In the vast eastern Pacific Ocean, a huge fleet of dozens of ships is sailing westward, and the thick smoke wafting from the chimneys of the ships obscures the sky and the sun, forming a large thick dark cloud. The battleship sailed by, leaving a trail of water on the sea.

This huge fleet is the same as the US Navy's West Coast Fleet, which departed from the San Diego Naval Base and was preparing to go to Hawaii for a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Dozens of warships are extremely powerful, and this is already all the strength that the US Navy can gather. But even so, everyone couldn't believe that they could win.

More than 10 kilometers southwest of the US fleet, the light cruiser "Guangyuan" of the Chinese Navy has been following the movements of the US fleet, using guò wireless telegraphy to report the movements of the US fleet to the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy.

It is the afternoon of September 5, and after more than three days of sailing, the US Navy fleet has moved away from the US mainland. And the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy is also coming quickly. It is expected that the two fleets will meet in the central region of the eastern Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to the United States, and then a fierce battle will ensued. This will be the largest naval battle that has broken out since mankind entered the age of steam.

"Where is the fleet now? How long will it be before we can join the fleet? Inside the bridge of the "Guangyuan", the captain of the ship, Major Liu Fei, asked. During these three days, the "Guangyuan" kept track of the US fleet, and was expelled and intercepted by the US fleet several times, during which fierce battles also broke out. If it weren't for the speed of the "Guangyuan", I am afraid it would have been intercepted long ago. Even so, in the course of the fierce battle, the "Guangyuan" ate several shells. Fortunately, it was all 75-mm shells from some destroyers, otherwise the "Guangyuan" would have been very damaged. However, the "Guangyuan" was not without success, at least, in the course of the pursuit of the US fleet, an American destroyer was hit by the "Guangyuan" and caught fire. Now it has withdrawn from the formation, and it is estimated that it has returned to the mainland of the United States.

"If the U.S. fleet doesn't turn, at the current rate, it will probably meet our Pacific Fleet at noon tomorrow!" The navigator reported. The target of the US fleet is Hawaii, and the Chinese Pacific Fleet is also rushing to the ground after receiving the news, and the "Guangyuan" is ready to report the situation, so that the Chinese Pacific Fleet does not have to worry about losing the US Navy. A big war will unfold tomorrow.

On board the USS Indiana, the flagship of the U.S. fleet, fleet commander Mahan, and deputy commander Vice Admiral Benson are studying nautical charts. It's been more than three days since they left the San Diego base, and it's clear that they're going to meet up with the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. At that time, it will be time to reveal whether the US Navy can defeat China's Pacific Fleet. However, both Mahan and Benson seem to be a little lacking in confidence.

"Your Excellency Commander, that nasty battleship of the Chinese is still following us, do you want us to send another battleship to drive him away?" Lieutenant General Benson put down the binoculars in his hand and said hatefully.

"No, haven't you tried it a few times before? The speed of that battleship is too fast, the top speed can actually reach 2 knots, which is faster than our destroyers, how can we catch up? Come, the Chinese, who we have always been unaffordable, are already far ahead of us in terms of the technology of building warships! Mahan said.

"However, if he keeps tracking us, then our deployment will be completely exposed!" Benson said.

"There's no way around it. However, we are going to have a decisive battle with the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy anyway. If they don't do it anymore, then we'll continue westward and attack Hawaii directly. I believe that they will definitely fight us to the death in some sea area. General Benson, on the tactical issue, I still intend to use the "Iowa" and "Texas" to chase the two "Plateau-class" battleships of the Chinese. At the same time, the remaining three 'Indiana-class' battleships followed, catching up with maximum speed. The destroyers were transformed into three formations, which were used to launch lightning strikes and delay enemy battleships. The cruiser protects the fleet while fighting the enemy's cruisers! Mahan said. ' The Iowa is the fourth of the U.S. Navy's Indiana-class battleships, and has been partially modified to make the Iowa battleship even faster, reaching 7 knots, barely on par with the Chinese Navy's Plateau-class battleships. Although the "Texas" was a second-class battleship, the main gun was also two 05mm naval guns, and the speed reached 7 knots, which could be used as a capital ship. This was very important for the U.S. Navy, where the speed of the battleship was too low.

"I have no objection. However, the Chinese Pacific Fleet has four armored cruisers with a displacement of almost 10,000 tons, and we do not have a hostile cruiser with it. I'm afraid I'll suffer! Benson said worriedly.

"We can only rely on the numerical advantage of this. Cruisers, we have one, of which, another, has 20 mm main guns, which can pose a threat to them. With a two-to-one numerical advantage, we don't have a chance to win, even if we have a disadvantage in speed. The point is that we have to sink the two 'plateau-class' battleships of the Chinese. With four battleships and one second-class battleship, we still have a good chance of winning with a numerical advantage of five to two! Mahan said. In addition, the main gun of the "Indiana-class" battleship was 0 mm, while the main gun of the Chinese was only 05 mm. Although the main guns of the US Navy have a larger caliber, because they are 5 times the caliber, the firing range is not comparable to the main guns of the battleships of the Chinese Navy.

At the same time, the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy is also making final preparations, and through the telegram sent back by the Guò 'Guangyuan,' the Pacific Fleet is able to accurately grasp the movements of the US fleet and make tactical adjustments that are favorable to its own side.

On the "Plateau," Vice Admiral Li Dingxin, commander of the Chinese Navy's fleet, and Rear Admiral Gao Yihai, chief of staff, were also discussing the upcoming major war, and according to the time calculation, a naval battle would break out at noon or afternoon tomorrow.

"Commander, tomorrow's battle between battleships, let me command it! You go and command the battle of the cruiser detachment on the 'Chengdu'! Rear Admiral Gao Yihai, Chief of Staff of the Pacific Fleet, said. According to the operational arrangement, after the outbreak of the naval battle, the two battleships, the "Plateau" and the "Qinghai," escorted by destroyers, will face off head-on with the four battleships of the US Navy. The four heavy cruisers and the four light cruisers hunted the cruisers and destroyers of the US Navy as much as possible, and after destroying these small fish, they cooperated with the battleships to besiege the battleships of the US fleet. Although the performance of the 'Plateau-class' battleships is somewhat stronger than that of the American 'Indiana-class', it is obviously very dangerous to play two against four. And the battle of the cruiser detachment was much safer. Although the U.S. fleet has a numerical superiority, the Chinese Navy's formidable heavy cruisers can form an overwhelming advantage over the cruisers of the U.S. fleet.

"What kind of are you talking about? How did I go to command the cruiser detachment? I'm the commander of the fleet, of course I'll command the battleship detachment, you go command the cruiser detachment! Li Dingxin insisted.

"Commander, am I not two years younger than you? It's better for me to do the heavy work and tiring work! Major General Gao Yihai said with a smile.

"Less! Tomorrow you will go and command the cruiser detachment. And what if the Americans have more battleships than us? As long as we keep the engagement distance of about a kilometer, we can make the Yankees completely dumbfounded! No matter how numerically superior they are, it's useless if they can't hit! Li Dingxin said with a smile. Fighting at long distances and achieving victory through accurate artillery bombardment has become a magic weapon for the Chinese Navy to defeat the enemy.

"Well, I'll go command the cruiser detachment. I will do my best to destroy the cruisers of the Americans, and then go to your aid! Major General Gao Yihai said.

Li Dingxin nodded and didn't say anything. Although he went up with confidence, there were too many considerable factors in naval battles, and he did not dare to pack a ticket to be able to defeat the four battleships of the American fleet with two battleships.

At 2 p.m. on September 6, 2,000 kilometers from the west coast of the United States, the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy and the West Coast Fleet of the United States Navy finally met. The light cruiser 'Guangyuan' also completed its mission and returned to its own ranks. The Chinese Pacific Fleet was immediately divided into two detachments, of which two battleships and 12 destroyers formed a formation and began to turn northeast in order to forcibly occupy the 'T' prefix in the naval battle and face the enemy with the side side, so as to give full play to the superior firepower charge. Four heavy cruisers and four light cruisers turned to the southeast, preparing to target the cruisers and destroyers of the American fleet.

"Order the 'Iowa' and 'Texas' to turn northwest and move at full speed." The Indiana, Massachusetts, and Oregon followed at maximum speed. The destroyer is responsible for protecting the capital ship, and the cruiser meets the enemy cruiser! "On the bridge of the USS Indiana, Mahan issued orders.

The U.S. fleet began to move, and the USS Iowa and USS Texas took the lead in rushing toward the two "Plateau-class" battleships of the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Three other 'Indiana-class' battleships followed, and around these ships were more than a dozen destroyers defending.

"Even second-class battleships were sent? Accelerate to 7 knots! Once in effective range, give priority to the second-class battleship that attacked the American fleet! Li Dingxin ordered from inside the bridge of the 'Plateau'. This time, the decisive battle will be between two 'plateau-class' battleships and four 'Indiana-class' battleships and one second-class battleship of the U.S. fleet.

PS: The third update is here! Tomorrow's fourth watch, there is an update in the early morning! (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to register as a member to recommend this work, your support is my biggest motivation. )