In the rough North Sea, steel warships are cleaving the waves at sea. The sea conditions in the North Sea are much harsher than in the calm Pacific Ocean. However, the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy has been stationed in the North Sea for many years and is already familiar with this area. No matter how strong the wind and waves are, it will not have much impact on the steel battleships of the Imperial Navy. Especially those large warships, the seaworthiness is very good.

On the sea, sixteen warships flying the Chinese flag were sailing rapidly to the southeast. This fleet was a reconnaissance fleet consisting of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment and the 3rd Destroyer Detachment of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy. Eight huge heavy cruisers, plus eight destroyers, made up this fleet. Although, compared to the main force of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, this reconnaissance fleet appears to be much smaller. However, both heavy cruisers and destroyers are very fast, and they are suitable for use as the vanguard of the fleet.

The 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment consisted of four 'Daduhe-class' heavy cruisers and four 'Haihe-class' heavy cruisers. The Daduhe-class heavy cruiser has a displacement of more than 14,000 tons, a maximum speed of 30 knots, and is armed with three triple 50-caliber 210 mm guns. The Haihe-class battleships had a displacement of more than 13,000 tons, a maximum speed of 29 knots, and were also armed with three triple 50-caliber 210-mm guns. With the might of the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, they may not be the match for capital ships. However, to deal with the enemy's light cruisers and destroyers, it was at hand. In particular, the 'Daduhe-class' heavy cruisers and the 'Haihe-class' heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy were both cutting-edge warships of the Imperial Navy, and their speeds were extremely high, more than three knots faster than the 'Prussia-class' heavy cruisers equipped by the German Navy. Even the 'Hamburg-class Improved' light cruisers of the German Navy. In terms of speed, it also caught up with these two heavy cruisers that were not the Imperial Navy. The only one that could catch up with the heavy cruisers of the Reich Navy in speed was the destroyers of the 'Kiel-class Improvement' of the German Navy.

The Kiel-class Improved destroyer is the newest destroyer to enter service with the German Navy. Compared to its prototype 'Kiel-class' destroyer, the subsequent modifications were much more performant. Both the displacement and the speed far exceeded the prototype. When the Kiel-class destroyers were in service, their displacement was only 1,500 tons, and their maximum speed was only 22 knots. However, the recently commissioned 'Kiel-class' improved destroyers have a displacement of 1,800 tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots, which can be further increased if the boilers are overloaded. Merely. The Kiel-class modified destroyer was too small, with only one 155 mm gun in the bow and stern. The most threatening were the four torpedo tubes in the bow. But it is undoubtedly impossible to attack the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, which are also flying fast.

On the heavy cruiser 'Weihe', the flagship of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment of the Imperial Navy, Rear Admiral Wei Xingfeng, commander of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment, was studying the information in his possession. At the moment, the reconnaissance fleet is already more than a hundred kilometers away from the main forces of the fleet. Eight seaplanes sent by the reconnaissance fleet are also searching the nearby seas. However, no trace of the German High Seas Fleet was found.

"Where the hell are these Germans? Could it be that they retracted again? Major General Wei Xingfeng muttered to himself. If the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy wants to have a decisive battle with the German High Seas Fleet, it must first find out the German High Seas Fleet. If you don't even know where the opponent is, you want to defeat the opponent. How is that possible?

"The Germans probably won't run away, after all, the situation is very bad for them. If they are not able to defeat the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy and gain sea supremacy in the North Sea and the eastern North Atlantic. And they lost the battle. Command our seaplanes, focusing on the search in the south-eastern direction. Major General Wei Xingfeng ordered. If the German High Seas Fleet had come for a decisive battle with the Fifth Fleet of the Imperial Navy, they would certainly be rushing in the direction of the main force of the Imperial Navy. After all. Defeat the main forces of the 5th Fleet of the Reich Navy in the shortest possible time, against the German Navy's High Seas Fleet. is the most advantageous.

"Yes, General!" The signal corps immediately went to send a telegram. The Guò radio station was able to make contact with the seaplanes that had been dispatched.

Just half an hour later. A seaplane about a hundred kilometers southeast of the reconnaissance fleet spotted a fleet heading west at high speed. This fleet, although there were no battleships. However, there were quite a few heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, and there were 24 of them.

The seaplanes immediately sent a telegram to the reconnaissance fleet, then pulled it up and hid it in the clouds to avoid detection by the German fleet. After all, the aircraft of the Reich, though more advanced than those of the German Navy. However, the air combat performance of seaplanes is not good, and if they are besieged by the enemy, there is a chance that they will be shot down.

"A hundred kilometers to the southeast? It must be the enemy's reconnaissance fleet. Immediately report to the main fleet, and then order the seaplanes to continue the search in the southeastern direction. Major General Wei Xingfeng immediately gave the order.

At the same time, the reconnaissance fleet of the Imperial Navy also began to sail southeast at high speed, and the speed of the fleet increased to 20 knots, that is, more than thirty kilometers per hour. Plus the reconnaissance fleet of the German Navy is also coming quickly. In this case, the two sides will encounter each other for a maximum of two hours. Although the enemy's reconnaissance fleet had a few more light cruisers, Rear Admiral Wei Xingfeng did not care. He was confident that with the strength of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment, it would be enough to crush the enemy's reconnaissance fleet.

Half an hour later, however, another telegram was sent by seaplane. Eight battleships were found in the rear of the reconnaissance fleet of the German Navy. These battleships were about fifty kilometers away from the enemy's reconnaissance fleet, that is, more than an hour's range.

Rear Admiral Wei Xingfeng immediately ordered the reconnaissance fleet to slow down, after all, the enemy's extra eight battleships were not easy to deal with. If you want to use the heavy cruisers of the reconnaissance fleet against the enemy's battleships, you are simply looking for death. The armor of the battleship could withstand the 210 mm guns of heavy cruisers with light weight. And the battleship's huge caliber main guns could lightly and heavily damage or even hit heavy cruisers.

Rear Admiral Wei Xingfeng ordered the seaplanes to continue the search while sending a telegram to the main fleet.

On the battleship 'Ming Xuanzong', the flagship of the Fifth Fleet of the Imperial Navy, Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the fleet, and Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff of the fleet, were also studying the latest situation. The reconnaissance fleet had already captured one of the Germans' reconnaissance fleet, and several battleships had been discovered. It was foreseeable that the main forces of the German Navy's high seas fleet were also in the enemy's reconnaissance fleet, not far from the enemy.

"First order the seaplanes to focus on searching the area of 250 kilometers to 300 kilometers to the southeast!" Admiral Ye Feng built yì road.

Admiral Lu Haipeng nodded, but he didn't want to leave it alone. With the strength of the reconnaissance fleet, it should be no problem to defeat the reconnaissance fleet of the German Navy. The only problem was the eight battleships that followed behind the enemy's reconnaissance fleet.

"Order Wei Xingfeng to prepare to engage the enemy's reconnaissance fleet and inflict heavy damage on the German Navy's reconnaissance fleet in an hour and a half. As soon as the German battleships were detected, they were immediately evacuated. In addition, the 2nd Battleship Detachment and the 3rd Battleship Detachment were sent to rush for reinforcements. If there is a chance, the eight battleships of the Germans will be eliminated. A hint of hideousness flashed in Admiral Lu Haipeng's eyes. If the eight battleships of the German Navy can be eaten before the final decisive battle, this will undoubtedly further widen the gap between the two sides. The Imperial Navy was able to gain more of an advantage.

"Well, though, our 2nd and 3rd battleship detachments need to go around in a big circle. Otherwise, it would have been easily discovered by the Germans. Admiral Ye Feng said.

Admiral Lu Haipeng nodded.

Ten minutes later, the 5th and 2nd battleship detachments of the 3rd Fleet of the Imperial Navy began to accelerate their voyages. Under the protection of a group of light cruisers and destroyers, they sailed in two directions to the sea area where the reconnaissance fleet was located, preparing to support the reconnaissance fleet.

At the same time, the reconnaissance fleet, having received the combat order, also began to accelerate towards the reconnaissance fleet of the German Navy. With the strength of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment, if it could grasp the timing well, it would undoubtedly be able to inflict heavy damage on the German Navy's reconnaissance fleet in just over an hour. After all, the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy were much more advanced than the heavy cruisers of the 'Prussian-class' of the German Navy.

At 11:24 a.m. on August 24, 1863, the Reich Navy reconnaissance fleet and the German Navy reconnaissance fleet met in the middle of the North Sea. Four 'Dadu-class' heavy cruisers and four 'Haihe-class' heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy against eight 'Prussian-class' heavy cruisers of the German Navy. However, the German Navy's reconnaissance fleet also has eight improved light cruisers of the 'Hamburg class', and in terms of strength, the German Navy's reconnaissance fleet is in an advantageous position.

In command of the German Navy's reconnaissance fleet was Rear Admiral Leo, commander of the 1st Heavy Cruiser Detachment of the German Navy's High Seas Fleet. On the flagship heavy cruiser "Prussia", Rear Admiral Leo immediately ordered the fleet to be ready for battle. At the same time, a telegram was sent to the main fleet and the 3rd battleship detachment in the rear, asking them to come as soon as possible.

After this was done, Rear Admiral Leo began to order the fleet to prepare for battle with the Chinese Navy's reconnaissance fleet. He believed that he had eight more light cruisers than the enemy. The final victory must be his. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update arrives, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you for the reward from the Eagle of the People's Liberation Army! Thank you for the commuter pass of legalee1688!