I Became a Captain of the British Empire - I Became a Captain of the British Empire chapter 120

Pacific Fleet Showdown (4)

What happened?

Admiral Eisuke rubbed his eyes open and looked at the binoculars again.

“I’m fine… ?”

Amid thick smoke, a battleship could be seen engulfed in a column of water from a volley.

It must have been perfectly coordinated.

however… .

“Admiral! Observe at least one hit on an enemy battleship! No cosmetic damage!”

“Now, didn’t I see something wrong?”

“Continuing to check! No problem!”

No matter how many times I looked at it, nothing changed.

Enemies are alive and well. It is to break through the waves without any problems, flashing cannonballs.

“Did it really hit?”

“no. Observed debris and flashes on deck.”

“Maybe I misunderstood the enemy ship’s artillery fire!”

I wanted to believe that anyway. But unfortunately, the staff remained silent with their heads bowed quietly. The admiral muttered as he looked at the horizon with bewildered eyes.

“Other than that, how the hell did they survive these long-range catapults?”

But there was no time to answer the question.

The noise that crushed the sky had reached Kii’s bridge.

“Red bullets, bullets!”

A crackling metal sound. If a telephone pole fell from the sky, it would feel like this.

A huge column of water rose from the side of the bridge.

“… Is this the power of South Dakota?”

Feeling the floor vibrate, the admiral whispered in horror.

But how did he know

The problem was not the enemy ships, but the Japanese Navy’s armor-piercing shells.

“Admiral, it looks like it was an unexploded bullet.”

It was a report from Chief of Staff Shimada. Admiral Eisuke asked again, frowning.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Isn’t that something that has been pointed out all along in the target test? The bullet must have broken due to the weak hardness of the warhead.”

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Problems with the new weapon.

Obviously, problems with the Type 91 armor-piercing bullets have been reported numerous times. But even with that in mind, its high penetration and range made it attractive to admirals facing a decisive battle.

And Admiral Eisuke, who had only heard reports of satisfaction from the captains, put his hopes on this decisive battle weapon in his heart.

That’s why the disappointment on the field is even bigger.

He lowered his binoculars in displeasure and sighed.

“Admiral, I’d rather try using old bullets… .”

“… nope The ballistics are different, so I’ll have to re-aim. Continue shooting like this.”

With a sigh, the admiral replied.

There is no point in complaining about it now. As the commander-in-chief on the ground, he is only looking for solutions that can be done now.

“I never imagined that the new bullets would be so useless, but the hit bullets come first. Squadron commander! Tell them to keep shooting like this!”

“yes. Admiral!”

If not one foot, two feet.

If you can’t hit two, you can hit three. Isn’t it the artillery skills that were honed for this day? The Imperial Navy’s gunnery level is comparable to that of the Royal Navy.

The admiral had no doubts about his ability. And as expected, an increasing number of battleships were being hit one by one in the ranks of US battleships.

Admiral Eisuke then clenched his fists and commanded.

“If it doesn’t work at 30,000, you can fight with underwater bullets at 20,000, which is the distance of the original battle. All fleet! Prepare for approach maneuvers!”

“Admiral, look over there!”

Before the order could be answered, Chief of Staff Shimada pointed at the U.S. battleship line and shouted. Admiral Eisuke looked at the direction of the chief of staff’s hand,

In an instant, the smoke scattered across the sky shakes violently.

“Anyway, it doesn’t seem like we need to go.”

The US battleships were moving with their bows turned.

* * *

same time.

US Pacific Fleet flagship South Dakota.

Although the Pacific Fleet successfully blocked the first blow, it was not a relaxed situation.

No, I was rather perplexed.

“To fire a hit at a distance of 30,000… Are the jabs’ all-out ability exceeding our expectations?”

Admiral Scofield put his eyes on his binoculars and stuck out his tongue. Beyond the submerged water column, the enemy ship was sailing intact.

In contrast, Japanese naval shells were violently erecting water columns close to South Dakota’s hull. The impact of the bullets shook the floor, and the staff staggered off balance.

“Admiral, the enemy bullets did not penetrate the critical compartment and misfired! Nothing to worry about yet!”

Those were the words of the gunnery staff who barely held on to the railing. But Admiral Scofield shook his head with a cold face.

“no… The fact that the hit came out at this distance is important. Even if South Dakota’s defense is strong, it won’t be able to withstand being hit again and again.”

To be able to land a hit in just a few minutes at this distance is a truly remarkable achievement.

As proof, no battleship in the US fleet has ever intercepted an enemy ship.

“Indiana, wontan! Maryland is also wontan! Colorado’s shooting… It is invisible.”

“Is it difficult to even observe at a distance of 30,000? Enemies hit well at this distance. how the hell… .”

Is it because of the observer?

Arms crossed, the admiral looked up at the sky and thought. Dozens of reconnaissance planes were hovering around the fleet. However, it was difficult to fire anti-aircraft guns because this side was so focused on main gun fire.

Fortunately, South Dakota’s fire landed quite close to the enemy battleship just now, but I can’t be relieved. The inferiority in ranged combat is obvious.

“It’s frustrating to be beaten at a distance you can’t even see.”

“It’s okay, Admiral. There is no ship that has lost combat power yet.”

As requested by the chief of staff, the defense of the US battleships was excellent.

South Dakota’s rear, battleship Indiana, which was caught in a volley of Key-class battleships, disappeared for a moment. However, as soon as the water column subsided, it cut through the waves and vomited a salvo like thunderbolts.

“Indiana, no damage.”

“As expected, these are our battleships. In terms of defense, it can hold out even against battleships that are one step ahead.”

Looking at the line of battleships advancing confidently, the admiral said proudly.

The 4th Battleship Squadron, composed entirely of Colorado-class battleships, followed silently.

Although not as powerful as the South Dakota class, the Colorado class is also a powerful battleship with 16-inch guns. As if revealing its majesty, the eight giant cannons roar fiercely.

“Colorado! hitan! No problem!”

“Maryland, posterior mast shot! Unexploded bullets!”

“West Virginia, side anti-aircraft armor hit, nothing wrong!”

puff-

16-inch cannons that spit huge pillars of fire. Fire from the Colorado class raises a column of water near the enemy fast battleship.

Soon after, two salvos came and went, and South Dakota’s shooting recorded the first narrow gap.

“It’s a narrow gap! No hits!”

“As it is, we accumulate scores and move forward! Squadron commander! Reserve at least 3 sinking scores!”

“Three is too few. Let’s go with four!”

The morale of the U.S. Navy was restored to the point where they exchanged light jokes before they knew it.

“Entrance in Tennessee! Currently, many hits on enemy battleships! But no damage!”

“A 14-inch gun can’t do any damage at this range. If it’s not a new bullet, the teeth won’t go in.”

Admiral Schofield shook his head resolutely at the report of the flagship of the rear row squadron commanding the outdated battleships.

Nevada and Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Arizona, Tennessee and California. Standard battleships with twelve 14-inch guns.

Except for the New Mexico class, which was dispatched to the Atlantic, and the originally powerful Tennessee class, all have recently been refurbished. The deck armor was strengthened, the firing mechanism was improved, and the elevation angle of the gun was raised to 30 degrees.

“A hit on an enemy ship in Pennsylvania! The second level of the enemy!”

“In Oklahoma too, it’s a battle, and it’s a low-level bullet!”

Thanks to this, their main guns fired fire without any problems even at the enemy ships at the edge of the horizon.

However, this is only a surface appearance.

While reporting on the war situation, the chief of staff approached me with a serious face and said.

“Admiral, a 14-inch gun battleship has too wide a spreader. Even if you cross the enemy ship, the ship will come out between the shots.”

“At this rate, long-range engagements would be impossible.”

Admiral Scofield calmly accepted the facts.

If this is the case, we need to find a solution.

“We have to fight within 20,000 distance. Fleet Course 330! Close the distance with the enemy ships and engage!”

The giants turned their bows and galloped in unison.

* * *

Around 120 nautical miles north of the Marshall Islands.

Combined Fleet gunship ‘Kee’.

In the 30th minute of the bombardment, the engagement distance between the two ships approaching after closing the distance was about 20,000 meters.

10 main guns that fire non-stop.

Kii’s ammunition magazine had already consumed nearly a third of her main shells.

More than 9 hits were observed.

Nonetheless, the enemy battleships approached fiercely without retreating.

“Admiral! Distance 20,000! From now on, it’s the final battle!”

“good night. We’ve benefited from our long-range engagement, so now it’s time to strike a critical blow.”

Admiral Eisuke nodded with his arms crossed.

As he said, unlike the US battleship row with clear bullet marks here and there, the Japanese navy’s battle line was solid.

“Squadron commander! Are there any problems with each ship?”

“yes! Kii’s armor works, as expected, against 16-inch main shells!”

Admiral Takahashi, the commander of the 1st Squadron, replied in a confident voice.

All four leading Key class ships were hit by enemy 16-inch shells, but suffered minor damage. Now that the air supremacy had been taken in the first place, the accuracy rate was overwhelmingly high for the Japanese Navy, which was assisted by observation planes.

Thanks to this, the enemy fleet’s hits are less than half of ours.

Even that, Kei’s thick armor prevented penetration.

Nagato was hit several times by enemy 14-inch bullets.

However, there was no abnormality in combat power at all. A 14-inch bullet that hit the side armor plate bounced terribly with sparks. It was the same with Mutsu who followed him.

“Fire on the enemy Tennessee-class ship!”

The watchman’s report entered the bridge like cheers. Nagato’s fire hit the deck of the enemy’s No. 1 Tennessee class ship.

However, like previous damage, the fire was soon extinguished.

“As expected, if you can’t pierce the armor, is there a limit?”

Quietly lowering his binoculars, the admiral muttered calmly.

Because the Nagato-class uses old-style Type 5 armor-piercing bullets, it did not show overwhelming penetration like the Ki-class. Because of this, the two Tennessee-class ships facing each other were still intact in appearance.

In the end, you have to go to close combat to see the end. Otherwise, all that damage is mediocre. Even at this moment, the enemy’s battleships are approaching, silently deflecting bullets.

The Lee Se-class in the rear is firing at the enemy with a decent accuracy rate. Occasionally the Ise gets hit by enemy Pennsylvania-class artillery fire, but it’s still at arm’s length. A 14-inch bullet that hits the turret ceiling glides past.

The counterattack of the 12 main guns swept the surface like thunder.

The deck vibrates from successive shelling.

Admiral Eisuke clenched his fists.

“Has the 3rd squadron arrived yet!”

“Enemy coming in range soon!”

“good night. In that case, the 1st squadron increases speed and grabs the enemy’s head! Put on a contest!”

tournament head.

The staff swallowed dry saliva as they recalled Admiral Togo’s decisive victory that led to the outcome of the Battle of Tsushima in the past.

Admiral Eisuke is a veteran of the Tsushima naval battle. Are you trying to recreate that past status once again!

The chief of staff asked quietly, trying to hide his excitement.

“Admiral, then turn left?”

“No, go to the right. We take the starboard side of the enemy line, and the following 3rd Squadron takes the port side.”

The admiral silently pointed his hand at the map.

Two battle lines battling from either side. This is a possible tactic because of the speed of the Imperial Navy. Of course, the slow 3rd Division could be sacrificed to the enemy.

But the admiral tried to ignore it.

If it is a price that can annihilate the main force of the enemy, he thinks that it is a business that has enough surplus.

“All forces, hurry up! The rise and fall of the empire depends on this decisive battle!”

pop-

Just in time, a South Dakota-class salvo scuttled Keee’s hull. A column of water rose, and white waves rolled over the deck.

Covered in cold shrapnel, Kii raised a 50,000 ton massive body. Three sister ships and two Nagato-class ships followed.

Current speed 26 knots.

Six high-speed battleships maneuvered in unison. It was the 35th minute of the battle.