"The dreadnought ironclad battleship has an endurance of 6,800 nautical miles and a constant speed of 10 knots. Its firepower is equipped with 10 305mm cannons in 5 twin mounts. The longest range is 15 kilometers. Each cannon is equipped with 110 ammunition. It has 27 guns, 5 457mm torpedo tubes, a standard displacement of 17,900 tons, and a full load displacement of 21,845 tons!"
"Maximum speed: 21 knots. The power system consists of 18 Wilcox-type coal-fired boilers and four Parsons steam turbines with an output of 22,500 horsepower. The propulsion device is: 4 shafts and 4 propellers, and the ship's side waterline The armor is 102-279 mm, the turret front is 279 mm, the gun mount is 279 mm, and the front control tower is 279 mm. The total weight of the armor is about 5,000 tons. It has 659-773 members. It is 160.6 meters long/25 meters wide/draft 8.1 meters. It is a pioneer. A new era of giant ships and cannons in naval history!”
After the British commentator explained the specific performance parameters of the dreadnought, Li Ningyu's visit to the Portsmouth Shipyard came to an end.
In fact, the last decade of the 19th century was a period of most significant progress in ship-borne artillery in various countries, especially large-caliber ship-borne main guns. From ammunition to launchers, they were very different from previous artillery. As for large-caliber main guns, with the progress of the metallurgical industry in various countries, the gun's chamber can withstand the impact of more propellant explosions. The improvement and lengthening of the artillery barrel technology has doubled the range and accuracy of the artillery shells. Improvement, therefore reflected in actual combat, it will be more effective and the combat distance will increase significantly.
Before the United Kingdom began to vigorously build "dreadnoughts", the arrangement of main guns was actually very popular in various countries. Generally, a twin 280 mm or 305 mm main gun was placed at the beginning and end of the hull, such as the British "Sir Nelson-class". That is, four 305mm main guns with a caliber of 45 times plus ten 234mm main guns with a caliber of 50 times. US battleships usually use four 305mm main guns plus eight 203mm main guns.
The battleships of France, Italy, Tsarist Russia and other naval powers also used mixed first and second main guns of many different calibers. This arrangement continued until the emergence of the British dreadnought. The specific method of this arrangement was to combine the first and second main guns. The 1st main gun turrets are arranged at the bow and stern of the hull, and the 2nd main gun is arranged on both sides of the hull. These battleships were designed before the outbreak of the naval war between the Far East and Tsarist Russia.
The armor steel of the dreadnought has been surface hardened for the first time, which significantly improves the strength and penetration resistance. Therefore, the protection of the dreadnought is more comprehensive, whether it is the battleship's turret, engine room, ammunition depot, command tower and other key parts. The thickness of the armor reaches 288 mm, and the thickest part of the armor in the middle of the hull is 280 mm, and the entire armor covering the hull to both ends is 64 mm. The dreadnought also pays special attention to the protection of explosives in the water at and below the waterline. Mainly the ability to defend against mines and torpedoes.
This kind of deck armor adopts a multi-layer layout. The three thickest layers are about 75 mm thick. The main armor adopts a dome shape (that is, the eggshell principle), so that the middle bulge is slightly lower on both sides. The bottom and side armor are docked. The significant difference is that in the hull structure, the cabins are made as small and watertight as possible, thereby improving the watertight structure, increasing buoyancy and reserves. At the same time, the supporting walls between compartments are reinforced steel structures to improve the strength and toughness of the compartments. .
Between the cabins under the waterline and at the waterline, all horizontal communication doors have been completely eliminated, and the number of watertight doors has also been reduced as much as possible, so that the crew can only pass through the longitudinal watertight doors when entering and exiting. In addition, the traditional ship's watertight doors have been eliminated. It is precisely because of these measures that the battleship's protective capabilities are greatly improved, especially its sinking resistance.
With respect for the dreadnought, Li Ningyu did not express his own thoughts. The future outcome of the British seemed to be doomed, so Li Ningyu did not want to talk too much. He simply acted as a good student with an empty cup in his heart. Mentality, to learn, to understand.
After leaving the shipyard by car, Li Ningyu set foot on the road to the University of Portsmouth. Although the people around him did not speak, Li Ningyu still saw a little starlight in their eyes. He knew that these naval generals, What feelings do you have towards a giant steel ship like the dreadnought?
Therefore, before getting off the car, Li Ningyu did not say a word. Instead, when he was about to get off the car, he said faintly: "Although the dreadnoughts are great, if the air force's fifteen bombers are used to carry out continuous attacks, the result will be What is it? And how much does it cost to build fifteen bombers?”.
Li Ningyu's words were only half of what he said. Huang Haitao, the deputy commander of the Far East Navy, the rear admiral of the Far East Fleet, Zheng Long, and the deputy commander of the fleet, Xiao Yu, who were in the car, were shocked. The three of them were indeed outstanding soldiers. Because after Li Ningyu left the car, they immediately took out their notebooks, started a confrontation drill, and roughly calculated the results of the battle and the possible losses caused by the battle.
When they saw that the dreadnought ship worth tens of millions was finally sunk by fifteen light bombers, their faces immediately turned pale. From then on, the Far East Naval Fleet began a major reform, and the new term air defense capability soon came into use. , each fleet of the Far East Navy, as well as each warship, at the same time, the Far East Military Equipment Department began to improve the air defense capabilities of each warship according to the requirements of each fleet.
After getting out of the car, Li Ningyu immediately saw Zhao Duoduo in a grass green dress at the entrance of the University of Portsmouth, and Sarah beside him was still dressed in a pirate outfit, but it was summer clothes, but with two The revolver seems to never leave me.
Striding forward and walking over, Li Ningyu said to the two of them with a smile: "Is the matter done? I kept you waiting for a long time!".
"It's okay, we just came out!" Zhao Duoduo seemed to have become a lady, a little like a little girl at this time.
Sarah, on the other hand, swooped over to Li Ningyu, and then said gushingly: "Li Ningyu, this school is so beautiful. I also want to study here, but I hate going to class. If I could study here every day, Just play with guns and that’ll be fine!”.
Hearing Sarah's sharp words, Li Ningyu and Zhao Duoduo couldn't help laughing. However, they laughed, and Li Ningyu asked Zhao Duoduo: "Which major are you enrolling in?".
"International language!" Zhao Duoduo replied.
"Oh, that's right. Learn English for two years first, and then change your major to study what you like!" Li Ningyu nodded, agreeing with Zhao Duoduo's choice.
However, suddenly there was a pain in the back of his hand. Needless to say, Sarah on the side must be unhappy, but he seemed to have a way to deal with this little loli today, because he had already planned his next destination.
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