Just when the Zhengde squadron visually detected the target 15,000 meters ahead, the sonar of the outer destroyer ahead distinguished it as the sound of a slow-speed boiler of a cargo ship. The radio communications officer of the flagship Zhengde turned the tuning button and cut into the Soviet Union
Maritime band. After searching for a while, I heard clearly the call in Russian. The Russian translator immediately translated it into Chinese.
"Red Star calls to the earth, Red Star calls to the earth... I encountered an unknown battleship, requesting to return... My position is 37.95 north latitude, 131.55 east longitude... I encountered an unknown battleship, requesting to return... My position is 37.95 north latitude, 131.55 east longitude...
…”
The translator translated calmly, but from the original voice on the radio, everyone could tell that his voice was full of panic. The other party probably also knew that a battleship squadron of the Ming Army had entered the Sea of Japan. Once encountered, it would not be sunk.
, that is, being captured. Then even if you save your life, you don’t know what will happen to your family back home. Even if you are released back to the country, even if you are not imprisoned in a concentration camp, your future will be over for the rest of your life.
The Soviet cargo ship opposite kept calling in panic, requesting to change course to avoid the battleship. But he never received an answer. His voice became more and more frightened. But even so, it could be seen from the telescope that the Soviet cargo ship opposite still did not dare to change without authorization.
The course just slowed down and headed towards the direction of the Ming fleet.
The distance is getting closer and closer. Because they are heading towards each other and the Ming fleet has increased its speed, the distance between the two sides has shrunk sharply. In the blink of an eye, it is less than 8,000 meters. At this time, the observation telescope can clearly distinguish the opponent's ship type and
size.
It was a cargo ship of about 10,000 tons, traveling slowly at a speed of 5 knots. There was a red star logo painted on the front of the forward ship building, and a flag, also red, was flying on the mast.
That's absolutely right, this is a Soviet cargo ship. It is the target of the squadron.
…
The commander of the Ming fleet ordered the accompanying heavy cruiser "Li Guang" to approach the Soviet cargo ship to complete the stop and boarding process.
Then, the entire fleet slowed down, and the Li Guang accelerated forward, sailed out of the fleet, and approached the Soviet cargo ship. At the same time, the Li Guang used a signal light to order the Soviet cargo ship:
"We are the Navy of the Ming Dynasty, and we are now going to capture your ship in accordance with the power granted by the Eleventh Hague Convention. We order your ship to stop immediately... Repeat: We are the Navy of the Ming Empire, and we are now authorized by the Eleventh Hague Convention
The authority, now wants to capture your ship. Order your ship to stop immediately..."
But the Soviet cargo ship still acted as if it hadn't heard anything. It didn't stop or answer, but just continued moving forward. Probably the captain and the branch cadres on the ship were having a fierce ideological struggle.
The Li Guang and the Soviet cargo ship were already only a few hundred meters apart, but the Soviet cargo ship still showed no intention of slowing down.
On the undulating waves, the two ships passed each other, and the two white foam traces merged together.
Li Guanghao turned around with full left rudder, and directly used a loudspeaker to shout on the sea in Russian:
"We are the Ming Empire Navy. In accordance with the power granted by the Eleventh Hague Convention, we are now going to capture your ship. We order your ship to stop immediately..."
At this time, the white waves behind the stern of the Soviet cargo ship gradually became longer, and it could be seen that it was accelerating. At this time, the Li Guang also completed its turn, and drove straight to the Soviet cargo ship, keeping a distance of about 600 meters to the right rear.
…
The flagship Zhengde slowly raised the secondary gun barrel, there was a loud "boom", fire and smoke flashed, and a dazzling white light exploded dozens of meters above the Soviet cargo ship.
That's a flare.
The Zhengde used the signal light to order:
"We are the Ming Empire Navy. Now we want to capture your ship and order your ship to stop. You have three minutes now... It was a warning shot just now. After three minutes we will fire live ammunition... Repeat: You have three minutes now.
, in three minutes, we will fire live ammunition..."
This worked really well. About a minute later, the white waves behind the Soviet cargo ship gradually faded. At the same time, the signal light on the deck of the Soviet cargo ship also flashed, conveying the message:
"Don't fire, our ship will stop immediately."
Sure enough, the giant ship slid along the sea surface dragging water marks, getting slower and slower. It was obvious that it had stopped.
The eight warships of the Ming fleet also parked and floated nearby, and their respective gun barrels were aimed at the Soviet cargo ship. Four kayaks were put down on the cruiser Li Guang, carrying dozens of fully armed sailors and rowing towards the Soviet cargo ship.
past.
Two big Russian men appeared on the side of the Soviet cargo ship, and they lowered the gangway obediently. The raft leaned on it, and the Ming army sailors filed onto the opponent's deck.
"Crack!!!"
There was a clear gunshot, and a bullet hit the wooden deck at the feet of a Ming army sailor. Wood chips flew everywhere. A dozen Ming soldiers lay down on the spot, holding submachine guns in their hands, searching for the source of the bullet in all directions.
The two Russian crew members were also stunned and stood there, at a loss.
"Crack!!!"
There was another gunshot, but this time it hit a crane on the deck. Steel sparks flew everywhere, and the bullets bounced and flew into the sea. At the same time, large pieces of glass fell from above and shattered on the deck.
.
"There!"
A Ming army sailor pointed upward, and the glass of a round porthole in the ship's cabin above broke, and a figure wearing a white big-brimmed hat flashed. That was the captain.
Almost at the same time, more than a dozen submachine guns on the deck opened fire at the same time, which was deafening. Several porthole windows in the cockpit above were shattered at the same time, and the ship's building was also covered with bullet holes.
"Ceasefire!"
A lieutenant ordered:
"You stay and control the deck. The ten of you follow me!"
He led ten sailors, holding submachine guns, and rushed into the ship building. At the same time, several rubber boats below also approached one after another. More sailors swarmed onto the cargo ship, occupied the entire deck, and escorted
Soviet crew members search lower levels.
The lieutenant led ten sailors and rushed up to the cockpit. They saw a middle-aged man who looked like a captain lying in the center of the cockpit. There were three bullet holes in his chest and he was still bleeding. He was already dead.
This should be the captain's last resort to beg for death. He knows that as a captain, if he surrenders like this, his family in the country will be doomed. Only by carrying out unnecessary resistance, letting himself "sacrifice heroically" and becoming a martyr can he save his life.
The safety of your family at home.
The captain died, and the other crew members of the cargo ship, as well as party and government cadres, also accepted their fate. Most of the crew members were taken into small boats by the Ming army, boarded a Ming army warship, and were imprisoned as prisoners.
The remaining senior crew members, such as the first mate and second mate, remained on the ship to assist the Ming army in searching the ship.
The sailors who went down to the cargo hold to inspect found that the entire shipment was full of potatoes. A search of the senior crew's warehouse revealed many documents, cargo manifests, customs receipts, etc., which also showed that the potatoes were destined for Japan.
.
The sailors on the cargo ship reported the search results to the flagship using a signal light.
The fleet commander made a decision: Since this ship was not a high-value cargo, there was no need to capture it and return it to China, so it was sunk on the spot.
…
The sailors escorted the remaining senior crew members, as well as the captured documents and radio stations, and returned to the ship in a small boat.
The fleet commander ordered all ships to line up in a horizontal formation and keep a distance of 800 meters from the Soviet cargo ship.
Then, he used his telescope to take a final look at the Soviet cargo ship floating still in the distance, and ordered:
"Attention all units...target, freighter forward, artillery - free fire."
The herald took the microphone and shouted loudly:
A few seconds later, the muffled sounds of friendly ship artillery were heard from the left and right sides. Soon, dense fireballs exploded from the Soviet cargo ship, like a pot boiling.
Suddenly, the Zhengde shuddered and the loud noise was deafening. Its battleship's giant main gun opened fire.
Two seconds later, the Soviet cargo ship exploded earth-shakingly. In the flash of light and thick smoke like a volcanic eruption, the 10,000-ton cargo ship split into two halves, with its bow and stern raised high, and slowly sank into the sea.