CHAPTER 597: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 597 BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF AIR COMBAT

The British moved quickly, covering the roughly 200 kilometers from Dunkirk to Namur. Normally, by train, it would take five to six hours just for travel time, plus the loading time, totalling at least seven to eight hours.

However, the first batch of supplies managed to reach Namur Airport in just four hours.

This was Kitchener’s merit, though he was already in a predicament.

Requesting aerial reinforcements from Shire wasn’t Admiral Avis’s decision, but rather Kitchener’s, the commander of the British Empire, who didn’t want to lower the prestigious head of the world’s foremost power, thus he had Avis contact Shire.

Kitchener had naturally cancelled his planned journey to the River Somme.

Compared to the defeat at Antwerp, the stalemate at the River Somme was insignificant.

Kitchener considered one point: Shire had created miracles at Antwerp, twice.

The first time, he single-handedly entered Antwerp and commanded the Belgian Army, which was on the brink of collapse, in defeating the German Army.

The second time, he led France’s First Armored Army and took Antwerp within a single day, establishing the current defensive line at Antwerp, a feat that was written into textbooks as classic examples by various countries.

Yet now, the British Army had just forced Shire’s troops out of Antwerp citing segmented defensive deployment, and immediately suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the German Army.

How was Kitchener supposed to explain this to Albert I?

How would the British Army face the Belgian Army and the French Army?

How would the Colonial Army perceive the British Army?

"No, it can’t continue like this," Kitchener gave a firm order, "Command Admiral Avis to defend Antwerp at all costs!"

But just this order wasn’t enough.

Kitchener, unlike Haig, understood the importance of new equipment like airplanes and tanks. He believed that turning the tide required air superiority, at the very least, preventing the Germans from fully controlling it.

Therefore, upon receiving Shire’s promise, Kitchener, in his capacity as Britain’s Minister of the Army, commanded the railways to clear all miscellaneous trains, thus delivering the first batch of supplies to Namur in a few hours.

...

Shire examined the supply list—it mostly comprised aviation fuel and machine gun bullets, along with some food.

Clearly, these were preparations for Shire’s air squadron to enter combat.

But Shire wasn’t so easily swayed. Helping the British win the air battle and change the course of the war wasn’t something he’d do lightly.

After hesitating for a moment, Shire sent a telegram to Admiral Avis, patiently explaining some air combat knowledge:

"The supplies have been received, thank you very much, Admiral."

"However, it seems they’ve been delivered to the wrong place; air combat emphasizes proximity."

"For example, reinforcing Antwerp, the best take-off base for fighter aircraft should be Brussels, not Namur."

"Taking off from Namur adds about 50 kilometers each way—totaling 100 kilometers—which significantly impacts air combat."

...

This additional 100 kilometers may be negligible for modern aircraft, but for the low-speed fighters of World War I, it’s crucial.

The top speed of the "Camel" fighter was only 190 kilometers per hour, with a cruising speed of around 100 kilometers per hour and a total range of merely 485 kilometers.

This meant that pilots would need an additional hour to reach the target airspace or return to the airport for refueling, impacting fuel consumption, pilot fatigue, and sortie rates.

(Sortie rate indicates that originally a pilot could engage in combat four times in a day, but due to the distance, it could be reduced to three or even two times.)

Eventually, Shire concluded: "Thus, the best solution would be to transport supplies to Brussels, where I would relocate the aircraft to Brussels Airport to use it as the combat base!"

Although Admiral Avis found Shire’s explanation reasonable, he angrily asked, "Why didn’t you say this earlier? We could have delivered the supplies to Brussels right from the start!"

Shire answered calmly, "I’m very sorry, Admiral, you didn’t ask. I believed you were aware of these basic air combat principles."

The information was soon relayed to Kitchener.

Kitchener’s eyes turned black: "That bastard, he must be doing this on purpose!"

Admiral Avis belonged to Haig’s faction; they dismissed all new equipment including airplanes and were unaware of these air combat principles.

Kitchener, having never commanded air combat, also knew nothing.

And Shire even emphasized that this was "basic" knowledge, it’s a ruthless move!

But there was no choice; the air squadron was under Shire’s command, protests and opposition were futile, and condemnation was even more pointless.

Kitchener could only send supplies to Brussels again, more than to Namur, dispatching two trains this time.

However, this delay had consumed the entire day.

Then Shire educated them with another basic air combat principle: "Apologies, General, aircraft cannot engage in night operations."

...

That day, the British Army near Antwerp did not fare well.

The defensive line was breached and the whole army retreated in disarray, with the Germans pursuing for more than ten kilometers, killing and wounding over ten thousand British troops, capturing more than twenty thousand, and seizing vast quantities of supplies stored within the defensive line.

In the end, the fortress defensive line at Antwerp saved these routed troops.

The Germans hoped to seize the momentum and charge into Antwerp behind the retreating British, but Major General Eden decisively ordered the troops to open fire.

In a flash, the fort’s heavy guns bombarded the boundary line separating the enemy from the friendly forces.

The boundary line was unclear, mixing British and German forces densely, enemy embedded within friendly ranks and vice versa.

However, the Belgian Army showed no hesitation, relentlessly pouring shells forward of the position, creating flashes of fire and fumes.

Soldiers were thrown into the air by the immense impact and then slammed back down; there were British as well as Germans, resembling lifeless puppets, incapable of resistance, torn apart while airborne.

However, the fort’s artillery was limited and couldn’t blanket the area; despite a few German tanks being destroyed, they continued their high-speed charge towards the fort’s defensive line.

In the nick of time, the "Saint Chamond" self-propelled artillery emerged from the forward fortifications, its dark barrels aimed at the approaching German tanks, adjusted slightly, and then issued a booming volley.

The German "LK1" tanks, with frontal armor only 14MM thick, could barely withstand bullets, but in front of the 75mm cannons, they were like paper, instantly engulfed in smoke and even catching fire.

Colonel Erwin always advanced with the troops, riding in an EV4 armored vehicle to observe frontline battlefield conditions and command at all times.

(The above image depicts the German EV4 armored vehicle from World War I, typically equipped with four machine guns, produced in 1915)

Through his binoculars, he saw what was happening and immediately ordered his staff: "Cease the attack, switch to plan B!"

"Yes, Colonel!" The staff quickly issued the orders.

Colonel Erwin had always been vigilant about the fortifications planned and trained by Shire, and upon failing in the first strike, he promptly adjusted tactics.