Iron Cross

In stark contrast to the heavy losses, the results achieved by the US military were mediocre: including air strikes by escort aircraft carrier formations, artillery formation bombardments and land landings, the casualties caused to the Cape Verde defenders were less than a quarter, that is, the total number of casualties for the German army More than 1,400 casualties were suffered, and this included the loss of pilots. More than 400 lightly wounded German soldiers were briefly bandaged and treated and returned to battle. Currently, there are nearly 5,000 German soldiers holding on to Saar Island, of which about 4,500 are members of the Marine Corps Brigade.

Excluding the casualties on the island, the other losses of the German army were not too great. All submarines participating in the night attack successfully left the battlefield. The aircraft carrier formation lost 2 S-boats in the first attack, and 4 S-boats were lost in the A formation in the second attack on the beachhead. In the end, 2 of the boats were lost. Formation B, which attacked the bombardment fleet and led away a large number of escorting warships, lost another 3 boats. A total of 16 boats in the entire S-boat force participated in the battle and lost 7 boats. Plus the remaining boats casualties, a total loss of nearly 200 people.

The total number of German casualties was approximately 1,600, while the cumulative casualties of the US military had exceeded 5,000, which was more than three times that of the Germans.

Even so, the U.S. military would also like to thank the German army for only targeting the artillery formation as its main target. If the third and fourth strikes in the night attack target the landing fleet farther away, the US military will not simply lose a few warships, but will lose people in large numbers. In fact, there are indeed several ranges that really appear The torpedoes that were too long ran into the transport fleet and exploded, taking away several cargo ships with "fate" (the landing craft was not enough torpedoes due to its shallow draft). However, no one is a fairy. If the Germans are given another chance to choose again, they will still use the main fleet to kill more American soldiers. They think it is not the decisive factor.

It's just that the US military's own statistics cannot be so objective. They believe that they destroyed at least half of the German troops on the island and sunk about 20 S-boats and 2 submarines - this is what the destroyer captains and sailors reported to Turner. They It was not about lying about the military situation, but about misjudgment involuntarily in the dark night and in a state of chaos.

This misjudgment seems reasonable: if the Germans did not have so many S-boats, how could they have achieved such significant damage? They only know the long range and concealment of oxygen torpedoes, but do not understand its power at all. If it were an American PT boat that relied on torpedoes to achieve so many results, it would be useless to add ten times more, because American torpedoes are very unreliable - although Americans haven't realized this yet.

The sky gradually became brighter, and the sea around Cape Verde returned to calm, as if it was just a nightmare. However, Trin and Ingersoll are not in the mood to enjoy the beautiful sunrise now. They must be very depressed. Admiral Ingersoll, who is sitting in front of the conference table, seems to have aged 20 years overnight, with a headache. He hung down deeply and asked in a hoarse tone after a long time: "Have the losses been calculated?"

"After statistics, we have lost two Elizabeth-class battleships and the USS West Virginia, as well as several light cruisers and destroyers, plus some freighters..." a staff officer said in a heavy tone.

"So, including the California, we lost a total of four battleships - half of the battleships?"

"That's not all..." Turner said with a wry smile, "Both the Iowa and the Duke of York were hit by mines. The former's injuries are fair, but the latter's damage is serious. I'm afraid it won't be possible to recover if I don't go to the shipyard for half a year."

"This loss is too great." Ingersoll murmured to himself, his voice full of sadness, "How should I explain to the President and General Kim?"

Turner and the surrounding staff were speechless. When the Pacific Fleet was engaged in the island-seizing campaign in the Far East, it was attacked by Japanese suicide weapons and sank several battleships (including the USS Colorado, a sibling of the West Virginia). and Maryland), there was also an uproar at the beginning. Everyone criticized Nimitz's command, always thinking that he was too careless. This time, Turner specifically emphasized the precautions against possible German suicide weapons in his layout. As a result, the Germans did not use suicide weapons but used almost suicidal tactics, causing greater and more unacceptable losses.

The U.S. military lost half of its escort aircraft carriers, half of its aircraft, half of its battleships, and half of the Collins regiment that landed on the beach. But the battle lasted less than a week. If the losses continue at this rate, the fleet will be lost next week. It’s time to reimburse everything here.

"What do you think now?"

"There is no other way. Report the situation to the Joint Chiefs of Staff...I will resign and take responsibility when I go back."

"Sir, you?"

Ingersoll waved his hand: "The losses in Cape Verde were so great. Someone must bear the responsibility when we go back. To be honest, I am the only one who can bear the responsibility."

"The problem is that I made the tactics and plans, and I am the one who should be responsible for them." Turner thought for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "We should persist until the reinforcements arrive, and we must capture Cape Verde."

"I don't think there are many mistakes in your strategy. You even anticipated the cruelty of the war better than I did, and insisted on adding one more division and eight escort aircraft carriers to participate in the war. Putting aside these things, such a big loss is to us Failure. So far, our goal of luring the German fleet to fight has not been achieved. If they come here now, do we still have the courage and strength to win? "

Listening to Ingersoll talking about this, Turner was speechless for a while, and after a while he persuaded: "Sir, although it is heartbreaking to lose half of our troops, we must finish the Battle of Cape Verde. At least we still have the upper hand."

Ingersoll was noncommittal. At this moment, a staff officer rushed in: "Sir, the Transatlantic Army Aviation reported that the German fleet was not seen in the Azores air defense perimeter. Admiral Cunningham also sent a telegram. They There is no trace of the German fleet in the reconnaissance field."

"Coming towards us?" Turner was stunned for a moment, then said anxiously, "The convoy must immediately take off a reconnaissance plane to determine the movement..."

"The reconnaissance plane took off and reported the damage to the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the same time." Ingersoll sighed helplessly. "If it is found that the enemy is heading towards Cape Verde, our army may need to temporarily disengage to avoid the limelight."

Cape Verde time is 4 hours ahead of Washington. Admiral Kim had just gotten up when he received the emergency telegram from the front. He looked very tired after having been on duty at the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the past few days. He received a message from Turner last night. He relaxed a little after receiving the news that he had successfully landed and controlled the beachhead. It was rare that he had a good sleep. Unexpectedly, he received an emergency telegram early in the morning. Seeing that the adjutant's face was not good, he vaguely knew that the situation was not good.

However, Admiral Jin was a very dignified figure. He did not want to show cowardice to his subordinates, so he still maintained a calm expression and asked: "Looking at your nervousness, a big change happened last night?"

The adjutant did not dare to answer, so he handed the telegram to Admiral Jin. His hands trembled slightly when he handed it over, as if a huge weight was pressing on it.

Admiral Jin suppressed his uneasy mood and looked at it seriously. It was okay not to look at it. But when he looked carefully, he felt that all the blood in his body was rushing to his head. After several days of exhaustion, being suddenly woken up in the morning, and hypoglycemia caused by not eating, Under the attack, the sixty-year-old soldier's vision suddenly went dark, and he tilted his head to the side. The adjutant quickly supported him with quick eyesight, and while he sat him down, he loudly called other guards to take the commander to the hospital.

Everyone hurriedly carried Admiral Jin into the car and rushed all the way to the hospital. However, it didn't take long for Admiral Jin to wake up leisurely. He was usually in good health and had no hidden illnesses. He just fainted due to the intense heat. He fell down, and after all this trouble, he fully recovered.

He slapped the seat in the back seat and cursed: "What are you doing, what are you doing? I'm not dead yet!"

"Sir, you looked too scary just now. You must go to the hospital."

"Asshole, bastard, urgent military situation cannot be delayed."

"I've asked someone else to notify Chief Marshall."

"Okay, now that I'm fine, you can take me back to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I have to go to a meeting, a meeting! Can't delay!"

"Sir, don't go..." the adjutant said with a cry, "General Marshall said he would go to the hospital for an on-site meeting, and the president is also there."

Marshall seemed to be in a panic. In desperation, he told General King's adjutant all the news about Roosevelt's hospitalization. Normally, this kind of information was kept strictly confidential, let alone General King's adjutant, who was not an important figure in the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Cabinet. Not even qualified to know.

Admiral Jin's car roared into the hospital. Doctors and nurses who had been waiting there immediately swarmed him and gave him an emergency examination. They finally concluded that Admiral Jin was in good health and could just eat a piece of chocolate.

"General, you must pay attention to rest. Such continuous work cannot last long."

"Okay, I will pay attention to it in the future..."

In front of Roosevelt's hospital bed, everyone held a special Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting. Roosevelt was originally in a good mood early in the morning: Admiral King and Marshall called him last night, saying that more than 90% of the Cape Verde Islands were under control, and the German troops had successfully landed on Sal Island. It can basically be taken down in one go. Although the German fleet was nowhere to be seen, he was sincerely happy at the thought of capturing the strategic location of Cape Verde. Then the doctor told him that his health had improved greatly due to days of rest, and if he wanted to, he could be discharged from the hospital after a check-up tomorrow morning.

The two things combined made Roosevelt feel very comfortable, and his appetite was much better when he woke up in the morning. At first, when he saw high-level military officials coming over, he thought they were coming to report good news - such as the fact that the German army on the island had seen the situation and announced their surrender, etc. I never expected to receive such bad news!

He frowned and glanced at everyone, took a deep breath, and said slowly in an inviolable and majestic tone: "Marshall, Admiral Jin, Li Hai, and Arnold stay, the others... get out!"