On the bridge of the cruiser Hung Lie.

Captain Deng Huanzhuang was using a pen to record the situation that had just been investigated, and then recorded it in a notebook.

He needed to send these information to the flagship via the ship's telegraph machine.

The current telegraph is a "high-tech" thing, and Deng Huanzhuang himself can't figure it out, so there is a special telegraph operator on the ship.

"Governor, there are about eighty enemy ships, including thirty capital ships, of which 14 capital battleships are lined up in horizontal formations, and the remaining 16 capital cruiser ships are set up in two columns, each column has eight capital ships, trailing on the left and right of the horizontal formation, in addition to some frigates following behind, and in the rear there are some steam galleons in a column!"

On the table with the charts.

According to the summary of the observations of each ship, the formation of the British Empire's Indian Ocean Fleet this time has been unfolded on the chart with a wooden ship model.

Zhang Bao looked at these complex formations and shook his head slightly.

The hundred-year-old navy is really not an empty word.

Under the condition of radio telegraphs, it was absolutely impossible for the navy of the Ming Empire to put up such a complex formation to fight.

Of course.

Actually, there is no need.

His Majesty the Emperor is right.

The role of naval warships is a platform for fire projection, and a simple and practical formation is more conducive to developing firepower - because the Ming Imperial Navy has never considered using the ridiculous way of ramming to deal with the enemy's ironclad ships.

However, although his subordinates could not handle the complex tactics that the British were putting on now.

But as a commander.

Of course, he can judge the opponent's tactical plan by the formation they put up.

Those 14 battleships were clearly the core of the fleet.

These were battleships with huge main guns of more than 330 mm caliber, and the shells fired by the main guns of this caliber were powerful enough if they were hit at close range.

And.

They also installed ramming angles, and the warship was also specially designed to accommodate impacts.

If they line up sideways.

It was like a heavy infantry.

It is very easy to break up the thin column formation of the Ming Imperial Navy - if it is hit by a waist in the case of facing the enemy on the side, it is possible to directly scrap a capital ship under this collision - the power of the impact is indeed not comparable to the power of the current cannonballs.

So.

It is understandable that the British Navy put so much effort into ramming - this is currently the fastest way to scrap one of the opponent's capital ships with a single blow.

Of course.

Because the British battleships were designed to be short and fat in order to adapt to impact, they could not be compared with the Ming battleships of the same tonnage in terms of speed.

They are slow.

At the same time, it is not a very flexible horizontal team.

So I want to really finish the impact.

It's really hard.

After all.

The distance of artillery battles has now increased from less than 1 nautical mile in the days of sail battleships to about 5 nautical miles now—that is, it is impossible to find a distance of about 8,000 or 9,000 meters.

Therefore.

The fierce columns of the British were actually intended to be like cavalry in a land battle.

Outflanked by both wings.

Limit the opponent's range of movement, make it difficult for the enemy to maneuver, and form a bull horn offensive with the horizontal team in the middle, like a huge pincer to pinch the opponent.

Theoretically.

The coordination of the horizontal column and the column can indeed give full play to the advantages of the British warship.

But there's the only problem.

This complex formation.

On land, the coordination between line infantry, cavalry, and artillery requires very good training.

And on the sea, it is necessary to command bulky warships to complete such a complex formation and attack.

Accidentally.

You'll mess with yourself first.

And the column formation that the Ming Empire is now putting on is much simpler.

Complex formations have complex playing styles, and simple formations naturally have advantages.

"They can't be surrounded, frigates protect the landing fleet to the northeast to dodge, and if necessary, they can directly seek port calls in India. The rest of the detachment followed closely with the battleship detachment, making a ninety turn to the left, and we took them in circles! ”

Zhang Bao immediately gave the order.

Since the other party has put on such a complicated formation.

Of course, Zhang Bao couldn't just hit him head-on.

"I don't believe they can maintain such a complex formation for long!" Zhang Bao said loudly.

"Take them around a few times first and see how good they can be!"

"Admiral, they're starting to turn!"

Will. Smith's voice rang out, "Their armed merchant ships are retreating in the direction of India, while their capital ships are turning in the direction of East Africa!" ”

"Do you need to send a convoy to pursue their transports?"

"No, you don't!"

John. Jervis said coldly.

"They are so far away that even if they catch up, they will almost reach the coastline of India, and now India does not belong to us!"

Even in the era of ironclads, the warships of the Navy did not dare to easily approach the fortresses on the coastline - on land, the caliber of the cannon was not limited.

The Ming Empire redivided the territory of India, and ports such as Calcutta were directly under the jurisdiction of the Ming Empire, and on these key ports, they were equipped with fortress cannons that were not inferior to those of Guangzhou, Shanghai and other core ports of the Ming Empire.

Not to mention a small convoy.

Even if the capital ship arrived, it would not dare to confront the fortress artillery on land.

"The key is their main fleet!"

"The 3rd Panzer Cruiser and the 5th Panzer Cruiser converge and with the strength of six Panzer Cruisers and 12 Fast Cruisers, go to the T position! The two flotillas were led by the commander of the 4th Panzer Cruiser Flotilla, Ben. Major General White commands! ”

'The rest of the fleet kept its original formation and turned en masse! ’

John. Jervis's orders were one after the other.

Command the fleet you want with the flag on the flagship.

His subordinates are not the Beiyang Navy.

So.

This is a horizontal formation with several columns.

Completing a complex tactical maneuver of collective steering on the surface of the sea was not too difficult for the British Imperial Navy.

On the cruiser Honglie opposite.

The lookout had already reported the situation of the enemy forces to the captain of the ship, Deng Huanzhuang.

Deng Huanzhuang immediately reported to Zhang Bao and Chen Huacheng through the ship's telegram.

"The British want to rush ahead of us with 18 cruisers to grab the T position, they are very fast, and once they get it, we will be in trouble!"

Chen Huacheng said with a solemn face.

Now both sides have not fired a shot, but are grabbing the best position!!

The T position must not be snatched away by the other party, otherwise, 18 cruisers will fire together, which is enough to reimburse the Honglie in a short time.

"Keep turning left!! The whole ship accelerates collectively!! ”

Zhang Bao's order was soon issued.

"They're turning again!"

Will. Smith was a little surprised.

It's not that I'm surprised by the response of the Ming Navy.

but

He didn't see it.

The other party has communicated through the flag, and has already completed two tactical moves in a row.

"They don't use flags."

Will. Smith's mood sank. (End of chapter)