"The battle cruisers of the Chinas finally appeared. I thought they were going to be turtles with shrunken heads? Could it be that the people of China think they can defeat us now? Major General Naoe Nakano said disdainfully.

"General, although the heavy cruisers of the Chinas inflicted some damage on our battle cruisers. But with the exception of the Haruna, the injuries of the other battleships were insignificant. Matsuoka Shuzo said.

"Well, in that case, let's let the people of China taste our awesomeness. Our 356mm guns will make those people pay the price completely. Order all ships, get ready for battle, the prosperity of the empire, fight here! Major General Naoe Nakano ordered.

"Yes, General." Matsuoka Shuzang nodded heavily. He also knows how important the outcome of this battle is for Japan.

The four battle cruisers of the Japanese Navy, lined up in a battle line, prepared to meet the battle cruisers of the Chinese Navy. The battlecruiser "Kongo" was ahead, followed by the battlecruiser "Hiei", the battlecruiser "Haruna" and the battlecruiser "Kirishima". The two Tenryu-class light cruisers and those destroyers surrounded the four battle cruisers to protect them.

On the battlecruiser 'Longfei', the flagship of the Imperial Navy's battle patrol formation, Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong was watching the Japanese fleet with a telescope. Although, the distance between the two sides is already more than 15,000 kilometers. But whether it is a 343 mm gun or a 356 mm gun, the firing range is much longer than this distance. It's just that it's very difficult to hit the target at this distance.

"Is Little Japan ready to fight us to the death? That's good, as they wish. Order all ships, line up in battle lines, and prepare for a decisive battle with the Japanese! Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong ordered.

Four battlecruisers of the Imperial Navy. The queues were also switched, and a line of battle cruisers was formed. The battlecruiser 'Longfei' was at the front, followed by the battlecruiser 'Longyun', the battlecruiser 'Longyao' and the battlecruiser 'Longhui'.

As for the remaining three 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers, they are outside the battlefield. Although the 210-mm guns were able to pose a certain threat to the battle cruisers of the Japanese Navy. But that's too risky. In the unlikely event that the Japanese Navy's 356mm guns were hit, the 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers would be very difficult to resist.

Both China and Japan were four battle cruisers out of the station. Judging by the number of main guns, it's all the same. It's just that in terms of the caliber of the main guns, the Japanese Navy has a slight advantage. The Kongo-class battlecruisers were armed with 356 mm guns of 45 times the caliber, the Longfei class battlecruisers were equipped with 343 mm guns of 50 times the caliber, and the Longyao-class battlecruisers were equipped with 305 mm guns of 50 times the caliber.

However, the defense of these two levels of battle cruisers of the Imperial Navy was far stronger than that of the Japanese Navy's 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers, and the defense of the 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers and the 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers were comparable. The waterline armor was up to 270 mm thick, the deck armor was up to 65 mm thick, the turret armor was up to 350 mm thick, and the conning tower armor was also up to 350 mm thick. Some key compartments, such as ammunition depots, power compartments, etc., have been intensively reinforced. Even a 356-mm gun hit by the Japanese Navy's Kongo-class battlecruiser may not have caused fatal damage.

In a way. The combat effectiveness of these two types of battlecruisers of the Imperial Navy was in no way inferior to that of the 'King Kong-class' battlecruisers. Even because of the stronger defense, the survivability is stronger. Of course, if there is a duel, who can win the final victory needs to be tested in actual combat.

The battle patrol formations of the Chinese and Japanese sides, which had already completed their combat preparations, began to shorten the distance. 9:43 a.m. The distance between the two sides has been reduced to 12,000 kilometers. At this distance, it was already within the effective range of the main guns of both sides.

The battlecruiser 'Longfei' of the Imperial Navy was the first to fire. The four twin 50-caliber 343 mm guns it was equipped with let out an earth-shattering roar and began the test firing.

8 main guns. 4 guns fired. 4 343 mm guns flew quickly towards the battlecruiser "King Kong". The 'Longyun' battlecruiser, the 'Longyao' battlecruiser, and the 'Longhui' battlecruiser also followed suit and began test firing one after another.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

One shell after another exploded on the surface of the sea, splashing up columns of water. It's just that in the first round of test firing, the impact point was generally 200 meters away. If you want to hit the target, you need to adjust it again.

"Hmph, at a distance of 12,000 meters, trying to hit our battleship is simply a fool's dream!" Major General Naoe Nakano sneered all over his face.

Although, 12,000 kilometers have already entered the effective range of the 356-mm gun. But at this distance, the accuracy of their shelling is not guaranteed. In order not to waste shells, Major General Naoe Nakano did not give the order to fire, but ordered a further shortening of the distance.

In the battle last night, the battle patrol formation of the Japanese Navy wasted some shells. So that in their next battle, they must save shells. In addition, in last night's battle, all four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers were more or less damaged, and although the impact was not great, the rangefinder of the 'Haruna' battlecruiser was damaged, and if it was fired at a distance of 12,000 kilometers, it would be a complete waste of shells.

The Japanese Navy remained silent, bent on closing the distance. However, the Chinese Navy continued to conduct test launches, and the impact point was getting closer and closer.

At 9:55 a.m., the test shells fired by the battle patrol formations of the Imperial Navy were generally within 100 meters. As soon as you form a straddle shot, you can immediately switch to concentrated fire.

At 9:59, the Imperial Navy's battlecruiser Ryuyao took the lead in forming a cross-fire on the Japanese Navy's battlecruiser Haruna. This also means that the 'Haruna' battlecruiser has been caught by the 'Longyao' battlecruiser. It's just a matter of time before it's hit. The captain of the battlecruiser 'Long Yao' also ordered the battleship to enter the fire at the first time. Four twin 50x caliber 305 mm guns began to rain shells at maximum rate of fire.

The 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers had a relatively fast rate of fire, basically capable of firing a salvo in 40 seconds. This speed is twenty seconds faster than the Japanese Navy's 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers. That is, in two minutes, the 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers were able to fire two volleys. The 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers, on the other hand, were able to fire three volleys. Such an advantage in the rate of fire is especially evident after the formation of a straddle shot.

"Damn! How is it possible that the people of China have actually formed a straddle? Maj. Gen. Naoe Nakano couldn't believe what was happening in front of him. In his concept, the quality of the Japanese Navy is far stronger than that of the Chinese Navy. Even after the destruction of the Etajima Naval Academy by the Chinese Navy, the Chinese Navy has only narrowed the gap. But now, the Chinese Navy, it seems, is doing better than the Japanese Navy.

"Order the ships, start shooting." Although the distance between the two sides is still maintained at about 11,000 kilometers. But Maj. Gen. Naoe Nakano knew he couldn't stay silent any longer. Otherwise, the morale of the Japanese Navy will only become more and more sluggish.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy also began firing. It's just that the distance is too far, and the superstructures of the four battleships were more or less damaged in last night's battle, which also had a certain impact on their shooting accuracy.

In particular, the battle cruiser 'Haruna', in the first round of test launches, the most recent impact point was 500 meters away, and such an achievement was enough to make them die of shame.

After the battlecruisers on both sides were engaged, the cannon roared on the sea, as if it were thunder. One after another, the shells exploded in the sea, splashing columns of water into the sky, and it looked as if the whole ocean was boiling.

After the battlecruiser "Ryuyao" formed a straddle fire and began to fire at a concentrated fire, the battlecruiser "Longyun" also caught the battlecruiser "Hiei" and began to switch to concentrated fire.

The Chinese Navy has already formed two battle cruisers to form a straddle firing, which is undoubtedly ahead of the Japanese Navy, and the Japanese Navy feels great pressure.

On the battlecruiser "King Kong", the expression on Rear Admiral Naoe Nakano's face became more and more solemn. He seems to have found that he was too good to underestimate the Chinese Navy. The performance of the Chinese Navy seems to be completely above that of the Japanese Navy! Although the 'King Kong-class' battle cruisers are powerful, it seems that it is enough to destroy the four battle cruisers of the Chinese Navy.

"Boom!" A loud bang was heard. I saw a dazzling fire erupting from the side of the Japanese Navy's battlecruiser "Haruna".

The battlecruiser 'Long Yao' finally hit its target in the sixth salvo after entering the concentrated fire. A 305-mm shell hit the side of the battlecruiser 'Haruna'. Although, the place where the hit was above the waterline. But it also destroyed one of the secondary guns of the battlecruiser 'Haruna', while leaving a large hole in the side of the side.

"It's a pity, it would have been nice if the hit had been a little bit down." Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong was a little regretful. If you can hit the waterline armor of the Haruna battlecruiser and tear a large hole near the waterline armor in one fell swoop, you will be able to pay a very heavy price if you can't sink this battlecruiser. (To be continued.) )

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