The news of Italy's declaration of war with the Ottomans is currently the biggest news in Europe, and many countries have made predictions about the war between these two countries, and most of them are inclined to Italy to win.

Because Italy was one of the great powers anyway, and as for the Ottoman Empire, after the 10th Turkish-Russian War, it was kicked out.

Of course, these predictions are just watching the flowers from across the strait, and only the two countries know what to do.

However, for the Italian government, the declaration of war was not as important as it thought, because its preparations were almost complete.

Although it is a bit rushed, but fortunately, the efficiency is very good now, so that Italy's preparation for the war is basically completed. At present, all supplies are basically ready, and after the declaration of war, the navy, as the most powerful branch of the Italian army, will assume the first wave of striking force.

Taranto is located in Puglia, in the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea, which is an important port city in southeastern Italy and the distribution center of agricultural products in the southeast of the Apennine Peninsula. Of course, Taranto is better known for its status as a military port, which is one of the three main ports of the Italian Navy and the most important one in terms of geographical location.

Thanks to the excellent water depth of the port and the good sheltered environment, the warships prepared by the navy for war are basically gathered here.

From the latest three Turin-class battleships, to the two Durio-class Durio and Dondolo, and the three improved Lepanto, Francisco Morosini and Italy, the total tonnage of these warships alone has reached 110,000 tons, which can be said to be the strongest battleship formation in Italy.

And the heaviest of these eight battleships is not the three Turin class, but the Lepanto, which has a standard displacement of 16,154 tons and a full load of 17,670 tons, which can be said to be the largest warship in Italy in terms of tonnage at present. The most powerful of this class is, of course, the four 431 mm main guns it is equipped with, but in addition to the main gun, it is equipped with 152 mm secondary guns, ranging from 2 to 8 guns.

However, this class has the same problems as its prototype Durio class, because the main gun is located in the middle of the hull, so the firing range of money against the rear is limited, and it is more to play the side fire output. So its role is far less effective than that of the new Turin level? And the same is true of the evaluation of officers and soldiers.

Except, of course, battleship formations? And a huge fleet of cruisers is also gathered here, reclassifying from the most advanced Venice? To the cruiser with sails and a steam engine? It's simply a gathering of cruisers from all eras that must have come together, with a dazzling array of five rings and eight doors? Shaking the eyes of a blind dog.

There is only one reason for this, and that is the small number of Italian cruisers? So as long as it can be improvised? After all, most of these cruisers were tasked with intercepting Ottoman merchant ships and cutting off their Mediterranean islands from Istanbul.

As for the Ottoman Navy, as long as it dares to come out, then the two Venetian reclassifications can let it know? You should have been thrown away. Although the Italian Navy likewise has a bunch of ragged cruisers? But Italy has battleships that can fight, and you Ottomans are only in tatters.

However, the warships gathered in Taranto still had their own tasks, and the tasks of the battleship formation were not at all different from those of the cruisers.

Because this time Admiral Golek, the Minister of the Admiralty, personally came to Taranto to see off the fleet of the Navy.

This operation is related to whether the first shot of Italy can be good or not, so Admiral Golek did not dare to slack off.

This time to see off the fleet? Let the old admiral be in a surging mood, many of these warships were built under his own supervision? In particular, the battleships were basically newly built by themselves for more than ten years in the navy.

Of course, he's older now? At the age of more than seventy, he began to think about retirement. But before that? He needs to leave a worthy successor for the Navy. As for who can be this person? Let's look at the performance in this war.

These thoughts? Admiral Golek didn't talk much about it, because if it leaked out, it would break the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the navy, and he definitely didn't want to see such a thing happen.

"Vice Admiral Yagill, this war is very important for our Navy. I hope that Your Excellency will allow the Navy to show our demeanor in this operation, and we will not let the Army monopolize the limelight. ”

Admiral Gleck's Vice-Admiral Yagir, whose full name is Mateus Yagir, joined the Navy of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1853 and has performed very well for many years, so Admiral Golek listed him as one of his future successors.

"Yes, Admiral, you will see the heroism of the Navy appear everywhere in the Mediterranean where it is needed."

Lieutenant General Yagill was not ambiguous, and almost patted his chest to reassure.

And this operation was also an opportunity for him, because this time he was going to take a formation of battleships to shell Albania and create an opportunity for the landing of the army. According to the Ottoman Empire's barren coastal fortifications in the area, this is completely stress-free, although so, Vice Admiral Yagill will never dare to be careless, if something happens to his fleet, accidental damage, it will be a loss.

Admiral Golek then met with several other captains, including our Lieutenant Commander Gomes and Lieutenant Commander Leffel. It should be noted here that, unlike Major Gomes, who commanded the armored cruiser Venice, Leifel, who had just been transferred back to the Navy from the adjutant of the kingdom, was now the captain of the Turin.

Don't look at the two and feel that there is no difference, but basically everyone knows that Lieutenant Colonel Leffel, who has been the king's aide-de-camp, has a much more ambitious future. Not to mention anything else, even in terms of military ranks, they all reflect the difference.

The battleships commanded by the other two are also reflected, although the armored cruiser commanded by Gomes is also the main battleship of the navy, but the new battleship commanded by Leifell is the favorite of the navy.

You must know that a person like Lyfel who can become a lieutenant commander in his early thirties and command the latest battleships of the Navy can only have one goal, to become a strong contender for the Minister of the Navy. No matter how bad it is, it will be a role like a commander of the Grand Fleet in the future.

As for Gomes, he is already one step behind Lefehr, and the future direction of development will see if there are good opportunities. Of course, they are already considered lucky compared to others.

Didn't I see that Admiral Golek, who is the Minister of the Navy, said a few words too deliberately when shaking hands with the two, this is the problem of the difference in treatment.

But no matter what, everything needs to be said by military merit, and this war with the Ottomans, they will each have their own ability.

After the meeting with Admiral Golek, the commanders of the navy returned to their warships, and then they pulled anchors and set sail for their respective battlefields under the orders of their respective commanders.

As the most conspicuous battleship formation, it sailed all the way east, towards the other side of the sea.