On June 6th, the fleet arrived in Keelung, Taiwan. The three brothers Chen Shouchong went to the dock to welcome Shang Yi and his party and welcomed them to Keelung City. At this time, Keelung City had undergone great changes, and it looked at least like After a county seat was in the middle of the city, Chen Shouchong immediately handed over another letter to Shang Yi, which was also the second letter written by the Dutch.
The content of the letter was the situation of the Spanish fleet that the Dutch found out. This time the Spanish fleet consisted of twenty-four ships, the commander was Sanchez, of which there were eighteen warships, and the flagship was "Saint Louis". The three 600-ton warships, including the Bullfighter, the 700-ton warships, the three 600-ton warships, the 600-ton warships, were all in five There are less than 100 tons. There are also four logistics transport ships and two troop transport ships, carrying a total of 600 soldiers. Obviously, the Spaniards are planning to increase Taiwan's garrison force. At the same time, De Lao Dian also said that in order to prevent the Spanish army, Bada Via reinforced four warships to Taiwan. Now the Dutch army has thrown twelve warships in Taiwan. The Dutch are willing to fight side by side with the merchant army to resist the Spanish army's invasion.
Shang Yi was quite satisfied with the efficiency of the Dutch. It seemed that the Dutch had made some efforts in Manila. At the same time, he also wrote back to De Laodian, saying that he had enough strength to resist the attack of the Spanish army and refused his kindness. However, it was still recommended that the Dutch concentrate their fleets in southeastern Taiwan to prepare to catch the Spanish army's escape net.
Anyway, the big talk was thrown out, and this battle was inevitable. Therefore, Shang Yi, regardless of just getting off the boat, immediately laid the map on the table and recruited Yalisandra, Cheng Gang, Huang Zhen, and Shen brothers together. Start studying tactical arrangements.
The situation of the Spanish fleet provided by the Dutch was basically consistent with the expectations of Alisandra. Therefore, Shang Yi also believed that the Dutch's intelligence was credible. At the same time, Alisandra also introduced the number of artillery of these Spanish main warships. This is also the basic standard of the strength of a warship. The flagship "Saint Louis" has seventy-four guns, the "Matador" seventy guns, the "San Diego" and the "Columbia" are all sixty guns," The Crusader is fifty-six artillery.
Judging from the tonnage and number of artillery, the "St. Louis" and the "Matador" are roughly equivalent to the third-level destroyer of the merchant army, while the other three are cruisers, and the rest can only be regarded as frigates. In terms of strength, the difference between the two sides is the same. It is still quite large. But the Navy of the Merchant Army has been fighting for the first time after all, so this battle must not be taken lightly. After all, there are countless examples of defeating the strong with the weak and defeating the more with the few.
First of all, everyone agreed that the Spanish army's march must have been along the north of Taiwan's eastern coastline and arrived in Keelung, because this route has been back and forth many times and is very familiar with it. Therefore, the tactic of the merchant army is to take charge of Keelung. Waiting, first send a reconnaissance ship to find the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, then attack and give them a head-on strike.
In the design of the tactical plan of the family, Shang Yi believes that the first batch of the first, second and third squadrons can be used to fight and the fourth squadrons are the reserve team. The tactical dominant idea is to try to disrupt the formation of the Spanish fleet when fighting. The situation makes the battlefield a melee situation, and each ship fights on its own, which is conducive to giving full play to the advantages of the merchant army's large number of warships and strong firepower. Even if one ship is replaced by another, the merchant army will win and not lose.
After hearing this, everyone basically had the same tactical concept. Alisandra also designed a set of tactics based on Shang Yi's tactical ideas: First, the strongest first squadron took the lead and entangled the Spanish fleet.
And they tried to get into the Spanish fleet and disrupt the formation of the Spanish fleet. The other two squadrons responded from the front and back sides. In the battle between the two bodies, they concentrated the power of two or three warships to jointly siege a Spanish fleet.
Shang Yi made several additions to this tactic. Before the war begins, the second squadron can be sent to bypass the outside line and detour to the side and rear of the Spanish fleet to attack. Once the first squadron disrupts the formation of the Spanish fleet.
The third squadron is arranged in three to four columns directly in front of the Spanish fleet, attacking the Spanish fleet on the periphery. If the first squadron fails to complete the task, the third squadron will immediately insert into the Spanish fleet array.
In the middle, help the first squadron and the fourth squadron to complete the mission of the third squadron.
Yalisandra also believes that these points of Shang Yi are very effective, and others have no objections, so the combat plan is indeed true. Of course, after the war begins, it is possible to make a decision based on the changes in the battlefield.
Some corresponding adjustments were also decided that the first squadron was commanded by Shang Yi and Yalisandra, the second squadron was commanded by Cheng Gang, and the third squadron was commanded by Huang Zhen.
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The next day, Shang Yi also sent three flying scissors to the south along the eastern coast of Taiwan to search for the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, while the rest of the warships were anchored in the harbor of Keelung, waiting for orders to attack.
At around 11:00 on June 8, a flying scissor ship returned to Keelung Port and reported to Shang Yi that the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet were found on the sea about fifty miles south of Yilan County. After Shang Yi received the report, he immediately ordered.
, the entire fleet attacked.
The warships of the merchant army also set sail and drove out of Keelung Port, and set out on the blue sea.
At 1:00 p.m., the fleet of the merchant army sailed to the waters near Sandiaojiao. At this time, the navy soldiers were all having lunch in the sea. Shang Yi also received a report from the second flying shearing ship. The Spanish fleet had already
After arriving at the Yilan Sea, we are driving towards the Guishan Island Sea.
Shang Yi spread the map in the cabin. Guishan Island is about fifteen miles from the northeastern sea of Yilan, which is exactly the middle of the road from Yilan to Sandiaojiao. Therefore, Shang Yi also decided to use Guishan Island as a battle with Spain.
The battlefield of the fleet. There are about two hours left from Sandiaojiao to Guishan Island, which is not only enough for the soldiers to finish their lunch with peace of mind, but also able to sleep at noon.
At the same time, Shang Yi ordered Chenggang to lead the Second Squadron, and the horses went from the far sea to the back of Guishan Island, and implemented a tactical plan that had been formulated earlier.
After Cheng Gang led the Second Squadron to leave the large fleet, the First, Third and Fourth Squadrons gradually opened the distance, and headed by the First Squadron and headed towards Guishan Island.
The biggest difference between naval warfare and land warfare in this era is slowness. Sometimes, even though you know that the enemy is right in front of you, it will take a long time to get in touch. Therefore, the most important quality of the naval general is that you must
Keep your breath.
The Galaxy is the flagship of the First Squadron. According to the provisions of the [Naval Operations Regulations] written by Shang Yi, in the column array, unless the squadron captain gives a clear order, under no circumstances shall other warships exceed the scope of the column. Flagship. Therefore, at this time the Galaxy took the lead and rushed to the forefront of the team. More than 20 warships lined up in a row, stretching out several miles away.
Shang Yi stood in the boat building, behind him was the column at the tail, and in front of him was the endless blue sea. Haiou soared freely and happily between the sky and the sea. From time to time, there were sea fish jumping out of the sea, stirring up waves. Thinking that horses were about to start their first naval battle in this era, Shang Yi was both expectant and nervous. Because what he had the least confidence in his heart was naval battle.
At this time, the third fly-scissor ship also came back and reported to Shang Yi: The Spanish fleet is right in front.
At 2:30 pm on June 8, the sails of Guishan Island and the Spanish fleet appeared almost at the same time in Shang Yi's sight. Shang Yi ordered all the soldiers of the Galaxy to prepare for battle, and also ordered the flag bearer. , convey this instruction to other warships of the first squadron behind, and order the fly-scissors to immediately return it to the third squadron behind. At the same time, he also took out his high-power telescope to observe the formation of the Spanish fleet.
The Spanish fleet lined up a "" shape formation, with the head of the team being the flagship "Saint Louis". The other fleets gradually expanded to both sides behind the "Saint Louis". Of course, this is a formation during sailing, and At this time, the Spanish fleet had obviously discovered the fleet of the Merchant Army and began to adjust to combat formations.
Shang Yi put down his telescope. At this time, he was holding a double-cornered hat in his hand, wearing a Spanish military uniform, and wearing a dagger. He had already come out of the cabin, climbed the boat building, and stood side by side with Shang Yi. The fleet gradually approached him from afar.
Shang Yi said: "Aya, if you find it difficult to face the Spanish army, then go to the cabin to protect it, and I will be here to command it."
Alisandra put the double-cornered hat on her head, adjust the angle again, then shook her head, and said, "Nothing is difficult to face, now they are my enemies, Your Excellency Commander, now it's time, hurry up Give the order, collect the bow of the ship, and then turn right and sail for five degrees."
Shang Yi nodded, and did not say anything, but immediately ordered and turned right five degrees to drive. On the deck, the sailors and soldiers also began to busy pulling sails, collecting tufts, twisting cables, and fetching water from the sea. Wait. Under the deck, the gunners also pulled off the cannon jackets, pushed the cannon to the combat position, opened the cannon window, filled the cannon with gunpowder shells, and after they were about to enter the range, they fired the cannon to attack.
Since the departure, the Merchant Army has been very familiar with the actions of the Spanish fleet, so the preparation process is also orderly. However, the Spanish Army has just discovered the Merchant Army's fleet and hastily changed into combat formations to prepare for the sudden appearance of the enemy. Therefore, no one noticed that the first squadron of the merchant army began to adjust its driving aspects.
The distance between the two sides gradually narrowed, and Yalisandra took the telescope from Shang Yi, looked back and forth, and said, "Okay, turn right ten degrees, lower the front mast and lower the sails, and lower the middle mast and lower the sails. .”