What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 347 Reconstruction?

Although Groningen is not within Hans' territory, it is almost right next to the border, which is why Hammond had this opportunity.

This brief contact was not part of the official plan and was entirely orchestrated privately by Hammond and a group of like-minded individuals.

After all, there are always many people who don't want to see society fall into peaceful decline, and the madness and bravery of the Second Fleet are very attractive to them.

The fact that this meeting confirmed the other party was a purebred blue-eyed Hans was undoubtedly a huge plus.

Hammond was somewhat surprised by the other party's polite refusal of his help, but it was also quite reasonable.

Back at their secret hideout in the border forest, Hammond sighed and said:
"If it really is in Antarctica, assuming they have a nuclear power plant, they must be lacking in various electronic devices and food variety. I really hope I can help them."

"But Wright's concerns are justified. We are controlled both inside and outside the country, and it is impossible for us to transfer high-value materials silently. The Second Fleet also has no trouble getting its hands on products of ordinary value."

Miller, the deputy, chimed in, continuing:
"The IAA is currently re-examining events from over 50 years ago, and even our operation is risky."

"But we can't stop the IAA at all, we're not KBG."

Hammond wore a bitter expression. That was one of the two super organizations in the world; trying to hide it from them was clearly wishful thinking.

The others also began to frown. Although their purpose in gathering together was to help the Second Fleet, they couldn't do anything for it at the moment and might even cause more trouble.

Miller: "Actually, we could have KBG."

Hammond: "You're crazy. You absolutely can't involve the Russians. It will only make things worse."

"No, no, what I mean is that we actually possess a force comparable to KBG."

"Stexi!"

Someone immediately realized what was happening and whispered the name.

"This is crazy."

"If we are discovered, we will be doomed."

Is this really possible?

"..."

A group of people started discussing this in a chaotic manner, which was no small matter.

Miller didn't interrupt them, but simply said:
"Everyone, as things stand, many of the original members of St. John's are still around, and many more can be found. We have hope of rebuilding it."

Hammond didn't speak, but lowered his head and began to think.

……

Tang Wen and his golden warship

This is the most popular headline in China.

The Hildebrand sailed from south to north, basically hugging the coastline, so it could be seen from many beaches, hills, and cruise ships.

Although there's no Douyin (TikTok) app that allows users to take and upload photos anytime, local media and photography enthusiasts along the route were already waiting for the air cruiser to pass by.

What the media most wants to know right now is:
Is this ship simply painted gold or is it actually gilded?
"I reiterate! No one is allowed to secretly peel off the gold-plated paint!"

The assistant coach leading the team solemnly conveyed the orders, but couldn't help glancing at the shiny, gold reflective surface.

Since it's so dazzling, it must be real gold. The entire hull, as well as the turrets, funnels, and island superstructure, are covered with a thin layer of gold!

Although gold is very malleable, how much gold would be needed to wrap such a large ship?

I can't even imagine, it's too extravagant, too luxurious, too expensive.

While sailors only had to be careful not to damage the gold paint, pilots had much more to consider.

The Hildebrand has a cruising speed of 34 knots on the ground and 35.7 knots with a slight fold, which is more than enough to meet the deck wind requirements for aircraft take-off and landing.

Lei Zhan, who had experienced a seaplane catapult launch, didn't feel anything special about the catapult's flight, but encountered a strange situation during landing:
The Hildebrand was also fitted with a Fresnel lens landing system, which uses a lighting system to help pilots determine their altitude during landing; the position of the lights changes with altitude. However, under the blazing sun, even though the cruiser's flight deck wasn't gilded, the hull and island still reflected a lot of light, making it seem as if the landing torpedo fighters could see a halo around the deck!

Give me your sunglasses too!

Instead of attempting a landing, Lei Zhan grabbed the sunglasses from the back seat. With the added protection of two layers of sunglasses, he managed a perfect landing thanks to his superb skills, hooking onto the arresting cable and gliding to a stop.

More than a kilometer away, cheers erupted from the cruise ship on the shore, excited to have witnessed an aircraft carrier landing.

Only Lei Zhan went on a rampage of complaints after getting off the plane:

"No, the reflection from under the ship doesn't reach me yet, but the reflection from the island superstructure and turrets is too dazzling. If it gets any worse, something bad will happen!"

"There's nothing we can do about it; it's too late to repaint now."

"I don't care, for safety reasons, the flights must be grounded."

“But Mr. Tang said he has to fly every day… Never mind, I’ll think of a way.”

Liu Dongfang thought for a moment:

"There are still a lot of tarpaulins on the boat. Let's cover the outside with them first. It will definitely make things much better."

"We'll build it again when we dock tonight. We'll be docking soon."

Although the northbound journey is only a little over 2,000 kilometers, Tang Wen did not intend to go straight there. Instead, he planned to stop in several major cities for one night each, to show off to the outside world.

Our first stop is Echeng, and our second stop, which is today's stop, is Xiamen.

……

HMS Hildebrand, at over 240 meters long, was actually a large ship in the same class as the Yorktown, belonging to the category of large cruisers.

Internationally, cruisers are generally classified by gun caliber. 155, which is 6 inches or less, is considered a light cruiser, while 203, which is 8 inches, is considered a heavy cruiser. Usually, a hull of around 1 tons is sufficient.

Later, with the development of technology, countries began to plan high-speed cruisers with a caliber of 300 mm or more, which were called "large cruisers", such as the US Alaska-class cruisers equipped with 305 mm guns.

Its role is somewhat similar to that of the battlecruisers of the past, and its performance is enough to outperform many early dreadnought and super-dreadnought battleships.

HMS Hildebrand was equipped with two triple 305mm guns, and its displacement of over 2 tons was comparable to that of the Scharnhorst class, almost the ceiling for cruisers, and its size was extremely impressive.

Although boarding was not allowed after the cruiser docked, people still flocked to the shore, and some special spectators observed with binoculars.

The Hildebrand is docked at Xiangshan Wharf, just a few kilometers from Tianjin Island.

The afternoon was calm, and even with the naked eye, a "golden mountain" could be seen moored on the shore.

Just as people on both sides of the shore were intently watching the golden warship before nightfall, Tang Wen prepared to get to work.

The grain transport ship in Baxi has been handed over to the people sent by Gaijin. It doesn't actually take many people to operate a 20-ton cargo ship.

The cargo ship is now thousands of kilometers offshore, avoiding the surrounding shipping lanes.

A U-boat floated beside the cargo ship. Tang Wen and his ship girls appeared on the command tower and then climbed into the huge cargo ship.

"Thanks a lot."

Despite Tang Wen's best efforts to comfort him, Jean Bart still stood reluctantly by the side of the boat, tilting his head back and opening his mouth.

Amidst the hum of large motors, several conveyor belts with one end inserted into massive amounts of wheat began to operate, continuously lifting wheat grains into the air, gathering them together, and then dropping them onto the ship girl on the open ground. As they approached her, they disappeared as if merging into the void, entering the battleship's fuel tanks.

This task went on for a long time, and late at night the ship girl finally waved to signal that she had stopped devouring wheat, and then gagged in disgust.

"Commander, much of this wheat is contaminated with crude oil, resulting in a very high waste rate."

"no, I can not."

Tang Wen seemed to realize something, and looking at the full granary, he sighed softly:
"For someone who is starving, they will not throw away food as long as it is still edible, let alone if it is stained with oil."

(End of this chapter)