"O Chief of Staff! You say what if the Germans opened fire directly on us? "On the bridge of the battleship 'Tang Gongzong', Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, said with a smile. He stood at the window of the bridge and looked with his telescope at the capital ships of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet in the distance. After learning that the German Navy had gone to sea for training, he rushed to the main force of the 51st Squadron with a blank eye.

"Not really! The Germans should not have the guts to do this! Admiral Ye Feng was stunned for a moment and said with some surprise. Although, the strength of the German High Seas Fleet was stronger than that of the 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy, how could they go to war with the Chinese Navy at this time? Wouldn't that detonate this world war? The Germans now have a total of only eight battleships, while the Reich Navy has 16, plus the battleships of those allies of the Reich Navy, it is almost impossible for the German Navy to win. As long as the German Navy had not been kicked in the head by a donkey, it would not have taken the risk.

"Haha! I'm just kidding. However, the Germans' Caesar. The Frederick III-class battleships were really good, a little longer than our 'Don-class' battleships. The firepower should be no worse than our 'Don-class' battleships! Admiral Lu Haipeng said with a smile.

"Yes, the Germans were armed with twin 343-mm guns, one more than our 'Chutang-class' battleships. However, in terms of firepower projection, our 'Chutang-class' battleships are no worse than them! Admiral Ye Feng said. Although ↑ ↖ of course, the main guns of the 'early Tang class' battleships were better than those of the 'Caesar. Frederick III's class battleships are one less class. But the triple main gun still has some advantages over the twin main gun. Not to mention anything else, the Imperial Navy's 'Chu Tang-class' battleships were more defensive than the German Navy's 'Caesar. Frederick III's class battleships are stronger.

Comprehensive performance of battleships. Firepower is just one aspect, but there's also defense and agitation. On the latter two factors. The Chinese Navy is ahead of the German Navy.

"Report, the German Navy sent a signal. Claim that the nearby waters are their exercise areas, please let us leave! A communications officer reported.

"Reply to those Germans, the Imperial Navy is cruising on the high seas, and it will not interfere with their exercises, so that they can continue to carry out exercises!" Admiral Lu Haipeng said directly. This time, he led the main force of the 51st Squadron to see the real combat strength of the German Navy. After all, according to the judgment of the Reich General Staff, the war between the Reich and the Germans. It is very likely that it will erupt in 1861 or 1862, and it will only be two or three years away. Figuring out the strength of the German Navy will be of great help in future tactical arrangements.

In 'Caesar. On the bridge of the battleship Frederick III, Vice Admiral Philip, commander of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet, received a reply from the Chinese Navy, and his face suddenly became gloomy. With the Chinese Navy watching from the sidelines, how could the German Navy's exercises still be possible?

"Abominable Chinese, they are a provocation against the German Navy!" Lieutenant General Philip said angrily. If he could, he would have really ordered the elimination of the 51st Squadron of the Chinese Navy, but that would have consequences. It wasn't something he could afford. At present, Germany is not ready for war with China. Once the war broke out, it was almost very difficult for Germany to win.

There is the Chinese Navy in. In order not to expose its own shortcomings, the exercises of the German Navy's high seas fleet had to be canceled. However, the anger on the sea is becoming more and more solemn. Dozens of warships of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet and dozens of warships of the 51st Detachment of the Reich Navy faced off in the North Sea. It seems that there is a possibility of misfire at any time.

Of course, in terms of strength on the battlefield. The 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy was undoubtedly at a disadvantage. The number of capital ships of the Reich Navy was only half that of the German Navy. In the event of war, the 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy could not take any advantage. In the end, it must have had to retreat. However, the Imperial Navy was extremely determined, and the Germans did not dare to open fire.

In the afternoon, columns of black smoke rose over the southern sea. The German Navy's High Seas Fleet was suddenly on the verge of a great enemy.

Soon, powerful battleships appeared, and as can be seen from the flags hoisted on the battleships, it was the Atlantic Fleet of the Spanish Navy and the Royal Fleet of the Belgian Navy. The Spanish Navy had four 'Qin-class' battleships and four 'Western Han-class' battleships, which were equally divided between the Spanish Navy's Atlantic Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet, with two 'Western Han-class' battleships and two 'Qin-class' battleships each. The Royal Belgian Navy also had two 'Western Han-class' battleships and two 'Qin-class' battleships.

When the Spanish and Belgian navies appeared, the situation on the sea was fundamentally reversed. The four extra 'Western Han-class' battleships and four 'Qin-class' battleships also posed a mortal threat to the German Navy's high seas fleet.

Although the 'Western Han-class' battleships and the 'Qin-class' battleships were both old battleships equipped with 280 mm guns, the armor-piercing projectiles weighing nearly 300 kilograms could still penetrate the 'Brandenburg-class' battleships and the 'Caesar'. Armor of the Frederick III class's battleships. What's more, the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy were no worse than the German Navy, and in the event of a naval war, the German Navy would not be able to take advantage of it at all.

"Prepare to turn around and return to Wilhelmshaven!" Lieutenant General Philip's face was so gloomy that it almost dripped. In the face of the joint persecution of the Chinese, Spanish and Belgian navies, the German navy was completely at a disadvantage. In order not to make the situation time and space, the German Navy had to retreat. After all, this is already the entire home of the German Navy, and if it is lost, it will be impossible for the German Navy to rise. Lieutenant General Philip did not want to take the risk and did not dare to do so. In order to develop the navy, Germany has already done its best. These battleships and the sailors on them were the basis for the rise of the German Navy! There is no room for error! Of course, the shame suffered today will definitely be recovered by the German Navy a thousand times in the future if there is an opportunity.

The German naval duke remembered having to withdraw, and the 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy cheered.

"Send a signal to the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy to welcome them to the North Sea. Our drills are ready to begin! Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, said with a smile.

Subsequently, the 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy, the Atlantic Fleet of the Spanish Navy and the Royal Belgian Navy conducted a series of training exercises in the North Sea, further strengthening the coordination of the three sides.

According to the plan of the Imperial Navy, in the future battle between the Imperial Navy and the German Navy would be divided into three parts: the Chinese Empire, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Kingdom of Belgium. After all, the other half of the main forces of the Imperial Navy were in Asia, and the variables were too great for them to travel long distances to fight in Europe. At the very least, before the main forces of the Imperial Navy arrived, the Imperial Navy, together with the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy, had to join forces to suppress the German Navy.

Although the German navy was growing stronger, they were always suppressed in the eastern part of the North Sea. Most of the North Sea is dominated by the Chinese Navy, the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy, which makes the German Navy very aggrieved and makes the contradictions between the German Navy and the Chinese Navy accumulate more and more.

In 1860, four 'Wichelsbach-class' battleships and four 'Braunschweig-class' battleships of the German Navy were put into service. Among them, the "Wiecchersbach-class" battleships still use 343 mm main guns, but the "Braunschweig-class" battleships use 356 mm main guns, which makes the displacement of the "Braunschweig-class" battleships also rise to 28,000 tons.

The addition of these two classes of battleships increased the number of capital ships of the German Navy to 16. The addition of eight powerful capital ships gave the German Navy greater confidence to compete for control of the North Sea. And the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy, the 'Don-class' battleships they ordered from the Reich will not be able to be delivered until next year. Therefore, the two countries were completely reduced to a supporting role in the confrontation in the North Sea.

However, the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet also received four 'Middle Tang-class' battleships and four 'Late Tang-class' battleships, bringing the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet's capital ships to 16, and the 51st and 52nd fleets each had eight each.

However, the Imperial Navy was mainly the 51st Squadron in the North Sea, and before 1860, the 51st Squadron of the Imperial Navy could unite the Spanish Navy and the Belgian Navy to completely suppress the German Navy. But now, in the face of the 16 battleships of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet, the 51st Squadron of the Reich Navy was at a disadvantage. The Atlantic Fleet of the Spanish Navy and the Royal Belgian Navy's four 'Western Han-class' and four 'Qin-class' battleships were powerless against the German Navy's battleships.

If it is said in dealing with the 'Brandenburg-class' battleships and the 'Caesar'. When the Frederick III-class battleships, the Qin-class battleships and the 'Western Han-class' battleships were still able to have a certain combat power. But when it comes to the 'Wicchersbach-class' battleships and the 'Braunschweig-class' battleships, they are dwarfed. In particular, the 356 mm main guns of the 'Braunschweig-class' battleships mainly lightly damaged the 'Qin-class' battleships and the 'Western Han-class' battleships.

This directly led to a naval confrontation in the North Sea, and the situation changed. The German navy began to gain the upper hand, and even approached the east coast of Scotland and the Onik Islands for a time, threatening the security of the 51st Fleet of the Imperial Navy. In such a situation, the Imperial Navy, of course, had to react. (To be continued......)

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