Become a feudal king from today - #946 - Chapter 958: New Uses for Naval Guns
The waves rolled and hit the hull of the battleship.
After four days of sailing, the outline of New South Wales gradually became clearer.
On the deck, Zhao Xu put down his binoculars and narrowed his eyes.
Through the mouths of captured British officers, they learned that the Allied forces had provided 30,000 muzzle-loading rifles to Oliver, the governor of the Australian continent.
Oliver kept twenty-two thousand for himself, and the remainder was divided between Hedland and Queensland.
In this way, in this final decisive battle, what they need to focus on is the British regular army and militia equipped with rifled guns.
“Directly occupy the port. After stationing at the port, let the troop transport ship go back and transport the Marines from Queensland.” Zhao Xu pondered for a moment and gave the order.
This time, his fleet can only transport 8,000 soldiers, while Gong Ying’s fleet has the capacity to transport 12,000 soldiers.
In other words, their first batch of troops arriving in New South Wales numbered 20,000 people.
So, he thought it would be enough to just transport 12,000 people from Queensland.
Hedlund’s soldiers were unnecessary.
Because this coming and going will waste too much time.
Most importantly, he believed that these more than 30,000 troops were enough to capture New South Wales.
After all, through the wars between Hedland and Queensland, everyone from soldiers to generals realized one thing.
Although the British soldiers were more difficult to deal with than the powerful troops, they had a higher will to fight.
But in terms of individual soldier ability, they do not have an advantage. They are even slightly behind because the training of Marine soldiers is more standardized and strict.
Moreover, due to the breech-loading gun like the Qin-style rifle, the Marine Corps’ fighting method is more flexible, which makes their fighting method very clumsy.
At the same time, there was another reason why he made this choice.
In the war between Hedland and Queensland, only small weapons such as Qin rifles and grenades were used.
War in New South Wales, he decided to invest in artillery.
This time, they did not carry field guns, so the source of the artillery was the naval guns of the battleships.
This was a common situation in contemporary nineteenth-century warfare.
The red cannons of the Qing Dynasty were actually naval guns.
After occupying the port, while the troop transport returned to Queensland, soldiers could dismantle some naval guns and use them to bombard the opponent’s trench positions.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Zhou Yi responded.
The fleet continued southward, then westward.
After a while, a huge bay appeared in front of them.
This bay is similar in shape to the bay outside Manila.
But the area is much larger.
This is the port of New South Wales.
They can enter the bay through a narrow entrance of only six kilometers.
…
at the same time.
The huge fleet sailing along the coastline has been discovered by British soldiers responsible for reconnaissance.
The news soon spread to New South Wales.
“Dang, Dang, Dang, Dang!” the alarm bells sounded throughout New South Wales.
“Hedland and Queensland fell so quickly. This, how is this possible!”
In the Governor’s Mansion, Oliver’s face was ashen.
In his plan, Hedlund and Queensland could hold off Dasong’s army for at least two or three months and cause some damage to Dasong’s army.
However, now, in just half a month, the Great Song Fleet has reached New South Wales.
“Although it is surprising, it is true.” Joseph also frowned.
Oliver was silent for a while, and the surprise in his eyes gradually turned into cruelty. He said: “Don’t think that by taking Hedland and Queensland, they can take over New South Wales. I will make them pay a bloody price here.” ”
Turning to Joseph, he said: “Gather the soldiers and prisoners, it’s time to let them taste blood.”
“Yes, Governor.” Joseph looked calm.
It is this kind of calm character that makes him deeply trusted by Oliver.
Oliver nodded and emphasized, “Remember, those death row prisoners are already dead. There is no need to sympathize with them.”
Joseph pursed his lips and said, “I will use them at the right time.”
Due to the existence of vast colonies.
The serious criminals in Britain were lucky enough to escape the death penalty and were exiled to the Australian mainland to use their spare time.
The place where these felons gathered the most was naturally New South Wales, which was under the control of Oliver himself.
Faced with the threat from Dasong’s army, Oliver gathered these felons together according to his idea and gave them flintlock guns.
These prisoner soldiers will serve as death squads, responsible for charging on the battlefield.
“Come on, let me see what you are capable of.” Oliver lit a cigar and narrowed his eyes.
He has made up his mind to fight this battle well no matter what.
This is to prove his Oliver’s abilities to the Parliament and Her Royal Highness the Queen.
Immediately, he issued another order.
For a time, the whole of New South Wales became busy.
A large number of British soldiers poured from the city to the trench fortifications outside the city.
Soldiers also dragged out thirty-six field guns and arranged them on the side facing the port.
The townspeople and prisoners were also mobilized and moved into designated positions under the orders of the officers.
At this moment, on the battleship three miles away from the port, Zhao Xu observed the scene of New South Wales through the telescope.
Perhaps they were worried about being bombarded by battleship artillery.
The opponent did not set up defenses at the port.
After all, Britain cannot invest too much armaments here because it does not pay enough attention to the Australian continent.
At present, the muskets and artillery from the Australian continental colonial territory are still temporarily sent.
It can be said that there is no time to build a fort.
At the same time, trenches in New South Wales were also placed eight miles away from the port to avoid being bombarded by naval guns.
The British were well aware of the firepower of the battleships, and they obviously did not want to get into trouble.
“That’s just the big Hedlund and Queensland.” Zhao Xu concluded.
This battle in Australia is really not difficult for him.
Even though the other party tried every means to stop him.
But in the end they will find that it will all be in vain.
“Since they gave us the port in vain, we will accept it.” Zhou Yi laughed and ordered the landing.
At this time, small boats were lowered one after another, and five hundred Marines disembarked in small boats.
After confirming the safety of the port, the remaining Marines landed in large numbers and set up camp at the port.
After all the Marines landed, the troop transport headed for Queensland.
At this time, the generals began to let the Marines board the battleship, and cooperated with the artillery on the battleship to drag the naval guns off the ship.
The port suddenly became very busy.
While some Marines were dismantling a naval gun.
The carpenters on the battleship began to use the wood in the port to make simple gun mounts.
During naval battles, in order to repair the punctured hull, some soldiers need to master carpentry skills.
Therefore, the battleship not only has soldiers who master carpenter skills but also the corresponding materials.
Now, it can be put to use.