In this battle, the Japanese Navy fought very aggrieved. The "King Kong-class" battlecruisers had a strong reputation, but they could not hit the "Zodiac class" heavy cruisers of the Chinese Navy, but were embarrassed by the 210 mm main guns of the "Zodiac class" heavy cruisers.

Even the 210 mm guns were not powerful enough to inflict fatal damage on the 'King Kong-class' battlecruisers. However, some non-critical parts have been frequently hit. The superstructure, in particular, was in shambles, which affected the exertion of combat effectiveness.

"Yaga! Damn the Shina people. "Major General Naoe Nakano can be described as furious. Originally, they came for the battlecruisers of the Chinese Navy. Now, before encountering the battlecruisers of the Chinese Navy, they were disgraced by the heavy cruisers of the Chinese Navy. Before the battle began, Major General Naoe Nakano had absolutely no idea that such a thing would happen.

"General, it's almost dawn. Wait until after dawn and have a good view. When the time comes, we will definitely make the people of China pay a heavy price. Matsuoka Shuzo said.

Rear Admiral Naoe Nakano nodded, and the night limited the performance of the Japanese naval officers and men. In addition, the main gun rate of fire of the 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers was far inferior to that of the 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers, so in the night battle, the 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers were at a disadvantage.

"After dawn, these people will wait to taste the power of our 356mm guns!" Major General Naoe Nakano said secretly.

The 356mm main gun is amazingly powerful, and as long as it can hit the Chinese Navy's 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers, it will definitely be able to inflict fatal damage on it. Although now the situation of the Japanese Navy is somewhat unpleasant. But after dawn, the situation can change radically.

On the heavy cruiser 'Ugly Cow', Colonel Shen Shoukun was also a little anxious. Up to now, the performance of the four 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers has been very good, and the four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy have been very embarrassed. But. It is a pity that even now these battlecruisers have not inflicted fatal damage, not even heavy damage.

I looked at my watch, and it was almost five o'clock. In the summer, dawn is always early. Soon, it will be dawn. When the time comes, they will have to retreat. Otherwise. There will be a great threat.

"Order the ships to seize the last half hour. Half an hour later, all retreated! Colonel Shen Shoukun ordered.

The four 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy began to intensify their attacks. All the main guns, struggling to open fire, tilted the shells at the maximum rate of fire towards the Japanese Navy.

Although shells continued to hit the battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy, they did not cause fatal damage to them. This has to be said to be a pity. The gap between heavy cruisers and battle cruisers was simply too great. It is really impossible to defeat a battle cruiser with a heavy cruiser.

Time passed minute by minute, and a trace of fish belly white appeared in the eastern sky. Darkness will eventually be dispelled by light.

After 5 o'clock in the morning of August 13, 4612 (14), as the sky gradually brightened, the counterattack of the four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy became more and more sharp. Except for the battlecruiser 'Haruna', which was badly damaged by the superstructure, the rangefinder was damaged. Led to a large deviation in the accuracy of the shelling, the remaining three battle cruisers. The accuracy of shelling is becoming more and more accurate.

"Boom!" Suddenly, a huge explosion sounded. I saw that the front deck of the heavy cruiser 'Mao Rabbit' of the Imperial Navy burst into flames, and the entire front end of the battleship seemed to be shrouded in gunsmoke.

"Haha! Great, the battleship of the China people was hit. 356 mm gun. I'm sure they'll be able to get a good drink. "On the battlecruiser 'Kongo', Rear Admiral Naoe Nakano jumped for joy.

The morale of the Japanese navy, which was far lower than the sluggish spirit, was reversed and began to rise.

"The telegram asked the 'Mao Rabbit' how they were doing. Does it matter? "When he saw that the heavy cruiser 'Mao Rabbit' was hit, Colonel Shen Shoukun, who was on the heavy cruiser 'Ugly Niu', also secretly screamed badly.

The foredeck of the heavy cruiser 'Utu' was hit by a 356-mm gun, and the No. 1 main turret located on the foredeck was hit. Although, the main turret armor thickness of the 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers reached 254 mm, which was thicker than that of the 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers. But it still could not withstand the 356 mm gun. The armor-piercing projectile, weighing more than 600 kilograms, easily tore through the armor of the No. 1 main turret of the heavy cruiser 'Utu' and destroyed the entire No. 1 main turret. Fortunately, there were no shells in the chamber and no ****** in the turret. Otherwise, this cannon alone would have been enough to wipe out the heavy cruiser Utu.

However, even then, the heavy cruiser 'Uto' suffered heavy losses. The No. 1 main turret was completely destroyed, and the No. 2 main turret was also affected, and the gun ring was stuck and could not be rotated, making the main turret also lose the ability to continue fighting. Only the stern main turret No. 3 was left to continue the fight. The combat effectiveness can be said to have been sharply reduced by two-thirds.

To make matters worse, as the sky gets brighter, the Japanese Navy's shelling becomes more and more precise. If you continue to fight, the danger will increase.

Colonel Shen Shoukun did not hesitate and immediately ordered a retreat. He knew that they still didn't have any chance. If you stay, you will only lose yourself.

The four heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, with four light cruisers and four destroyers, immediately turned around and accelerated their escape from the battlefield.

"The people of China can't hold it anymore and want to run away? It's so easy. Orders the ships to pursue at maximum speed, and be sure to kill the four heavy cruisers of the China. Major General Naoe Nakano gave the order in high spirits. Even if the battle cruisers of the Chinese Navy are not eliminated, if these heavy cruisers can be eliminated, it will be a great achievement!

"General, do we need to send destroyers for lightning strikes to interfere with the China?" Matsuoka Shuzo asked.

Major General Naoe Nakano hesitated for a moment, but shook his head. The four heavy cruisers of the Chinese Navy were surrounded by four light cruisers and four destroyers, and if a group of destroyers was dispatched to carry out lightning strikes, there was almost no chance of success. Instead, it is possible that some destroyers will be taken out by the light cruisers and destroyers of the Chinese Navy.

In order to catch up with the heavy cruiser formations of the Chinese Navy, the four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy increased their speed to the limit. The 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers were designed for a maximum speed of only 27. 5 knots, and if strong pressure ventilation is carried out, the speed can be increased by 2 knots. However, it can only stay in this state for two hours. Otherwise, the boiler of the battleship will not be able to stand it, which will cause damage to the power system.

The heavy cruiser formation of the Imperial Navy and the battle patrol formation of the Japanese Navy chased and fled, and quickly sailed in the direction of Pohnpei Island. At the same time, in the waters south of Pohnpei Island, the battle patrol formation of two 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers and two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers of the Imperial Navy was sailing north at high speed.

On the battlecruiser 'Longfei', Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong had not closed his eyes all night. The Japanese Navy's four 'Kongo-class' battle cruisers were coming strongly, and this was undoubtedly an opportunity for the Imperial Navy. As long as the four 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy can be solved in one fell swoop, the gap between the Imperial Navy and the Japanese Navy will be further widened. If the Japanese Navy wanted to threaten the Imperial Navy, it was simply impossible.

"Humph! Did little Japan really think that their 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers were invincible in the world? It's just a joke. This time, they will soon learn that their 'Kongo-class' battlecruisers are simply useless. Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong said secretly.

"General, the heavy cruiser 'Ugly Bull' is calling." A communications officer sent a telegram to Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong.

In the telegram, Colonel Shen Shoukun reported to Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong that after a night of fierce fighting, the four 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers had caused some damage to several battle cruisers of the Japanese Navy, but all of them were lightly wounded. The heavy cruiser "Uto" was hit hard by a 356-mm gun. Now the fleet is retreating to the south.

Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong immediately ordered two destroyers to cover the heavy cruiser 'Uto' and return to China for repairs, while the other warships continued to move south to lure the Japanese Navy's battle patrol formation to the south.

At the same time, Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong ordered that the battle patrol formations of the Imperial Navy were also ready for battle.

This time, the four battlecruisers of the Imperial Navy will face off against the four battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy. Although, neither China nor Japan has declared war on each other until now. But the battle has actually begun. The contradictions between China and Japan have long been irreconcilable. The decisive battle between the battlecruisers of both sides even largely decided the fate of both sides.

If the Imperial Navy wins, then the Japanese Navy will be completely suppressed, and thus lose the strength to challenge the Imperial Navy. If, on the other hand, the Japanese Navy wins, then the empire is in danger. Not only will the Imperial Navy be threatened, but the Empire's maritime trade routes, as well as the coastal areas, will be under the guns of the Japanese Navy.

At 9 a.m., the heavy cruiser formations of the Imperial Navy converged with the battle patrol formation. And the battle patrol formations of the pursuing Japanese Navy also discovered the battle cruisers of the Imperial Navy. There was almost no temptation on both sides, and they plunged directly into the battle. Everyone knows that the battle is inevitable, so naturally there is no need to talk about that nonsense anymore. (To be continued.) )

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