On August 18, 1912, a naval battle broke out in the sea 100 kilometers west of Sicily, the Mediterranean. Although the scale was not as large as the naval battle between the German Navy's high seas fleet and the British Navy's local fleet in the North Sea at the end of May, the impact was

Even more than that. Just 4 hours after the beginning and end of the naval battle, the combined fleet of British and French naval forces lost 13 battleships and battlecruisers, 8 of which were still captured, and one more lost

Armored cruisers, 6 light cruisers and 11 destroyers. The total casualties were about tens of thousands, and more than 7,000 captured naval officers and soldiers from Britain and France.

At the same time, this naval battle is also the first time that aircraft have been used in naval battles, and it has shown extremely strong combat effectiveness. In the past, countries around the world have used battleships as the most powerful weapons in naval battles, and countries are desperately building tonnage.

Larger, thicker armor, and larger ship gun caliber. However, the performance of the Chinese Navy's aviation in this naval battle undoubtedly gave all countries a wake-up call, indicating to them that the huge battleship is no longer a naval battle.

The decisive weapon is the decisive weapon that determines the victory of the naval battle.

It is precisely because of the outstanding performance of the two naval aviation corps that the Chinese Navy Indian Ocean Fleet was able to successfully capture eight advanced battleships. Although these battleships were severely damaged, they could only be repaired in the shipyard for a few months.

Once again, these battleships are all warships of the same level as the Chinese Navy's Han-class and battleships. Although their performance may not be as good as the Chinese Navy's Han-class and battleships, they can be used to replace them.

The old Chinese-class battleship of the Chinese Navy. Moreover, during this battle, the losses of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet were also very small, except for the losses that occurred during the early stages of the reconnaissance between the light cruisers and destroyers of both sides.

In addition, no other losses were paid. The Navy Air Force did not suffer much loss. In this naval battle, only more than a dozen aircraft were lost. Several of them were improperly operated during the attack and caused the fighter to hit the sea.

, and eventually caused plane damage and people to die. Some were caused by the failure problem. Overall, the Chinese Navy won the battle at an extremely small price and achieved very rich results. It also decided that

The ownership of the Mediterranean waters. At least before the weapons against the Chinese naval aviation forces, the British and French navies would never dare to approach the waters near Sicily. The waters east of Sicily have become the absolute control area of ​​the Chinese navy.

After losing all the main battleships, although the British and French Navy Combined Fleet still had many heavy cruisers, armored cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, it no longer challenged the strength of the Chinese navy in the Mediterranean. Even if the Chinese Navy Indian Ocean Fleet returned to the Indian Ocean waters

To carry out the mission, the fighter jets of the two wings deployed by the Chinese Navy Air Force on Sicily were sufficient to block the passage of the British and French navies into the eastern Mediterranean waters.

The series of reactions that arise almost all develop in a direction that is beneficial to China and its allies. At least after the joint British and French naval fleet suffered a great loss, the Kingdom of Serbia and Greece in southern Europe no longer dared to move.

Being a lot more honest, the crisis of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was also relieved. Italy's situation was even more dangerous, and the coastal areas would become the target of revenge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy. China also obtained the important strategic material of Sicily.

The base of the Mediterranean has strengthened its control over the Mediterranean. Whether during or after the war, this is very beneficial for China to intervene in the Mediterranean coast and even in Europe.

On the British Navy's "Edinburgh, heavy cruiser until all the Chinese Navy's aviation troops returned, John.

Admiral Jelico only breathed a sigh of relief. After the main ships of the British and French Navy Combined Fleet were lost, these relatively large heavy cruisers and armored cruisers also became targets of the Chinese Navy's attack. Fortunately, they gave up before

The main battleships were defeated and fled west at full speed. Otherwise, their fate would be very miserable. However, the problem is still on John.

In front of General Jelico, the joint fleet lost all the main battleships. How should we explain this to the British government? If it is not good, he will be sent to the military court. He will turn from a previous hero into a prisoner.

"His Excellency Commander, the crisis has finally been resolved!" After giving the order to return to Gibraltar, the Fleet Chief of Staff Roslin.

Lieutenant General Wells finally felt relieved. After the Chinese Navy Air Force's fighter jet returned, he confirmed that they should be safe now and should be within the attack range of the Chinese Navy Air Force.

"General Wells, although the fleet's crisis has been overcome, our crisis has not been resolved yet! 13 flying ships and 3 battlecruisers have been lost. How should we hand over to the Admiralty and the government now?" John

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Admiral Jelico said with a bitter face, "You must know that when he was immediately at the Portsmouth Army Port, he was the Minister of Navy John."

Sir Fisher promised that he would defeat the Chinese Navy Indian Ocean Fleet and win the naval battle and opened the road to the east for the British Empire. But now, the fleet suffered heavy losses, and the road to the east was completely blocked.

.At least, in front of the aircraft deployed by the Chinese Navy in Sicily, Britain would not want to march eastward to support India and Australia, and regain colonies in the Middle East. As for the detour of the Cape of Good Hope, not to mention the distance, the Chinese Navy is gaining

After the eight captured battleships, their strength increased significantly. The British navy set out to mobilize all the last main forces to the Indian Ocean, otherwise they would not be able to compete with the Chinese navy for the control of the Indian Ocean. When they thought of this, John.

Admiral Jelico felt that the future was dark.

"General, I think although we have to pay a certain responsibility for this failure, the main reason is not because of us, but because the Chinese are too cunning. No one expected that the Chinese could actually apply planes to naval warfare

, I never thought that the small plane could carry heavy bombs and torpedoes to attack the main ship, and cause fatal damage to the main ship. If it were other generals, in the face of the despicable and shameless tactics of the Chinese, they would also be

There will be no doubt that it will be defeated." Roslin.

Lieutenant General Wells said. Of course, their main responsibility was probably to underestimate the enemy, and he ended up falling into the trap set by the Chinese. However, in his opinion, this was completely understandable.

John.

Admiral Jelico nodded, and he agreed very much with Rosling.

Lieutenant General Wells's view is nothing more than the Secretary of the Navy John.

It is hard to say whether Sir Fisher and the ministers in the cabinet will believe his words. If he is to hold him accountable, he will be unable to take any more money and may even be sent to him.

Military Court. After all, the losses this time were too great, and even if the British Navy was rich and powerful, it could not withstand such losses. The 10 battleships lost were all the latest battleships of the British Navy, and the losses of the three battlecruisers would also be

This left only one British battlecruiser.

"General, I suggest that we and General Palmiro finally agree. If he says anything wrong in his report to the French government, it will be a disaster for him and for us."

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Lieutenant General Wells whispered.

"Well! Please come to General Palmiro immediately, "Edinburgh, we have important matters to discuss!" John.

Admiral Jelico said that if both sides can unify their caliber and attribute the main reason for the failure to the fact that the Chinese Navy's aircraft are too powerful, they may be punished much smaller.

French Admiral Palmiro is also having a headache about losing three Brittany-class battleships. They are the last three French Navy's guardian battleships, and they are now all lost.

The general even thought that once he returned to France, he would definitely be sent to the military court immediately.

John.

Admiral Jelico's plan was exactly in line with General Palmiro's intentions, and the two hit it off. After that, in the war reports sent back to their respective governments, they blamed the failure of the naval battle on the air force of the Chinese Navy.

, and also pointed out that the combined fleet would lose its ability to attack Sicily without a sharp weapon against the Chinese Navy's aviation force.

When John.

When General Jelico sent the battle report back to the British Admiralty, it was already five o'clock in the afternoon, and British Navy Secretary John.

Sir Fisher was about to get off work. The reason why he sent the battle report back at this time was entirely because of John.

Admiral Jelico wasted a lot of time in order to shirk responsibility. So, John.

Sir Fisher was only three hours after the end of the naval battle. Of course, the time when this war was released was much higher than that of John.

Sir Fisher expected. Because a naval battle takes a very long time, especially when fighting a powerful country like China, even if the joint fleet has an absolute advantage, it is not even a day or even a day.

There is no way to decide the winner.

When John.

When Sir Fisher was about to go home from get off work, the head of the Admiralty Telegraph Room walked into John with a pale face.

Sir Fisher's office.
Chapter completed!