At this time, the Qing fleet was slowly approaching Changxing Island according to the needle chart and compass guidance. No one on the five battleships dared to speak loudly. All that could be heard in their ears was the roar of the fleet splitting the waves, and
The sound of the mast creaking.
On the main deck of the "Zhenbei" at the forefront of the fleet, a sailor standing at the bow suddenly heard a strange buzzing sound. He listened to the outside of the ship for a moment, then looked back and saw that the sailor opposite was also shaking.
He shook his head. But he soon understood that the sound came from the air. So he hurriedly gestured to the people on the boat and pointed to the air.
However, everyone on the deck looked up at the sky and saw nothing except the yellow dragon flag flying on the top of the main mast.
"Look! There!" Suddenly, a sailor pointed to a figure not far ahead of the bow of the ship, appearing and disappearing from the mist.
Several East India Company instructors were stunned and immediately crossed themselves.
"what is that?"
"I don't know," the translator whispered, "but I have heard that those monsters in Beihai are good at practicing sorcery, and the imperial court has suffered great losses several times."
"Witchcraft?" After hearing this, several British people recited their prayers silently: "O Lord, God of hosts..."
Soon, the "monster" passed quickly over the head of the "Zhenbei" and flew towards the warships behind it. The sudden unknown object cast a shadow on the minds of the Qing troops and the British who participated in this operation.
Layers of ominous shadows.
Four kilometers away on the Thor, Deng Fei and the others finally saw the towering mast, the fluttering yellow dragon flag, the white sails and the dense ropes on the screen. They were suddenly shocked and blurted out: "Sail fleet?!"
"Since when did the Qing Dynasty have a sailing fleet?!"
Jiang Fan asked Ding Guofeng: "What is a sailing fleet?"
Deng Fei didn't have time to explain, so he quickly picked up the starting phone, adjusted the frequency, and said loudly: "Guo Xuexian, did you hear that?"
"heard it!"
"Let a 75mm gun fire. The target is...17 degrees north-northwest, 3.8 kilometers away. Fire one shot, right away!"
The North Navy's ship-mounted 75mm guns are only equipped with direct sights and no curved sights. All gunners must memorize the firing chart and calculate the muzzle height based on the distance. As for the orientation, each gun position has a small ship-mounted gun.
A compass and a universal angle ruler placed on the gun body can solve the problem.
Twenty seconds later, a gun on the port side of Beihai 2 roared, and the cast-iron warhead instantly disappeared into the thick fog, and then a slight explosion was heard from the distant sea.
On the radar screen, the five sailboats were still moving forward; and in the blurry picture returned by the drone, the shell hit the sea outside the starboard side of the third ship in the fleet.
Deng Fei and the others didn't know that this one shot had already startled the Qing fleet.
The Qing army knew that the Northern Navy's cannons could hit far, but as of now, the Manchus and the Qing did not know the shape of the Northern Navy's cannons at all. In the Manchu and Qing's considerations, the Northern Navy's cannons could hit more than ten or twenty miles, so they must have
It was a huge cannon weighing tens of thousands of kilograms; and how did the Northern Navy transport such a heavy artillery? In the past many reconnaissances, the Qing army sentry scouts did not find any troops transporting such artillery.
The British also knew that the Northern Navy's artillery was powerful. They not only learned about it from the Qing generals, but also inferred from the situation where the Thor bombarded Hengqin Island a few years ago.
The British opium merchants at that time made a written record of the tragic situation after the bombardment of Hengqin Island and complained to the East India Company. However, the East India Company's reply at that time was, you deserve it, who asked you to sell opium to China! It would not be good to transport it back to Europe.
? Then the matter was settled.
However, this report attracted the attention of retired naval personnel in Madras.
Warship commanders in the age of sail must not only understand tactics, but also technology, otherwise they will not be able to exert the effectiveness of their weapons.
As some people have said, bring a battleship or an aircraft carrier from another time and space. Let alone tens of thousands of technical talent reserves, do you know what tactics should be used to fight? The technology is different.
The tactics are also different.
You have to sing whatever song you go to in any mountain. Do you want to follow your temper? Grandma!
Having said that, the retired military officer keenly discovered from the report of the "Hengqin Island Incident" that the artillery on the Thor used explosive bombs, and the shelling distance exceeded 1.5 miles, which is 2.4 kilometers; and based on the remaining shrapnel,
The cannonballs it uses are not spherical at all.
This shocked the retired officer, because such artillery technology was so advanced. The most effective firepower of ship's long-barreled guns at the end of the 18th century was one mile, and sometimes it could reach two thousand yards (1828 meters).
, it’s meaningless any further, it’s just nonsense.
The characteristics of naval gunnery in this era are salvo fire, rapid fire at close range, and single-shot shooting is meaningless. It is precisely because of this guiding ideology of naval warfare that led to the emergence and large-scale application of the "Carrone gun".
Furthermore, due to technological development issues, the fuse of explosive bombs has a time limit. What does the fuse look like when an explosive bomb is fired at a distance of more than 2,000 yards? After the shell is ejected from the chamber, there is a "long braid" that is smoking.
"?
Therefore, the British were extremely curious about the Thor and eager to learn about its shipbuilding and advanced artillery technology. This was also the main reason why the Admiralty Corps was willing to participate in the war.
But what confused the Qing generals and the British at this moment was that although the opponent's artillery could hit far away, they had to see themselves first.
There is thick fog on the sea, the visual distance is less than one mile, and our actions are concealed enough, it shouldn't be!
Suddenly, the British naval captain Horatio Nelson on the Zhenbei seemed to understand something. He murmured: "It was the thing that just flew from the sky! That was the enemy's reconnaissance equipment. They used a strange
hot air balloon!"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The Qing army water battalion assistant leader on the side quickly asked the translator: "What is he talking about?"
After hearing the translation, the assistant leader was stunned and said: "Ball? Can it fly in the sky?!"
On June 4, 1783, the French paper manufacturers Montgolfier brothers performed a public performance in the Place Annone in Lyon. A simulated balloon with a circumference of 110 feet flew 1.5 miles. In November of the same year, the two brothers performed in the Muais in Paris.
Turborg conducted the world's first manned aerial flight of a hot air balloon, which lasted 25 minutes.
In Horatio Nelson's opinion, it had been six years since the invention of the hot air balloon, and perhaps the Northern Navy had obtained the technology from the French.
"It turns out that hot air balloons can still be used in this way!" 31-year-old Horatio Nelson suddenly realized. Only the Thor, which has a wide deck and no dense masts, can launch hot air balloons.
Thinking of this, he immediately explained to the Qing army co-leader. Soon, the Qing army musketeers on the deck raised their loaded shotguns and flintlock guns, waiting for the buzzing "ball"
appearing again.
The problem is that Deng Fei will not give the Qing fleet a chance to approach.
After learning the location of the impact point, Deng Fei quickly changed the shooting direction and ordered the fifteen guns on the port side of Beihai 2 to be divided into groups of three and five groups to fire one after another; at the same time, he ordered the two D30 guns on the Thor to aim
Five rapid fire rounds were fired at the fleet position.
Although the artillery on the sailing ship is densely packed, no one would order all the guns on one side of the ship to fire at the same time, because in that case, the hull structure would not be able to withstand such a huge recoil force.
"Attention! Orientation, 16 degrees north of northwest, 3.1 kilometers away!"
As each gun position report was prepared, Guo Xuexian, standing on the main deck of Beihai No. 2, immediately issued the firing order.
"Ready! Fire!"
The rumble of thunder pierced through the layers of fog, and before the people on the Qing fleet could turn pale in shock, a series of explosions rang out in front and behind the fleet.
The third position in the fleet was the "Dinghai". The thick fir wood foremast was hit in the middle by a cannonball, and then turned into a ball of fire. Some shrapnel flew downwards, and there were immediate casualties on the front deck.
At this time, no one on the "Zhenbei" cared about the "ball" in the sky anymore. Everyone was cowering on the deck in fear, as if this way they could avoid the whizzing shells.
With a loud "boom", the beautifully crafted lion statue at the bow of the "Zhenbei" was hit by a cannonball. After the flying wood chips scattered in the sky, only a short section of the sprit at the bow of the ship was left.
, and the bow of the ship has turned into a big hole, exposing the internal gun deck.
Admiral Hadang'a, the commander of the Qing army's water camp who was in command on the "Dinghai", climbed up from the deck at this moment. His face was no longer as high-spirited as before, and he said loudly: "Ming Jin! Turn around and retreat!"
"General! No retreat!" Rear Admiral Sir John Jervis held up his three-cornered hat and loudly said: "The fleet must move forward quickly! Once it gets close, attack as planned!"
"Fart!" Hadang'a said sternly: "Our army has been discovered by thieves. If we don't withdraw now, everything will be over! You can't bear this responsibility!"
"No! General, please listen to my explanation," John Jervis said loudly, pressing his hand on Hardanga's shoulder: "On behalf of the Admiralty of the British Empire, I assure you that we will bear half of the fleet's losses! Your Excellency, we
Without firing a single shot, what should I say to the Emperor of your country when I go back?!"
Hadang'a was dumbfounded after hearing this, "Yeah, how are you going to deal with the emperor this time?"
Taking advantage of Hardanga's hesitation, John Jervis shouted to the British sailor instructor on the deck: "Guys! Now I order to advance at full speed! We must let the enemy know the power of the British Empire Navy!" John Jervey
Sir Si also took the risk and didn't even see the shadow of the enemy. He was really unwilling to retreat like this. No matter what, he wanted to see the true appearance of the Thor.
Five hundred artillery pieces of all kinds, we have to shoot them!
At this time, dense explosions occurred one after another on the sea, and the sailor instructors on the deck quickly took over the steering wheel. They loudly ordered the Qing sailors in the rough and poor Mandarin they usually used during training.
On the Beihai No. 2 in the distance, when the fifteen guns on the port side fired five rounds, Guo Xuexian, who was holding the steering wheel, immediately ordered the ship to turn. The huge motor-driven sailboat quickly drew out on the sea with the high-speed rotation of the stern propeller.
A semicircle was formed, and the fifteen guns on the starboard side also entered the firing preparation.
"Hey! Let's take a break, it's time to look at you!" In the gun deck, the port gunner who had just fired five rounds wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed.
"Look at it!"
In the cockpit of the Thor, Jiang Fan and Hong Liangji watched the two cannons on the deck firing continuously, and the Beihai No. 2 not far away opened fire with thunder. They couldn't help but gape, sweating profusely, and completely forgot.
where you are.
Is this the true power of the North Sea ship?!
Who in the world can stop such a destructive force?!
Deng Fei, who was paying attention to the radar screen, noticed that the Qing fleet was still coming towards him at an unabated speed. He couldn't help but be surprised that the Qing fleet had stopped running because it had taken a beating today or something.
At this moment, Hardanga on the "Dinghai" also fell into a state of madness. He personally beat the drum and sent signals to all ships, ordering them to form a double line formation and advance at full speed towards the location of the Thor.
He also figured it out. If he went back like this without firing a shot, let alone the emperor who couldn't explain it, Fu Changan wouldn't be able to spare him.
Shortly after the Leishen opened fire, two fleets sailed out from the direction of Fuzhou Empress Palace. The first fleet was composed of small single-masted fishing boats, about forty or fifty in number, and the cabins were filled with water that had been spilled.
Soybean oil, firewood, sulfur, gunpowder, etc.
In the fleet at the back, there were a mixture of bird boats, big sailing boats, and sand ships. In addition to sailors, there were soldiers holding bows and muskets in the cabin. There were two and one primary and secondary cannons at the bow and stern. On the left and right sides
, as well as large guns, strange cannons, mountain-splitting cannons, and sky-blasting cannons. Although they are not many in number, they are still full of murderous intent.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! According to Fu Changan's strategy, Commander Xiong Yue, who received the imperial envoy's order, led his army to Fuzhou in person yesterday evening and was ordered to cooperate with the Qing fleet to attack the Northern Navy fleet on Changxing Island.
Launched an attack. Fuzhou prepared a fireboat overnight, sailed down the Fuzhou River, and stopped near the mouth of the sea. They only waited for the determined time to arrive before launching the attack.
The strategy that Fu Chang'an formulated in a hurry was actually quite complete. His plan was to use fireships to distract the Northern Navy, sail gunboats to approach and attack, and Fuzhou troops to quickly launch a boarding battle under the cover of the gunboats.
Unexpectedly, the Thunder God discovered the sailing fleet in advance and launched an attack. Therefore, although the time had not yet arrived, after hearing the sound of cannons from Changxing Island, Commander Xiong Yue knew that the situation had changed and immediately ordered
Fireships sortied.
Because the ships of the fire fleet were too small and there was heavy fog from the sky, the radar of the Thor did not show it until it drove out of the Empress Palace and prepared to turn north into the protrusion at the northeast corner of Changxing Island.
"No! Ding Guofeng, immediately notify all the soldiers on the deck to prepare to engage the enemy. The enemy has sent another fleet over!"
"Damn! The Manchus are crazy. Let's just buy some soybeans. What's wrong with them!" Ding Guofeng shouldered his automatic rifle and picked up the mobile phone. He grumbled and walked towards the compass deck.
Deng Fei said without raising his head: "We were at the Bohai Bay, and we beat Lushun again. It was a stab in the heart of Qianlong. Anyone else would be anxious."
After that, he ordered the sailor on the side who was controlling the wheel to turn the Thor so that the bow that originally faced east faced the northwest, and then notified the gun crew on the deck to adjust the shooting direction. In this way, the four sides of the Thor on the right side of the hull were
With heavy machine guns and sandbag fortifications, the soldiers could shoot at the Qing fleet coming from the east.
However, as the Thor and Beihai 2 adjusted their directions, the Qing fleet took advantage of the gap in the bombardment and finally broke through the fog and entered within one nautical mile of the Thor.
So the blue and white hull of the Thor and the Beihai 2 next to it also entered the telescope field of view of John Jervis and Horatio Nelson.
"God! This boat is so big!"
"Send signal! Zhenbei, Dinghai on the left, Fubo, and Weiyuan on the right, form a double line formation! Jingyuan goes to deal with that merchant ship!"
An aide asked John Jervis at this time: "General, are we going to seize the downwind?"
"No! It's too late!" John Jervis put away the telescope and said to his assistant and the translator next to him: "Go and tell the admiral to send signals to the ships! We have to go directly through and settle the battle with one bombardment!"