The British Navy's Home Fleet is now the only powerful fleet of the Royal Navy. The entire fleet includes all the capital ships of the British Royal Navy and more than 80% of the warships. In particular, the four latest 'Admiral-class' battleships in service were all assigned to the home fleet, bringing the number of capital ships owned by the home fleet to 12 at once.

The British Navy's home fleet is now a strong man, under the command of Fleet Commander George Brown. After Admiral Satrus gave the order to leave the port. All the battleships were ready, the boiler compartments began to live, and smoke rose from the huge chimneys. As the water temperature continued to rise, the steam engine began to operate. The battleships began to tremble, and one after the other, they began to leave the port in order.

The current capital ships of the Home Fleet include four 'Admiral-class' battleships, namely the 'Collingwood', 'Rodney', 'Anson' and 'Ben Bau'. Four 'Giant-class' battleships, namely 'Giant', 'Edinburgh', 'Birmingham' and 'Liverpool', two 'Ajax-class' battleships, 'Ajax' and 'Sheffield', and two 'ravage-class' battleships, 'Ravage' and 'Fury'.

In addition to these twelve capital ships, the Home Fleet also has 8 'Nelson-class' ships and 10 'Orlando-class' ships. In addition, 30 'Pearl-class' cruisers, and 12 new 'Southampton-class' light cruisers.

The Southampton-class light cruiser is the latest fast warship developed by the British Navy, with a displacement of only 1,500 tons, but a speed of 20 knots. The main artillery was two 155-mm naval guns. The 'Southampton-class' light cruisers are enough after the British Navy discovered that the Chinese Navy was heavily equipped with new fast destroyers. The development of the battleship began. The British Navy has now unwittingly begun to catch up with the Chinese Navy. After all, the Chinese Navy is too powerful. It has surpassed the British Navy and began to lead the direction of naval development. More than 30 'Southampton-class' light cruisers are under construction in major shipyards in the UK.

Compared with the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, the British Navy's Home Fleet was undoubtedly much larger in size this time. The total number of warships was more than seventy. The 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy has only 39 ships in total. The number of warships in the British Navy's home fleet is almost twice that of the Chinese Navy. Of course, the huge number of 'pearl-class' cruisers is already old and difficult to function anymore. Such warships have been eliminated in the Chinese Navy. Only the British Navy is still in service. Once this kind of warship goes to war, it is estimated that it will only be tortured and killed.

Of course, when the home fleet left the military port, the huge number of more than 70 warships leaving the port was undoubtedly very spectacular. Standing on the flagship of the fleet, the commander of the home fleet, George . Admiral Satrus and Chief of Staff Thomas. Lieutenant General Maitland couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his heart. At least, the home fleet is still strong, and they are still sure of winning this battle.

But. In George. In Admiral Satrus's heart, there is still a lingering shadow. He feared that this time it was a trap set by the Chinese Empire in order to encircle and annihilate the main force of the British navy. If that is the case, then the British Navy may not be able to escape this time.

"Your Excellency, Commander. Don't worry, it'll be fine. According to the information we have received, the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy is still in the Mediterranean. Perhaps, they would never have expected that we would leave the port at this time to fight them! "Fleet Chief of Staff Thomas. Lieutenant General Maitland said. He seemed a little more optimistic.

"Hmm!" George. Admiral Satrus nodded. For the sake of secrecy, the home fleet likewise chose to leave the port at night. That's the case. It is possible to keep the whereabouts of the fleet as low as possible.

However, the next day, the empty Portsmouth military port still surprised the intelligence officers of China's * military intelligence agency. They immediately reported the situation to the country. And the Military Intelligence Agency immediately sent telegrams to the 1st and 5th fleets.

However, the orders received by the two fleets were different. The 5th Fleet received an order to prepare for war with all its might, preparing to defeat the main forces of the British Navy in a single battle. The 1st Fleet was asked to remain in the Mediterranean. The Chinese side also knew that if the 1st Fleet were to be dispatched, perhaps the British Navy would immediately retract. In this case, the preparations of the Imperial Navy will be in vain.

On the morning of January 3, 1854, in Angra Sangra de Marsmo in the Azores, Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and Vice Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff, gave the order for the fleet to be ready for battle. The home fleet of the British Navy disappeared in the military port, and fools know that they must be rushing towards the Azores. The 5th Fleet will face the main force of the British Navy's home fleet, with a total of more than 70 warships.

This, of course, put a lot of pressure on the 5th fleet. But it's more about the excitement. The number of the British Navy's home fleet was large, especially the capital ships, as many as 12, while the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet had only 8 ships, and the British Navy's home fleet was 1.5 times that of the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet. Under this, the British Navy still has 8 'Nelson-class' warships, and these 'Nelson-class' warships can already be regarded as quasi-capital ships. In this way, the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy will have a greater disadvantage in terms of capital ships.

"Order the ships, get ready for battle. In particular, all the cruisers were armed with torpedoes. This time, whether they can beat the British or not, it's up to them! A smile appeared on the corner of Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng's mouth, this is certainly a challenge for the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, but it is also an opportunity. If the 5th Fleet can defeat or even destroy the British Navy's home fleet, then the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet will be famous all over the world.

"Yes, Commander! The fish finally took the bait. The British Navy has finally come out of their military port, and we must seize this opportunity! Vice Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff of the fleet, was also very excited.

The torpedoes on cruisers and destroyers were the killer feature of the Imperial Navy. In order to avoid exposure, the Reich General Staff issued a strict order prohibiting the use of torpedoes in general combat times. In order to use it in a large-scale decisive battle, it will inflict heavy damage on the enemy in one fell swoop. After all, this kind of killer feature is estimated to be extremely powerful when used for the first time. But the second time you use it, the enemy will be on guard.

Now, they've finally waited for that opportunity. The Imperial Navy was to torpedo the battleships of the British Navy to the bottom of the sea.

Although it was known that the target of the British Navy's home fleet was the 5th Fleet, the 5th Fleet did not stay in Angra Sanstinto and wait for the British to arrive at the door, but the main force of the fleet left Anmento Sanstinto and cruised in the northern part of the Azores. Prepare to face the British here.

Fast cruisers and destroyers, as well as several detachments, went north to explore the traces of the British.

From the British mainland to the Azores, it is only 2,500 kilometers, and it only takes five days for the British Navy's home fleet, which is cruising at a speed of ten knots, to arrive. Even if it was a deliberate detour to avoid Chinese reconnaissance ships, the British Navy's home fleet would not have arrived in the Azores for more than a week.

Whether it's the Chinese Empire or the British Empire, or the entire North Atlantic Military Alliance. Everyone attaches great importance to this decisive battle at sea. If the British Navy can win, then the North Atlantic military alliance will have a chance to turn the tables. If the British Navy were to fail, the chances of the war ending within this year would be greatly increased. After all, after the complete loss of sea supremacy, Britain and the European continent will be separated from the Chinese navy. The Chinese Navy could escort the powerful Chinese Army, either by landing on British soil or in Europe. In this case, the North Atlantic military alliance will lose.

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and the British cabinet ministers were quietly waiting for the outcome of the naval battle. The British intelligence service is closely monitoring the movements of the Chinese navy. In particular, the movements of the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy. If the Chinese Navy's 1st Fleet were to sail to the Atlantic, then the British Navy's Home Fleet would immediately return to avoid falling into the trap of China's recollection.

Fortunately, according to the monitoring of British naval intelligence, the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy is still operating in the Mediterranean, as if it does not know that the main force of the British Navy has left the port and is preparing for a decisive battle with the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy.

Although, this made the British Cabinet, the Admiralty and the Home Fleet very confused. But, they know, this is the only chance. As long as the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy does not move, then they have a chance to win. After all, the Royal Navy's home fleet has too much advantage over the Chinese Navy's 5th Fleet. As long as there were no accidents, the British Navy would have won the war.

On board the battleship Collingwood, the flagship of the Home Fleet, the commander of the Home Fleet, George Brown. Admiral Satrus frowned. The closer he got to the Azores, the more he felt a great threat.

"Chief of Staff, is there any news about the Chinese Navy? Is the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy still in the Mediterranean? "George. Admiral Satrus asked.

"General, according to the latest intelligence from four hours ago, the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy is still in the Mediterranean. Still, General, I think we're completely reassured. In two days we will be able to reach the Azores, and even if the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy departs at this time, they will not be able to reach the Azores without a week! "Chief of Staff Thomas. Lieutenant General Maitland said. (To be continued......)

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