The American Navy Operations Department—Minister of Operations Admiral Harold Stark, Fleet Commander Admiral James Richardson, and Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Admiral Ernest King—had all gathered in Admiral Harold Stark's office.
They had gathered for only one purpose: to receive news from the front at the earliest possible moment. They all knew very well that this decisive battle between the American fleet and the German Navy concerned the very survival of the United States.
"Overall, the Germans are stronger than us. Especially since they can receive support from land-based aircraft in the Azores, their advantage is undoubtedly even greater. However, our strength is not weak either. If luck favors us a little, it is not impossible for us to make the Germans pay an even heavier price," Admiral James Richardson said.
Although they all knew that defeating the German Navy would be extremely difficult, everyone had to admit that the American Navy now possessed sufficient strength and qualifications to challenge the German Navy. If luck favored them a little more, even defeating the German Navy was not impossible.
After all, naval warfare contained too many uncontrollable factors. For example, if an Aerial Bomb dropped by a Dive Bomber pierced straight through the deck and several layers of bulkheads before exploding in the ammunition magazine, triggering a sympathetic detonation, it would inflict fatal damage on an aircraft carrier. Striking the fuel tanks could achieve the same effect. Though such things were not easy, they could still happen. With a little luck, anything was possible.
It was precisely because of this that, although the American Navy believed it was not yet fully prepared, it still chose to obey after President Roosevelt demanded that war be declared on Germany immediately. They also held immense expectations for this naval battle. If luck favored them