"Mr. Yang, have you read the telegram from the Italians?" Admiral Sevela asked. "They gave us two options for the Dante-class main guns, three triple 10-inch guns and two twin 12-inch guns. What does Mr. Yang think? ”

"My personal opinion is to continue to use 10-inch guns." Yang Yonglin thought about it.

"I need a good reason, the new 12-inch turret gun also has a rate of fire of 40 second shots, which is already a great rate of fire. The power of the 10-inch gun is somewhat small in the face of patrolling. Severa said with some displeasure.

"After replacing the 12-inch gun, isn't it still impossible to penetrate the main armor belts of the American battleships that are more than 15 inches? And even with a 10-inch gun, isn't it still a problem to deal with the 4-inch upper armor of American battleships? And considering that the armor belt of the American battleships was too low, it is the situation that we need to face later. Yang Yonglin said with a smile while pouring a cup of green tea for Saivela.

"In addition, from the perspective of naval tactics as a whole, our capital ships are only trying to defeat the enemy's warships with the vast majority of their ability to resist, and then use torpedo boats to deal with the opponent. With artillery shells alone, it is difficult to sink a 10,000-ton warship. And for a large number of American protective cruisers, a large number of high-speed guns are obviously more lethal. Moreover, in terms of logistical supply and ammunition carrying, the reserve of 10-inch shells is larger. And it's also easier to replenish, don't forget, we're fighting in the oceans. And from the point of view of training, it is obviously easier for 10-inch guns to form combat effectiveness. Our gunners can be trained from existing ships at all. Of course, you are the commander and you will decide everything. Yang Yonglin finished and added another sentence.

And for good reason. Considering that we are going to fight in the oceans, the problem of supply will be the second largest enemy besides the Americans. Regarding Yang Yonglin's answer, Sai Villa was quite satisfied.

"Also, does Lord Yang think that our current combat readiness work in the West Indies needs anything other than what is mentioned in the documents?" Severa said in a different subject.

"For the combat readiness of the West Indies. We can no longer prepare from a military point of view alone. First of all, the first point is how to minimize the intensity of resistance of non-white races on the island as much as possible, and this problem is definitely not solved by force alone. What we need is a relaxed, relatively friendly environment, even if only for a short period of time before the war and after the war. Yang Yonglin said.

"It's not up to the Navy to decide, but I'll do my best to convince Congress to restrain the greedy capitalists." In this regard, Cervera did not have a very good solution.

"Secondly. It was the Spanish Army that had to strengthen its defense of the West Indies before the conflict. We can't win this war with the Navy alone. If the Spanish Army could not even hold out to the first wave of the US Army, there would be no need to fight. Personally, I think hiring some non-governmental mercenaries is a good option when necessary. Yang Yonglin continued.

"Mr. Yang, we are the navy, and these measures are very necessary, but they are not within the control of our navy. I hope you can give some advice on the Navy. For example, how to strengthen the defense of the port of San Diego. Severa said with some dissatisfaction.

"The defense of the port of San Diego really needs to be strengthened, but if the fleet enters the port of San Diego during the war, I am afraid that either the situation of the war has reached the point where it is out of control, or it will have to prepare for a decisive battle." Yang Yonglin said with a smile.

"I don't understand what Your Excellency means." Evera was a little confused.

"What are the combat missions of the American fleet? And what were the combat missions of the Spanish fleet? Yang Yonglin asked rhetorically. …,

"Isn't the task of the fleet to destroy the opposing fleet and gain sea supremacy?" Sevela asked.

"Nope. The most basic task of the American fleet is to ensure the safety of the transport fleet. The West Indies are far from the Spanish mainland. As long as the U.S. Navy can provide sufficient cover for the Army, the Americans can use the Army to win the war, and they don't necessarily have to fight to the death with the Spanish Navy. Not only is it too risky, but it's also easy to lose sight of one over the other. So at the first stage of the war, the Americans will not take the initiative to seek a decisive battle with us. Yang Yonglin said.

"If you look at it according to Your Excellency's thinking, we also don't need to look for the main force of the U.S. Navy for a decisive battle, but only need to attack the opponent's transport fleet?" Severa seemed to understand something. "But does this have anything to do with the Port of San Diego?"

"The port of Santiago is on the southern coast of Cuba, far from the northern coast where the United States may land. And once we enter the port of San Diego, the whereabouts of the fleet will inevitably be revealed, which will cause us a lot of trouble in attacking the American convoy. In response, the Americans will certainly concentrate a fairly strong convoy of escorts to cover the convoy. Yang Yonglin said.

"If that's the case. If the US Navy concentrates its main forces, it will have an absolute advantage in terms of tonnage. We don't have much chance of winning. Severa nodded.

"So we have to be taken by surprise and unprepared. Attack the opposing convoy and cover fleet as soon as the war begins to weaken the U.S. Navy and reduce the pressure on the Army. So in that sense, we can't go into Santiago. At least until a decisive battle with the US Navy can be made, the port of San Diego cannot be entered. Yang Yonglin said.

"So, the key to victory in the war is whether our Navy can stealthily enter the war and act before the U.S. Navy reacts?" Sevela asked.

"Think so. However, if we want to end the Spanish-American War once and for all, then after weakening the U.S. Navy, our fleet can enter the port of San Diego for replenishment and rearmament in order to start a decisive battle with the U.S. Navy. Yang Yonglin nodded and said.

"Then this is a test for the officers and soldiers. Crossing the entire Atlantic and then taking part in the battle without correction is a toil that can be imagined. Sevela said.

It's good that Severa didn't mention it, but she did. Yang Yonglin felt quite angry! Prior to this, Yang Yonglin thought that the Green Camp and the Eight Banners of the Qing State were incompetent enough. As a result, after arriving in Europe, Yang Yonglin found out. In Europe, where there are many great powers, it is not particularly difficult to find a navy that does not have a fighting spirit to a certain extent! (Historically, the performance of the Spanish fleet can be called the most watery performance since the appearance of steam ironclads!) AMONG THEM, THERE WAS EVEN A 7,000-TON CRUISER COLOGNE THAT WAS IN A HURRY TO RUN AGROUND AFTER ONLY 4 6-INCH SHELLS AND 3 57MM SHELLS! With this little shell, even Pingyuan, the weakest in the Beiyang, can't be sunk!! ）

"Your Excellency, I must make one thing clear. The current Spanish Navy must be rearmament from top to bottom, and in this navy, I cannot see the majesty of the Spanish Navy that once crossed the oceans! We must straighten out, at least so that this force dares to face the enemy! Otherwise, no matter how good the equipment falls into the hands of such a force, it will be a burning stick! Yang Yonglin said.

"I'm afraid this is a bit difficult, the entire fleet alone has more than 7,000 officers and men, if you want to change blood, it is estimated that it will be very difficult. And some of these senior officials are not just exchangeable. "Evera is also very powerless against the whole bureaucracy.

"At least the middle and low-ranking officers who are ready to participate in the war must be replaced, and even the retired officers and men of the navy of some countries who are hired will perform better than those now!" Yang Yonglin said angrily. …,

"So you mean to hire a navy? That's a good idea. Although it is very difficult to operate. But it is still possible, after all, Britain and Germany are now more wary of American expansion in the Far East. Severa nodded.

"I want results. Mr. Admiral, you can't win without good officers and soldiers, and since the Kingdom of Spain has put so much effort into doing this, why don't we do it more thoroughly? Sometimes victory and defeat are only half a step away! Yang Yonglin said in a tactful tone.

"Other than that, do you have any other suggestions?" Saivela's face turned a little pale and said, after all, it is for Beiyang after participating in many bloody battles. The Spanish fleet is inferior to the current Beiyang Fleet in terms of strength and the quality of officers and men. As for the tactical quality of officers and men, it is even worse. And after the arrogant psychology of the white race was suddenly shattered one day, the impact of this gap was naturally very strong.

"Supplies problems. In fact, in terms of ocean-going supplies, I think we can refer to the practice of the famous Russian admiral, Makanov. Yang Yonglin said.

"But General Makanov's approach was considered ineffective. It was at the makeshift supply depot that his fleet was wiped out. Sevela said confusedly.

"The idea and the train of thought are right, but General Xu is too familiar with the situation in the Far East, and the Russian fleet has stayed too long. My idea was that the Spanish fleet could set up multiple supply points, at least to complete the refueling of the fleet and the replenishment of ammunition. If you can, the best place to do it is on a British island in the Caribbean. Replenishment in these places. Even if the Americans know what to do, they may not dare to take any action. Yang Yonglin analyzed.

"There is certainly nothing wrong with refueling coal and water, but it can be a little more difficult to resupply ammunition. After all, the storage conditions of ammunition are relatively demanding, and it is impossible for the British to allow a large amount of ammunition to be placed on their territory. Severa shook her head. However, we can store a batch of ammunition in the port of San Diego first. ”

"Mr. Admiral, do you see if you can requisition some high-speed civilian ships to accompany the fleet to provide supplies? The speed has to be fast. And the range and load capacity must be sufficient. Yang Yonglin thought of the supply method when Xu Jie and Lin Yongsheng led the Guiyuan class to guerrilla warfare off the coast of Japan.

"But the difficulties of replenishing coal and ammunition at sea are considerable. And the so-called high-speed civilian ships can only keep up with the fleet at best in cruising speed, and in the event of a war, the two sides will inevitably distance themselves. And the fleet did not have enough strength to cover these ships, which were loaded with ammunition and supplies. "Evera is in a bit of a stumbling position.

"This problem can be solved by tactical means. The first target we hit was the American fleet of transports and cruisers, if we could have eliminated some of the cruisers before the Americans could react. Then once the war starts, the 4 5000-ton protective cruisers can completely entangle the remaining cruisers of the opposing side, at least to give the transport fleet time to evacuate. We can't stop doing it just because there is danger, we need a lot of supplies to support the fleet's long-term maneuverability. Yang Yonglin emphasized.

"Okay, I'll do my best to make the preparations." Cervera nodded.

Thank you for the light reward of Shuyou Mountain and the monthly ticket support of the Empress of Hell of Shuyou~~~ The countdown to the Spanish-American War has begun, so please support it~~~. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )