Wild North America 1846

Chapter 628 Duke Class Ironclad Ship

Author: Portuguese toothless

Chapter 628 Duke Class Ironclad Ship

Due to domestic emergencies, the envoy led by Emperor Meiji left in a hurry, and the trip did not meet expectations.

The only thing worth gratifying is

The senior officials of the Tang Empire government revealed that they should be cautious about Fuso's national policy of heading north to the Korean Peninsula. Currently, they neither agree nor strongly oppose it, and are still waiting and watching...

Anyway, what do you mean by saying ambiguous words and doing ambiguous things... Go back and experience it for yourself!

Since the invasion of Ganghwa Island, the Japanese nation has tasted the sweetness and cannot stop. The policy of heading north has become a consensus between the government and the public, and it cannot be changed no matter who is in power.

After entering 1875, the domestic and international situation of the Ottoman Empire, which spanned the Eurasian and African continents, rapidly deteriorated, attracting the attention of the world's powers, and the Tang Empire was no exception.

In response to the situation in Europe, the Imperial Government of the Tang Dynasty held several major seminars to determine its policies towards Europe.

After repeated discussions

The Tang Empire decided to adhere to a policy of neutrality, always pay attention to the changes in the situation in the Ottoman Empire, and look for available opportunities to expand the power of the new colonial area of ​​Yunzhong Province to the Arabian Peninsula.

The Ottoman Empire was once a great empire that frightened Europe. By the second half of the 19th century, it had declined significantly and became a big fat sheep for foreign powers to intervene.

In order to save the empire, far-sighted people led by Mustafa Reshid Pasha and Midhat Pasha launched a series of salvation movements and carried out democratic reforms, but the results were not obvious.

In 1875, the situation inside and outside the Ottoman Empire deteriorated rapidly. Major famines occurred in the northern and central regions of Asia Minor. The economy was on the verge of collapse. The shadow of intervention by foreign powers shrouded the empire.

The Ottoman Empire was ruled by the insane Sultan Murad, who issued contradictory and sometimes ridiculous government orders, completely unable to cope with the current complex situation;

Within the empire, ethnic conflicts spread rapidly under the banner of democracy. Uprisings broke out in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Bulgaria one after another, which soon spread to Serbia and Montenegro, two Turkish vassal states, and the situation further deteriorated.

The Ottoman Army brutally suppressed the revolting people, but failed to control the deterioration of the situation, and its rule in the Balkans began to waver...

It had been half a year since the Chinese New Year, and it was September 1875, the time of early autumn when the fruits were fragrant.

Salem City, a major industrial town in the north

A huge warship was quietly docked at the dock of the Royal Naval Shipyard in Salem. This is the first ship of the 11,000-ton "Duke" class ironclad, the "Duke of Hawaii", which is being outfitted.

not far apart

It is also an improved version of the 8,600-ton "Zhenyang"-class ironclad ship that is also being outfitted, that is, the 9,200-ton "Zhendong" class ironclad ship. There are a total of 4 main ironclad ships in this class, namely Zhendong, Zhennan, and Zhenxi.

No. and Zhenbei No.

in a huge dock

The second ship of the "Duke" class, the "Duke of Panama", has now exceeded 46% of the construction progress. It is expected to be launched into the water and installed in July next year, and the sea trials will be completed before the end of the year, and will be delivered to the Royal Navy as scheduled.

The No. 3 ship "Duke of Alaska" will dock in November to cut the first steel plate and launch outfitting, which is estimated to be March to April of the following year.

Thanks to the change in imperial policy, the main fleet of the Royal Navy of the Tang Dynasty took advantage of this trend to vigorously develop. With sufficient budget funds, the plan to build the main fleet was advanced about two years.

The main armored fleet of the Royal Navy, which was originally planned to be roughly formed in 1880, would basically be formed into the army by the end of 1878, and the naval equipment would reach the world's first-class level.

By then

The main ironclad fleet of the Royal Navy of the Datang Empire will have three 8,600-ton "Zhenyang" class ironclads, four 9,200-ton "Zhendong" class ironclads, and eight 11,200-ton "Duke" class ironclads, totaling 15 first-class ironclads.

at the same time

The Royal Navy also has 16 4,980-ton "Tornado" class ironclads, which belong to the third-class ironclad series and are one of the main ship types of the Royal Navy.

Imperial Emperor Richard, dressed in a white generalissimo uniform, surrounded by ministers, came to the large bow of the Duke of Hawaii, where the ship was being installed, and listened with interest to the explanation of the ship's chief designer, Sir Mike Morath.

The broad bow position has not yet installed the main gun, so it looks very empty. However, there are two huge steel openings and gun turrets in the main gun position. You can see a solid well that runs through several decks, is more than ten meters deep, and is as thick as a fist.

armored iron plate.

The front turret seat is flush with the deck and is only about half a person tall. The rear steel turret seat is as tall as two people and is arranged in a stepped manner.

This is the most innovative 305mm twin-barreled main gun layout plan of the "Duke"-class ironclad, which is called the "piggyback layout". It is a cutting-edge innovation in this era.

If you want to clearly understand the differences between the three types of main ironclad ships of the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire, you only need to listen to the introduction by the chief designer of the ship, Sir Mike Morath.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, distinguished officers;

I call these three types of main ironclad ships of the Royal Navy the three brothers. The most important of them is the steam ironclad battleship "Zhenyang". This class of ship has many groundbreaking designs and uses the cutting-edge technology in the world today.

.

Say it without hesitation

This first-class ship is at the forefront of the development trend of world naval technology, and many of its design concepts are being used for reference by naval powers such as Britain and France, creating a model work.

Among the steam-iron armored battleship "Zhenyang", we were the first to be equipped with two Colt 305mm double-door main naval guns, one at the bow and one at the stern.

This Colt 305mm double-door main naval gun represents the most cutting-edge technology in ship firepower in the world today. It uses a motor-driven hydraulic ammunition loading device and can achieve a rate of fire of one round every three minutes.

Moreover, the Colt 305mm double-door main naval gun adopts a self-aligning gun mount. After the main gun is fired, under the action of huge recoil, the main gun mount retreats as a whole to offset the impact.

The entire main gun mount is located at the lower end of a slope that slopes upward at 17 degrees. After firing the shells and retreating, it will return to the right position based on inertia and prepare for the next round of shelling. This is called a self-aligning gun mount.

Relevant technologies have specific applications on the British-made "Inflecher" and the "Saxony" that Germany has just put into construction.

can be proud to say

The "Zhenyang" steam ironclad battleship is a first-class main ironclad battleship with advanced performance and mature technology designed and built by the Tang Empire itself, ranking among the top ranks in the world.

The 9,200-ton "Zhendong" class ironclad can be regarded as a long-range version of the "Zhenyang" class, with the same main gun configuration, the same power configuration, and similar navigation and combat performance.

The increased tonnage is mostly used for coal storage bunkers and two oil-fired boilers. It is mainly used to enhance the ability of ocean cruising and improve the living conditions of the officers and soldiers on the ship to a certain extent.

The 11,200-ton "Duke"-class ironclad can be regarded as a basic version with enhanced firepower.

Colt's 305mm double-door breech-firing main naval gun. In the first two types of battleships, one is placed at the bow and one at the stern, for a total of four 305mm main guns.

However, the "Duke"-class ironclads adopted an innovative camel-back design, with two turrets at the bow and one at the stern, with a total of six 305mm main guns.

The two main guns on the bow have a stepped layout with a low front and a high back, much like an old man carrying a child on his back, so it is also called the "hunchback" layout.

The biggest advantage of the "hunchback-style" layout is its compact structure. Both the front and rear main turrets have a wide range of fire without affecting each other, and can maximize their firepower advantage.

This novel ship layout was the first to be adopted by the "Duke"-class ironclad ships of the Tang Empire. It was the first of its kind in the world's naval ship layout and was of groundbreaking significance.

besides

The "Duke"-class ironclad ship uses 4 horizontal three-cylinder reciprocating steam engines manufactured by Chang'an Heavy Industry, 16 circular coal-fired and oil-fired dual-purpose boilers, with a power of 15,500 horsepower.

It can propel huge warships to cruise at a speed of 12.5~13 knots, with a maximum speed of 18.5. Compared with the previous two levels of ironclads, it is faster, has more firepower, and has stronger protection. It is worthy of being the pinnacle of the Tang Empire's ship industry.

."

Chief designer Sir Mike Morath's wonderful introduction won warm applause from everyone.

Emperor Richard deliberately climbed onto the huge gun mount that was two people high and looked down at the solid well more than ten meters deep. Thick cables, wire ropes and electrical equipment were densely packed inside, leading to the ammunition depot in the bottom cabin.

in the 1870s

The advanced naval gun technology of the Tang Empire is at the same world-leading level as that of the United Kingdom. The 305 mm caliber main gun attached to the ironclad ship is extremely powerful and has advanced performance.

Germany and France are developing their own 305mm main guns. It is said that the German Krupp Industrial Company has taken the lead in developing a prototype gun and will soon equip it on the new ironclad "Saxony".

If so

Then the German Royal Navy is the third fleet equipped with such large-caliber advanced main guns after the Royal Navy of England and Tang Dynasty, which means it is among the world's top level.

When all conditions are met, the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire has no reason to tie itself up. Now is the golden period for the development of the Royal Navy's power.

Emperor Richard was very serious when listening to the report. He even went deep into the engine room to check the power layout of this class of ironclads and asked many questions.

If it weren't for the chief designer of the ship, Sir Mike Morath, who followed the explanation all the way and elaborated on the ship design concept, it is estimated that all the officers of the Royal Navy would be sweating.

At the end

His Majesty the Emperor also personally inquired about the armored fort design adopted by the "Duke" class ironclads.

The armored fortress of this class of ship is 63.8 meters long. From the superstructure to the waterline on the side and below, the entire hull of the warship except for the bow and stern is tightly wrapped with Harvey bulletproof steel armor belts with a thickness of 335~405 mm.

The ammunition depot, power department and other central and critical parts are protected by ironclad fortresses.

This kind of armor layout is enough to cope with the most violent artillery fire.

Such high-end warships are expensive to build. When 8 ships are ordered at one time, the cost of a single ship reaches 2.85 million Tang Yuan, and the entire Duke-class ironclad development plan requires a huge investment of 38 million Tang Yuan.

In addition to the cost of ship acquisition, there are also the technical improvement expenses of major supporting manufacturers, the purchase of equipment at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Salem, employee training and other expenses, etc.

Therefore, developing the navy is really a gold-eating beast!

(End of chapter)