This 340-mm shell penetrated the broadside armor of the all-steel battleship Weigeng, which not only caused a fire inside the Weigeng, but also damaged many pressure pipes.

The Wei Geng was one of the five star-class all-steel battleships that Zhou Rui purchased from the Red Tiger Empire Navy.

Because it is a second-hand warship, although the Wei Geng has always been well maintained, it can only drive a little more than 15 knots at the earliest.

After a large number of pressure pipes were damaged, the speed of the Wei Geng suddenly dropped to less than 7 knots.

After Song Limin received the report of the Wei Geng's injury, he immediately ordered the Wei Geng to temporarily withdraw from the battle line, so that the damage management personnel could extinguish the fire as soon as possible and repair the damaged pressure pipe.

However, before the Wei Geng, which had lost speed, had time to retreat, three more large-caliber shells hit the Wei Geng.

One of the 320-mm shells pierced through the 50-mm main deck armor of the Weigeng and exploded violently inside the Weigeng's hull, triggering a large explosion in one of the Weigeng's ammunition compartments.

The detonation of many shells instantly blew the all-steel battleship with a full load displacement of 11,000 tons in two pieces and quickly sank under the sea surface.

Just after the start of the war, an all-steel battleship was sunk, which cast a shadow on the hearts of the officers and men of the coastal defense fleet who participated in the war.

By 11:20 a.m. on the 28th, the battle lines of the two sides had been reduced to about 7,000 meters.

At this time, three warships had been sunk on the side of the coastal defense fleet, in addition to the all-steel battleship Weigeng, which was the first to be sunk, as well as the all-steel battleship Weiji of the same type, and the battlecruiser Yongan, which were also sunk by the opponent's large-caliber shells.

In addition, there were the all-steel battleships Canghai, the all-steel battleships Weiwu, and the Yongxi battlecruisers, which had to temporarily withdraw from the battle because they were seriously injured.

On the side of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Empire Navy, not only did not a single warship sink, but not even a seriously injured warship.

The reason why the battle loss ratio of the two sides is so big is that it is worse than the hit rate of the main guns of the two sides.

On the side of the coastal defense fleet, due to the large number of recruits and the short time to receive warships, the hit rate was simply miserable.

In the bridge of the Red Horned Eagle battleship of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy, the expression of the captain Yerk looked very relaxed at this time.

"This seemingly powerful coastal defense fleet of Ganyang City is indeed a paper tiger.

Os, pass my order, the course of each battleship is 10 degrees north, and then we will keep a distance of 7,000 meters from the opponent's battle line. ”

First mate Oss nodded approvingly and said: "The other party's shooting accuracy is very low, it seems that it should have just received 14 battleships with full main guns."

It's a pity that so many battleships with full main guns! ”

Yelk said with a hearty smile: "I am very satisfied with the current effect, I don't want the other party to be a well-trained fleet."

In that case, I'll have no choice but to run.

After all, the other party's capital ship is more than twice as large as ours! ”

Oss followed with a smile and said, "General, today you will create a miracle!" ”

"Hehe, it's a miracle we're going to make!"

In the bridge of the Zhenhai, the flagship of the coastal defense fleet, the atmosphere at this time was very depressing.

In particular, the sinking of the Yongan battlecruiser made Zhou Rui and Song Limin's faces full of frost.

The Yong'an is a British invincible-class battlecruiser extracted by Zhou Rui from the lottery system.

Zhou Rui did not expect that a battle cruiser with a full load displacement of more than 20,000 tons and a firepower comparable to that of a battleship with full main guns would sink after only two hits.

It seems that the relatively thin armor of the British Invincible-class battlecruisers is really not suitable for participating in the confrontation between battleships.

"Old Song, we can't continue like this, our hit rate is too low, we must change our tactics!" Zhou Rui said in a deep voice.

Song Limin hesitated for a moment and said: "Major General, it seems that only by narrowing the distance between the two sides of the battle line and engaging in 'sea bayonets' with the other side can we improve the hit rate."

And if you want to close the distance between the two battle lines, the best way is to let the battleships turn 90 degrees and rush straight over.

In that case, however, the battleships would only be able to fire with the main guns at the front of the hull until the battle line was restored. ”

After a pause, Song Limin continued: "In addition, we still have 6 battle cruisers to maintain combat effectiveness.

I am going to let the six battle cruisers break away from my own team, and with their speed, flank the opponent's battle line from the side, forming a flanking attack.

However, at the speed of 6 battle cruisers, only the 2 destroyers of the task force, Kuaishun and Lishun, could follow the 6 battlecruisers.

In the unlikely event that the opposing side sent small and medium-sized warships to intercept them, 6 battlecruisers were likely to encounter a torpedo attack. ”

Zhou Rui said categorically: "Do as you say immediately!"

If we don't make changes and continue to fight according to the current model, we will definitely lose. ”

The remaining four 4 Moltke-class battlecruisers and 2 Invincible-class battlecruisers of the coastal defense fleet subsequently withdrew from the long snake formation of the coastal defense fleet.

A battle line was reformed and flanked from the side towards the battle line of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy.

Although the combat effectiveness of the coastal defense fleet on this side is somewhat weak, it does not lack courage.

The remaining 6 all-main gun battleships and 5 all-steel battleships on the long snake formation immediately turned around one after another and rushed straight to the battle line of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy.

Yelk, the temporary commander of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy, did not care about the division of the coastal defense fleet, and still commanded 10 battleships under his command, pouring fire on the 6 all-main gun battleships and 5 all-steel battleships that rushed up from the coastal defense fleet.

It is hoped that the 11 battleships of the coastal defense fleet will continue to expand the results of the battle when they cannot exert all the firepower of their main guns.

The battle also went as Yerk had hoped, and soon sank the all-steel battleship Wittin of the coastal defense fleet.

It's just that Yerk didn't expect the speed of the 6 battle cruisers to be so fast, and he went around to the front and almost grabbed the "T" prefix.

Yerk had no choice but to order his battle line to change course.

And just as the battle line of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy changed direction, a 305-mm shell from the all-main gun battleship of the Dragon Scale of the Coastal Defense Fleet pierced through the broadside armor of an all-steel battleship of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy.

Immediately, the all-steel battleship with a full load displacement of 19,500 tons was blown in two in a devastating explosion and soon disappeared into the sea.

Seeing that he had finally sunk one of the opponent's battleships, Zhou Rui couldn't help but raise his arms and shouted: "Just fight like this!" Stick it up and see them with their bayonets! ”

In the next battle, although the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Empire Navy still had the advantage with its ultra-high hit rate.

However, in the face of the deadly "bayonet fighting at sea" tactics of the coastal defense fleet, the losses of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Empire Navy were gradually increasing.

By 16:40 p.m. on the 28th, the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy had sunk 2 all-steel battleships, 1 light cruiser and 3 destroyers.

There were also 1 battleship with full main guns, 1 battleship with all steel and 1 large armored cruiser, seriously damaged.

On the side of the coastal defense fleet, by this time, a total of 3 battle cruisers, 5 all-steel battleships, 2 large armored cruisers and 2 destroyers had been sunk.

And 1 battleship with full main guns, 2 battlecruisers, 2 battleships with all-steel and 1 large armored cruiser, due to serious injuries, temporarily withdrew from the battle.