Chapter 287 Assault, Ming Navy! (Please subscribe and vote monthly)

To be fair, the Indian fleet is still very cautious. They also know that the Ming Dynasty naval fleet that defeated the Persian Gulf is difficult to deal with. They may lay mines around Muscat and may even ambush torpedo boats. Hiding in the Persian Gulf

The main force may also suddenly come out!

Therefore, at this time, the entire Indian fleet did not dare to neglect at all. Their second- and third-class cruisers and destroyers even ventured to the frontier near the beach, searched repeatedly, and even turned on their searchlights from time to time.

Go to the beach and fire two shots on the sea to test whether there is any reaction on the land and the sea.

The weather tonight is not very good. There are many dark clouds passing by in the sky, covering the moon from time to time. The wind and waves on the sea are about two or three levels, and the undulating waves stir up the steel hull from time to time.

Snow-white waves. This is not a particularly good night. But the well-trained Indian sailors are still confident and calm, taking photos of their chests to assure their white-skinned superiors that everything is fine!

The warships on the sea all slowed down to about 10 knots. After a while of busy work, there was no problem. About an hour later, the transport ships on the sea rushed to the commander of the landing operations on the flagship Revenge, Captain Codrington.

A light message will be sent - everything is under control!

Admiral Codrington turned to look at the "cannon fodder commander" Colonel Elphinstone sent by the British and Indian Army. It was the "Big D Owl" Elphinstone who was captured alive by Wu Zhenzhen in Peshawar.

Major General Tong. He was originally sentenced to "beheaded in prison" by Daoguang for the crime of "trafficking in drugs"!

Because he didn't know whether to behead first and then "prison", or whether to "prison" first and then behead, Elphinstone was so anxious that he cried all day long and kept writing to Daoguang to apologize for his behavior.

Defense - he is really just an aggressor and not a criminal!

Of course, the crime of the invader is no less than that of criminal D. But Elphinstone knows the law! He explained to Daoguang that this crime of aggression is a state crime, and he is just a small man who carries out orders.

I have to say that this Elphinstone is truly proficient in law!

Invasion is a national crime, committing D is a personal crime. Maybe I will be killed!

Therefore, he would rather admit that he is the aggressor than admit that he is a criminal.

It's a pity that Daoguang ignored him at all and insisted on executing him for committing D crime! However, when his "prison waiting period" expired and he was about to be executed, Mu Zhang Amu Zhongtang, who was supervising the execution, was doing a "physical examination"

At that time, it was discovered that his life should not be cut off, and that his suffering was about to end. So he was taken back to continue his "prison", but this time he was "prisoned" for only a few days, and a turning point came. The peace talks between Daying and Dayin were successful.

Elphinstone was put back.

However, his official career was over. After he was released, he was sent to a military court to prosecute him for dereliction of duty. But Hugh Gough Pasha, who performed well in Turkey, saved him. At that time, Hugh Gough Pasha

He was recalled to the British Army by the Duke of Wellington and became the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army!

After Gough arrived in India, he interceded with the military court and was demoted by two ranks. This time he was also given an opportunity to perform meritorious service. He commanded about 8,000 people in the First Division of the British-Indian Army's First Corps.

Landing in Oman.

Seeing Admiral Codrington's eyes, Elphinstone immediately stood up and asked the admiral for instructions: "Admiral, I suggest that the landing operation begin!"

Admiral Codrington nodded and loudly ordered: "Transfer! All landing operations must be completed before noon tomorrow!"

At this time, in a small fishing village next to Mustique Port, in a small harbor formed by rocks, 12 of the latest Taiping Type 8 torpedo boats were waiting for the order to attack.

Second Lieutenant Wang Zuo, who was on a reconnaissance mission on the fishing boat that day, was also on one of the torpedo boats.

This type of torpedo boat uses small steam turbine technology and a fuel-fired boiler. The maximum speed reaches 34 knots!

Each boat is equipped with two steam gas torpedoes. The speed and range of this torpedo are epoch-making improvements compared to the previous compressed air torpedo. This is also the best chance of winning tonight's sneak attack!

The 12 torpedo boats have all been perfectly camouflaged. In the night, they look like a few rocks floating on the water.

They were now only about five or six nautical miles away from the Indian fleet. Suddenly, a torpedo destroyer on alert from the Indian fleet passed very close to them.

But Wang Zuo, who was the captain of the No. 12 boat, was frightened to death... Although the combat effectiveness of this destroyer of several hundred tons was quite weak, it was not something that a torpedo boat could deal with.

After all, he is the "ship" and what he is driving is just a boat.

Fortunately, the sound of sea water hitting the rocks covered up the sound of the torpedo boat's main engine.

After the torpedo destroyer moved away, Wang Zuo's blood boiled again.

Such a huge fleet of the Indian Empire was five or six nautical miles in front of me!

As long as your own torpedo boat moves forward at full speed, you can rush into the middle of them within ten minutes... A torpedo boat with a speed of more than 30 knots and two steam gas torpedoes. After rushing in, it's time to eat meat!

And you have to pick up big meat to eat, the bigger the better, wealth can be found in danger!

On the high ground outside Muscat, there is also an artillery observation post of the Ming Navy infantry.

It is also observing the movements of the Indian Navy, waiting for the Indian Army to start transferring and landing, and is ready to report the coordinates back to the eighteen 155mm cannons on land at any time.

According to the raid plan, the Army's 155-mm cannon should fire first to create chaos. Then, taking advantage of the chaos, the Navy's torpedo boats launched an attack with all their strength!

After firing the torpedoes, they stopped turning around and retreated northward, all the way to the Persian Gulf.

At this time, the Indian transport ship had already arrived at the launch line of the attack, surrounded by some destroyers and light cruisers on vigilant patrols. Small boats were launched one after another from the ship.

Perhaps the white-skinned officers were rushing in a hurry. In the flickering moonlight, they saw Indian soldiers crawling down the rope net in disorder.

These landing infantrymen carrying dozens of pounds moved awkwardly. The transport ships and escort ships also maintained extremely low speeds, patiently waiting for them to climb down.

At this time, Wang Zuo issued an order in a low voice: "Raise the boiler temperature and pressure, and wait for the army's artillery fire signal!"

As the sound of the turbine gradually became louder, his face was filled with excitement!

The opportunity is coming!

"Boom boom!"

Four or five kilometers away, several dull sounds suddenly came from the land.

The British and Indian infantrymen who were changing vehicles suddenly heard the sharp sound of artillery shells passing over their heads.

This is the enemy launching an attack with artillery!

Before they could come to their senses, more than a dozen water jets had already stirred up on the sea surface and landed next to a 3,000-ton transport ship on the far right side of the formation. The sea water poured over the people who were still crowded on the deck.

Above the heads of the officers and soldiers. It seems that the Ming Dynasty has discovered it!

The entire fleet suddenly erupted with exclamations of curry from Indian officers and soldiers!

After all, these well-trained Indians among the British and Indian officers and soldiers are usually tough-talking, but once they go to the battlefield, they are not so brave.

The 155mm artillery shells were fired in waves, and it was free of charge.

Obviously, the Ming army on the shore was also working hard.

Suddenly, a 155mm artillery shell hit the mast of a transport ship, and then a terrifying air explosion occurred!

The flying shell fragments hit a large area of ​​the Indian infantry in Class A, and the screams of curry smell suddenly sounded on the sea.

The Indian lookout on the nearby armored cruiser Arrogant quickly took advantage of the explosion's light to observe, and suddenly swept in the direction of the fishing port. He saw a dozen small boats pouring out thick white smoke, preparing to head here.

Impact!

He almost screamed in curry English: "Torpedo boat! Due west!"

The sudden bombardment and the warning of the appearance of torpedo boats completely disrupted the landing operation, which was being transferred ashore.

The Indian navy ships, which were already nervous, immediately turned on their searchlights in the due west direction.

At the same time, the Indian Navy officers frantically turned their artillery guns due west.

The transport ships also eagerly ordered the boilers to increase the pressure immediately, and stopped the transfer of infantry to prepare to avoid torpedoes!

Pity the infantrymen of the Indian Army who are still climbing on the rope net. It is now impossible to get down and it is also difficult to get up.

There was a lot of yelling and cursing, and an unknown warship sounded the alarm again. In addition, long-range land artillery fire was still rumbling and exploding. The entire transfer area was completely chaotic.

At this moment, the twelve large torpedo speedboats were shaking, like wild horses running wild, seeming to be rushing towards these low-speed transport ships!

Harvest is about to begin!
Chapter completed!