The 'Nelson-class' battleship is a relatively powerful battleship. However, the maximum speed of this battleship is only 15 knots. In terms of comprehensive strength, it is comparable to the 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships of the Chinese Navy. It's just that the 'Eastern Zhou-class' warship can only be regarded as a transitional warship of the Chinese Navy. Because the speed is too low, it is impossible to follow the main force to fight. As a result, the 5th Fleet's 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships, as well as the 'Western Zhou-class' warships, remained in the Indian Ocean. Most of the 1st Fleet's 'Eastern Zhou-class' and 'Western Zhou-class' warships were also used for ground attack.

In the face of the Chinese Navy, which increased its speed to 18 knots, the British Navy's 'Nelson-class' warships could only look at the ocean and sigh. The detachment of the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy can easily throw off the British Navy. It then continued to haunt the British Home Fleet, constantly reporting the location of the British Navy's Home Fleet to the flagship.

Aboard the battleship Collingwood, the flagship of the British Navy's Home Fleet, Fleet Commander George Brown. Admiral Satrus was already pale. He didn't expect that even the light warships that drove the other side would become impossible, which made him feel at once that compared with the Chinese Navy, the gap between the British Navy and the British Navy seemed to be really getting bigger and bigger.

"Your Excellency, the speed of the Chinese' light warships is too fast, and our warships are very good at catching up. Unless you send out all those 'Southampton-class' warships! "Fleet Chief of Staff Thomas. Lieutenant General Maitland's face was also a little ugly.

However, the British Navy's home fleet had only 12 Southampton-class light cruisers. In yesterday's battle, three ships were sunk. One was heavily damaged. The remaining eight ships will be dispatched even if they are all dispatched. It may not be the opponent of this detachment of the Chinese Navy! If you don't do it well, you will be eaten by the other party.

"Hell! It seems that after returning home this time. We're going to have to build more fast warships to the Admiralty. Otherwise, we will be suppressed by the enemy all the time! "George. Admiral Satrus said.

However, if they want to return to China, they may have to defeat the Chinese Navy first. If they are defeated, will they be able to return home?

Thomas. Vice Admiral Maitland also nodded, and he also understood the advantage of the Chinese Navy's fast warships. In this regard, the British Navy is undoubtedly lagging behind a lot.

"Forget it! Those Chinese want to follow, let them follow. Anyway. We're going to have a showdown with their main force soon. I don't believe that in such a short period of time, there will be accidents! "George. Admiral Satrus said helplessly. After all, if you can't drive it away, you can only let the other party follow. Anyway, the decisive battle is about to begin. It is impossible for the Chinese Navy to transfer the capital ships of the 1st Fleet in such a short period of time! In this case, the British Navy's home fleet still has the absolute upper hand.

"Well, Your Excellency Commander is right! As long as we defeat their main forces. Sink all those battleships. These light warships pose no threat to us! "Thomas. Lieutenant General Maitland also said.

Of course, soon Thomas . Lieutenant General Maitland would have regretted this remark. These light warships, which did not seem to pose any threat to the capital ships of the British Navy, soon had the opportunity to inflict incalculable losses on the British Navy's home fleet.

Tens of kilometers south of the British Navy. The Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet is rapidly approaching. After discovering the traces of the British Navy's home fleet, Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, the commander of the fleet, had already sent a telegram to all the detachments, asking them to quickly move closer to the main force. After all. Judging by the number of capital ships, the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy is compared to the Home Fleet of the British Navy. It's too much difference. If you want to turn the tide, you have to rely on the torpedoes of these light warships.

Eight capital ships of the Imperial Navy. It was already lined up in a battle line, just waiting to make contact with the home fleet of the British Navy. The flagship battleship 'Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty' was located at the front of the battle line, followed by the 'Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty', the 'Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty' and the 'Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty', followed by the battleship 'King Xiaowen of Qin', the battleship of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, the battleship of King Wu of Qin and the battleship of King Huiwen of Qin. Other cruisers and destroyers circled the battle line. Once the capital ships of both sides met, they would launch a lightning strike on the British Navy on the orders of the fleet commander.

"Commander, Colonel Liu Zhiyuan is calling, the main force of the British Navy's home fleet is heading south at a speed of 10 knots, and it is expected that in an hour and a half, we will encounter it!" Vice Admiral Ye Feng, Chief of Staff of the Fleet, said.

"Hmmm! Let Liu Zhiyuan, that kid, continue to monitor the movements of the British. In addition, tell me that boy, stay away from the British home fleet, and not to attack without permission. Otherwise, if there is one with three long and two short, how can I explain to Marshal Niu! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng ordered. After all, Colonel Niu Zhiyuan, as the eldest son of the former Chief of General Staff Marshal Niu Meng, served in the 5th Fleet, so Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng also needs to take care of it.

"Commander, Colonel Niu Zhiyuan shouldn't be unable to distinguish the severity! Besides, he only had six warships under his command. And the British had dozens of battleships, as well as powerful battleships. If he took the initiative to attack, wouldn't it be an egg hitting a stone? Lieutenant General Ye Feng said with a smile.

"Of course I know this, I'm afraid that kid is hot-headed! In addition, torpedoes are weapons that must wait until a critical moment to be used. Otherwise, you won't be able to maximize the effect if you use it in advance! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng said.

Lieutenant General Ye Feng nodded, agreeing with this statement. After all, the so-called killer feature, of course, must pursue the greatest power.

"Also, let all the brothers, have a little more breakfast to eat. I don't know how long I'll have to wait for my next meal! Lieutenant Lu Haipeng continued. After all, once the fierce fighting begins, the fighting will not end, and the officers and men will not have time to eat. Besides, at that time, I guess I didn't have the heart to eat.

Naval battles in this era often lasted for several hours before they could be over. If the two sides are evenly matched, it will even take a day or two to determine the winner. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that there is enough body in naval warfare. Gunners, in particular, need a lot of body to carry shells.

Of course, like the main gun shells of battleships, armor-piercing shells weighing two or three hundred kilograms, there is no way to carry them by manpower alone, and they have to rely on cranes. This allowed the rate of fire of the Imperial Navy's main guns to reach only one shot in two minutes. However, the Imperial Navy was already working on an automatic loader, and it is said that it had achieved good results. Although the 'Eastern Han class' battleships were not usable, they should be able to be used on the capital ships of the next level. At that time, the rate of fire of the capital ship will be greatly increased.

"Don't worry, Commander. The kitchen has already been prepared, and all the soldiers will eat with their bellies open, and they will have enough to eat. Lieutenant General Ye Feng said. In this, there is also a custom of the Chinese, the reason for being a full ghost. After all, in the heat of battle, there will inevitably be casualties. Maybe a shell will kill you. It's better to be a full dead ghost than a hungry ghost!

The 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy has completed its readiness for battle. After waiting for the encounter with the British Navy's home fleet, a battle will be fought that will decide the fate of both countries.

The two fleets approached at high speed, and if you look down from a high altitude, you can see the two fleets, like two lines, quickly crossing the blue sea.

At 8:12 a.m. on January 6, 1855, a cruiser of the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet of the 'Temperance Class Improved' spotted the British fleet emerging from the northeast. The terrible sirens sounded in the wounds of the fleet, and the officers and men of the fleet rushed to their respective posts as soon as possible. The guns, stripped of their armor, began to spin and were aimed in the direction of the enemy's attack. The hideous and thick barrel undoubtedly showed the strength of the fleet.

Almost at the same time, the British Navy also spotted the Chinese Navy. The well-trained British Navy was also combat-ready.

"Sure enough, it's a column formation. Order all ships, form battle lines, and prepare to meet the enemy! "The Commander of the Home Fleet of the British Navy, George . Admiral Satrus gave the order.

The 12 battleships of the British Navy soon formed a long battle line. Because the British Navy has 4 more capital ships than the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy, their battle line is also half longer than that of the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy. This also means that once the battle begins, the capital ships of the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy will withstand more artillery fire.

In addition to the battleships sending out the battle line, the British Navy's eight 'Nelson-class' battleships and eight 'Orlando-class' battleships also led thirty 'Pearl-class' cruisers and eight 'Southampton-class' cruisers to fight fiercely, preparing to fight the small warships of the Chinese Navy when the capital ships of both sides were fighting against the enemy.

However, the light warships of the Chinese Navy remained unmoved and remained around the capital ships. This made the British Navy wonder a little, could it be that the Chinese Navy did not plan to use light warships to fight? After all, under the protection of the main guns of the capital ship, the light warships of the British Navy did not dare to rush forward.

"Humph! A bunch of idiots. The light warships of the Imperial Navy were not used in this way. Soon, you'll know the power of the Imperial Navy's light warships! Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, showed a hint of mockery on his face. (To be continued......)

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