After observing the new naval facilities, he turns his attention to the other side. Atop the hill a long runway lay paved with a tower and a series of buildings on one end, and various facilities along the taxiway. Facilities including earthen bunker-like hangars, gun emplacements, workshops, etc. Surrounding it all is three layers of barbed wire fence, with watch towers positioned equidistant along the innermost fence.
Sitting out in front of their hangars, a Gruppen (1/3 of an air wing) of aircraft sit totaling 32 aircraft. 20 He 100 fighters, 8 Do 17 bombers, and 4 Fw 189 reconnaissance planes. The He 100 D-1, armed with 3 7.92mm machine guns with a max altitude of 9,500m, average turn time of 20.1/s and ascent rate of 16.4m/s. This is one of the first and finest closed canopy fighter planes with an impressive speed of 656km/h, and will be more than enough to protect the airspace between the mouth of the river and Berlin. The Do 17 Z-2 is one of the earliest frontline bombers made, armed with 7 7.92mm machine gun turrets and a single offensive 7.92mm machine gun for strafing. With a payload capacity capable of carrying 50kg bombs, 250kg bombs, and 250kg incendiary bombs, this plane should be more than enough to engage land and sea based threats and with multiple their effectiveness is multiplied with the carpet bombing strategy. Furthermore despite its size and payload capacity it is still able to fly at an impressive speed of 407km/h with a max altitude of 8,500m, and capable of climbing at 10.2m/s. Finally there is the FW 189 A-1 reconnaissance plane whose wooden and fabric body gives it not only an impressive range, but also an astonishing rate of climb at 8.0m/s. Armed with 2 7.92mm offensive machine guns and another 2 for defensive turrets. With such a plane surveying the surrounding lands should take no time at all, and it's light weight allows for a superior loitering time. This also makes it a good patrol plane whose large class cockpit allows superior fields of vision, and ,if need be, the plane is also capable of carrying 4 50kg bombs.
Although small and practical insignificant, even during the WW2 era, this fleet of aircraft represents the beginning of what everyone present believes to be to only and largest airborne military force in the world.
Heinz: "I felt naked without an Air Force, and although it's not much I feel much more secure."
Anna: "True. I never saw cambat while in the navy, but the daily reports from the Air Force helped us in many ways. We even saved a capsized sailing boat with their help."
Bruno: "I remember hearing of that. I believe it was the first time pilots helped rescue someone."
As their discussion continues, Bruno hands another of his guards a briefcase. Inside are documents of much the same as before, and orders him to deliver it to the Generalmajor (major general) who commands the aerodrome. The man then sprints down the hill to cross one of the many high clearance bridges, connecting the roads on both sides of the river.
Finally, Bruno turns his attention to the army facilities spread across both sides of the river. This section of the base is the largest of the 2, with not only the most buildings but also the most men. Located within are 2 full divisions of infantry, 1 infantriedivision (infantry division) and 1 motorized infantriedivision, totalling roughly 17,000 men each. The infantry divisions armed with artillery, anti-tank, ant-air, tanks, armored vehicles, and more primarily focus on individual infantry units, being lightly armed with no tanks and few trucks and armored vehicles. The infantry division also makes use of many cavalry and work horses for transportation of men and supplies, using what few vehicles they have for the transportation of artillery and supplies. The mechanized division, on the other hand, is almost entirely mechanized, being armed with numerous such vehicles, armored cars, and half tracks. This division also has a panzergrenadier battalion, being armed with less than a battalion worth of both assault guns (short barreled field guns mounted forward facing on a tank hull) and tanks for assaulting enemy positions.
Curt: "Good. Now we have a mean of reinforcements, using the men in this base to protect the bases and planned villages."
Heinz: "I would recommend alternating patrols on both sides of the river using both the men here and those in Berlin. This would ensure regular patrols and reports coming from both directions."
Bruno: "True, and it would allow for more rapid deployment of forces should either side come under attack."
Instead of repeating the same process as before, Bruno notices the sun is beginning to set. Because of this, he opts to hand the last briefcase he brought with him to the Generalmajor commanding the base intending to bunk here for the night. While walking towards the command center, he passes columns of soldiers doing drills, gun emplacements and watch towers, and every man who notices him immediately stops their task to salute him. Among those he passes, Bruno also passes several different cars and trucks, armored vehicles and half tracks, tanks and self propelled weapons. These include the Sd.Kfz.234/ /1 and /3 armored cars, Sd.Kfz.251 half tracks, Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind and Ostwind II self propelled anti aircraft guns, and various Panter, Tiger, Panzer tanks of all different types.
Upon taking in the sight he furrows his brows, thinking of the many reports and accounts he read about Germanys vehicles and repairs capabilities during World War 2. Although the vehicles where widely considered among the best and well engineered in the world, they were often over engineered. This caused increased tonnage, production issues, and most importantly dramatically increased maintenance time. Furthermore there are many vehicles with weapons of different calibers, diameter of rounds or guns, different shell types, etc. This lack of standardization, although borne of need, had a huge negative impact on Germanys ability to effectively defend their borders during the latter years of the war. Therefore Bruno decides he will implement such standards, right here and now, to prevent such a situation.
Bruno turns to Curt, whose looking upon the sight with pride, "We need standardized weapons, calibers, diameters, etc. If we continue down this path, I fear the effects such a lack of standards will have for our nation."
Curt, confused: "Sir? What is there to fear? We have the best engineers, mechanics, and operators in the world. And that was before being summoned to this one!"
Bruno: "How many different calibers and diameters are these guns and their shells? How long does it take to replace a road wheel or engine? We have the best, that's true, but at what cost. Should war break out, we have too many differences between parts, weapons, and ammo between our vehicles. I fear this will cause a logistical nightmare when their need skyrockets during times of conflict, and will hinder our armor, effectively destroying their true capabilities."
Heinz: "It's true. During the war parts where hard to come by for planes, and it wasn't due to our poor logistics. It was because planes were constantly and rapidly evolving, leading to situations where it became too confusing and difficult to maintain our aircraft due to the sheer volume of small differences between them."
Curt: "… I see. I'll get to work on this immediately! I won't let this happen again, especially not to our armor!"
Bruno: "No. waiting until operations are running normally between here and Berlin. Afterwords I want you to speak with everyone from every rank and position when it comes to our land based vehicles and weapons. Gather everything you can from intensive field testing and maintenance to ease of use and ergonomics, and begin selecting no more than 2 of each tank and armored vehicle with the exception of the heavy breakthrough tanks. Leave the trucks and half tracks be, as the infantry often modify them to fit their needs in the field. The heavys will be used in reduced numbers as firefighting teams, with a few used in each battalion as breakthrough tanks with the support of the others."
As they continue the conversation, they soon reach the command post. After some small talk with the Generalmajor, Bruno hands him the briefcase containing the same documents and orders he had delivered to the other commanders of the base. As the night sets, Bruno bids the others good night, as he makes for his quarters for the night. While laying in bed, before slipping into a deep slumber, he has one last thought.
I'm Bruno Richthofen, son of Wilhelm and Christiana von Richthofen, and Kaiser of Germany. I will not let history repeat itself.