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

This is the 320 mm 45 times diameter cannon equipped with the "Island" class "beggar" version of the battleship, roaring!

These warships named after the islands are actually a very special kind of existence, and they are usually classified as shallow water heavy gunboats, but in fact these warships do have heavy guns, but they are not limited to shallow water and offshore areas. In fact, the hulls of these "Island" class ships come from a variety of sources, some of which are indeed designed as shallow water heavy gunboats, used to guard the coastal seas, and used as floating batteries, but most of them are converted from the hulls of old battleships.

The 12 "islands" that Guo Xiaobao brought out of the Kwajalein Atoll are all converted from old-fashioned battleships, with a standard displacement of 7,000-8,000 tons, and a full row of just over 10,000 tons. As shallow water heavy gunboats, they are indeed a bit big, and it is appropriate to call them "beggars version of battleships".

And this batch of "beggars version of the battleship" also has a very interesting design, their twin 320 mm 45 times diameter main gun turrets are mounted in the rear of the ship's amidship, next to two large chimneys, so they can not fire forward, but can only fire in the left, right, and rear directions. As for the gun emplacements in the bow, a 210-mm 45-diameter cannon was installed.

Of course, whether it is the 210 mm gun installed in the bow or the 320 mm gun installed in the amidship, all of them are new guns that were finalized during the Taiping period, and they are still very powerful. Otherwise, it would not have forced the B Fleet of the British Royal Navy's Australian Grand Fleet led by Rear Admiral Dundas to dare not approach - even the two most powerful Duke of Edinburgh classes in the B Fleet would not be able to withstand a "hammer" of 320 mm heavy guns! So Major General Dundas only dared to follow from a distance and fired from a distance with a 9.2-inch cannon...... In fact, he didn't want to chase Daming's 12 beggar version of battleships at all, no matter how weak the beggar version of the battleship was, it was still a battleship, and no matter how strong his 12 armored cruisers were, they were only equipped with patrols and could not be used as battleships.

However, His Majesty the Emperor had already sent him a telegram telling him to follow the Ming detachment until their main fleet was discovered...... Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor also asked him to carry forward the spirit of the Royal Navy to destroy the enemy at the sight of the enemy, and to destroy the enemy at the expense of the greatest sacrifice!

Major General Dundas didn't know what to say about the emperor's telegram...... Who exactly is in command of the Australian Grand Fleet now? It was the commander of the USS William IV, William. Admiral Baga, or King William IV himself in the Duke of St. James of London?

And what is the enemy that will be destroyed...... With 12 patrols and 16 destroyers, why destroy 12 battleships, 2 heroes, 4 unknown Dachu, 6 Zhuangshi-class, and 30 destroyers, large and small?

Does this emperor do math problems? He only has 28 boats out of 54 boats, which is much more than 28...... That's why he could be destroyed!

He was also quite speechless about the strength of this Ming naval formation, when he first started with it, this formation was 12 beggars and more than a dozen old-fashioned destroyers, 1 unknown Dachan, 1 Zhuangshi-class and 3 escort-class...... Unexpectedly, this formation continued to grow in the process of running, and new ships of the Ming Navy continued to join in and run together.

Running and running, the Ming naval formation ran from 30 ships to 54 ships......

However, it was lucky, the 12 beggar version of the battleships of the Ming Dynasty had no speed advantage, and the Hao Han class and the 4 Dacha of the Ming Dynasty had no firepower advantage against the two treasures of the Duke of Edinburgh class in the hands of Dundas, if they did not "cheat" on the mines. ….

The British Duke of Edinburgh class said that it was a patrol class, but it was barely enough to reach the threshold of the battle patrol, each Duke of Edinburgh class has 6 9.2-inch cannons, and the firepower is not only 4 240mm Heroes can compare!

Relying on the firepower of the two Edinburgh-class and the "cowardice" of the Ming Admiral (more likely to lure the enemy), Rear Admiral Dundas and his 28 ships finally followed steadily...... Although both sides are firing from a distance, the distance of more than 20,000 yards has already determined that both sides just listen to the sound, which means a little.

But just after 5 p.m., the sea

The situation on the surface suddenly reversed, and the Ming naval formation, which was originally only fighting and retreating, suddenly separated from the formation, and 12 of the beggar version of the battleships and more than a dozen old destroyers guarding them continued to maintain the shelling formation and course. The other 2 Haohan-class, 4 Kongming-class, 6 Zhuangshi-class, and 16 Escort-class destroyers suddenly accelerated and changed course, turned a corner on the sea, and began to turn eastward, as if to circle behind the following British ships.

And at the same time as the Ming fleet suddenly changed formation, the lookout post of the Duke of Edinburgh also discovered that dozens of large and small smoke columns appeared at the intersection of the sea and sky in the west!

The telephone ringing on the bridge of the Duke of Edinburgh immediately remembered, and the navigation staff officer picked up the phone and asked, and immediately turned pale and said to Rear Admiral Dundas with a trembling voice: "Sir, the main force of the Pacific Fleet of the Ming Navy has arrived, at least dozens of ships, and the distance is ...... 50,000 yards!"

Major General Dundas immediately became nervous, and even the cigar cigarette in his mouth dropped. However, as an elite officer in the Royal Navy, he immediately regained his composure...... Wasn't his purpose in tailing the Ming fleet, which was running more and more, just to find their main force? Now that the main force is here, his task is complete!

"Left full rudder!" Dundas immediately ordered, "We're going to retreat right now...... Send a telegram to General Baga and His Majesty the Emperor, and say that we have completed the task of seeking the enemy, and now we will start to lure the enemy."

"Major General, do you want to send a telegram to His Majesty the Emperor?" The communications officer on the Duke of Edinburgh seemed a little unconscious.

Major General Dunstar immediately gave him a roll of the eye: "We must never forget this fact...... The Royal Navy is the property of His Majesty the Emperor, and we are all loyal soldiers of His Majesty the Emperor!

After 15 minutes, the ships began to sing "God Save My King William IV", and then raised the Z-shaped flag...... The British Empire and His Majesty the Emperor need us to fight to the end!"

"Yes, General!"

......

"Admiral, the British are turning, and it seems that they are leaving!"

Inside the "Kong Ming", Guo Xiaobao was holding a telescope and watching the British fleet following behind him, and when he heard the reminder of the people around him, he just put down the telescope and said with a smile: "They have completed their mission, and the British Grand Fleet should be nearby...... It's time for us to put on a show! By the way, where is the Grand Fleet of the British?"

"Admiral, according to aircraft reconnaissance, they are about 30 nautical miles away...... If nothing else, the shelling will be able to begin in 30 minutes."

Guo Xiaobao nodded and ordered, "Let the gunboat formation turn, we need their 320mm guns."

"Admiral, those bombardment ships can't withstand the old British Emperors and Victories."

Guo Xiaobao smiled, "No problem...... Our Loyal King, First Emperor, and Great Zhou will arrive in time...... In addition, there will be carrier-based aircraft to help in the war! And we can also fire torpedoes!"

He paused, "Now the red flag of blood is raised...... Ready for a firefight in 30 minutes! Also, send a telegram to the Great Zhou and ask them to rush to the battlefield immediately, otherwise we won't be able to hold out for long!"

"Yes, Admiral!"

Big Rollo