Great time travel

Chapter 133, Peacemaker
At the same time, Washington, thousands of miles away, was jubilant.From the Pentagon to the White House to Capitol Hill, everyone is talking about the glorious victory of the Galapagos Islands naval battle, and everyone is smiling and beaming, as excited as if they won the first prize in the lottery.

——It’s really not easy!Since the outbreak of World War Three, the U.S. military on all fronts around the world has seen one bad news after another. They have lost count of how many times they have lost battles and how many times they have played "the enemy advances"!But basically there was not even a good news!Millions of front-line troops moved from Europe to North Africa, from North Africa to West Asia, and then from West Asia to East Africa, and then they couldn't stand in Africa, so they could only retreat back to the New World with their tails between their legs.The number of troops, territory, and allies is getting less and less, and the morale is getting lower and lower...In this atmosphere of tens of thousands of horses, there is suddenly a glimmer of victory that can lift people's spirits. In the Galapagos Islands, Appearing, how can it not make people feel ecstatic?

Especially since the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese Yamato-class battleship, which has brought countless nightmares to the U.S. Navy but could not be sunk, was actually sunk three ships in one go in the Galapagos Islands this time, and severely damaged one ship. , achieved a zero breakthrough, it is really exciting!
However, while toasting the glorious victory of the Galapagos Islands naval battle, Truman also had to worry about the destruction of the Panama Canal—as a key channel connecting the two oceans, the strategic significance of the Panama Canal to the United States Needless to say.Especially when Argentina and Chile jumped back at the same time, and the routes of the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage have been cut off, this canal is already the only channel for the United States to dispatch ships between the two oceans.

However, this only sea channel has been blown up by the Soviets' atomic bombs. The US Navy has since been separated from the two oceans and can no longer be flexibly dispatched.But if you want to repair the Panama Canal, it is desperately difficult.

——Different from the "classical version" of the Suez Canal, where both ends go directly into the sea and ships can travel the entire distance by themselves, the Panama Canal is a "stepped" canal that needs to be connected by locks. Different river sections and the height of the sea at both ends are different. There is a difference, so there is no direct connection.

First, the Pacific side of the Panama Canal is about half a meter higher than the Atlantic side.There are two main reasons for the formation of water level difference: one is the effect of thermal expansion that changes the density of seawater, and the difference in salinity concentration; the other is the interference of trade winds and ocean currents on the water level.

On the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, the moist atmosphere in the lower troposphere known as the tropical convergence zone forms a convergence zone that stretches east-west.In this area, the rainfall is very abundant.Therefore, the salinity concentration on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal is lower than that on the Atlantic side, and the density of seawater becomes smaller, so the water level will increase relatively.Then, the tropical convergence zone that extends toward the Pacific side of the Panama Canal has frequent southerly winds (trade winds), which also contribute to rising water levels.Due to the need to maintain balance with the stress of the trade wind, the water level tilts on the ocean surface - imagine if you blow the water in the cup in one direction with your mouth, can you see that the water in the cup becomes no longer level?Right?

In this way, the sea level on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal is kept at a high water level.Meanwhile, on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal, the Guyana Current flows along the waters north of Panama, toward the Gulf of Mexico, that is, westward.The dip in water levels associated with this current lowers water levels along the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal and raises water levels further offshore.

Secondly, in addition to the different heights of the ocean surface at both ends of the Panama Canal, in order to reduce the amount of excavation, the water surface of most sections of the Panama Canal is not flush with the sea surface like the Suez Canal, but higher than the sea surface. 26 meters.In order to fill the river above sea level with water, the Gatun Dam was specially built on the Chagres River, and Lake Gatun was formed as the main water source of the Panama Canal.

But even so, it is only to connect the canals on the map with water, and the problem of the height difference between the various river sections has not been resolved.

In order to adjust the water level difference and allow ships to pass through the canal, construction workers built six locks on the Panama Canal.When importing from the Pacific side, pass through the Miraflores double-gate steps, pass through the Miraflores Lake and Pedro Miguel single-gate steps, and raise the ship 26 meters from the sea level to enter Gatun Lake , and the other end passes through the three-stage Gatong lock to lower the ship to be level with the Atlantic Ocean.

On the Panama Canal, each set of locks is paired so that ships can pass in both directions at the same time.Each gate has two leaves, 20 meters wide and two meters thick, fixed on hinges.The height of the door varies from 14 to 25 meters; the door leaf is driven by a motor installed in the recess of the gate wall.The opening and closing of the doors are controlled by the control towers located on the walls of the paired locks, and the water filling and discharge of the lock chambers are also controlled by the control towers.The chamber itself is 300 meters long.

However, these locks have now been blown away by the shock wave of the nuclear explosion.Gatun Lake, which was accumulated by man-made dams, is flowing like a waterfall towards the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It is expected that it will dry up completely in a short time, exposing the bottom of the lake...

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So, ten days after the nuclear explosion in Panama, sitting in the Oval Office of the White House, looking at the photos of the disaster after the nuclear explosion on the locks of the Panama Canal taken by a reconnaissance plane, President Truman couldn't help taking a breath, and then looked up in a daze. At the beginning, he asked the specially invited engineering expert on the other side of the desk: "... Have the results of the on-site assessment come out? How long will it take us to repair the Panama Canal?"

"...Uh...Unfortunately, Mr. President, after conducting on-site surveys and assessments, the expert group agreed that even according to the most optimistic forecast, it will take about four years to restore the canal's navigable capacity..." The person The expert replied while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"...What? Four years?!" Hearing this number, President Truman frowned instinctively: "...This time is really too long, and it will bring great trouble to the United States. What can be done in one year? Is there a way to resume navigation within the year? Even if there are more casualties, it doesn't matter."

"...This...Mr. President, your request is really impossible!"

The expert said with a bitter face, "...First of all, the canal has just been subjected to a nuclear explosion, and the radiation level in the coastal area is still very high. It is impossible to organize personnel to enter the radiation area to start construction in a short time. The locks were all blown up, and the pouring of Gatun Lake could not be stopped at all. I am afraid that the lake would have dried up before we could start to block the mouth... Finally, even if we repaired the Panama Canal's dams and Locks, but there is not enough water in the dry Gatun Lake, the canal has become a dry trench, and the boat is still not open.

Even without considering other factors, just waiting for Gatun Lake to refill under natural conditions, according to the average precipitation in the area near the Panama Canal and the general flow of the Chagres River, under normal circumstances it would take at least two months. A year or so..."

"...God! Maybe we should dig the canal somewhere else, like Nicaragua?" Truman asked tentatively.

"...The Grand Canal of Nicaragua? Mr. President, this is even more utopian! According to previous calculations, the amount of earthwork needed to be excavated for this canal is several times that of the Panama Canal! Speeding up the construction will not be possible without five or six years.”

As for the idea of ​​the Nicaragua Grand Canal, the expert shook his head like a rattle: "...and, since the Soviets were able to drop an atomic bomb on the Panama Canal last week, they can naturally explode the Panama Canal for the second time." , The third time. As long as the threat of Soviet aircraft and atomic bombs to the Panama region cannot be completely ruled out, then any attempt by our side to repair the Panama Canal will be futile."

"...Well, since that's the case, the repair of the Panama Canal will be postponed for a while." President Truman sighed helplessly, "...Let's study the war situation in South America first! Chief of Staff, call General MacArthur as soon as possible. Come here and prepare to hold an informal combat meeting."

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Then, before the participants in this battle meeting arrived, there was new bad news from the front line in South America—after the pro-American government of the Republic of Ecuador was overthrown, it was being attacked by the three countries of Peru, Chile, and Paraguay. Bolivia, which was besieged and bombed by the Soviet aid air force by the way, also stopped resisting after receiving the promise from the Soviet Union to ensure the integrity of its territory, announced a change of flag, and withdrew from the Allied camp.

So far, the only allies of the United States in South America, apart from the Guyana colony of Britain, France and the Netherlands, are Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.Moreover, both Brazil and Colombia are in a state of civil war, and it was only thanks to the massive intervention of the US military that the original pro-US government was kept from being overthrown.Despite this, anti-American guerrillas from all walks of life are still surging, causing the US military to be beaten everywhere in Brazil and Colombia, as if they are in an enemy country.

As for the ambitious President Peron of Argentina, he suddenly became the anti-American leader of the New World, just like Bolivar and San Martin more than a century ago, relying on the support and solidarity of the socialist camp, they have already An anti-American frenzy has been set off throughout Latin America!
"...God! This is really a hell! Why are our allies in South America so lacking in fighting spirit and loyalty?!"

Seeing the South American allies change their flags without much fighting, President Truman became more and more frustrated, "...why is this?! When did they have such friendship with the Soviets and Bolsheviks? In such a short period of time Just one by one betrayed the past?"

"...Because the Soviet Union is far away on the other side of the world, it has no interest in the resources, minerals, land, or even compensation of South American countries, nor does it ask for special tariff treatment or extraterritorial rights in these countries, and it does not even ask South American countries to declare war on us. , simply asked South American countries to leave our camp and no longer participate in this world war, and also acquiesced to the governments of South American countries to take this opportunity to confiscate our country's various assets in South America... On the contrary, if they continue to stand on our side , you have to bear our country's repeated conscription and various compulsory confiscation of materials-although the United States did not pay for it, but forced them to buy more war bonds of our country, and in general they still suffered a loss .”

Secretary of State Hull explained his diplomatic failure in South America with a bitter face, "...In the past two years, in order to support the huge consumption of the world war, the United States has made more and more demands on the South American allies. And the Soviet Union People only ask them to do nothing...Comparing the two sides, it is natural to imagine what choices the South American countries will make-if they still have the ability to choose their own country's destiny..."

"...In other words, it is difficult for us to use the means of profit bribery to continue to tie the South American allies to the chariot of the United States?"

President Truman took off his glasses silently, bowed his head and pondered for a moment, then asked Secretary of State Hull.

"...Unfortunately, this is the situation, Your Excellency. Unless our military directly intervenes, the South American allies have little enthusiasm to continue participating in the war. In their view, this is a war that does not belong to them at all. It is completely tricked by us. A thief ship..."

Secretary of State Hull spread his hands helplessly, "...Moreover, under the current situation, it is difficult for us to provide much assistance to South American countries... On the contrary, what the Soviets are willing to provide to them is far more than what we can give. There is a lot, and there is no price to pay-just confiscating the various mines, plantations and other assets of major companies in their country is enough for the governments of South American countries to make a fortune in an instant..."

"...Huh? Did they actually think so? They actually regarded our country as a delicious piece of fat at this time? Damn it, then the United States must immediately take out the most severe means of revenge to let them know that the traitor is a traitor. What will happen!"

President Truman seemed to burst into anger for a moment, and he slapped the table fiercely with an extremely ferocious expression, causing the teacups and vases to jingle, "...although I am very unwilling to take such fierce revenge on my former allies, but now I Still... Now that carrots aren't working, let's get out the sticks! As it happens, the latest batch of 64 atomic bombs at the Oak Ridge plant has been assembled, tuned, and ready for battle - we need to make these Foolish Latin Americans realize as soon as possible that the United States can punish them if they cannot aid them! I would rather leave a dead South America to God than a whole South America to the Bolsheviks! "

These ruthless words, like the devil king of hell, seemed to have stunned everyone gathered in the meeting room.After a while, Secretary of State Hull frowned and spoke first, "...Mr. President, what do you mean... to prepare for a nuclear attack on South America? However, if nuclear bombs are sent to South America by sea in advance, there may be dangers." The danger of being intercepted on the way. If flying directly from the mainland, the range of the B-29 'Super Fortress' may not be enough? Is it just going to nuke Ecuador and Peru in the north? IMHO, this does not seem to be much The strategic implications..."

In this regard, President Truman just turned his head and winked at Admiral Arnold, who was in charge of the strategic air force. Admiral Arnold stood up from the sofa and said confidently, "...Let me explain the situation, everyone. At present, we have It has a strategic long-range bomber that is more outstanding than the B-29! The first batch of twelve B-36 "Peacemaker" intercontinental strategic bombers have just officially entered service at the end of August, and their maximum combat radius can reach 36 kilometers. Currently, These B-[-] 'Peacemakers' have been transferred to the forward air base in Florida, ready to take off from there with the atomic bomb, strike Argentina and Chile, then land and refuel at the front airfield in Brazil, and then return home... ..."