Nowadays, the largest shipyards in the empire are all on the Black Sea coast, and those that can build ironclad ships are Odessa, Nikolaev, and Sevastopol.

This is because there are no large coal and steel complexes along the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the Sea of ​​Azov. Large warships require a large amount of steel and can only be set up close to these places. The transportation of heavy steel plates can only be carried out under the current conditions of the empire.

Can be transported by ship.

Therefore, the deep-water port on the Black Sea coast, which is close to the two major coal and steel complexes of Kavbas and Zaporozhye and has convenient navigation on the Dnieper River, became the only choice.

In particular, the later-built coal and steel complex Zaporozhye, because it is close to the origin of iron ore, coal mines, and manganese ores, and is a port city on the Dnieper River, has surpassed Kavbas to become the largest coal and steel complex in the empire.
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After all, although Kavbas also has the convenience of river transportation, it needs to pass through the tributaries of the Dnieper River and canals to be navigable. If there is a dry season, the transportation capacity will be greatly reduced.

In view of this, the empire has plans to turn the coal and steel complex in Kavbas into a base for civilian steel, and will build a second large-scale coal and steel complex mainly for military industry in Dnipro, upstream of Zaporozhye.

.

Compared with Zaporozhye, Dnipro is closer to the iron ore and coal mines, but slightly farther from the manganese ore (Nikopol). Since shipping can be carried through the Dnieper River, this fact can actually be ignored.<

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In the past, it took the empire about three years to build an iron-clad fleet. Now it has built four fleets. However, the first fleet and the second fleet are both iron-clad fleets. The only real pure steel battleships are the third fleet and the fourth fleet.

.

The empire's territory is extremely vast, and there are a large number of overseas colonies that need to be protected. The four fleets are currently somewhat insufficient.

Currently, the First Iron-Hull Fleet is stationed in Vung Tau Port in the Far East Viceroyalty, the Second Iron-Hull Fleet is stationed in Calcutta, India, the Third Fleet is stationed in Bogda, and the Fourth Fleet is in Portugal. There are no such ships along the huge Black Sea coast.

It is unjustifiable for an armored fleet to come to protect you.

It has been five years since the Fourth Fleet entered service. During these five years, the three major shipyards in Odessa, Nikolaev, and Sevastopol have not been idle. They are working together to build the Fifth Fleet.<

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In March 1783, it was the time for the Fifth Fleet's joint first trial voyage, and Kitard also rushed to Sevastopol, the base of the Black Sea Fleet.

In the past, the four armored fleets consisted of two Saiyin, four Tengis, four battleships Batulu, and one flagship Bogda. This time, they were greatly strengthened like a reorganization division.

Specifically, there are still two Saiyin ships used for small battles and communication. Due to the emergence of telegraph machines, the Truchen people actually do not need a large number of reporting ships. The reason why they still exist is because

The Saiyin was destined to be an extremely fast ship from the very beginning.

Such ships are still useful.

After stepping into the threshold of wireless communication, it was only a matter of time before the Truchin Empire invented the wireless walkie-talkie for general use. It has now been listed as one of the core topics of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences. The first prototype has been released. It is estimated that it will take another

It will be produced in three to five years.

With the walkie-talkie, the reporting role of the Saiyin will be further weakened, but its draft is only two meters, and with the two rotating cannons on the first deck, it can still be used.

Other warships can only sail at sea and in some inland rivers with deep water.

The three major shipyards jointly built the ship, and there was a natural division of labor. The Tengis with fewer cannons on the upper deck, and the Sayin were built in Odessa. A large number of cannons required a large number of complex substructures, while the Bo ship with more cannons on the upper deck was built.

The Geda and Batulu were built in Sevastopol and Nikolaev respectively.

This time, a total of two previous armored fleets were actually built: two Saiyin, eight Tengis, eight Baturou, and two Bogda. The first two were both in Odessa.

Made in Hong Kong, the latter two are made half by Nikolayev and half by Sevastopol.

Compared with the Fourth Fleet, due to the Truchen people's further deepening of their understanding of elements, and new elements are constantly being discovered in minerals, and they are constantly added to metal materials as auxiliary materials for experiments, although the thickness of the armor is still the same as before

, but the armor strength is much greater.

Since the overall frame is made of the strongest steel in the empire, coupled with the armor, it is fully capable of withstanding the impact of the 64-pound heavy artillery solid bullets on the largest battleships in Europe.

Of course, it is naturally just the first blow. After that, you need to rely on your own strong mobility to dodge in time. If you stay in place, you will obviously not be able to withstand such a blow.

The steam engine uses the latest model 1780. Although the horsepower is exactly the same as that of the Fourth Fleet, due to the increased efficiency of the steam engine, its endurance has increased.

The Fourth Fleet, fully loaded with grain, coal, and fresh water, can sail for forty-five days without any supplies in between, and can sail twenty-seven thousand miles. With the new steam engine, the subsequent voyage capacity will be increased to fifty days, and the voyage will be more than three months.

Wanli.

Thirty thousand miles means that the empire's ships can more than travel across the widest Pacific Ocean. With the current layout of the empire's supply points around the world, they can even travel around the world.

The firepower layout is exactly the same as that of the Fourth Fleet.

The upper deck of the battleship Batur is still equipped with 14 artillery pieces of various types, including 10, 2, and 2 guns with calibers of 12 cm, 15 cm, and 18 cm respectively. The weight of the shells is still the previous 15 kilograms and 30 kilograms.

50 pounds.

The Bogda has added two 12cm guns and two 23cm guns. The latter can fire heavy artillery shells weighing one hundred kilograms. With the armor-piercing part, it can destroy the walls of any castle in the world today.
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There is nothing that can be done about this. Although Truchin's technology is advanced, it is relative. The gunpowder they use is still black powder. Even with Lavoisier, a master of chemistry, there is no way to invent new gunpowder now.
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Due to the constraints of black powder, even the Truchen people could not avoid the silly, bulky shape in the production of artillery.

In fact, the advantages and disadvantages of artillery between the Truchen people and today's Europeans are actually almost the same, except for being slightly lighter and having more mature shells and firing methods.

This is the fifth fleet of the Truchin Empire. It is actually a mixture of the two fleets. In addition to its own marines, it can also carry an integrated division of the army, so it can be delivered to any battlefield. With the current

With the combat power of the Truchin Army, one integrated division is enough to have a huge impact on a large-scale campaign.
Chapter completed!