Germanic Empire: Please call me Wilhelm III

As the world’s largest industrial output power, the lighthouse country is far from being able to compare with the old powers. The lighthouse country is naturally unwilling to do this, and they also hope to have more say.

Over the years, the Lighthouse Nation has also been working hard to build battleships, hoping to use this to enhance their voice and influence.

After years of hard work, the Lighthouse Nation has already entered service with up to 23 battleships alone. In addition, several battleships are under construction.

In order to demonstrate force, the high-level of the lighthouse country hopes to organize these powerful warships to conduct a circumnavigation of the world, so that the world can see the strength of the lighthouse country.

Because all the warships were painted white, this fleet was called the Great White Fleet.

But unfortunately, when the Great White Fleet was about to fly, the news of the battleship ‘Fearless’ entering service came about, which was undoubtedly an extremely heavy blow to them.

However, even so, the high-level of the Lighthouse Country is still ready to let the Great White Fleet continue. After all, even the capital ships that make up the Great White Fleet are just former dreadnoughts. However, the sheer number can still deter other countries.

Even if the sun never sets, the Royal Navy of the Empire has begun to enter service with dreadnoughts, they cannot be underestimated.

At the same time, the top brass of the German Imperial Navy was also shocked by the entry into service of the battleship “Intrepid”. However, what made them happy was that Liu Chuan’s decision to stop building the ‘Brunswick-class’ battleships and the ‘German-class’ battleships was very wise. Otherwise, even if a total of ten battleships of these two classes were built, they would consume a lot of resources and would be outdated and old. In the face of dreadnoughts, there is simply no resistance.

The construction of these four former dreadnoughts was stopped, although it also cost them a lot of money. However, through waste utilization, the steel plates and other parts of these battleships are installed on subsequent warships, which can also be regarded as waste utilization, and the loss is reduced as much as possible.

More importantly, the construction of the first dreadnoughts of the German Imperial Navy, the four Nassau-class, is progressing very quickly. It is expected that it will be fully commissioned next year.

At that time, the Germanic Imperial Navy will have four advanced dreadnoughts, which will make the Germanic Imperial Navy no longer at a disadvantage in terms of dreadnoughts when facing the Royal Navy of the Empire that never sets. It will even be in an advantageous position.

Moreover, on the slipway of the Germanic Imperial Navy, a second dreadnought, the ‘Hergoland class’ battleship, was also under construction.

Compared to the Nassau-class battleships, the Hergoland class battleships did not have obvious changes, and the artillery and armor were the same as the Nassau-class battleships. However, the powertrain has changed dramatically. The battleships of the ‘Hergoland class’ were no longer equipped with a small-pipe, three-expansion reciprocating steam engine, but a steam turbine developed by the Germanic Empire itself.

This increased the maximum speed of the Hergoland class battleships to 24 knots, two knots higher than the Nassau-class battleships.

Don’t underestimate these two sections, they can still play a very large role in naval battles. Whether it is chasing the enemy or seizing the advantageous position, it has a greater advantage.

At the end of 1707, Liu Chuan once again visited the Kiel Harbour naval base.

This time, he was ready to exchange views with the top management of the Navy on the warship to start construction next year and reached an agreement.

In fact, the top of the navy has been completely conquered by Liu Chuan, and often what Liu Chuan says, they do.

“Your Majesty, the battleship ‘Fearless’ that never sets is in service, and they can be described as full of spirit, and they are invincible! If they knew that we had four dreadnoughts that would be able to enter service next year, I wonder if they would be able to laugh. Marshal Count Tirpitz had a smile on his face.

In view of Tirpitz’s exploits, Liu Chuan has promoted him to marshal of the navy.

Also promoted was von Boer, chief of naval staff.

Many other generals were also promoted.

This made Liu Chuan win the support of almost all the high-ranking naval officials.

“Guys, although we are no worse than the sun does not set in terms of new dreadnoughts. But don’t forget that there are fifty former dreadnoughts in the sun that never sets. These former dreadnoughts were no match for dreadnoughts, though. However, more of them can still pose a huge threat to us. Liu Chuan reminded.

He didn’t want to get carried away with these generals of the navy because of his layout. In that case, it would be very detrimental to the development of the Navy in the future.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” The marshals and generals of the navy answered one after another.

“Marshals, generals. I have come here today to discuss with you the warship to be built next year. I think next year we should start building a brand new warship. That is, a warship with firepower equivalent to a dreadnought, with protective armor no less than a dreadnought, but with a higher speed than a dreadnought. I call such a battleship a battleship cruiser! Liu Chuan said.