Re: Blood and Iron

Rumor of Japan's desires to press forward with claims in the Pacific against German interests in the region had climaxed following Bruno's departure from the small Island Nature. But in the end, nothing manifested of them.

The lingering Empire where the sun rose with the dawn had ultimately decided to lie in wait, and see what came of the coming years. Perhaps it was Bruno's refusal to kneel and the confidence on his face as he did so that terrified the Empire into behaving itself.

Or maybe Sakura helped calm the wrath of her relative, providing one final gift to Bruno knowing they would likely never see or speak to one another again. Regardless, silence followed this meaning, and it gave Bruno time to invest in naval technology.

For years, Bruno's shipyards, which he built in Danzig had focused on producing submarines and destroyers, and to an extent they continued to do so. But Germany's other major shipyard, including those gained in the Adriatic Littoral as a result of annexing the Archduchy of Austria had begun focusing on other projects.

Standing in front of Bruno was a small model, built to a miniature scale of the current mock up design of the next generation Kaiser Liche Marine and the projects they were working on. The union of German and Russian scientists had completely changed the landscape of technological development in the world.

And when Bruno used his future knowledge of where these ideas should lead, sort of like a streamlined tech tree designed for optimized results, technology progressed rapidly. Far Moreso than his past life.

They had over a decade to prepare for the next war, and perhaps even longer, at the rate France was currently dealing with its internal turmoil. Because of this, Bruno had set forth a very clear and definitive goal, with milestones along the way to achieve.

Sitting in front of him were models of the next generation fleet, the first of which were two submarine models. One was already introduced to service and was currently built in a rather sizeable fleet.

They had played a significant role in the German Naval Domination during the Great War, and would remain cutting edge until the 1950s if technology had progressed naturally. But could Bruno simply let his Type XXI U-Boats continue to serve without retrofit or modernization?

Not at all, and his engineers shared the same opinion as the first hunter-killer submarine model was equipped with a new weapons module. Built into the hull and could pop out at a moment's notice were wire guided anti-ship defense missiles.

Similar to the prototype Project Ursel from Bruno's past life, the rocket pod contained 12 small antiship missiles that could be fired while submerged beneath the surface of the ocean's depths and accurately strike the target.

In addition to this, the submarine was retrofitted with improved analog computers and targeting systems, as well as increased radar and sonar technology. Everything on this mockup display was entirely theoretical for the time being, but was the ultimate ten to twenty-year objective: both the German Reich and Russian Empire were combining minds and resources to build for the new generation of warships.

The other submarine was a new design, a proof of concept that blended designs from the Type XXI, and Type XXVI submarines of Bruno's past life, along with Project Ursel, and the Rocket U-boat concept, which was designed to carry 4x Seeschlange-class wire guided anti-ship missiles. The entire concept was essentially an early ballistic missile submarine.

These missiles blended the stability of the Henschel Hs 117 with the armor-piercing payload of the Fritz X and the propulsion characteristics of the V-2. The result was a compact, wire-guided weapon suitable for both submarine, surface vessel, and aerial deployment.

Destroyers and cruisers carried vertical or pop-up pods loaded with 6–8 Seeschlange-class wire-guided anti-ship missiles. Submarines used sleeker 4-round internal pods capable of firing while submerged. The heavier V-2 derivatives were reserved for experimental long-range strikes or coastal defense batteries.

This created a single scalable missile platform that could easily be adapted on a per use basis. In addition to this, wire guided 20mm Taifun rocket pods were used as another layer of air defense for warships. Which were integrated alongside traditional flak gun turrets as seen in use within land based combined arms units.

As a result, a streamlined and optimized fleet that provided advanced defensive and attack capabilities was made a norm among Frigates, Destroyers, and Cruisers, which acted as primary escorts to the new carrier class that was being built.

Initially designed to field Graf-Zeppelin class carriers on a 1-1 ratio and capability to the prototypes during Bruno's past life, a new model was laid center of this mockup of future warships.

It was larger, more in line with supercarriers of the early cold war of Bruno's past life, and operated with a small nuclear reactor as its main power train. In addition to this, the FW PTL turboprop aircraft on its deck were designed to be launched via steam powered catapult systems.

Finally, in these carrier strike groups were early Early AWACS ships based upon frigate hulls, and combined supply ships that acted as pure logistical support. This created a well-rounded fleet that was self-contained and could more or less dominate the seas entirely by themselves, while effortlessly being able to integrate with air, land, and other sea-based assets.

Granted, the models Bruno closely observed were still more proof of concept than remotely functional, but he could tell a lot of thought had been put into every single detail by the engineers who were working on them.

With all of this in mind, Bruno who was at a naval arms exhibit within Hamburg, could not help but express his approval and support for the current designs to the engineers who were making them. All the while, members of the Admiralty flanked his side, clearly impressed by Bruno's understanding of the advanced naval concepts on display.

"It would appear my investment, and direction has not gone unfounded. This is truly the next generation of naval warfare, and should our enemies come to test the might of the Kaiserliche Marine they will find themselves wholly incapable of defending themselves and their foolishness.

Bravo gentlemen, if you are able to make these ships a feasible reality under construction by the year 1930 at the latest, you will all have significant bonuses on the line. And I will pay that bonus back for every year worked on developing these vessels as we see them here and now or god forbid something even more capable."

Bruno had always been extraordinarily generous when it came to performance bonuses for his employees, and this was a monumental goal he had set for them, as a team, and the future engineers who would join them.

Naturally, there would be bonuses made in between now and the end result based upon metrics and goals being met or exceeded, as Bruno already had high demands for his employees working on such crucial projects.

But to hear that Bruno would hit them with a massive decade long cumulative bonus if they managed to ready for production status within a ten-year time frame on top of what he was already paying them was more than enough motivation to inspire these men and their successors to work as hard as they possibly could to get the job done.

As for Bruno himself, he heard one of the Admirals whisper something in his ear that he found nothing short of laughable.

"Sir, are you sure you want to make this wager? These men have time and again exceeded all of our expectations on meeting goals ahead of schedule. I fear you will be out of a fortune if they manage to do so yet again…"

Bruno simply scoffed as he heard these words before looking the Admiral in the eye who dared to say them with earnest. His look was half boastful and half pitiful as he expressed his thoughts with complete and genuine honesty.

"At this point, I have more money than God… If a small fortune can be spent to ensure the goals of the Reich are met within or before expectations, then so be it. What are a few million marks to a man like me? It is better spent making these men happy, and giving them something tangible to work towards, and not some vain lofty idea of a meaningless promotion.

Money talks after all, it's just that most men who dare to utter such words never use their wealth in the interest of the nation and the people. But I am different… And I hope my example can inspire others to live by a similar standard."

The Admiral could not help but feel both astonishment and shame as he heard Bruno's words. He was amazed that such a man actually existed in this world and disappointed in himself for hoarding wealth purely for his own materialistic gain.

Bruno didn't realize it yet, but after how he had spent his money, always focusing his excessive fortune on ensuring the Reich and its people lived better lives, and only using a small portion for his own lavish lifestyle and that of his family, people had begun to take notice. And when he preached of chivalry and noblesse oblige, few could find a fault with the words spoken.