"You mean to meet the Italian fleet thirty-eight nautical miles to the southeast?"

Ito Yuhiro asked again with confirmation, and beside him, Shikiki Kayama, Shigeyuan Dewa and others also looked at Captain Nakano, who had gone through the ordeal, with a serious face.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I did encounter the Italian fleet thirty-eight nautical miles to the southeast."

"Do you see clearly?"

"I can see it clearly."

At this time, Izuwa Shigeyuan suddenly interjected into the conversation. "Do you see a convoy of transports in the Italian fleet?"

Although Kazuki Nakano didn't know why His Excellency the Chief of Staff asked this, he immediately understood that this question was very important when he saw the three officers with wide eyes.

"Although my main focus is on the Italian fleet, I can still see a large fleet of transport ships behind the warships."

Nakano's answer caught the attention of all three, as they all knew that Dewa's plan was based on the fact that the Italian transport fleet was still alive.

As Vice Admiral Ito asked a few more questions, Captain Nakano answered them all truthfully.

"Okay, we already know the situation, thank you and the other officers and soldiers of the Yaeyama for your dedication, and I hope you will continue to serve the empire."

After Kazuki Nakano walked away, Izuwa Shigeyuan, who was the chief of staff, couldn't hold his breath the most.

"Since the enemy convoy did not leave, then I think that the plan can be carried out. It's time to make an invitation to the enemy. ”

If Dewa Shigeyuan invites the battle, the commander Lieutenant General Ito will be under great pressure, because it will be up to him to give orders next. Regardless of whether this naval battle is won or lost, then he will be the first person responsible.

However, Ito Youheng also knows that he has no choice, and now he is ready to send it.

"Immediately order the fleet to take up battle formation and advance to the southeast at a speed of 14 knots. In addition, the first team was formed with ships such as Yamashiro, Matsushima, Itsukushima, and Hashidate, and the second team was formed with ships such as Yoshino, Takachiho, Awami, and Izumi. ”

With Ito's order, the Combined Fleet no longer took care of the Eagle on the periphery, but instead formed a battle formation and advanced to the southeast.

In the face of the combined fleet's moves, Vice Admiral Alvaro, who has a communication weapon, has been in the back of his hand since he was able to contact the Eagle. Immediately after giving the order to continue the Eagle's surveillance, Vice Admiral Álvaro ordered the convoy, led by the three cruisers Pernia, Courage, and Radiance, to turn and retreat to the rear. Let the three cruisers leave with the convoy in order to avoid distractions. And these three cruisers were also the weakest in terms of tonnage and firepower in the formation. They are all only one or two thousand tonnage, and the main responsibility is to protect the convoy.

"Since the enemy wants a frontal naval battle, then we will give it to them. Ships were ordered to prepare for the battle. ”

With the order of Vice Admiral Álvaro, the remaining battleships began to prepare for the battle, and sandbags, fire extinguishing equipment, ammunition, etc. were constantly moved out by the sailors, and Vice Admiral Álvaro maintained contact with the Eagle, allowing himself to control the enemy's movements at any time.

At this moment, Vice Admiral Alvaro felt the profound influence of radio on naval warfare, and he could know the enemy's movements without a lookout post, which was simply unimaginable in the past, and of course it had a lot to do with the fact that the Eagle radio had always been functioning.

By 1:25 p.m., the rails of the Combined Fleet had finally appeared above sea level, and before that, the lookout posts had issued a warning in advance through the smoke column.

"It's finally here!"

At this moment, many officers and men of the Combined Fleet, as well as the officers and men of the Task Force, suddenly popped up this idea in their hearts.

However, as the commanders of both sides, Lieutenant General Álvaro and Lieutenant General Ito Yohei did not have the slightest such thought, and the moment they discovered each other, they began to fight.

"Order the fleet course to deviate 15 degrees to the east."

Since the Combined Fleet was coming from the northwest and the Italian Fleet was in the southeast, a bias to the east would allow the Combined Fleet to gain an advantage over the T.

However, in the face of Ito's operation, Lieutenant General Álvaro scoffed. "Order the fleet to speed up, increase the speed to 18 knots."

That's right, the Italian task force commanded by Vice Admiral Alvaro has an unparalleled speed advantage, and you can do whatever it takes, so it's better for me to give full play to the speed advantage, unless the combined fleet is willing to divide the formation into two parts, otherwise he will rush to the T-shaped prefix.

Of course, if the commander of the Japanese fleet really divided the fleet into two parts in order to grab the T-shape, then Vice Admiral Álvaro really wanted to laugh off his big teeth, and he could happily divide and eat the Japanese warships, and by the way, teach the other party a lesson.

For the Italian fleet to use speed up as a means to grab T, as an opponent, Ito Yuhiro of course found out at the first time.

However, there is a good saying, knowing the problem does not mean that it can be solved, and Ito Yuhiro is in this state.

Vice Admiral Álvaro's hand hit directly at the lifeblood of the Combined Fleet. Because according to the theory of barrel shortcomings, the United Fleet has a large number of warships in the fourteenth section, and it is impossible to compete with the Italian fleet in speed.

So in the expectation of others, Ito Yuhiro has no solution.

Lacking the speed advantage and not being able to divide the troops, Ito can only make up for it from other aspects. Thankfully, they didn't want to fight a regular naval battle.

"Let the fleet drift thirty degrees to the west and continue to sail at a speed of fourteen knots. In addition, the order of the fleet was adjusted, with the Yamashiro as the leader, followed by Matsushima, Itsukushima, and Hashidate, followed by Yoshino, Akitsuzu, Chiyoda, Iwajima, Takachiho, Izumi, Atago, Maya, Kaimon, and Tateyama. After the first artillery bombardment of the enemy, each ship acted according to the plan of its respective formation. ”

That's right, the combined fleet led by Ito Yuhiro had to compete with the Italian fleet before he could carry out the plan formulated by Desa Daisa.

Because it was necessary to bypass the obstruction of the Italian fleet, it was necessary to line up for an artillery bombardment, and then leave the first team to entangle the opponent, while the second team broke away from the battlefield and pounced on the transport fleet in the rear. This is also why the Yamashiro (formerly the Blad) will stay in the first team, the strength of the Sanjing ship is not strong, I am afraid that it will not be able to withstand the huge cannons of the opponent's three battleships, after all, except for the Sanjing ship, except for the 320 mm main gun, there is nothing to be desired in terms of protection and speed.

Of course, in addition to the main battleship, the combined fleet also carried a number of other warships.

"In addition, the torpedo boats Kitty Hawk, No. 7, Eleven, Twelfth, Twelve, Thirteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-second, and Twenty-third were ordered to follow behind and wait for the opportunity to disrupt the enemy fleet with a surprise torpedo attack."

With the order of Ito Yohiro, the combined fleet began to carry out artillery line formations.

And on Lieutenant General Álvaro's side, he laughed as he watched his opponent begin to prepare for the shelling from a distance. "It seems that the enemy has given up on grabbing T, in that case, then we should not give in, deviate to the west by 45 degrees, and let us teach them a lesson with naval artillery."

Although Vice Admiral Álvaro said it lightly, the artillery formation was also underway, with three Turin-class battleships leading the way, followed by two Venice-class armored cruisers, and then the various types of protective cruisers in order according to tonnage firepower and other factors.

The two warship formations lined up in a line of two or three thousand meters and began to gradually approach.

However, as it approached, the Italian fleet led by Vice Admiral Álvaro relied on its high speed of 18 knots to firmly grasp the advantage of the T-shape.

Ito, on the other hand, led the combined fleet to swing left and right, not wanting to give the other party a perfect opportunity to insert the T-prefix.

Although neither of the two sides fired a single shell, the two sides fought with wits and courage, showing their officers and soldiers to the fullest.

Watching from the sidelines, the warships of other countries were breathtaking.

However, no matter how much the Combined Fleet struggles, the Task Force has an incomparable advantage in terms of officer and soldier capabilities and warship performance, not to mention that the Italian Fleet also has a sharp weapon called radio, so that the Combined Fleet can't get rid of it at all.

The fleets of the two sides are approaching, and the figures of the other side are becoming clearer and clearer.

Eight thousand meters!

Seven thousand meters!

6,000 meters!

5,000 meters!

When the two sides entered the distance of 5,000 meters, Lieutenant General Alvaro gave an order. "Order the ships to fire in turn."