784 Crying Apennines (1)

"At 12 o'clock, the speed was 18 knots, the wind was southeast, and it was shooting rapidly. (Full text reading, all in. (.i. Want. Wen. Learning Network)"

"Missed...... Preparation for the next round. ”

"Pull away, they pull away!"

"Damn, on the left, two combined forces!"

"Team Cavour, stop ......."

"Be careful, they fired first!"

"Boom, boom, boom......."

On the left side of the glittering strait, two combined force-class battleships fired first, as the best battleships in Europe at the time, and also recognized as the battleship with the best gun and firepower configuration in the battleship era, 8 triple L45/305 mm naval guns burst out at the same time with an earth-shattering roar. Suddenly, a forest of water columns rose from all sides of an unprepared Italian cruiser, and one of the cruisers protecting the flanks of the battleship was mercilessly swallowed up by cannonballs before they could complete their maneuvers.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Navy is only a unit subordinate to the Army, the Navy is much higher than the Army in terms of personnel and soldiers, and Austria-Hungary is also well aware of its own shortcomings, and hired a large number of instructors from the German Navy before the war, and even the staff officers around the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, Archduke Delfino, are also many from Germany, if it were not for the treacherous Adriatic Sea and Taranto, who was cursed countless times by Austria-Hungary, at least it would not have been blocked in the old den for three years and could not come out.

Seeing that the two Combined Forces-class battleships that suddenly broke away from the main battleship formation used the cover of the cruiser to tear open the gap and fight against the cruiser detachment on their flanks, Italy had no choice but to change its formation, and the three Italian Count Cavour-class battleships accelerated to meet the rudder, and a lot of fire rose on the battleships of both sides.

"Is there any contact with Taranto!"

"Not ...... yet, General."

"Damn, order the 1st and 3rd cruiser squadrons to get out of the battle at once and rush back to Taranto Bay!"

"Yes, General."

The battle outside was extremely fierce, but inside the bridge of the flagship Francesco Caracciolo, Vice Admiral Camacho pinched the telegram sent by Betty, and he didn't even have the heart to look at it.

From the first shell, an hour and a half had passed in this naval battle, and when the main force quickly sank the Austro-Hungarian Franz-Ferdinand battleship, he thought that he could quickly defeat the opponent and then turn around and fight with Betty to flank the two Guam-class battleships, but he did not expect Delfino to suddenly play a grappling and take the initiative to distance himself. ※※※※※ I ※ I ※ ※

Originally, he was very puzzled, because the Austro-Hungarian fire control system was not good like Italy, and the accuracy of hitting beyond 14,000 yards (about 15,000 meters) could not be guaranteed at all, and it stands to reason that the old fox of Delfino must take the initiative to close the distance if he wants to win this battle, but who would have thought that he would do the opposite and keep firing at 16,000 yards.

Now, all the incomprehension and doubts are clear with this telegram, when I saw the speculation sent by Betty, my back was crawling with cold sweat, according to Betty, this is a joint exercise between the Chinese and the Austro-Hungarians, they deliberately threw out the news of the departure of 2 battleships during the day before yesterday, and then let Delfino set off, forcing himself to send the main force to intercept, and lured Betty here, directly emptying the outer defense of Taranto Bay!

At this moment, there are only three patrol fleets patrolling in Taranto Bay, and if ......! Camacho shuddered, he really couldn't imagine that if Taranto was gone, the main fleet he led would become a lonely ghost roaming the Mediterranean!

What a terrible scene it would be!

He only hopes that this speculation is false, after all, the Chinese Navy's aircraft carriers have never had a record of fighting at night, and as long as they can hold out until dawn, they can force back the Austro-Hungarian Navy, and then quickly turn back to the sea off Taranto Bay.

It's just ...... that I haven't been able to contact the Taranto base until now, right?

"General, Chinese, that butcher is here!"

Just when he was anxious, a frightened cry suddenly came from behind him, which made his palms tremble, and he didn't even notice that the telegram had fallen on the deck.

"Sir, radiolocation!"

"Where?"

Li Xiuyan snatched the report from the electric officer, although he didn't learn this, but as the captain of the ship, he could understand it somewhat, and when he saw the location of the detected radio signal source, the corners of his mouth suddenly sneered. "Hiding in the Strait of Corfu and trying to get around from behind while I attack the Italian fleet! It's a pity that you are too anxious to send this telegram! ”

"Left full rudder, course 270 ......."

"Full rudder left, course ......." The navigator repeated this, suddenly stopped his mouth, and said in surprise: "Sir, this is not a butt left to ....... ”

"Hehe, I know." Li Xiuyan waved his hand: "Order the destroyer to prepare for the assault......." ”

"Yes."

Seeing that Li Xiuyan was obviously prepared, the navigator immediately began to adjust the course without saying much, and by the time the bow turned to 270, the gun staff officer had already obtained the fire control parameters and completed the calculation of all elements. "Sir, 23,000 meters away, target Dante!"

"Gather fire!"

"Fire!"

The 18 406mm heavy guns roared again, it is not so easy to hit the enemy at 23,000 meters at night, and the former has every chance to avoid it at this distance, but Li Xiuyan didn't care if he could hit it, but immediately turned around and walked to the chart, and drew a line: "Our current position is in the southeast of the strait, and the bow of the ship points to the Apennine Peninsula." Betty didn't know that we had detected him on the radio, so as soon as we pressed him forward, he would immediately come out from behind the Greek island of Corfu and block us. ”

"So what are we going to do?" The navigator didn't quite understand Li Xiuyan's order just now, so he leaned over and asked.

"It's simple." Li Xiuyan pointed to the location of his own fleet with the tip of his pen, and said while drawing: "Doesn't he want to block us?" Then we will do as he wishes, and join Austria-Hungary along the middle of the Italian fleet. With the words, a standard word appeared on the strait.

Seeing this word, the navigator immediately understood, but there was still a problem in it, so he asked again: "Sir, this is the tactics of the cruiser!" And as soon as Italy is ruthlessly blocked in front of us, it will completely separate us from Austria-Hungary! It's hard to break through the past. ”

"I know, so I need the cooperation of Austria-Hungary!" Li Xiuyan suddenly reversed the hook along the word! Then he flicked his pen and turned around and said, "Contact Archduke Delfino and tell him that I need his full cooperation and that I need command!" ”

Seeing this symbol, the staff officers squeezed their eyes at the same time, feeling that their commander had even considered this point, if Austria-Hungary cooperated to take the reverse word line, then when the two fleets converged at the middle point! "Damn, I cut Betty and Italy apart!"

"Haha, that's right, compared to these turtles, it's not a cruiser!" The navigator also immediately understood, and personally walked to the steering wheel and began to take the helm.

"Your Majesty, receiving a telegram from Chinese, they ......."

"What's wrong with them?" Distraught by the stalemate and the struggle, and not understanding what the other party meant, he saw that the telegram Grand Duke Delfino was still thinking about hide and seek, and immediately asked: "Say." ”

"That Major General Li needs us to cooperate with them, and he needs ...... Command! ”

"Hiss......."

There was a sudden sound of inhalation in the Prince Eugen, and the staff officers and officers all admired the boldness of the "butcher", and actually directly took command, which means that no matter what the situation, these people must cooperate with him! Grand Duke Delfino also frowned, and the fact that the real action goals of the Chinese were still unknown had made him a little angry, but he didn't expect that the other party would actually want to command himself directly!

However, he is not an idiot, Li Xiuyan's name as a "butcher" has long been famous in Europe, and at that time, he fought solidly, not to mention the rich combat experience of the Chinese Navy, and may really have a chance to get out of the current predicament.

"He sent 2 telegrams saying that if you win the first condition, then the tactics can be executed!"

"This daring fellow! How does he want us to cooperate? ”

Although the Grand Duke Delfino did not directly agree, this sentence was equivalent to an indirect admission of agreeing to the other party's command, so the staff officer immediately took out a second telegram: "Diagonally insert the strait, and then join them in the middle line." Seeing the staff officer mark a word on the chart, everyone gasped!

Too bold!

"General, the Chinese and Italy have exchanged fire!"

"Course?"

"Heading northwest, cutting between Dante and the cruiser!"

"Great, let's go!"

The opportunity finally came, David Betty excitedly immediately handed the coffee cup to the guards, although he had previously concluded that Hua wanted to attack Taranto, but now there are still several hours before dawn, as long as he can inflict heavy damage on Austria-Hungary and the "butcher", he has enough chance to rush back to Taranto Bay, which is close at hand, and build an air barrier in front of the enemy's aircraft route!

When three Queen Elizabeth-class battleships drilled out of the strait at a speed of 20 knots and appeared behind the two Guam-class battleships, everyone saw that the Chinese support fleet actually "panicked" and rushed to the first Italian battleship Dante, which was blocked in front.

"General! General Betty, they're coming! ”

"Great! Ha ha....... ”

"This damn butcher has been tricked! Order Andrea Doria and Cayo Duilio to move with the flagship, and the rest of the ships to block the Austro-Hungarian pigs! ”

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。。 RO！ ~！