Antwerp Airport Command, Shire and Tijani were in a heated discussion about the tactics for new destroyers.

The focus was on the future development of destroyers.

Shire believed that future destroyers should further reduce weight, decreasing the main guns to one at the front and one at the back, using the freed weight and space to increase anti-aircraft firepower.

Tijani strongly opposed this:

"We are discussing the future, Vice Admiral."

"Perhaps your torpedo bombers can threaten every warship. I've also heard about the idea of bombers carrying bombs."

"I admit they are feasible. But have you considered that the range of aircraft is ultimately limited? You can't control every sea area with planes."

Speaking, Tijani's finger landed heavily in the deep part of the Atlantic Ocean: "Moreover, even if your planes can make it, how long will it take at airplane speed? An hour? Two hours?"

Shire countered: "Why can't we let the fleet carry planes?"

"You mean seaplanes?" Tijani immediately dismissed this idea: "The role of seaplanes is very limited, Vice Admiral..."

"I'm talking about wheel-based planes." Shire interrupted Tijani: "We can build a ship with a runway on it, thus wheel-based planes can take off from the battleship, and of course, they can also land."

Tijani stood there stunned, shaking his head in disbelief after a while: "This is absurd, Vice Admiral, it's impossible."

"Is it?" Shire calmly said: "But as far as I know, the British have already done this, and they have achieved partial success."

Tijani was struck dumb: "You, you mean it's true?"

"Of course." Shire replied: "A few months ago, a British wheel-based plane successfully took off from the 'Royal Fury'. It's called partial success because it couldn't land back on the battleship; it had to land back onshore after completing its mission."

This is why the 'Royal Fury' couldn't be called the first aircraft carrier, as the United States eventually succeeded in achieving both taking off and landing.

At this time, only the UK and the US had the funds to continue experiments in this field.

Seeing Tijani's still doubtful face, Shire added: "Don't doubt it, General. Small planes only need a runway of tens of meters to take off; providing an airstrip platform on a battleship is feasible, you just can't imagine the navy having such equipment."

The UK and US had not disclosed the related experiments to the public; these materials were still military secrets at the time.

Moreover, Shire believed that the UK and the US would accelerate the development of aircraft carriers.

Because, the fighter planes taking off from aircraft carriers were the best and the correct way to counter Shire's torpedo bombers.

Tijani stared at Shire, suddenly exclaiming: "God, I must inform Admiral Gephardt about this!"

He turned and quickly pushed the door open, walking downstairs.

This was not a small matter; an era of change in naval warfare could be coming, faster than everyone imagined.

At this moment, a staff officer handed Shire a telegram.

It was a personal matter, from Stokes.

From between the lines of the telegram, it could be seen that Stokes was very anxious: "Vice Admiral, I have run into some problems. I hope you can help clarify this, as the British Government might consider me a traitor. You know, our collaborative project is related to military industry, and I am a British citizen."

Shire smiled slightly, calmly replied: "I really want to help and am willing to help you, Mr. Stokes. But under such circumstances, don't you think I might make things worse the more I help? If you truly want me to do that, I can go to clarify with the British Government. I even had some degree of cooperation with the 'Minister of Military Supplies', but I cannot guarantee the outcome."

...

London, receiving the telegram, Stokes sitting anxiously in the villa, was stunned.

Shire was right, Shire was French, the most feared by the British, would his clarification be useful?

Not only would it be useless but also worse.

It was simply desperate measures!

But now, what other way was there?

Soon, Stokes received another telegram from Shire: "I think you only have two paths now: either withdraw from the project, tell the British Government everything you know, though at Davaz's laboratory, I can only compensate as your breach of contract. Or, stick to this project no matter what difficulties you encounter."

Although the words weren't clear, Stokes understood.

These two paths were either completely stand with the UK or completely stand with France, no third way.

Withdraw from the project and lose the laboratory?

No, doing so he would have nothing left!

Then there was only ...

"I understand, Vice Admiral." Stokes replied: "I know what to do!"

...

Antwerp Command, Shire raised his eyebrows and put the telegram into his pocket.

Actually, the British Central Intelligence Agency was not very interested in Stokes, at this time the British Government did not pay attention to tank cannon, and did not know the importance of tank cannon.

Therefore, the British Central Intelligence Agency did not send anyone to follow Stokes.

Following Stokes and foolishly exposing oneself was what Shire had Lucia do.

Only in this way could Stokes be completely forced to stand with France and become a member of the Bernard Group.

Previously Shire may not have needed to care about Stokes and his machinery company.

But now, the production of Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons and aviation cannons, and in the future, various types of anti-aircraft guns, mostly modified from existing cannons, needed mechanical experts more than cannon experts.

Of course, it wasn't appropriate to entrust these to a British person.

But if this British person was a defector in France, it was different.

"General!" At this moment, a radio operator guarding the radio shouted: "The Germans have counterattacked at the north bank of the River Somme. They have gathered a large number of armored units, and the British line is about to collapse."

Shire frowned.

This seemed different from the historical Battle of the River Somme.

Historically, although the British suffered heavy casualties, the front line advanced slowly, there was no complete collapse due to German counterattack.

So what's the situation now?

Taking the map and spreading it on the table, after considering it for a while, Shire seemed to understand.

Historically, the British first deployed tanks in the Battle of the River Somme, gradually advancing.

But now ...

Because of the appearance of the variable Shire, the evolution of British tanks slowed down, and they still used the outdated 'Whippet' tanks without turrets.

While the Germans, battling Shire, made significant progress not only in tanks but also in tactical applications.

Based on this, the Germans had the strength to defeat the British Army, changing the situation of the Battle of the River Somme!