Wild North America 1846

Chapter 649 The Battle of Fate

Author: Portuguese toothless

Chapter 649 The Battle of Fate

three days later

The powerful Imperial Atlantic Task Force is cruising in the waters about a hundred kilometers south of Florida in the Confederate States of America. His Highness Wang Tang-Li Kun of Guangnan is sitting on the command chair of the large command tower of the flagship "Zhennan", with a serious look on his face.

Listen to the reports coming back from all parties.

The fleet has been cruising in the nearby sea for more than ten days, but there is still no trace of the Spanish fleet, which makes him feel a little anxious.

Since the Spanish task force left the port, there has been no news, as if it has disappeared in the vast Atlantic Ocean, which makes His Royal Highness the King of Guangnan feel confused.

Where did the Spaniards hide?

Was my decision wrong?

The days of waiting day by day are always the most difficult. His Royal Highness the King of Guangnan suppressed the anxiety in his heart and led a huge steam armored fleet to cruise on the sea, waiting for the prey to crash into the net.

at this time

A communications officer hurriedly came to the command tower, saluted His Highness and reported, "Your Highness, this is the latest military intelligence news just received, transmitted from Florida by Clipper."

Wang Tang-Li Kun of Guangnan couldn't see it immediately, and the happy event passed in a flash, and he said quickly: "Send it up."

He hurriedly took this important military information letter, which was like rain, and read it carefully, and soon he said "Eh" in realization.

These cunning Spaniards actually came up from the coast of South America.

The fleet has considered this possibility before, but the vast Caribbean Sea is full of roads. When the enemy's whereabouts cannot be determined, it is safest to defend the most important target, the Port of Havana.

Facts have proved that his judgment was wrong, and the cunning Spaniards almost succeeded.

This military information came from a Tang Empire-registered freighter that was passing Tobago Island. When the captain of the freighter saw the dense Spanish fleet spread across the entire sea, he immediately realized that he had encountered a big fish.

This cargo ship was very experienced and used the cover of the archipelago to hide itself. After confirming the relevant information, it immediately turned around and sailed to the Venezuelan port, where it reported military information via long-distance telegraph.

This important military information greatly changed the direction of the war between Tang and West.

The Spanish fleet has been setting off for three days...

According to the course, speed and range of the Spanish special fleet, it will take 4 to 5 days to arrive at any port in Cuba.

Guangnan Wang Tang-Li Kun immediately stood up and ordered with a gloomy face: "Officers such as colonel and above, please enter the situation room immediately to discuss countermeasures. We don't have much time."

After saying that, he stood up and strode out of the command tower, walking along the side of the ship towards the middle of the ironclad.

Behind him were a group of senior military officers.

Just over half an hour later

The alarm bells of the entire fleet rang, and senior officers returned to their fighting positions. Thick black smoke came out of the two huge chimneys of the flagship "Zhennan", and they sailed toward the southeast at full speed, leading the fleet to the possible enemy.

Pounced in the direction...

a day and a half later

It was around 1:20 in the afternoon, which was also the fifth day after the Spanish fleet set sail.

There are more than 20 warships of the Royal Pacific Task Force of the Tang Empire. The ships are separated by about ten kilometers, forming a loose search queue about 230 to 40 kilometers wide. They are in the waters about 80 kilometers north of Cuba Island.

Search all the way north.

Suddenly, a white sail appeared on the horizon in the distance. After being confirmed by the lookout post, it was a typical Spanish schooner, and a battle alarm was immediately issued.

The person coming was none other than one of the leading warning warships of the Spanish fleet. At this time, about 25 to 30 kilometers behind the sailing ship, was the main force of the assault fleet guarding the first wave of ships.

At this time, the Spaniards also discovered the steam-armored battleships that were pressing up in loose horizontal lines. If they wanted to retreat, where could they do it?

The Imperial fleet was like a shark that smelled blood, and pursued it at full speed.

Leading the way was a 2,200-ton "Han"-class modified iron-clad patrol ship, galloping away like a wild horse, biting the Spanish ketch.

at this fatal moment

The Spanish schooner's disadvantages were fully exposed. If it continued to move forward along the original course and with the wind, it would collide head-on with the powerful steam-armored fleet, and the consequences would be self-evident.

If you make an emergency change of direction to escape, the original downwind direction will suddenly become the upwind direction. The sail that was full of sea breeze will suddenly deflate, and the speed will be greatly reduced.

At this moment, even if the Spanish schooner desperately wanted to escape back and call the police, it could not do so.

The Tang Empire's steam-armored warships cut through the waves so quickly that the Spanish sailors could only cry out in despair as they struggled to load the cannons, preparing to fight to the end.

Just when the Spanish schooner reluctantly turned sideways and aimed its broadside guns at the steam-armored battleship approaching at high speed, the distance between the two sides had shortened from 12 chains to 5 to 6 chains, but the opponent's speed still did not slow down.

.

When the distance shortened to about one chain, more than a dozen artillery pieces on the Spanish side opened fire in unison, taking the lead in firing a dozen hot shells in an attempt to take the lead.

Due to the long distance and the violent pitch of the sea surface, most of the shells fell into the sea, causing only high splashes.

There were also two lead-ball-like cannonballs that hit the steam ironclad, making a loud steel impact and roar, but they did not cause much damage.

At this time, the steam-armored battleship was still firing on all cylinders like a bull, charging all the way...

"Oh, God, he's going to sink us..."

"Left full rudder, quickly left full rudder to avoid..."

At this time, many crew members saw the enemy ship's intentions and screamed in horror, but it was already too late.

The two-masted sailing battleship that suddenly lost speed moved awkwardly on the sea. It watched helplessly as the steam-armored battleship coming at lightning speed adjusted its course slightly, and then crushed it hard with the strong steel bow.

Moments before the violent impact, many Spanish sailors jumped ship to escape. Then they heard a heart-wrenching loud "pop" sound, and the 860-ton schooner was hit from the side by a 2,200-ton steel behemoth.

Crush.

The 22-meter-high main mast of the sail broke instantly under the huge impact force and fell to one side of the sea.

As if being punched by a giant on the sea, with a speed of up to 14 knots, this 860-ton Spanish schooner with a history of at least fifty or sixty years was easily broken from the middle of the ship and was driven violently.

The passing armored battleship was crushed into the sea and capsized in an instant.

This astonishing scene saw the Datang Empire's steam armored fleet lined up horizontally. At least a few nearby ships saw this, and their high emotions boiled over instantly.

The battle flag was hoisted on the high mast of the flagship "Zhennan", and the battle order was sent through the signal: "Please work together with me to wipe out the enemy aggressors."

All the steam-armored warships raised battle flags in response, alarm bells sounded, and sailors in charge of fighting ran to the battle position, took off their gun jackets, and mobilized their muzzles to prepare for battle.

The Atlantic task force belonging to the Tang Empire was like a swarm of sharks stimulated by the smell of blood, rapidly gathering together while advancing at high speed, constantly narrowing the distance between the ships.

At this time, when the water and sky in front met, a large and densely packed Spanish fleet emerged. This further stimulated the high fighting mood of the steam armored fleet, and they roared to kill them.

And on the opposite side

At this time, the commander of the Spanish Royal Navy Fleet, General Juan Espartero, looked gloomy, his hands holding the wooden handrails were trembling, and he murmured: "Oh... Almighty God, this is not

Possible, this is impossible?”

At this moment, all his luck was shattered, and he simply couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The main force of the Atlantic Fleet is still anchored in New York Harbor and Campton Harbor. Where did this unprecedentedly powerful steam armored fleet come from?

Under the strong stimulation, General Juan Espartero was extremely clear-headed at this moment. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he shouted:

"Almighty God, I know, it's the damn Nicaragua Canal, through which the Easterners transported the main force of the Pacific Fleet, and he deceived us all..."

Unfortunately, it was too late to realize it.

far away on the sea

One after another, tall and cold triangular steel masts emerged from the sea level, and then huge steam-armored battleships emerged with their huge hulls carrying endless killing intent, densely blocking the view.

Thick black smoke rises from the huge chimney, and the cold bow cuts through the waves and rushes all the way. These steel behemoths can be said to represent the top achievements of the steam industrial revolution in the world today, and their combined pressure is unparalleled.

They are synonymous with the aesthetics of violence, the glorious achievements of the steam industry, and the invincible force that represents death and killing.

face all this

General Juan Espartero trembled violently all over, and huge fear had gripped his body and mind, making him afraid to imagine what the outcome would be?

This Spanish Royal Navy Expeditionary Fleet, consisting of only 26 sail warships, is the last glory and heritage of the Spanish Navy. Once it is completely destroyed, it will mean the complete end of the Spanish Royal Navy's hundreds of years of glory.

The 14,200 Spanish expeditionary force elite troops and a large amount of supplies escorted by the first wave of ships were like trembling little sheep with no ability to resist in the face of an enemy armed to the teeth.

Everything was lost, and the hope of the Spanish royal family's revival was ruined.

The huge guilt and fear caused General Juan Espartero to tremble violently all over his body. His eyes were red and he howled like a wounded beast and ordered;

"The great warriors of the Spanish Royal Navy, for the glory of the Pyrenees eagle and the glory of the Spanish royal family, let us fight against the flames of the fangs of hell and face death bravely..."

The general's order quickly spread to the officers and soldiers. The Spanish navy officers and soldiers were like wounded beasts at this moment, their eyes were snarling red, and they mustered up their courage to prepare for battle.

Everyone knows that this is a fateful battle that cannot be escaped.

Now we can only try our best to entangle the enemy, and let the iron-hulled freighters and troop transport ships that have disbanded the formation escape from the battlefield as much as possible. Every point of strength saved is worth a point.

The Spanish sailing fleet can no longer escape. Once it turns, it will stall. Once it stalls, it means destruction.

Instead of doing this, it is better to give it a try.

(End of chapter)