The lookout hand of the cruiser "Ganzhou" was trying to identify the ships on the sea. "The other side is a light cruiser and a destroyer, and they are heading in our direction!" The lookout commander at the top of the bridge was
The situation was constantly reported. On the deck, the sailors were operating the triple 127mm main gun, pointing to the target.
"21,000 meters, high-explosive bomb, prepare!" The gun commander on the warship issued an order, which indicated that the target had entered the maximum range of the naval gun. The 127mm high-level dual-purpose gun equipped by the Republic Navy uses automatic installation
The ammunition method is that each main gun has a firing rate of up to 23 rounds per minute, making it one of the highest fire speed long-range anti-aircraft artillery in the world, and its performance is very excellent.
The Republican Navy's naval gunfire control system uses dual range measurement for optical and radar, and the mechanical ballistic computer introduced from Germany will complete the shooting preparation within two seconds of input shooting.
On the colorful sea surface of the dusk, the two fleets are approaching quickly and trying to identify each other's identities.
"The orientation is 168, the distance is 29, and a large number of surface targets were found!" At this time, a new situation was discovered in the radar room of the Ganzhou. "The number of targets is about 12 ships!"
The flagship "Songshan" soon received a report from the "Ganzhou", "This should be the enemy's main fleet. I don't know if it is the H fleet or the K fleet. Cunningham may have guessed our combat purpose!"
Fang Minghao, beside Wei Zihao, said to the fleet commander.
"This is not necessarily the case. The biggest possibility is that they sent the fleet out to patrol at sea and wait for an opportunity to attack our landing fleet. The news of our departure from the port cannot be hidden from the British!" Wei Zihao said, "We sent the ship to us."
How about the carrier?” He turned his head and asked Lieutenant Colonel Wu Yuxi, the aviation commander.
"There are some problems. The visibility on the sea is very poor now, and we are too close to the enemy fleet. If the bombing effect is not ideal, it will be dark when these aircraft return. Because the lights on the decks of each aviation ship must be turned on to guide the guide.
When fighter planes land, we can easily become targets of the enemy." Wu Yuxi said that now that the sun has set, the main concern of the aviation team is to be too close to the enemy's fleet.
"It seems that we are going to have a night battle with the British. Using battleships as escort ships for the aviation fleet has always been accused of being too wasteful. Now it seems that it is still necessary!" Wei Zihao said, "Order the transport fleet and aviation.
The fleet turned north and met with the Italian Navy, and the Eighth Cruise Fleet and the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Destroyers escorted it. The Battleship Fleet and the Fourth Cruise Fleet turn left and prepare to face the enemy!"
The main force of the Italian Navy led by Admiral Kafliani is currently about 35 nautical miles northeast of the Republic Fleet. After receiving the notice, he immediately brought the main force of the fleet composed of six battleships to reinforce, but he still needs at least one and a half hours.
Only then can you reach the battlefield.
"Discover the British main fleet and head to the northeast. It is 2′3 west, 36′6 north, and 42,000 distance!" At this time, the lookout hand on the Ganzhou Mast Tower was concentrating on searching the target sea area with a high-power telescope, in the dusk sea.
The outline of the enemy fleet at the horizon waterline on the plane was very clear, "The number of targets is sixteen. I think there are at least four battleships!" The observation commander continued to report to the command room on his phone.
The outline of the target became larger and larger, and the enemy obviously discovered the Republic Fleet, and its speed increased to more than 20 knots. The outlines of 10 warships looked very majestic on the sea under the evening sky, and there was still an outer perimeter of the fleet.
Several smaller gray shadows, obviously, were enemy destroyers.
"The enemy's fleet is approaching, with a position of 192 and a distance of 18,000!" At this time, the opposite formation of two warships also rushed towards the Ganzhou direction at high speed. Captain Chen Jingye moved the telescope to the bow direction, and the water on the sea surface was water.
After passing through the line several times, you can vaguely see the outlines of the two warships, one big and one small, and the other should be a cruiser and a destroyer.
11 nautical miles away, the British cruiser "Messenger Goddess" had already discovered the whereabouts of the Republican fleet and was using radar to closely monitor the actions of opponents on the sea. Captain Campbell still maintained the courage of the Royal Navy, although in aviation
In terms of ship construction, the Royal Navy cannot compare with the Republican Navy, but if it is in the artillery battle at night, the capital and experience accumulated by the old maritime overlords over hundreds of years cannot be underestimated.
As one of the first batch of "Dido-class" air defense cruisers, the Messenger Goddess is equipped with four dual-mounted 134mm main turrets, whose firepower and protection are slightly weaker than the "Nanchang-class" air defense cruisers equipped by the Republican Navy, but
Behind him was backed by Lieutenant General Samuville's powerful "H Fleet" commanded by him, and he was not worried about not getting reinforcements.
Samuville's fleet includes the newly-served George V-class battleships, the Howe and Revenge, the Determination and the War-Welfare. It was involved in the war in 1937 in advance.
The four "Lion-class" equipped with 406mm main guns that the Royal Navy started construction in 1937 were finally put into service after four and a half years of construction. However, all of these four new battleships were equipped with the local fleet and the Mediterranean fleet.
Only two George V-class battleships were obtained to enhance their strength.
"Communication officer, immediately send the target's news and direction to the Revenge, the Gibraltar base and the Admiralty: We discover the enemy's main fleet in the waters near Almeria, Spain. We will continue to monitor the enemy's actions. Please send support as soon as possible!"
At that time, the radar on the "Messenger Goddess" also discovered the whereabouts of the main force of Wei Zihao's fleet. Colonel Campbell was still very self-aware. For such a main fleet, the H fleet in Lieutenant General Samuville could not have the advantage.
Looking at the sea that had gradually become dim, the captain kept smoking on the bridge, waiting for General Samuville to lead the main force to come. Campbell knew very well that this large-scale night battle seemed to be inevitable.
Shortly after entering the telegraph room, the communication officer hurried back to the war room, "The telegraph from Colonel Cunningham, the Admiral had led the K fleet and the American fleet to leave Gibraltar, and he asked the H fleet to hold the opponent with all his might, we
The main force will arrive within six hours!”
After reading the message, Campbell was excited: "Admiral Cunningham's main force is only 120 nautical miles away. If you move at full speed, maybe only five hours, can the Royal Navy fight a beautiful naval battle?
Let’s see if we can drag the enemy here for five hours. Damn Chinese, it’s time to let these yellow monkeys compensate us for their greatness!”
"It's almost dark, and we will soon enter the effective range of the main gun." The first mate pointed to the sea and said, "We can only rely on the instructions of the radar, but they can only work for three and a half hours in a row.
!”
Whether it is the Messenger Goddess or the Ganzhou of the Republic Navy, including destroyers of both sides, the main gun range can reach more than 20 kilometers, but in actual combat, the commanders are not willing to waste ammunition at such a long distance.
, generally, they will choose to fire when the opponent enters a combat distance of 13,000 yards.
At around 7:18 pm, both sides of the war entered the range of each other. On the radar screen of the Ganzhou cruiser, the Messenger Goddess and Kashmir were located in front of the right side of the warship. They had entered the effective range of the main gun.
Within, "Turn to the west!" Captain Chen Jingye ordered the warship to turn, and he needed to distance himself from the main force of the Royal Navy who was rushing.
At this time, a ball of fire flashed on the dark sea in the distance, and the sharp whistling sound of shells passing by was heard in the sky. The British opened fire first!