed with some embarrassment: "There aren’t enough landing crafts, and this place isn’t quite suitable for training, so we have to make do."

Shire was speechless, considering such training "making do"?

Do you know how many people at the front are waiting for cars to transport ammunition and supplies, and you easily managed to get over fifty cars and still consider it making do?

However, Shire said nothing and merely replied: "It’s good enough, but we need to consider another issue. The troops constantly fighting on land might never have boarded a ship; if seasickness affects their combat effectiveness..."

"I’ve already arranged that." Tijani responded: "Starting tomorrow, they will train at the Toulon Naval Base and spend a few days on warships!"

Shire: ...

This guy’s expression suggested that having warships was as easy as picking them up.

Are you sure this isn’t showing off?

"Colonel." Tijani hesitated to ask: "Do you also need..."

Shire chuckled: "Just taking a ship, I don’t need it."

Modern-day Shire had experience sailing, thus confidently rejecting the offer.

However, he forgot that navigating a warship amidst gunfire differed significantly from modern-day smooth sailing.

"I need to discuss something with you." Shire pulled Tijani aside: "You’ve heard about the sinking of ’Dignity’, right?"

"Yes." Tijani nodded, then seemingly understanding Shire’s concern: "If you thought we might face insufficient landing ships due to that, there’s no need. I’ve already contacted Major General Gephardt, and he decided to dispatch the ’Gauls’ battleship along with five destroyers to provide cover for us, and several minesweepers and transport ships as well."

Shire: ...

He confirmed that choosing Tijani as the regiment commander was right, especially with naval matters all sorted out.

"That’s not why I came." Shire’s expression grew difficult: "I was thinking, should we have something to deal with submarines?"

"Deal with submarines?" Tijani asked, puzzled: "But it’s underwater, how can we..."

"Bombs." Shire answered promptly: "Bombs that can explode underwater."

Tijani’s eyes widened instantly.

This indeed was a feasible plan, and very straightforward, but somehow only Shire had thought of it?!