Massava is the main port of Italian East Africa and a very important port on the Far East trade route, and basically Italian ships traveling to and from the Far East like to dock at Massava for supplies and repairs.

This is because it has some of the best shipyards in East Africa and quite skilled shipyard workers who quickly dispose of the algae and shellfish on the bottom of the ship, so that the ship can be back on the ground again quickly and cheaply. The advantage of being cheap and fast has made many ships from other countries like to choose Massawa as a port of call for repairs.

So Massawa has relied on East African trade and port calls over the years, and it's been doing a lot of fun.

Of course, as Italy's largest port in East Africa, Massawa will certainly not lack warships. But today off the coast of Massawa, a strange warship suddenly surfaced, and a group of naval officers and sailors were scrambling to crawl out of the hatch.

"Ahem, Mr. Rove, can you let us know the next time you conduct an experiment, you see how embarrassed everyone is."

Captain Barrera, who was still bearded and had an oil-stained face, wore the same greasy navy shirt, and coughed violently twice while standing on the hull, complaining to the engineer who had just climbed out of the submarine and was on board.

Rove, who was similar to Captain Barrera, apologized to him with an apologetic face. "I'm sorry, Captain Barrera. Didn't I see that I was going to Massawa soon, so I wanted to check the underwater emergency submarine charging, but I forgot to close the hatch. ”

And Rove's words made the other officers and men on the boat look angry, knowing how dangerous it is to start the diesel engine underwater, and it is difficult to have an accident. This person actually dared to do this for the sake of experimentation. These engineers who are on board to inspect submarines, is this a fatal thing?

Captain Barrera gestured with three fingers in his hand and said with a vicious expression. "You can't just leave it at that, you have to treat everyone to at least three shots of rum when you get to Massawa."

"No problem, I'll treat you all to three glasses of rum, everyone please."

Knowing that Captain Barrera was relieving himself, Rove readily agreed to this condition.

As for the officers and men of the submarine, most of their attention was attracted by three glasses of rum at this time, so their anger was actually reduced by half.

Wait for the smoke in the cabin to clear before Barrera speaks. "Lads, now head towards Massawa, where wine and things await us, as well as hot baths and girls."

Barrera's words made everyone on the submarine cheer, they hadn't been on land for half a month, and nothing could compare to this at this time, and staying in the cramped cabin of the submarine was worse than going to prison.

So under the leadership of Barrera, the new submarine built by the Livorno shipyard rushed to Massawa, not far away.

Captain Barrera and others are piloting the latest Italian submarine, the C-class submarine. This is the 11th submarine built in Italy and the second submarine designed by John Holland in Italy.

The father of modern submarines still has great ambitions, and in the face of the invitation of the Italian side, he still left the unhappy United States without hesitation and came to Italy to design his beloved submarine.

The C-type submarine has a displacement of 250 tons, an underwater displacement of 303 tons, a length of 41.2 meters, a pressure hull length of 27.8 meters, a width of 4.08 meters, a height of 8.6 meters, a draft of 3.83 meters, a maximum depth of 90 meters, and a normal depth of 50 meters.

It is equipped with two four-stroke six-cylinder diesel engines, each with a power of 350 hp, and underwater power is provided by two electric motors with a power of 220 hp. The maximum speed is 11.4 knots at the surface and 5.8 knots under water, the fuel load is 12 tons, and the cruising range is 1400 nautical miles / 8 knots at the surface and 35 nautical miles / 4 knots underwater.

The main armament is 2 533mm torpedo tubes, which can carry 5 torpedoes or 12 mines, 37mm guns are mounted on the deck, and the submarine has a crew of 26, including 3 officers.

Think about it, how uncomfortable it is for 26 personnel to stay in a small space more than 20 meters long (the pressure shell is the place where personnel can stay), or stay for more than 10 days. Not to mention the addition of a few shipyard engineers who are responsible for inspecting the equipment on board, which makes it even more crowded.

Although the C-shaped water surface is not fast, it is just off the coast of Massawa, so it quickly rushed to the military port of Massawa.

"Barrera, long time no see!"

"Long time no see, Tovani."

The two rough palms are tightly clasped together, representing a deep friendship.

Gumlet

Captain Tovani, who is currently the first mate of the cruiser Farias, said with joy as he looked at his friends and classmates over the years. "I didn't expect you to go to the submarine force, let alone meet you here."

Captain Barrera said with the same delight. "Actually, I've wanted to come to you for a long time, isn't it just right now?"

"In that case, let's go, I know you're arriving in Massawa today, and I've specially prepared to take you to taste East African cuisine."

"That's right, I've been eating bread in submarines these days, and I've wanted to change my taste for a long time."

After saying that, under the leadership of Tovani, Barrera left the military port by car, since Massawa is a port of trade and supply docking, then it will gather people from all over the world, and the style of Massawa architecture is the same, what Middle Eastern, South Asian, African, European and other styles of buildings can be seen everywhere, and Tovani took him to a restaurant with East African style about a kilometer away from the military port.

"Your Excellency, welcome to you."

As soon as he got out of the car, he saw a two-hundred-pound black fat man with an exaggerated expression, dancing towards Tovani briskly.

"Tuke, are you ready for me to entertain my friends?"

It seems that Tovani is familiar with the fat black man.

"Of course, of course, the guest of honor Tovani is going to entertain, how can I forget it, come right away."

Tuke, who led the two to the dining room, immediately replied.

In a short time, the waiter came with all kinds of delicacies, such as roasted tender lamb, roasted camels, fried bananas, black coffee, and some delicacies that looked good but could not be named, and these foods were piled up on the table.

"Come and make a toast to our friendship."

After the crisp clinking of glasses, the two of them ate happily. Especially Barrera, who is tired of eating bread these days, is simply like a whirlwind.

"It's so comfortable, the food in East Africa is really good."

Barrera, who was very satisfied with eating, put down his knife and fork and touched his stomach.

As for Towani, he had already taken out two cigars. A cigarette after a meal, race over the living immortals. This is true for smokers all over the world, and this one obviously did not escape the range of smokers, so it is inevitable that he will swallow clouds and smoke after dinner.

"Barrera, I don't know something, how did you come up with the idea of going to the submarine force." Tovani looked at his friend and asked if he was there.

Don't blame Tovani for asking, because at present, the new branch of the Italian Navy does not attach much importance to submarines. Moreover, the nature of the submarine made many officers of the Navy scoff at it.

In their opinion, the navy should drive a battleship to face the enemy, the cannon roars and the steel collides, and there is nothing more romantic than this. Hiding in a dark corner like a submarine, waiting for the enemy to come and suddenly sneak attack, is simply impossible to get on the table.

This is not only the perception in the Italian Navy, but now in the navies of all countries. After all, the navy is an aristocratic army, so the method of sneak attack will definitely not be recognized by the nobles.

Faced with a friend's inquiry, Barrera replied silently. "Because I like the feeling of being lurking, and I think there is a lot of potential for submarines in the future, because they can be lurking in the sea. The Navy needs not only warships on the surface, but also warships under the surface. ”

Since his friends had said so, Tovani could only raise his glass again. "Then I wish your wish come true."

"Thank you."

Barrera's hospitality tonight was very satisfying to Barrera, and his subordinates were not as rich as they were eaten. They will then spend a week in Massawa before continuing to test the new submarine.