The "Suzaku" and "Xuanwu" heavy cruisers are the strongest warships in the Queensland Navy (Coast Guard, the same below), with a displacement of 9,980 tons, an increase of more than 1,100 tons compared with the first two "Qinglong" class warships, and are equipped with three twin-mounted Burkrupp Company authorized and built by the Azure Arms Company with an improved large-diameter 305 mm hydraulic re-entry barreled naval gun, with a longer range, more accuracy, and more intense sustained firepower.

The central axis of the hull of the three turrets is arranged, and there is a double-mounted 305 mm turret in the bow, amidships, and stern, which is defended by 358 mm Harvey steel heavy armor, and the speed and defense power can be ranked among the world's first-class, and the power of the gun temporarily ranks second in the ranks, and the overall performance is excellent.

It is especially commendable

This class of ships is designed by Sir William White, a famous British ship design master, and adopts cutting-edge concepts such as high freeboard design, large stabilizer fins, and high-pitched redundancy of multiple compartments, and its ocean-going seaworthiness is one level higher than that of 10,000-ton ironclad ships of the same class, so that the officers and men have a better environment and virtually improve the combat effectiveness of the warship.

In the case of 4~6 meters of waves, this class of ships can smoothly hold down the waves and walk on the ground in the crests and valleys of the waves.

Li Fushou inspected the overseas territories of Africa this time, and brought with him the heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" of the home fleet, but he did not fail to take this opportunity to get rid of the Portuguese stronghold on the island of Mozambique, so as to prevent future troubles.

After the huge fleet entered the waters of the Kirimba Islands, led by two 1,000-ton Seagull 1 type cruisers, more than 10 mosquito-class gunboats were all dispatched to greet them, salute them with guns, and then under the command of the heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" flag, they took the lead in opening the way in front and led the huge fleet to the island of Boi.

The sky was blue and cloudless, the sun was shining, and it was a bright and good day.

When approaching Boi, the two Seagull-1 frigates leading the way at the forefront found through the masttop lookout post that two German battleships were hovering in the nearby waters, only 5~6 kilometers away from Boi, as if they had a plan.

After the Mozambique Marine District Fleet spotted the small German fleet, the other side apparently also spotted them, and immediately turned around and pressed on the momentum.

This scene shocked the Marine District Fleet.

Due to the inconvenience of transmission, they did not know that the island of Mozambique had undergone earth-shattering changes, and the German fleet, which had been slapped in the face, was angry and wanted to find fault.

The four 280-mm main guns mounted on the cruiser "Hesse" have been stripped of their armor, and the huge muzzles of the black holes are pointed straight ahead, and the threat is self-evident.

The two 210-mm receding main guns of the ironclad ship "Arsonist" were also raised high, ready for battle, and followed closely and pressed forward with great momentum.

Wait a minute...... What kind of painting style is this?

The captain of the Seagull 1 frigate was stunned by the actions of the Germans, such behavior...... Much like a muscular cruise between rival European navies, shedding their gun jackets and raising their guns is a naked provocation, not a normal encounter between voyages.

Are you bullying me without the support of the boss?

"Huh...... Don't pay attention to this group of German fools, this is an evil fire in the heart, it seems that they have to be sober, let's slow down, and wait for the big fleet behind to come up. Commodore Mo Rufeng stood in the narrow wheelhouse of the Seagull patrol boat, and said with a smile when he saw this;" Hurry up and put a flag on the ship, saying that the Germans are coming to provoke, what should we do? ”

"Uh...... Yes, sir. ”

The Marine Police District is a maritime garrison unit attached to the African Expeditionary Force, and the captain of the ship immediately asked the signal corps to issue flags to the rear.

Not to mention that Commodore Mo Rufeng was holding back his badness there, just to say that on the cruiser "Hesse", Rear Admiral Heinrich sat in the command chair in the middle of the command tower, looking at the Marine District Fleet in front of him with a gloomy face, as if someone owed him 300 pounds.

"Report to Your Excellency, the enemy gunboat fleet has slowed down, from 12 knots to 8 knots, but still occupies the channel and does not retreat."

"Faster plug in, the more they don't want to let ...... I'm going to force them to let in. "There seems to be Mars in the words of Major General Heinrich.

This can't be blamed on him, the three Portuguese cargo ships escorted all the way, two German cargo ships, and one Spanish cargo ship were all beaten into a sieve by artillery fire, and the Germans watched the freighter catch fire and sink, and there was nothing they could do, this kind of humiliation was simply a "bang" slap in the face!

Uncle can bear it, but aunt can't bear it.

This small German fleet escaped shamefully in the midst of the artillery fire, and Rear Admiral Heinrich also had his own troubles, which was originally a private trip, and rashly intervened in the war between the British or Queenslanders for colonies, causing international disputes, and he should be laid off when he returned to the German Admiralty.

How to explain this to the Admiralty superiors?

Ladies and gentlemen, the fleet I led has successfully completed the task of intimidating the Sultan of Zanzibar and safeguarding the interests of German East Africa, and I also bring you a surprise, Germany and Australia are at war, if any gentleman does not know, let me explain that Australia is a British dominion.

Rear Admiral Heinrich is expected to be beaten by his fellow naval officers, and then swept away miserably, and if he is not successful, he will have to go to court-martial......

The welcome courtesy is gone, the rich gift of gold ivory is gone, and he runs away like a lost dog, and Major General Heinrich must find face no matter what, otherwise he will not be able to pass this hurdle in his heart!

Thinking back to bullying the small fleet of gunboats on the island of Boi when he came, the rest of the matter is logical.

The cruiser "Hesse", with a displacement of more than 4,000 tons, brutally inserted itself into the other party's channel, corrected its course, and galloped away all the way, increasing its speed to 14 knots, and the two sides were getting closer and closer like cattle.

20 chains...... 15 Chain ...... 8 Chain ......

If one of the two ships does not change course, they will inevitably collide with each other in the end, and this is the time to test their will.

Major General Heinrich stroking his upturned Germanic beard smugly, made up his mind not to back down, and to win this game no matter what.

Compared with the huge size of the 4,600-ton "Hesse" cruiser, the two 1,000-ton Seagull cruisers approaching the oncoming ship are thin and slender, and if the two collide, the "Hesse" cruiser can tear each other in half.

Of course, such an extreme case will not arise, but it is assumed......

In this case, the Marine District Fleet is undoubtedly under much greater psychological pressure, so should it be allowed or not? This is a difficult problem before the commander.

In the warm Mediterranean

The warships of the hostile navy in Europe often play this kind of will game of "no one will let anyone", until one side can not hold on to the first to change course and avoid it, and the officers and men of the victorious ship will cheer loudly, as if they have won a great lottery, and the dignity of the other navy will be trampled under their feet.

Of course, this is a spiritual victory.

"Report to the general, the other party has found the Grand Fleet behind it."

"What Grand Fleet?"

"Uh...... The Grand Fleet flying the flag of the Red Mountain Dragon has at least two cruisers of more than 3,500 tons, and I don't know how many there are behind it, how to deal with it, please give instructions to the general. ”

Watt...... What the hell are you kidding me?

Major General Heinrich recovered from the tense confrontation scene at this time, hurriedly picked up the telescope on the bridge and observed, his face instantly turned pale.

Right now

After a loud "boom" on the sea ahead, a high column of water splashed, which was at least a high-powered shell fired by a 305-mm heavy gun, and the height of the water column had already crossed the tall three-legged mast of the cruiser Hesse, and exploded more than 20 meters in front of the right.

Coincidentally, it is ...... This warning shell turned out to be a near-miss.

The huge pressure generated by the shells hit the bow of the cruiser "Hesse", instantly causing the behemoth of more than 4,600 tons to deviate from its course three degrees, and the hull of the ship rolled violently and swayed.

The fool also knows that this is by no means a heavy shell that can be fired by the two 3,500-ton cruisers in front, indicating that there are terrifying big guys in the rear fleet, and this warning shot was fired by the big guys behind.

Major General Heinrich felt a bout of vertigo in his head; Oh my God...... What kind of horrible monster am I provoking?

"Report to the general, the distance is four chains, this distance is already dangerous."

"What are you doing in a daze, it's all a bunch of ignorant fools, hurry up and avoid the left rudder, ...... Quick action......"

The heavy cruiser "Hesse" turned sharply and drew a clear arc-shaped track on the sea, because of the huge inertia, the heavy hull drifted almost laterally dozens of meters away, and several sailors who were caught off guard fell and were injured in the violent roll, and the screams were heard from afar.

The ironclad ship "Arsonist", which followed closely, reacted quickly, and the same left rudder made an emergency turn, and the screams of the sailors who fell and injured were heard again......

See it all

There was a cheer from the Seagull cruiser, and Brigadier General Mo Rufeng couldn't help but show a pleased smile on his face, and ordered in a calm tone; "Keep course, let's go home with the big troops."

"Yes, keep course and go home with the big army."

The officers and men in the wheelhouse replied loudly, full of irrepressible joy, which was the excitement of pride and the sense of honor of the soldiers, which rolled enthusiastically in their chests.

The scrawny Seagull Cruisers and the small Pudding's gunboats sailed along the established course and cleaved the waves across the vast foaming sea, trampling the honor of the German fleet under their feet.

On the tall heavy cruiser "Xuanwu".

Li Fushou sat on the leather command chair, looking down at the German fleet approaching from top to bottom, with a playful smile on his face.

"So, these two German warships are deliberately finding fault?"

"Yes, Lord Earl, this kind of drama of the strong bullying the weak often occurs in the small bathtub of the Mediterranean, but it is rarely seen in the vast ocean."

"Well, or ...... Play again? Li Fushou touched his chin interestingly and made an abrupt suggestion that no one could have imagined.

Play again?

Geng Guigui's scalp was a little numb, you must know that you are driving a heavy ironclad cruiser with a displacement of nearly 10,000 tons, and the other party is also a cruiser with a displacement of 4,600 tons, and the distance between the two is now less than 7 chains, which is a very dangerous distance.

Heavy warships have to be 3~4 chains away from each turn, and a careless accident will cause a serious accident in which two ships collide.

But the Earl has already said it, can you still not play?

The top of the heavy cruiser "Xuanwu", whose tall steel mast was 12 stories high from the sea, suddenly turned sharply in the course of driving, and pressed fiercely towards the cruiser "Hesse" like a mountain of steel, rushing all the way with an irresistible domineering wildness, causing a cry of surprise on the German cruiser.

"Oh my God...... Quick, dodge with the right rudder, grasp the fastening objects around you, and prepare to hit ......"

The "Hesse" cruiser was furious with alarm bells, and it quickly turned away from the current course, and amid the exclamations of the officers and men on board, the heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" passed by like a hill, and was pushed away by the huge waves set off by the other side's turn as if it were a fluttering toy.

As soon as the two ships met, the cruiser Hesse hurriedly turned to the left again, leaving an S-shaped clear track on the sea, like a drunkard and embarrassed.

No way

The heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" suddenly crossed over, and the "Hesse" could only dodge with the right rudder, otherwise it would inevitably collide with the opponent's head, and in front of the steel monster like a small mountain, the "Hesse" cruiser was a younger brother, crushed to the slag in minutes.

And so it goes

The "Hesse" rushed into the main channel of the fleet, and then the steel freighters loaded with cargo came one after another, one after another, as if the steel torrent rolling forward was unstoppable, and the cruiser "Hesse" did not have the upper hand in terms of size and tonnage, and could only hurriedly avoid it to the right, which really lost its face at home.

The "Hesse" was still lucky, and the ironclad ship "Arsonist", which followed closely behind, was a beat slower, and was thrown off by the huge heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" during the emergency rendezvous between the warships of the two sides.

After hearing a loud "clang", the ironclad ship "Arsonist" was like a fluttering golf ball that was whipped out hundreds of meters away, and the left half of the hull was buried in the sea water in the severe rolling, and then jumped out under the action of strong buoyancy, and more than a dozen sailors were already washed into the sea......

Save people, hurry up and save people!

The heavy cruiser "Xuanwu", the initiator, did not stop for half a minute, swaggered away, and the fleet that followed did not stop at all, and successively passed by the ironclad ship "Arsonist", and the side of the migrant ship was full of excited recruits and immigrants pointing and talking, and regarded this as an interesting thing in the boring journey.

After more than 10 minutes, a mosquito gunboat of more than 300 tons arrived to help the German side search and rescue the people who fell into the water.

According to post-mortem statistics;

In this sea accident, 17 German officers and men were injured in a fall, 8 of them were fractured, 13 people fell into the water of the ironclad ship "Arsonist", 8 people were rescued from the search, and 5 people were missing.

In fact, only three people disappeared from the ironclad "Arsonist", but let's not forget that during the overarching shelling on the island of Mozambique, several German sailors standing on the side of the dock ship were killed and wounded, and this time they took the opportunity to stuff them together.

How else can it be explained?

The bombardment caused casualties on the warship, but the commander of the cruiser "Hesse" led the ship to escape, which damaged the honor of the Imperial German Navy.

Captain Ho Ka-ben, who was in charge of handling the matter on the "Mosquito" gunboat, expressed great regret over the "accidental encounter at sea" (Captain Ho Ka-ben's words) and, out of humanitarian principles, was willing to make some compensation for the German officers and men who fell overboard, with a total amount of £1,200.

Each missing person is entitled to £200 in compensation, and the injured share a £200 injury medicine subsidy, which Captain Ho Ka Ben personally expressed his condolences for, but nothing else.

The ironclad ship "Arsonist" was deformed by a fierce blow to the rear of the hull, and there was a huge wound about 7.3 meters long and 2.1 meters high, and the shafting system of the two propellers at the bottom of the ship was seriously affected.

According to the meaning of Captain Ho Ka-ben;

No one wants to see this kind of regrettable thing, and the heavy cruiser "Xuanwu" also has losses, so let's not look for both, otherwise it will be troublesome to rip it off.

The situation is stronger than people, this is really stealing chickens and rice.

Rear Admiral Heinrich thought about it, so he could only pinch his nose and accept the treatment plan, and the cruiser "Hesse" towed the ironclad ship "Arsonist" all the way back.

Fortunately, with a range of just over 600 kilometers, the port of Dar es Salaam in German East Africa has the ability to simply repair ships, and in any case allow the ironclad ship "Arsonist" to return to the sea under its own power.

As for the cost of repairs, the German East African Company will have to pay a part, and the Portuguese merchants in Dar es Salaam will also have to pay a part, so if it is really not possible, they will fill in the planned large independent villa in Hamburg, and the ironclad ship "Arsonist" is the property of the German Navy, and it must be repaired anyway.

This time, the originally planned pleasant escort trip ended hastily with a bleak ending, and the German side was secretive about it, and it was not a glorious thing to send it to the door to slap him in the face, so should it be publicized all over the world?

Among the lost freighters on the island of Mozambique were two German freighters, and the owner of one of them died in the attack.

The other freighter belongs to the East African company, and the related aftermath work Rear Admiral Heinrich only asked, he was worried about repairing the ironclad ship "Arsonist", what do you want in this hellish place in East Africa, not even a few qualified marine steel plates, let alone marine shafting accessories.

Anyway, the Queenslanders will not pay attention, and it is estimated that in the end they will force the Portuguese to pay, who calls them soft persimmons?