In a decisive battle at sea, it is often a duel between capital ships. It is difficult for light cruisers and destroyers to play a large role, and at most they serve as reconnaissance ships to reconnoiter the enemy's situation. After all, compared to the main guns of more than 300 or even more than 400 mm on the capital ships, the small bodies of light cruisers and destroyers cannot resist at all. As long as one shot is taken, it is often the result of heavy damage or even destruction.

Therefore, in the duel of capital ships, light cruisers and destroyers are usually responsible for protecting the capital ships. In the event of a lightning strike by an enemy warship, your own light cruisers and destroyers will be responsible for stopping them. If necessary, they are even required to use their bodies to fend off torpedoes for the capital ship. After all, the loss of a capital ship and the loss of a light cruiser or destroyer, that is definitely not the same.

This detachment of battlecruisers, led by Marshal David Beatty, was not rich in light cruisers and destroyers. When the outpost battle broke out between the two sides, their 1st Destroyer Squadron was heavily damaged by the Imperial Navy's 7th Destroyer Squadron, and of the six 'R-class' destroyers, four were sunk and two were severely damaged, rendering them incapacitated. Now, two more light cruisers and two destroyers were dispatched to rescue the heavy cruiser formation, which reduced the number of light cruisers and destroyers in the British fleet to an extremely dangerous level. And the Chinese Navy, of course, will not let go of this opportunity. This may be their only chance to turn the tide.

After Vice Admiral Lee and Vice Admiral gave the order for a lightning strike, six 'Blue Dragon-class' light cruisers and 12 'B-class' destroyers drilled through the gap between the capital ships, fired at full speed, and rushed towards the battle line of the British Navy.

It is very dangerous to launch a lightning strike. Because, the enemy's warships will desperately intercept them. The main and secondary guns of the enemy's capital ship. will instead attack the more threatening Minestrike Ships. Therefore, it is undoubtedly very difficult and at the same time very risky to rush to within two kilometers of the enemy ship and then launch an attack. If you don't pay attention, you will be hit hard. Or even sunk.

Because of this, the Imperial Navy's light cruisers and destroyers increased their speed to the maximum. The speed of the 'Qinglong-class' light cruisers has been increased to 30 knots, and the speed of the 'B-class' destroyers has been increased to 33 knots. Sixteen battleships, like arrows from the string, rushed towards the battle line of the British Navy. In the face of the rain of bullets fired by enemy ships, the lightning strike formation of the Imperial Navy had to rely on speed to protect itself.

The intentions of the Chinese Navy. It was learned in an instant by the British fleet.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese launched a lightning strike. Six light cruisers and 12 destroyers are approaching us at high speed. A staff officer reported to Field Marshal David Beatty in horror.

You must know that the battle lines of the two sides are only 13,000 kilometers apart. For a light cruiser with a speed of up to thirty knots, it would take only fourteen or fifteen minutes. If a torpedo is fired at a distance of two thousand meters, the time required is even shorter. As for the faster destroyers, they will also take less time.

In front of the huge capital ships that floated like hills on the sea, these light cruisers and destroyers of the Imperial Navy. Undoubtedly insignificant. But the heavy torpedoes carried by these insignificant battleships. But it can create a deadly threat to these capital ships. Once hit, even a thickly armored battleship will not be able to eat and walk around. Not to mention these battlecruisers of the British Navy.

Marshal David Beatty, suddenly realized, that he had given a very stupid order that had put the entire fleet in a difficult position. A little worse luck can even lead to a crushing defeat of the fleet.

Merely. Now there is no objection to saying this, and we must find a way to withstand the lightning strikes of the Chinese navy. Otherwise, everything will be in vain.

"Order all battleships, attack the enemy's light cruisers and destroyers, take them out before they can launch torpedoes. All light cruisers and destroyers. Pestering each other to buy time for the capital ship. "Marshal David Betty gave the order.

Now they are only able to devote all their attention to the light cruisers and destroyers of the Chinese Navy. As for the capital ships of the Chinese Navy, there is no time to take care of them. After all, even if it is shelled by the opponent's capital ship, it will not cause much damage. But once it is hit by a torpedo, the consequences are much more serious.

Suddenly, the seven battle cruisers of the British Navy turned their guns and opened heavy fire on the light cruisers and destroyers of the Imperial Navy. Efforts were made to sink these light cruisers and destroyers before they could launch torpedoes. In this way, their safety will be guaranteed.

The remaining four 'Danae-class' light cruisers and four 'R-class' destroyers of the British fleet also rushed out, trying to contain the light cruisers and destroyers of the Imperial Navy. Although the enemy is outnumbered, they can't care so much. If the light cruisers and destroyers of the Chinese Navy were to be approached within two thousand meters, the consequences would be troublesome.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The main guns of all the battle cruisers of the British Navy, began to fire on the light cruisers and destroyers of the Chinese Navy. However, it was not so easy for the main guns to hit the light cruisers and destroyers moving at high speed.

In addition to four twin 381 mm guns, the 'Admiral' battlecruiser had 12 5.5-inch (140 mm) secondary guns and four 4-inch (102 mm) rapid-fire guns. The Lion-class battlecruisers also had 16 4-inch (102 mm) secondary guns, in addition to four twin 343 mm guns. These secondary guns will not play a big role in the duel of capital ships, but they will undoubtedly be very powerful against light cruisers and destroyers that the enemy is trying to launch lightning strikes at close range. These secondary guns are capable of forming a wall of cannonballs that will keep enemy light cruisers and destroyers out of a safe distance. If you want to break through such a dense dynamic interception, you will pay an extremely heavy price.

The British Navy's four Danae-class light cruisers also had a strong firepower of six 6-inch (152 mm) main guns, two 3-inch (76.2 mm) secondary guns, and two 2-inch (50 mm) rapid-fire guns. At the critical moment, these light cruisers and destroyers frantically rushed towards the lightning strike formation of the Imperial Navy, trying to stop them.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The two twin 155-mm guns in the bow of the light cruisers of the Imperial Navy bombarded fiercely, and the target of the shelling was the British Navy's 'Danae-class' light cruisers. The twin 105mm guns in the bow of the Imperial Navy's 'B-class' destroyers were also firing desperately, pouring artillery fire on the British Navy's light cruisers and destroyers, trying to force them back.

The battle was very fierce, and although the power of small and medium-caliber shells was not large, they could still cause fatal damage to light cruisers and destroyers.

One of the Imperial Navy's 'Class B' destroyers, which rushed to the front, was hit by two 152-mm shells, and the entire bow was ablaze. The damage management personnel braved the rain of bullets to extinguish the fire, and many people were directly killed and fell in a pool of blood.

"Boom!" A loud explosion was heard, and a destroyer with the port number 'B IV' of the Imperial Navy was hit by a 381-mm shell. The tremendous power instantly blew this destroyer, which had a displacement of only 1,800 tons, into two. The battleship sank into the sea in just one minute, and all the officers and men of the navy on it were killed, and none survived.

A light cruiser of the 'Danae class' of the British Navy called 'Delhi' was hit by 155-mm shells and 105-mm shells in succession, and the entire superstructure burned. Soon, the battleship sank in a continuous burst of explosions.

The battle was fierce, and the light cruisers and destroyers of the Imperial Navy charged quickly in order to approach the battle line of the British Navy. They weave through a hail of bullets, like petrels in a storm.

"Hold on, come closer, get closer. Just go another 500 meters and you will be able to launch torpedoes. "The destroyer 'B VII' of the Imperial Navy took the lead and rushed towards the battlecruiser 'Rodney' of the British Navy. The battlecruiser Rodney, apparently aware of the threat, began to fire desperately to stop the Imperial Navy's destroyer B-VII.

"Boom! Rumble! ”

The secondary guns of the battlecruiser 'Rodney' were successful, and two 140-mm shells hit the bow of the destroyer 'B 7', and the entire bow was set on fire. However, even so, the destroyer was charging with death as if it were home.

The distance of five hundred meters passed quickly. Subsequently, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes in the bow of the destroyer fired a torpedo.

"Bang! Boom! ”

With a dull sound, four heavy torpedoes were already rushing towards the battlecruiser 'Rodney'. The destroyer 'B-7,' which had fired the torpedo, hurriedly turned around, preparing to escape from this dangerous sea area, reload the torpedo, and then kill it again.

It's just that the time to turn is also the most dangerous time. The fragile side was exposed to the enemy's dense fire. The British sailors of the battlecruiser "Rodney" also seized this opportunity and frantically fired at the destroyer "B 7".

Dense shells continued to hit the side of the destroyer 'B-7'. The hull on the side of the ship was quickly torn apart, and the sea water frantically poured into the battleship, causing the battleship to tilt. And, it didn't take long for it to overturn.

However, the sailors on the destroyer 'B-7' were extremely relieved to see the fish they had launched and hit the battlecruiser 'Rodney'. (To be continued.) )

PS: The fortieth is here, ask for a monthly pass and a reward!