"Boss, your wish has finally come true, 3 packs, central axis layout, knapsack battleship." After seeing off the contented Tirpitz, Yan said. "You have handed over the order for at least 3 warships to the German shipyard in this way, will this cause dissatisfaction on the Italian side?" Yan Boxun said with some concern.

"No, in the opinion of the Italian manufacturer, it is more profitable to sell the ship to other countries than to sell it to Beiyang. And the Made in Italy brand has already been hit, and they are naturally reluctant to continue to sell to Beiyang battleships at low prices. More importantly, the Italian Navy now has money, they want to rearmament, and in the foreseeable future, the Italian shipyards will be filled with orders from the Italian Navy! Xu Jie smiled bitterly.

"Will the Germans be able to build these 23,000-ton warships? In terms of experience, the Germans are far inferior to the Italians. Yan Boxun said with some concern.

"The Germans have five years to complete and demonstrate this class of battleship, and if our design is correct, this battleship will be the strongest in the world! The King of Fearlessness, well deserved! Xu Jie said with a smile.

"Boss, what will be our new capital ships in that war?" Yan Boxun asked.

"2 battleships of 12 guns of 12" 45L, 2 battleships of 10 guns of 12" 45L, 2 battlecruisers of 4 twin main guns in a quadrilateral layout, plus 2 fast battleships of 9 guns." Xu Jie said the most embarrassed and smiled slightly.

"Fast battleships? What is this? It can't be a battleship with a speed between a battleship and a battlecruiser, with firepower and protection equal to that of a battleship, right? Yan Boxun asked.

"But let's put it this way, in terms of tonnage. These 2 fast battleships will not be much lower than the tonnage of the 12-gun battleships, and according to my estimates, the actual speed of the battlecruiser may be able to reach 24 knots or even more. Battleships will be able to reach speeds of around 20 knots, while fast battleships will be able to reach around 22 knots. Xu Jie thought for a while and said.

"It's only two knots short of speed, and some of it is not high or low." Yan Boxun pouted and said.

"This is to balance the needs of the decisive fleet and the fast fleet. It is true that the simple 3 battleships have to face the armored cruiser group of the Russians and the avant-garde mission of the main fleet, but our funds are so small, so we can only let some battleships be used more than one ship. Join the battle cruiser fleet to attack the opposing armored cruiser before the decisive battle. In the event of a decisive battle, they will be assigned to battleship formations according to the situation. Xu Jie thought for a while and said.

"It's a bit nondescript. Unless the speed of the battlecruiser can be increased further, the speed of the fast battleship can be between 24 and 25 knots. This is strategically sufficient. The speed difference of 2 knots is most likely offset by the condition of the ship. In other words, the speed advantage is too insignificant. Yan Boxun said.

"No way, that's how it is now. The cost of increasing the speed of the battlecruisers is too great, and we don't have enough battleships to form with them. Moreover, the fragile side-chord waterline armor of the battle cruisers was not sufficiently defensive in the face of heavy naval guns. This directly leads to a very easy stall. Therefore, there must be a warship in the fast fleet that can resist and live. Xu Jie explained.

"Which battleships are you going to change to match the battlecruisers? It can't be a king, right? Yan Boxun asked.

"It can only be the king, now the king's ship is very young, and the power of the original equipment is strong enough, just adjust the wheelbase of the propeller. There is an opportunity to increase the speed. At that time, it was also careless, and this point of attention was not raised to the Germans. Xu Jie was also a little depressed.

"In addition to the main battleships, we lacked enough mine-strike ships and anti-mine-strike ships. The original mine-striking ships could not accompany the fleet on long voyages due to seaworthiness problems. The old type of anti-lightning ships are generally ordinary third-class protection cruisers, these warships have enough firepower, but the speed and endurance are very problematic, and there is nothing when performing tasks in the near sea, but if you want to cross the entire South China Sea, I am afraid that it will not work. Yan Boxun voiced his concerns.

"Then what do you think about torpedo boats and anti-mine strike ships?" Xu Jie asked.

"If you want to fight in the oceans. Torpedo boats should not be too small, about 500 tons will be better. It can be loaded with enough torpedoes and seaworthiness at the same time, a 500-ton torpedo boat, equipped with five 12-pounder guns, used against the opponent's torpedo boats, and equipped with three twin torpedo tubes and 14-inch torpedoes. It is powered by a new steam turbine with a maximum speed of 30 knots. Yan Boxun thought for a while and said. (Historically, there were already 30-knot torpedo boats in 1900.)

"AS FOR THE LIGHT CRUISERS, A DISPLACEMENT OF AROUND 3,000 TONS IS BETTER, EQUIPPED WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF 120MM RAPID-FIRE GUNS AND 12-POUNDER GUNS, DOME ARMOR PROTECTION, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE OPPOSING TORPEDO BOATS AND LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE WARSHIPS. It is also the use of steam turbines to ensure that the speed is more than 25 knots, and the original third-class protection cruisers can no longer provide cover for the capital ships in time due to speed problems, and these battleships must be replaced. Yan Boxun said and took out an auxiliary warship plan.

"Show Lord Yang and them, if you don't have any opinions, then draw up a plan, how much equipment, how to rotate, all write clearly, after the founding of China, these must be through the budget." Xu Jie said.

"In addition, contact Dalian to see if they can build a large warship of more than 15,000 tons. If we could, I would like us to build 1 or 2 of the 8 capital ships. Xu Jie thought for a while and said.

"This is a bit difficult, but if we make improvements to the shipyard in one to one and a half years, it should be possible. But it took less than 4 years to complete such a huge ship with obvious difficulties. And the so-called construction estimate may be more appropriate for material processing. German steam turbine units are likely to be imported from the UK. Not to mention us. Yan Boxun shook his head and said.

"It's all a small problem, the big question is, boss, is your wallet enough?" Yan Boxun asked. "It's just a matter of the navy, the army will definitely not be less armed than the navy. Even if the Germans gave us a preferential price, a battleship of 1.5 million pounds would definitely not be able to hold it. Coupled with all kinds of auxiliary warships, you can't get out without 20 million pounds, and if you convert it into silver, it's more than 120 million taels! Is there 80 million taels of annual income in Beiyang plus the bright and dark sides? This navy and army can eat more than half of it at once, unless you find another way to make money. ”

"In fact, I don't think there is a need for such a large-scale expansion of the navy, the army will play a key role in the next war against Russia, and the importance of the navy will decline." Yan Boxun thought about it and said this.

"If it were only against Russia, the Navy really wouldn't have to prepare for war with such fanfare. But our goal is not only Russia, even if the Netherlands does not help the Russians this time, we will eventually expand the scope of our power to Southeast Asia. Xu Jie said with a smile. A big plan is gradually brewing in Xu Jie's heart!

Thank you for the reward of the constellations soaring in the universe, and the monthly pass support of the book friends with a breeze ~~~ (To be continued.) )