On the bridge of the Hung Lie.

Deng Huanzhuang took out his pocket watch.

It's morning, 7:20 a.m.

At this moment.

Deng Huanzhuang, the captain of a cruiser, unexpectedly became the commander of the huge fast fleets of both sides - both sides were increasing the weight layer by layer, and now, it is a head-on duel between almost twenty ironclad ships on each side.

Even in the midst of exercises.

Deng Huanzhuang did not have the opportunity to command so many warships.

But when it comes to the end, I have to bite the bullet.

He tucked his pocket watch into the upper pocket of his blue naval officer's uniform.

Then he turned to his deputy Yunori Ito and said, "Ito, in two hours, if I am still alive, the world will be ours!" ”

Yunori Ito didn't speak.

Just nodded.

Truly.

The Great War has begun.

The battle decided not only the ownership of the Indian Ocean, but also the competition between the two navies on two different routes.

In order to prepare for the big war in the next few years, shipyards on both sides must be riveting their efforts to build capital ships.

If the direction of the development of the warships of the Ming Dynasty proves to be correct.

So.

The capital ships of the Western countries lying on the slipway will be turned into garbage overnight, and the half-finished products that have invested a lot of resources and money will greatly damage the vitality of the Western countries.

Vice versa.

Just five minutes ago.

The Honglie received a telegram from the Zhenwu, the flagship of the main fleet.

They will be on the battlefield in two hours.

This also means:

He had to command four Hon-class cruisers and 16 Wei-class frigates, as well as two Giant-class battleships and 12 ravage-class cruisers, as well as six old cruisers, for two hours to survive.

It's really not easy.

But there is no way on the side of the main fleet.

They are in the midst of a glimpse.

Therefore, they can only rush head-on to the British capital ship - now the T position will definitely not be grabbed, because if they continue to turn, the British ships will also follow, so it is very likely that they will be sandwiched between the two British fleets that have changed into columns, which is really very disadvantageous.

So now you can only rush against the British ships.

Kill the bloody road with artillery fire!

Meanwhile.

The main British fleet also adjusted its direction.

Over time.

The distances of the formations are approaching.

The same as the main fleet commanded by Zhang Bao.

John. Jervis was also ordering his capital ships to rush straight towards the Ming army's capital ship formation.

Now both sides are aware that grabbing the T spot doesn't make sense – it's just going around in circles.

So.

The situation now is that the two sides turn into columns and then exchange fire.

John. Jervis did not think that his main fleet would lose to the Chinese.

Because he now has one Giant-class, three Warrior-class, and twelve Ravage-class, a total of sixteen warships, all of which are battleships used for firepower output!

And on the side of the Chinese.

They had only eight town-class battleships and four Hong-class cruisers.

Tonnage, quantity, number of guns, caliber.

The British warships are all superior!

There's no way you'll lose!

"Ancestor bless. Don't get shot! ”

Facing the storming British warship, Zhu Yimian began to ask Zhu Yuanzhang for help again.

It's not that he's afraid of death.

It's because.

The Zhenwu is the flagship.

Once the flagship is crushed by the enemy.

The impact on the tide of the battle was immeasurable.

And.

Now that the two columns are charging face to face, the flagship at the very front of the fleet must be vulnerable to bullets.

Because two columns charged face to face.

The order of exchange of fire is to exchange fire with the warships of the same column on the opposite side.

Other words.

The Zhenwu needs to engage in a sequential exchange of fire with sixteen intact and undamaged warships of the enemy.

A round of firefight came down.

The Zhenwu is likely to be the warship with the most shots.

"10,000 meters!"

The navigator's voice interrupted Zhu Yimi's thoughts.

Now there is only 10,000 meters left between the Zhenwu and the enemy ship Dongfang.

It was already within the effective range of the guns of both sides.

But.

If you want to get the best shooting effect.

The distance of 10,000 meters is still too far.

Controlling the entire fleet was the responsibility of Zhang Bao and Chen Huacheng in the command room.

As the captain of the Zhenwu.

What Zhu Yimian has to do is to command the whole ship and pour out the firepower of the warship to the greatest extent.

"The Governor has decreed; The ships completed the shelling in the order of shelling, and there must be no mistakes! All ships follow the movement of the flagship and must not leave the battle line without authorization! ”

The commander's order quickly reached the ships.

Zhu Yimian quickly entered the state.

"Full speed, 14 knots!"

"Target, Vostok!!"

"The first round of shelling!"

"Volley!!"

Zhu Yimi's order sounded over the speakers of the gun emplacements everywhere.

The gunners pulled the fire rope almost simultaneously.

Meanwhile.

The three 300mm main gun turrets, 12 120mm secondary rapid-fire guns, and 18 90mm rapid-fire guns on the Zhenwu burst into roars almost simultaneously.

Orange-red flames burst from the muzzle.

The huge recoil force slammed the battleship with a displacement of eight thousand tons back by almost five meters.

Zhu Yimi, who was standing on the Cambridge, even held the railing tightly.

His body shook as well.

However, his hand holding the telescope never wavered, and his eyes were fixed on the huge Vostok with a displacement of 12,000 tons in front of him.

A volley of cannonballs fired, exploding a series of water columns around the Vostok.

The Vostok, known as the world's strongest battleship, was suddenly enveloped by a storm.

The second salvo began again.

This time it was the firing of 12 120mm and 18 90mm secondary guns.

As for the main guns on the three turrets.

The theoretical rate of fire of this 300-millimeter cannon is one round every three minutes, and it is not bad to be able to reach one round every five minutes in wartime.

And the 120mm and 90mm rapid-fire guns can easily reach three rounds a minute, and even a skilled gunner can reach a high-speed rate of fire of five rounds a minute.

The speed at which ammunition is dropped is much higher than that of the main gun.

About a dozen seconds after the second round of shelling.

The third round of shelling began!

And at this time.

Due to the diagonal turret layout, the Giant-class battleship Vostok, which was reluctant to fight a side duel, was even waiting for the opportunity for the first round of shelling.

Because their guns did not turn flexibly enough, and the angle of fire was not large enough.

Right now.

From the telescope, Zhu Yimian saw two huge balls of fire suddenly rising from the Dongfang's body.

Hit!

"Daming Wansheng!"

Cheers rang out throughout the column, all the battleships.

Three rounds of shelling.

I hit two shots!!

Such a hit rate.

Let the officers and men of the Ming Navy see hope.

The scales of victory.

is leaning towards the Chinese fleet.

As the smoke cleared.

The cheers are small.

The Vostok came out of the smoke.

Two hit shells did not fall on the deck, but on the side armor.

Only two black stains remained.

Thundered!

With the Zhenwu began the fourth round of shelling.

The Zhenyi, which followed behind the Zhenwu, also fired the first round of shelling.

The British ship Vostok, at the beginning of their first round of gunfire!

Zhang Bao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the enemy ship shrouded in smoke several kilometers away through the side of the ship.

Four rounds of shelling, one from the opposite side.

Even the opposing rapid-fire guns began to fire.

But in the number of artillery pieces and the number of shellings .

Daming, take advantage!

(End of chapter)