The fleet sailed in the north of the Norwegian Sea, with huge waves surging on the gray sea, and the howling north wind brought heavy snow to cover the entire sea. ￡∝A strong cold air hit from the Arctic Ocean caused the storm to change suddenly, with snowflakes flying all over the sky, and the visibility on the entire sea was only hundreds of meters.

Such a bad sea situation did not have a great impact on heavy warships like "Speer Marshal Spel". Except for the appearance of the entire warship being wrapped in a thick layer of snow and all the guns were frozen outside, the entire warship was traveling smoothly, except that it had increased its swaying a little.

The most pitiful ones are those destroyers with a tonnage of only more than 3,000 tons. In addition to fighting tenaciously with wind and waves, because they are often shrouded by overwhelming waves, a thick layer of ice is formed outside the entire warship, which looks more like a relief floating on the sea.

Fortunately, German warships are equipped with heating and air conditioning systems, and the temperature of the crew's cabin can be maintained above 15 degrees, while the cabins and ordinary cabins on the upper bridge on the deck can also be maintained above 8 degrees above zero, which will not cause the crew to be frozen. Under such harsh conditions, on-duty on the deck has become the most difficult and risky job. In addition to the cold, the crew needs more attention to the icy under their feet, which may slide into the sea if they are not careful.

Under such a bad sea situation, finding people who fall into the water is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The "Guangxi" sailed in the middle of the fleet. The aircraft carrier with a full load displacement of about 34,000 tons was not as stable as the "Admiral Spel". Because it was in a crosswind state, the semi-open hangar had already formed a thick layer of ice, and the wind and snow were pouring in the hangar. The entire aircraft deck was wrapped in ice and snow, and the 16 fighter jets tied to the deck had formed ice lumps and piled up on the rear deck.

The warships were jogging in the waves. Fortunately, because the front of the hangar was closed, the surging waves could not be poured into the hangar. The pilots had nothing to do, but the crew members on duty were still sticking to their posts and fighting the wind and waves.

The visibility on the sea surface is very poor, even during the day. You can only rely on the light to contact the warships in front, back and forth every 5 minutes to determine the other party's position.

"Very good, turn left 65!" On the bridge of the aircraft carrier, Captain Chen Changtai was giving the order to turn.

Sa Shijun, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. This order actually meant that the entire fleet began to turn south and finally left this damn sea area.

Since leaving Norway, the fleet has been sailing west for three days. Admiral Lukins chose to cross the remote Denmark Strait and then enter the North Atlantic Ocean. There are few ships on this route, which can reduce the chance of being discovered. Since leaving Norway, the fleet has not encountered good weather. From light snow to moderate snow, to blizzards, no other ships, or even fishing boats, except for its own fleet, can be seen.

The daylight in the Arctic region seemed very short, and soon the entire fleet disappeared in the boundless darkness again.

Snow and night provide the best cover. In such weather, the British were unable to send planes to patrol, and even some light ships only entered the port to hide from the wind and snow. Their cordon from Iceland to Shetland was like nothing. The entire fleet used the weather to cross the Danish Strait overnight without any obstacles.

After a night of sailing, this German fleet of more than 20 ships had entered the North Atlantic Ocean. The air had become much calmer. Although it was still snowing lightly in the sky from time to time, the cold wave from the polar regions had weakened by most of the time.

Sa Shijun stayed in his cabin since dark. Anyway, his aircraft carrier could not fight, and even if there was any accident, he could only fight with other warships. At around nine o'clock in the morning and after dawn, the Chinese fleet commander appeared on the aircraft carrier's bridge. The temperature on the sea surface had risen to around minus 7 degrees Celsius. Although he was still wearing thick winter clothes, the personnel on duty inside the bridge no longer had to wear gloves.

The entire warship was clanging, and the ship officers were using picks, hammers, ice shovels and even pneumatic picks to remove the accumulated ice and snow on the surface of the warship. The air defense artillery on the entire warship formed various icicles, especially the fore deck, which were piled into a small iceberg.

The blizzards over a day of continuous damage to the equipment on the ship, especially radar and radio antennas, were also working hard to organize emergency repairs.

"It's finally warmer, so you have to quickly restore your combat capabilities. Look at those battleships, they have turned into icebergs!" said Zhang Tiansheng, chief of staff of the fleet.

"It shouldn't be difficult. Just smash the muzzle cap open. The turret seat ring is moving all the time and will not freeze." Sa Shijun said, "I remember when I was on Heilongjiang, the entire warship was frozen in the river."

"But those anti-aircraft guns have become popsicles."

"Okay, let them deal with it quickly. What should we do with these aircraft?" Sa Shijun frowned. The Chinese Navy had never had any experience in fighting in extremely cold areas.

"We should get these guys into the hangar and melt them." Zhang Tiansheng said, "The aviation department is working on solutions."

The crew members had been busy all day. By the evening, all the flight decks had been cleared out, and a batch of fighter jets were replaced from the hangar. At least 70% or 80% of the combat capability was restored. As the temperature gradually became warmer, the weather also improved.

In the combat room at the bottom of the bridge of the flagship "Admiral Hippel", General Gunther Lukins sat at the chart table, watching the nautical staff marking one intelligence after another on the map and analyzing the entire situation. The combat order given to him by the Admiralty was to attack the ship's transport fleet and attract the main force of the British fleet as much as possible for reinforcements. In fact, he was playing a bait role.

"We need to choose a location, not too far from Britain, nor too close. If it is too far away, the British will not be dispatched. If it is too close to the British coast, they will easily escape back and will be supported by land-based aircraft." Admiral Lukins said to the navigator who is marked with the "Arc Marshal Hippel".

"The maximum combat radius of shore-based aircraft is about 350 nautical miles, and the combat radius of aircraft carriers is almost so far. Those long-range horizontal bombers do not pose much threat to the navigated warships. Sir!" said the navigator.

"I think about 1,000 nautical miles is just right. If the warships sail at full speed, these voyages will take two days, which will leave us one and a half days of attack." Captain Lindman said, "If it is farther, I guess the British will not come out. Sir!"

"Well, 1,000 nautical miles..." Lukins opened his right hand and gestured on the chart table, "Okay, let's set our goal here."

At this time, the sea conditions outside were still not very good, with thick clouds in the sky and gloomy weather.

Just as they were talking about their destination, the communications officer sent a telegram. The chief of staff took it and looked at it and said, "Sir, it was sent from Berlin. Two British reconnaissance planes appeared successively over the Grimstadt Fjord and the Port of Bergen. Since the local weather has improved, the British have probably found that we have left there."
Chapter completed!