Huaxia Shipyard, although it is a newly built shipyard, is already the largest shipyard in the empire in terms of scale! Half of the Imperial Navy's 'Eastern Han class' battleships were built here. The other half was built at the Guangzhou shipyard. Originally, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships were planned to be commissioned until the end of 1855 or the beginning of 1856. However, as the situation became more and more tense, the Imperial Navy asked the shipyards to speed up the progress, and when the 'Western Han class' battleships were just launched and outfitted, the construction of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships had already begun.

Now, most of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships under construction at Huaxia Shipyard and Guangzhou Shipyard have been completed. It is expected to be able to launch by the end of this year or early next year. By the end of 1854 or the beginning of 1855, he would be able to enter service. Even if the war broke out soon, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships would still be able to catch up with the big battle.

The 'Eastern Han class' battleship is a brand new battleship, unlike the 'Western Han class' battleship, which is just an improved version of the 'Qin-class' battleship. The 'Eastern Han class' battleship has a standard displacement of 18,100 tons and a full load displacement of 21,000 tons. The ship is 144.2 meters long, 22.8 meters wide and has a draft of 8.8 meters. 24 large boilers and two large steam engines were used, with two-shaft propulsion, and the maximum speed reached 19 knots.

The armament of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship consisted of three triple 305 mm main guns, although the number of main guns was one less than that of the 'Western Han class'. However, the 305-mm gun was much more powerful than the 280-mm gun. Coupled with the new fire control system, the hit rate of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships is also higher. The armor of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship. The key parts are also more than 305 mm thick, the turret, the bridge and the power compartment, as well as the waterline. It's all a place for key defenses. With the cooperation of the Krupp Iron Works in the Kingdom of Prussia, the strength of the Empire's armor was further enhanced. It can be said that at a distance of 8,000 to 10,000 meters, no country's warships have been able to penetrate the thick armor of the key parts of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships. Of course, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships have such a strong strength, and they all rely on money. Every 'Eastern Han class' battleship. The cost was 12 million Chinese dollars. Long Yufei originally only planned to build four 'Eastern Han class' battleships. However, because the current situation is so tense, war could break out at any time. If war breaks out. The Imperial Navy was in dire need of more powerful warships. Therefore, Long Yufei still gritted his teeth and decided to build eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships.

The first ship of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship was named 'Emperor Guangwu of Han', and the remaining seven ships. In turn, it is the 'Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty'. 'Emperor Zhang of Han', 'Emperor He of Han', 'Emperor of Han Yan', 'Emperor An of Han', 'Emperor Shun of Han' and 'Emperor Heng of Han'. The four ships in front were assigned to the 1st Fleet, and the four in the back belonged to the 5th Fleet.

"If the war breaks out next year, will our 'Eastern Han class' battleships be able to catch up with this war?" Long Yufei asked. Start with the 'Qin-class' battleships. The cost of the new battleships of the Imperial Navy is getting higher and higher, but in order to ensure the strength of the Imperial Navy. Long Yufei had to increase the number of advanced warships, which put great pressure on the empire's military spending and finances. If this continues, the empire's finances are very likely to be dragged down. After all, every battleship is piled up with silver. The cost of each of the 'Eastern Han Dynasty-class' battleships was as high as 12 million Chinese yuan, and the construction of eight battleships would cost nearly 100 million Chinese yuan. Coupled with the fact that the Army has also begun to reequip, and the imminent procurement of jeeps and trucks for the Army, as well as the preparation of war materials, all of this will cost a lot of money. There is no doubt that if this continues, the empire will soon be overwhelmed. The next class of battleships of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship was temporarily named the 'Tang class' battleship. However, this battleship has not yet been designed, and even if it is shot, Long Yufei does not plan to build too much.

"Your Majesty, according to the current progress, the 'Eastern Han class' battleship should be able to enter service by the end of next year. If the war breaks out next year, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships can completely catch up with this war and become a weapon of the Imperial Navy to defeat the enemy! Lieutenant General Zhao Xingchuan, Minister of Logistics and Equipment, replied. For the 'Eastern Han class' battleships, the generals of the Imperial Navy and the Equipment Department all have strong confidence. There is no doubt that this will be an epoch-making battleship. The prestige of the Imperial Navy will be shaped by them!

Long Yufei nodded, so he was relieved. Judging from what we have learned so far, the performance of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships has completely left the British Navy. If the war broke out and the 'Eastern Han class' battleships appeared on the battlefield, they would definitely be able to teach those arrogant British a hard lesson and completely trample them to the soles of their feet.

The accompanying admirals were also very satisfied with the performance of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship. Although, the 'Western Han class' battleships now equipped are already very powerful, with as many as ten 280 mm main guns, making the 'Western Han class' battleships have unparalleled firepower. However, this kind of 212 layout of artillery is not very reasonable, which greatly limits the performance of the 'Western Han class' battleship. In addition, the 305 mm main gun of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship made them look forward to it even more.

In the afternoon of the same day, the shipyard held a ceremony for the launching of the new ship. A medium warship and a small warship will begin to be launched and outfitted. Long Yufei also attended the launching ceremony. The battleships launched this time were a new type of cruiser and a new type of destroyer of the Imperial Navy.

The 'Nakshatra-class' cruiser is a new type of cruiser in the Imperial Navy, after the 'Temperance-class improved' cruiser. The displacement of the cruisers of the 'Nakshatra' class was 4,200 tons. The five-fold is a three-seat twin 155-mm gun with a layout of two in the front and one in the back. In addition, on the sides of the battleship there were 6 105-mm secondary guns and 4 75-mm secondary guns. The firepower of the 'Nakshatra-class' cruiser was slightly enhanced compared to the 'Trotto-class Improved' cruiser. However, the most important change is not here, but the speed. With the introduction of new boilers and steam engines, the speed of the Nakshatra-class cruisers has been increased to 24 knots. During the sea trial, it ran a maximum speed of 25.5 knots. In addition, the bow of the 'Nakshatra-class' cruiser is equipped with six torpedo tubes, and this is not a 320-mm small torpedo equipped with the 'Trotto-class' cruisers and the 'Tiangang-class' destroyers, but a 450-mm medium torpedo, which not only has a lot of speed and range, but is also more powerful. Coupled with the high speed of the battleship, it is able to approach the enemy ship faster, and then release a torpedo attack. On the battlefield, the 'Naksar-class' cruiser will be a real giant ship killer.

The cost of the 'Xingsutra-class' cruiser was 1.8 million Chinese yuan, although it was a bit expensive, but Long Yufei still placed an order for 14 ships. The first ship was named 'Jiaomu Jiao', and the rest were 'Kang Jinlong', 'Di Tu Raccoon', 'Fang Ri Rabbit', 'Xinyue Fox', 'Tailed Fire Tiger', 'Kei Shui Leopard', 'Jing Mu Qian', 'Ghost Golden Sheep', 'Liu Tu Deer', 'Xingri Horse', 'Zhang Yuelu', 'Winged Fire Snake' and 'Zhushui Worm'. The first seven ships were allocated to the 1st Fleet, and the last seven ships were allocated to the 5th Fleet!

The 'Earthshatter-class' destroyer is a new type of destroyer. The displacement has increased by 400 tons compared with the 'Tiangang-class' destroyers, reaching 2,000 tons. The main guns are also one 155 mm gun in the bow and one in the stern. On either side were four 105-mm secondary guns and two 75-mm secondary guns. However, the speed of the 'Disha-class' destroyers is faster than that of the 'Tiangang-class' destroyers, and the maximum speed has reached 25 knots, and during sea trials, it even ran a high speed of 26.7 knots. This was all due to the fact that the Imperial Navy received new boilers and steam engines. Other than that. The Earthshatter-class destroyers are also more heavily armoured and have more protection in key areas. The torpedo tubes in the bow of the ship are still four, but they are all 450 mm medium torpedoes.

The cost of the 'Disha-class' destroyers is 1 million Chinese dollars, and the Imperial Navy will build 18 ships at one time, named 'Disha', 'Dikui', 'Diyong', 'Dijie', 'Dixiong', 'Diwei', 'Diying', 'Diqi', 'Dimeng', 'Diwen', 'Dizheng', 'Dibi', 'Diqi', 'Diqiang', 'Didark', 'Di', 'Dihui' and 'Dizuo'. The nine ships in the front belong to the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and the nine ships in the back belong to the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy.

The entry into service of these warships will further increase the strength of the Imperial Navy by leaps and bounds.

At the beginning of June 1853, the Imperial Emperor Long Yufei held a joint meeting of the Imperial * Military and Political Committee in the conference room of the Imperial Palace in the capital Huaxia City. The meeting was attended not only by senior officials of the Imperial General Staff, but also by the military chiefs of the various armies of the Imperial Army, the fleet commanders of the Imperial Navy, as well as the Prime Ministers of the Cabinet and the heads of the ministries. Governors of a number of important provinces and commanders of overseas garrisons also attended the meeting.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are all high-ranking officials and generals of the Empire! You should also be aware of the current international form. Although, there is still a hint of luck, thinking that war may not break out. But now I'm going to tell you that this thinking is wrong! War is inevitable. Maybe this year, maybe next year, war will break out! No one can avoid this war. And what we have to do is to ensure that the Empire can win in the war! Long Yufei said with a stern face! (To be continued......)

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