On the sea, eight huge battleships like hills are advancing against the winds and waves of the Atlantic, protected by several cruisers and destroyers. These eight battleships are different from the battleships before the Imperial Navy. Not only is the displacement larger, but the caliber of the main gun is also larger. These eight battleships are all the latest 'Eastern Han class' battleships in service in the Imperial Navy.

Although, for many reasons, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships did not catch up with the decisive battle with the British Navy. However, the Empire still decided to send these 'Eastern Han class' battleships to Europe to carry out the last attack plan of the navy.

According to information received by the Reich* Military Intelligence Agency, the British shipyard in Portsmouth is stepping up the construction of the British Navy's battleships, four 'Nile-class' battleships, which will soon be put into service. The second batch of four 'Nile-class' battleships and four 'Admiral-class' battleships have also been completed for the most part. In order to completely remove the threat of the British Navy to the Imperial Navy. The Imperial General Staff issued an order for the Navy to completely destroy the British shipyards and destroy all the warships of the British Navy. As a result, the British Navy no longer had battleships to compete with the Empire. Therefore, this battle plan, also named the "Broken Roots Plan", broke the roots of the British Royal Navy.

It's just that it won't be easy to destroy the shipyards in Portsmouth. After all, Portsmouth is one of Britain's most important military ports. The shipyard is also located in this military port. On both sides of the military port, there are countless large-caliber coastal defense batteries to protect it. If the Imperial Navy wanted to destroy the Portsmouth shipyards, it had to destroy these shore defense batteries. Otherwise, they will be hit hard by these coastal batteries.

But. How easy it is to destroy these coastal defense batteries! It was originally the home port of the British Navy's home fleet. Plus after the war, in order to guard against the Chinese Navy. The British Navy has deliberately strengthened the defense here, making the defense of this place go to a higher level again. Not to mention anything else, there are as many as 100 coastal defense guns with a caliber of more than 280 mm alone. If the coastal defense artillery of other countries is added together, I am afraid that there are as many as 500 coastal defense artillery guns in the entire military port. In addition, the defense of the shore defense fort made of reinforced concrete is also extremely impressive. Even with large-caliber armor-piercing shells, they may not be able to explode. Therefore, the Imperial Navy's desire to destroy the Portsmouth shipyard was not an ordinary difficulty.

However, even then, the Imperial Navy had to complete its mission. For this reason, the Imperial General Staff has not hesitated to transfer the eight latest 'Eastern Han class' battleships in service. The 305mm guns carried on the eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships will become the main force this time.

According to the previous plan, these eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships. It will be allocated to the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy, respectively. This brought the number of battleships per fleet to 12. After the annihilation of the main forces of the British Navy, there was no other country whose navy could compare with the Imperial Navy. Even any fleet of the Imperial Navy has the power to sweep across the world.

On February 12, 1855, eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships of the Imperial Navy crossed the Strait of Gibraltar. Entered the Atlantic. The other battleships of the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy were already waiting for them in the Atlantic.

"Haha! Is this the 'Eastern Han class' battleship? It's really powerful enough! I decided, put the flagship of the 5th Fleet on the battleship 'Emperor Han'! Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, said excitedly. Compared to the 'Eastern Han class' battleships. The 'Western Han class' battleships seem to be much weaker.

In terms of displacement, the 'Western Han class' battleships are 6,000 tons smaller than the 'Eastern Han class' battleships. In terms of firepower, the five twin 280-mm guns of the 'Western Han class' battleships were far inferior to the three triple 305 mm guns of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships. 305 mm naval guns. It is already the most advanced naval gun in the world at present. Only the Chinese Empire and Britain mastered the manufacturing process of such a large naval gun.

Although Admiral Wei Yong, the commander of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy on the side, did not say anything, he had also made a decision to move the flagship of the 1st Fleet to the battleship 'Emperor Guangwu of Han'.

After the fleet converged, the new flagship flags had been raised from the battleships "Emperor Guangwu of Han" and "Emperor Wu of Han" respectively.

The battleships of the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy combined, a total of 24 ships. This is already the largest number of battleships in the world. Even the British Navy had to build all the battleships under construction to be able to compare with the Imperial Navy. Of course, now the British Navy has also fallen. In the previous battle, of the 12 battleships of the British Navy, except for one battleship 'Birmingham', which escaped, the rest of the battleships were either sunk by the Imperial Navy or captured by the Imperial Navy.

The battleships that were being built in the shipyards were also destined to be destroyed by the Imperial Navy in one fell swoop. The Imperial Navy's position as the world's maritime supremacy will thus be established.

After the fleet converged, it continued to sail north, this time targeting the Portsmouth Military Harbour, the main base of the British Navy. Or rather, the shipyards of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth, located in the south of England, is a natural harbour. From the 15th century onwards, it was the main naval base of the British Navy. The Portsmouth shipyard is at the very bottom of the harbour. To access the harbor, you have to go through a narrow waterway in Guò. On both sides of the waterway were the shore defense guns of the British Navy. It can be seen how difficult it is to destroy the Portsmouth shipyard to enter the harbor.

On the morning of February 18, 1855, the main fleet of the Imperial Navy was less than a hundred kilometers from Portsmouth, and it was expected that at about two o'clock in the afternoon, the Imperial Navy would be able to reach its destination and then attack.

Admiral Wei Yong, commander of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, Vice Admiral Xu Hai, chief of staff, Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and Vice Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff, all gathered on the battleship 'Emperor Guangwu of Han', the new flagship of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy.

"From what we know so far, if we want to destroy the Portsmouth shipyard, we have to go into the port of Portsmouth. However, you have to get through the narrow waterway of Guò first. And the shore defense batteries of the British Navy on both sides of the waterway are undoubtedly our big trouble! Admiral Wei Yong, commander of the 1st Fleet, said.

"The British built a lot of shore forts there, and that was really a stumbling block for us. However, with the strength of our 24 battleships, even if it is a hard-hitting attack, it may not be without a chance of victory! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng said. The addition of eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships made him full of confidence.

"Of course, our strength is naturally above that of the British Navy. But we can't afford that precious battleship to fight with the British shore defense batteries. Every battleship is precious, and it can't be wasted! Lieutenant General Xu Hai also said.

"Well, that's the truth!" Lieutenant General Ye Feng also nodded.

"Now it seems that we have no other recourse but to take a gradual approach and uproot the coastal forts built by the British on both sides of the waterway. Only in this way can we go deep into the harbor step by step. We built eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships, supplemented by 'Western Han class' battleships and 'Qin-class' battleships, and first shelled the British Navy's coastal defense batteries outside the harbor. Wait until these shore defense batteries are destroyed, and then go deeper! Admiral Wei Yong said.

None of the others objected, and everyone nodded.

"Alright, let's do it! Let the ships be combat-ready. However, each ship must be careful that if it is damaged, it must immediately withdraw from the battle and answer the port to repair it. I don't want a battleship to be sunk while attacking here! Admiral Wei Yong said sternly.

"Old Wei, don't worry! Even in the decisive battle with the British Navy, we did not sink any battleships, let alone attack the naval bases of the British Navy! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng said with a smile.

At 1 p.m. that day, a huge Chinese fleet appeared off the coast of Portsmouth Military Port. As many as twenty-four huge warships, the British Navy was greatly shaken. You know, even in the heyday of the British Navy, there weren't so many battleships! Except, of course, those battleships of the Age of Sail!

At this moment, there are only a few small warships in the Portsmouth military port, mainly the 'Pearl class' cruisers and the 'Southampton-class' light cruisers. Such a battleship, in the face of the powerful battleships of the Chinese Navy, is basically incomparable. Therefore, the British Vice Admiral John . Vicente ordered the light warships to take refuge in the depths of the harbor. They were the last blood of the British Navy, and they couldn't be lost like that.

As for the battleship Birmingham, which had suffered heavy damage and had managed to return to the military port, it was also being repaired at the Portsmouth shipyard at the moment.

"Order all the shore defense batteries, get ready for battle! As soon as the Chinese warships arrive, we will sink them! The tasks that the battleships of the Navy did not complete, we will have to complete! "John. Lieutenant General Vicente ordered.

Although, in the face of the 24 battleships of the Imperial Chinese Navy, he was also very apprehensive. But he knew that there was no way back for the British Navy. The purpose of the Chinese Navy's large-scale attack is self-evident, it must be for those warships in the shipyard. That was the last hope of the British Navy, and if it could not be kept, then the British Navy would be completely finished. For this reason, the officers and men of the British Navy naturally had to fight to the end. (To be continued......)

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