Exiting the Strait of Malacca, off the coast of the Linga Islands, on the light cruiser "Hong Kong", Heihachiro Togo withdrew his gaze from the smoke rising into the sky in the distance. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

The "Hong Kong," like other slightly higher-grade warships in the Ming Navy, was transferred from the Pacific Fleet to the Nanyang Fleet. Heihachiro Togo had already commanded the 2,500-ton fast light cruiser in the South China Sea and the Java Sea for several months with the British, taking part in no less than 20 firefights. It's a pity that they are all small-scale battles with guns, and there is no definite result - this is at the gate of the Singapore Fortress, and if you can't run away, you can't wait for the British's capital ship to come out? So there is not much credit to be repaid, and Togo's military rank is still lieutenant colonel. The "Hong Kong" that is still directing him is performing "insignificant" work, but someone has to do it.

Heihachiro Togo turned his head to his first mate, Major Gonbei Yamamoto, a 25-year-old naval captain who was a classmate of Zhu Guoguang. Because the hammock number is behind, the results of the graduation exam are not ideal, and the father can't fight others, so he is only a captain now, and the first mate who serves as a light patrol is a little unqualified, if it weren't for the heroic death of the original first mate in the previous battle, it really wouldn't be his turn to take over.

"Yamamoto-kun, the British have moved, and they have finally arrived...... It's just a pity ......"

"What's the pity?"

"Isn't it a pity? In such a sea battle that determines the fate of the world, we can only be spectators! Togo Heihachiro said with some regret.

Yamamoto Gonbei stared at the more and more blackening pillars of smoke in the distance, "Togo-kun, in my opinion, now is our chance to make a contribution...... It is not enough to see these columns of smoke, we should take a closer look and get a thorough understanding of the lineup of the British fleet. ”

"Close observation?" Heihachiro Togo pondered, "You mean to follow them all the time?" ”

"Follow all the way to the battlefield, and then wait for your chance!" Yamamoto Gonbei said, "There will be many opportunities at that time, and after a decisive battle, there will definitely be many heavily damaged British ships fleeing in the desert, and there will always be one that belongs to us." And the above must also want to know the position of the British fleet at any time, and will order us to follow the whole way. ”

Heihachiro Togo nodded, although Yamamoto Gonbei's exam results were not very good, but his brain was very good, and he was a rare talent. Thinking of this, he asked again: "Yamamoto-kun, can you predict the outcome of this battle?" ”

"It's hard." Yamamoto Gonbei shook his head neatly, and just as he was about to continue talking, a report came from his side: "Report, three new capital ships have been found, and the main mast is very tall. ”

A new capital ship?!

Heihachiro Togo and Gonbei Yamamoto glanced at each other, both raising their binoculars to search the sea ahead. Could it be the legendary 14,000-ton capital ship? And three of them came at once?!

……

"Sir, Hong Kong telegram, the British Eastern Fleet has left Singapore!" Zhu Guohui, the midship's midship-to-communications officer, aloud reported the news he had just received, "The British ships have a strong lineup, with more than 60 ships, and three Ravage-class ironclads have been discovered, three Minotaur-class ironclad ships, three Victory-class ironclad ships, and three unknown large ironclad ships, which may have a displacement of up to 15,000 tons, and are suspected to be the Indian Queen-class!" ”

There are as many as 12 capital ships alone! Yu Guibei and Enomoto Takeyang glanced at each other, and their faces were slightly ugly. The strength of the British Eastern Fleet was a little beyond their expectations, and the three legendary Indian Empress ships all arrived in Singapore!

"The three Indian Queens have come at the right time." Yu Guibei took a breath and said lightly, "I've heard of the name for a long time, and this time I just happened to see it with my own eyes, I hope it doesn't live up to its name, it will be disappointing." ”

The Ming Navy and the British Navy have long been imaginary enemies of each other, and of course they have made efforts to investigate the situation of their opponents. Except for the latest Indian Empress class, the situation of the rest of the capital ships has long been clear. If it weren't for these three Indian queens, Yu Beigui would be confident that he would be able to rely on the 24 warships in his hands and the entire British Eastern Fleet. But now, he is very confident in his mouth, and there is still some drumming in his heart.

"What will the British set up?" Enomoto Takehiro also graduated from the Ming Royal Naval Academy, and although he had been serving in the New Japanese Navy, he was also an enemy of the British Navy. "They also have three Minotaur-class ironclad ships with guns next to them, and there should be quite a few armored cruisers, fast cruisers, and light cruisers, right? It seems that both columns and horizontal formations can be used. ”

"It could be a horizontal team plus a column...... Just like the army of the past. Yu Guibei pondered, "The horizontal team is attacking from the front, and the column is detouring from the flank. Nine of the new capital ships were certainly the core of the horizontal formation, and three Minotaur class ships led the column. ”

"No, the Minotaur class has a speed of less than 14 knots, isn't it delaying things to let them lead a column of cruisers?" Enomoto Takeyo shook his head, "It should be the capital ship squadron plus the cruiser column." The horizontal team is attacking head-on, and the flanks of the column are roundabout and intercepting, and we must not let them block it, otherwise it will be dangerous. ”

"Of course, there have been corresponding exercises for a long time." Yu Guibeidao, "By the way, how far is the British fleet from us?" What is the speed? When will it be? ”

"They have just left the port, at least 500 nautical miles away from us, they have not yet passed through the mine-filled sea, and the speed will not be too high, it should be in seven or eight knots. If it were not for the smooth passage of the minefield, the British would have chosen to leave the port at night. It is estimated that after leaving the mine area they will accelerate to about 10 knots. Encounter time...... Tomorrow night, about 32 hours later, for sure. Because we will adjust the speed and course to ensure that we can penetrate at night. ”

The answer was Zhu Guohui, and now he is the only staff officer on the bridge, and the other staff officers are in the commander tower below. Listening to the prince's analysis, Yu Guibei and Enomoto Takeyang both nodded again and again. The encounter must have been at night, as the British must have spotted the "Hong Kong" watching them - since the Ming Navy could figure out the location of the British Eastern Fleet, the possibility of daytime contact could almost be ruled out. Otherwise, the command level of the Ming admiral would be too inferior......

Seeing the approving gazes of the two chiefs, Zhu Guohui continued: "Perhaps we can turn east at dusk today, turn back to the west after dark and avoid the Gulf of Siam, sail south close to the Malay Peninsula early tomorrow morning, and speed up to the Sunda Strait tomorrow evening." ”

"A false shot, so that the British think that we are going to go around Borneo and then quietly go south...... That's a good idea! Yu Guibei nodded appreciatively and looked at Enomoto Takeyang, "Enomoto-kun, what do you think?" ”

"Once the British lose their target, they will definitely go to the Sunda Strait to lay mines, and then hide in the Java Sea, and at the same time send light cruisers to search near the exit of the Makassar Strait."

Takehiro Enomoto's analysis is even more sophisticated. The British were sure that the destination of the Ming convoy was Chittagong, which was naturally easy to ambush and intercept. The Strait of Malacca is impassable, so only the Sunda Strait and the Lombok Strait can be passed. Further east, the convoy may not be able to run out of fuel. And to get around Borneo, you have to pass through the Makassar Strait. The British will definitely send light patrols to guard the Makassar Strait.

"So let's go straight?" Yu Guibei asked.

"That's right, just go straight!" Enomoto Takeyang silently calculated, "I should be in contact as soon as tomorrow morning." ”

"The British won't be suspicious?"

"Yes, but it will still be intercepted, otherwise what will they do? Let us pass through the Sunda Strait or the Lombok Strait? Enomoto smiled, "We can carry a full 24 ships of supplies and munitions, and if we get to Chittagong, the Indian army will be in big trouble." Now the battle in East Bengal has just reached a critical moment! If we were to transport arms and supplies to Chittagong, would the Indian army be able to withstand the 200,000 troops there?

Of course, the British Eastern Fleet could leave Singapore and wait in the Bay of Bengal, but the Bay of Bengal was much more open, and Singapore was in danger as soon as the British Eastern Fleet went far. So Arthur. Hu Deming knows that there is a trap and will still drill into it! ”r1152

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