Chapter 449 Royal Navy, flee only when you see the enemy! (Please subscribe, please vote)

"Boom, boom, boom"

This is the roar of the 320 mm 45 times caliber cannon equipped on the "Island" class "beggar's version of the battleship"!

These warships named after the islands are actually a very special kind of existence. They are usually classified as shallow water heavy artillery ships. However, in fact, these warships do have heavy artillery, but they are not limited to shallow water and offshore areas.

In fact, the sources of the hulls of these "Island" class ships are very mixed. Some are indeed designed as shallow water heavy gunships, used to guard offshore waters and used as floating forts, but most of them are modified from old battleship hulls.

The 12 "islands" brought out by Guo Xiaobao from the Kwajalein Atoll are all modified old battleships. The standard displacement is between 7,000-8,000 tons, and the full displacement is just over 10,000 tons. As a shallow water heavy gunship, it is indeed

They are a bit big, so it is appropriate to call them "beggar's version of battleships".

And this batch of "beggar's version of the battleship" also has a very interesting design. Their twin 320 mm 45-caliber main gun turrets are installed in the rear position amidships, next to the two large chimneys, so they

It cannot fire forward, but can only fire in three directions: left, right, and aft. As for the gun position on the bow, a 210 mm 45-caliber cannon is installed.

Of course, whether it is the 210mm gun installed at the bow or the 320mm gun installed amidships, they are all new guns that were finalized during the Taiping years, and they are still very powerful. Otherwise, it would not have forced Major General Dundas to

The B fleet of the British Royal Navy's Australian fleet led by him did not dare to get close - even the two most powerful Duke of Edinburgh classes in the B fleet could not withstand a "hammer" of 320 mm heavy artillery! So Dundas

The major general only dared to follow from a distance and fire from a long distance with his 9.2-inch cannon. In fact, he did not want to chase the Ming Dynasty's 12 beggar's battleships. No matter how weak the beggar's battleships were, they were still battleships, and his 12 armored

No matter how powerful the cruiser is, it is only for patrol purposes and cannot be used as a battleship.

However, His Majesty the Emperor has already given him a telegram, asking him to follow the Ming Army's squadron until they find their main fleet. His Majesty the Emperor also asked him to carry forward the Royal Navy's spirit of destroying the enemy when it sees it, even at the highest sacrifice.

Destroy the enemies!

Rear Admiral Dundas didn't know what to say about the emperor's telegram. Who is commanding the Australian Grand Fleet now? Is it Admiral William Baga, the commander of the William IV, or St. James of London?

King William IV himself?

And what about destroying the enemy on sight? There are only 12 armored cruisers and 16 destroyers. Why should we destroy 12 beggar-class battleships, 2 Hero-class ships, 4 unknown Grand Cruisers, 6 Warrior-class ships and 30 large cruisers?

Large and small destroyers?

Can this emperor do math problems? They have 54 ships, but he only has 28 ships. 54 is much more than 28. That’s why he is likely to be destroyed!

He was quite speechless about the strength of this Ming navy formation. When he first started following, this formation consisted of 12 beggar's models, a dozen old destroyers, 1 unknown Grand Cruiser, 1 Warrior class and 3

The escort class did not expect that this formation would continue to grow in the process of running away, and cutting-edge ships of the Ming Navy would continue to join in and run together.

Running and running, the Ming Dynasty naval formation has grown from 30 ships to 54 ships.

But luckily, the Ming Dynasty's 12 beggar's battleships have no speed advantage, and the Ming Dynasty's Haohan class and 4 cruisers have no firepower advantage against Dundas's two treasures, the Duke of Edinburgh class. If you don't "cheat"

If you let go of thunder.

The British Duke of Edinburgh class is said to be a cruiser, but it barely meets the threshold of a battle cruiser. Each Duke of Edinburgh class has 6 9.2-inch cannons. The firepower is not comparable to that of the 4 240mm Hero class.

!

Relying on the firepower of two Edinburgh-class ships and the "cowardly fighting" of the Ming army admiral (more likely to lure the enemy), Major General Dundas and his 28 ships finally followed steadily. Although both sides were

The cannon was fired from a distance, but at a distance of more than 20,000 yards, it was decided that both sides would just listen to the sound and express their opinions.

But just after 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the situation on the sea suddenly reversed. The Ming Navy formation, which was originally just fighting and retreating, suddenly separated from the formation. Among them, 12 beggar battleships and a dozen old-fashioned destroyers protecting them continued.

The bombardment formation and course were maintained. However, the other two Haohan-class, 4 Kongming-class, 6 Warrior-class and 16 Guard-class destroyers suddenly accelerated and changed their course, turned a corner on the sea, and began to turn eastward.

, seemed to be going around behind the following British ship.

At the same time that the Ming Dynasty fleet suddenly changed its formation, the lookout post of the Duke of Edinburgh also discovered dozens of large and small smoke pillars appearing at the intersection of the sea and the sky in the west!

I immediately remembered the ringing phone on the bridge of the Duke of Edinburgh. The navigation staff picked up the phone and asked. His face immediately turned pale and his voice trembled as he said to Rear Admiral Dundas: "Sir, the main force of the Ming Dynasty's Pacific Fleet has arrived. At least there are

Dozens of ships, 50,000 yards away!”

Rear Admiral Dundas immediately became nervous and even dropped the cigar in his mouth. However, as an elite officer of the Royal Navy, he immediately regained his composure. He followed the Ming fleet, which was running away with more and more ships.

Isn't the purpose just to find their main force? Now that the main force is here, his mission is completed!

"Left full rudder!" Dundas immediately ordered: "We will retreat immediately. Send electricity to General Baga and His Majesty the Emperor, saying that we have completed the mission of finding the enemy and now start to lure the enemy."

"Rear Admiral, do you still need to send electricity to His Majesty the Emperor?" The communications officer on board the Duke of Edinburgh seemed a little unaware.

Major General Dunstar immediately rolled his eyes: "We must never forget the fact that the Royal Navy is the property of His Majesty the Emperor, and we are all loyal and brave soldiers of His Majesty the Emperor!

Order all ships to start singing "God Save My King William IV" in 15 minutes, and then raise the Z flag. The British Empire and His Majesty the Emperor need us to fight to the end!"

"Yes, General!"

"Admiral, the British are turning and seem to be evacuating!"

Inside the "Kongming", Guo Xiaobao was holding up his telescope to watch the British fleet following him. When he heard the reminder from the people around him, he just put down his telescope and said with a smile: "They have completed their mission. The British fleet should be here."

It’s time for us to put on a show nearby! By the way, where is the British fleet?”

"Admiral, according to aircraft reconnaissance, they are about 30 nautical miles away. If nothing goes wrong, the bombardment will begin in 30 minutes."

Guo Xiaobao nodded and ordered: "Let the gunboat formation turn, we need their 320mm cannon."

"Admiral, those gunships can't stand up to the British Emperor-class and Victory-class ships."

Guo Xiaobao smiled and said: "There is no problem. Our Zhongwang-class, Shihuang-class and Dazhou-class will arrive in time. In addition, there will be carrier-based aircraft to assist in the battle! Moreover, we can also launch torpedoes!"

He paused and said, "Now raise the bloody red flag and prepare for a firefight in 30 minutes! Also, send power to the Da Zhou and ask them to rush to the battlefield immediately, otherwise we won't be able to hold on for long!"

"Yes, Admiral!"
Chapter completed!