I Became a Captain of the British Empire - I Became a Captain of the British Empire chapter 92

Naval battle off the coast of Tunis (3)

“Enemy battlecruisers! Distance 8,000!”

An echo full of astonishment crossed the bridge. Admiral Ricardi held his breath and raised his binoculars. What came out through the curtain of flame was obviously the intact hull.

Dark bullet marks were visible here and there, but at least the main gun door continued to fire.

“Red bullets are coming!”

Without even time to prepare, the impact wrapped around the Caracciolo’s hull.

shaking deck.

Hearing the sound of breaking steel, the admiral sensed something bad.

“Right?”

“Captain, report!”

The command of the squadron commander, who hastily stood up.

It wasn’t long before a voice came down the hall.

“A hit on the No. 2 main turret! Cannot turn the turret! Currently under repair!”

“Are the rest okay?”

“doesn’t exist.”

The commander-in-chief sighed and wiped away the cold sweat.

At this distance, no matter how thick the armor is, it is difficult to block enemy bullets.

In the worst case, the entire command could be annihilated by shells flying directly into the ammunition magazine of the flagship.

Among the relieved bridge personnel, Admiral Ricardi closed his stiff eyes alone. The chief of staff cautiously made a mantra to him as he silently gazed at the battle area.

“Admiral, move to the command tower even now… … .”

“Can’t you see the shooting just now? There is no such thing as a safe place.”

Snorting—the admiral said that as if snorting and instead took a step closer to the bridge window. Leaving behind his astonished staff, he carved the burning sea in his eyes.

“Now that this has happened, we have to push through the numbers.”

All I’ve seen so far is a repulse anyway. Although it is said that it is the first attack in a surprise attack, it is still worth trying if it is 4 to 1 power.

A flash of light flashed and a column of water rose around it. Then Caracciolo’s secondary turret fired a flashing shell.

“Flame! Shoot!”

Falling flares with shallow gunfire.

Flashes of light illuminate the dark night sea again. A gigantic ship was revealed beneath it. Sparks flash from the two main turrets listed in the function.

“Enemy ship firing!”

“Prepare for shock!”

Unfolding his arms and holding onto the railing, he closed his eyes.

From the point of view of a battleship whose standard engagement distance exceeds 20,000 meters, 8,000m is a very close range.

No matter how hard Caracciolo’s gloves are, it wasn’t made with this kind of close-range slugger.

Moreover, the opponent is the 15-inch gun that has flooded numerous ships so far. There can be no carelessness.

Sure enough, a fierce shock came from outside the window like a scream.

“Report the damage!”

“One shot through the bow! A direct hit to the rear stack! No. 3 gun turret silence!”

At the captain’s report, the admiral clicked his tongue disapprovingly. One-half of its firepower had already been lost.

We must strike back.

“Commander, what! Come on, blow them up!”

“Distance is being measured! It takes time to calculate shooting parameters!”

“You’re slow!”

However, that was not the end. Again, a great shock pounded the ship’s hull.

The shells that penetrated the upper hull tore through the internal structure.

The explosion, which dented the bulkhead and hit the chimney, soon began to spread black smoke across the deck.

“Has Repulse already fired the next shot?”

Of course, that was the admiral’s mistake.

Because it wasn’t just 15-inch gun battleships in the waters.

As I looked at the still Repulse with my binoculars, the watchdog let out a sound like a scream.

“Watch starboard! One enemy battleship in Defense 045! Distance 7,000!”

“One more alive?”

“Not a battlecruiser! much bigger! It is a fast battleship!”

The chief of staff added in a trembling voice. The squadron commander of the battleship also lowered his binoculars, shaking his hands as if embarrassed.

Admiral Riccardi looked around and muttered quietly as he saw the whale-like ship following Repulse.

“Indipatigable… Were you safe?”

Nine 16-inch guns pushed through the black muzzles.

“Enemy ship, open fire!”

flashing gunfire. A roar that arrives a little late.

The admiral closed his eyes tightly. A huge column of water covered the bridge windows.

“Admiral! Dangerous!”

Beetle, the chief of staff shouted as he helped Admiral Ricardi who was about to collapse.

“We need to defeat the flagship and get the support of our destroyer squadron! Our battleship squadron is not prepared for a night battle!”

“… still don’t know The destroyer squadron is annihilated.”

The admiral let out a laugh and quietly pointed at the dark horizon outside the window.

“They figured out our strategy and isolated and annihilated the destroyer squadron. Even with a battleship at the fore, you finished well. It’s unbelievable.”

He murmured with his bewildered eyes and raised his staggering body.

Leaning my hand on the railing, I looked back at the bridge crew.

Everyone waited for orders with nervous eyes.

“Don’t back down, let’s settle it here! All fleet! Head to course 020! Now that it’s like this, we’re completely close!”

“Yes, Admiral!”

The officers, awakened by the loud shouts, saluted in unison.

Not yet. The power ratio is 4 to 2. At close range, this one’s accuracy is not far behind!

… It was the moment when I made that decision.

“Look starboard!”

Reports continued like lies.

“Enemy destroyer squadron! Continuously approaching with this ship! Distance 7,000!”

Above the surface illuminated by flares, dozens of destroyers were furiously approaching, scattering smoke.

* * *

At the same time, the Royal Navy’s Z Task Fleet destroyer ‘Acasta’.

pop-

Fragments of the cool water column land on the deck.

Capt. Woodward, who grabbed his binoculars from the drenched bridge, frowned and looked ahead.

“Red bullets, bullets! 50m to starboard!”

“Turn the key! Uro 15!”

“Uro 15!”

A sharp player turns abruptly.

Feeling the floor shaking violently, the captain repeated to himself.

‘If this is over, I’ll be promoted too…’ … damn it!’

He likes adventure, but he didn’t want to commit suicide twice.

Moreover, isn’t the enemy battleship row still pouring fire?

At least, it’s different from Biscay. At that time, it was at least a task to finish off a disabled enemy ship.

However, all of the enemy battleships, which proudly formed a single line, looked fine except for one ship that was beaten in the lead.

The enemy battleships lined up their guns, and before long, thunder erupted in unison.

“Red bullets are coming!”

A shallow whistling sound.

A loud noise was heard from somewhere. The captain turned his head and saw a destroyer with a torn hull.

“Anthony… Blow up!”

The hideously crushed hull slowly sank in the flames.

“Damn it, my God… … .”

The captain, who had been staring blankly at it, soon came to his senses at the water column shaking the hull and looked ahead.

A slightly smaller water column than before.

However, it seemed to be enough to rip through the destroyer’s meager armor.

“Enemy ships fire secondary artillery!”

The gun wasn’t the only thing to be careful about. Dozens of secondary guns were also scattering bullets everywhere.

“Distance 6,000!”

“far! I have to go in up to 3,000!”

The captain bowed his head, facing the waves head-on, and shouted downwards. The signalman poked his head out of the small window and looked at the captain’s hardened face and went back to his specialty.

Because the flagship ‘Coddington’ was destroyed in a fierce battle between destroyers, Acasta was now the temporary flagship. At least it was Woodward, who belonged to the senior ranks, so there was no problem with the leadership. It was just that the communications officer got busy with his hands and the searchlight blinked incessantly.

Light source flying overhead again.

Flashes of light illuminated the skies above the enemy ships. He glared at the battleship row, which had become clearer, and clenched his fists.

“What are our battleships doing? You’re still fine!”

“Captain! in the back!”

Hearing the voice of the gunnery commander, the captain turned his head. A huge shadow appeared behind the destroyers that scattered the long wake.

“Indipatigable… … .”

A 50,000-ton giant appeared under the flash of a flare. The black main gun doors return to the enemy.

flash-

A thunderous roar illuminates the night sky.

A salvo of 16-inch naval guns cut a parabola across the sea. A flash exploded on the enemy’s second battleship, which was sailing confidently.

A blow that pierced the turret like an awl.

The gun barrel snapped in the forward main turret, and debris flew like volcanic ash.

Smoke spreads over the shaking deck.

Red flames flowed like blood on the tilted hull.

In the face of phenomenal power, the captain simply kept his mouth shut.

“Enemy ship, open fire!”

Soon, a large flash of light covered my eyes.

As if he would not stand still, the following battleship launched a counterattack.

A volley of fire, reaching 16 guns in total, went straight for the Indipatible.

Huge hull being engulfed in a column of water.

When the pure white waves crashed, dark bullet marks were engraved all over the long hull. Fortunately, there was no fire to be seen.

“I have to go. If you procrastinate, our battlecruisers will die!”

Captain Woodward, who grieved at this, approached the Jeonseong-gwan and shouted.

“The Agency Department! what are you doing! Step on more!”

“The boiler explodes at this rate!”

“Does not matter! If the flagship dies, we’re done too!”

At first glance, I thought I could hear something like cursing, but Acasta’s hull began to vibrate. The noise of the boiler seemed to reach the floor.

“speed! 35 knots!”

“run! Get close like this!”

“Enemy units! A salvo!”

Kugu Palace –

A series of shells exploded around the hull. Debris crashed everywhere and waves swept the bow tower.

When the fallen captain opened his eyes, red flames were engulfing the area where the No. 1 main gun turret had been.

“Damn it, fire squad hurry up!”

Busy footsteps passed the bridge. Around the time the acrid smell of fire extinguishing ash stung the tip of his nose, the watchman standing in front of him shouted with a hoarse voice.

“Distance 3,000!”

“good! Destroyers! All changed to 145! Departure after a thunderbolt!”

Four destroyers swerving.

The destroyer flotilla charging from the left also turned its bow around the same time. Countless torpedoes exited the launch tube.

Seeing the torpedo leaving a white trail, the captain immediately shouted.

“Get away! Engine department, don’t rest!”

The captain spitting and shouting. The steering gear rotates ceaselessly, and steam pours out of the chimney.

Columns of water from secondary artillery shook the elongated hull. The sound of shrapnel hitting the steel plate resonated fiercely.

Holding on to the railing, the captain carefully watched the enemy line through his binoculars. Fierce gunfire flew vividly as if he would not let go of the fleeing miscellaneous things.

die late

A cold thought ran through his head like an arrow.

A volley of fire from the secondary battery crosses Acasta and narrows down the bullets. The captain closed his eyes tightly.

and… .

puffer pung-

A sharp column of water covered the hull of the battleship one after another.

* * *

Task Force Z’s flagship ‘Repulse’.

The flares subside.

Flashing flames on a dark background.

Before long, a flash of light filled the binoculars.

“Explosions ahead! Heat wave observation! Defense 300! Distance 6,000!”

While I opened my eyes in surprise, the watchdog hurriedly shouted. A deafening roar passed through the bridge.

A sound that makes your ears tingle.

When the cruiser in front shined a searchlight, its identity was revealed.

“Enemy battleship! Sunk!”

“Two leading ships! All silence!”

Cheers filled the bridge. Feeling the heat for the first time in a long time, I raised my binoculars again. The two battleships, with flames spreading everywhere, were sinking, revealing the battle-marked decks.

It’s a definite sinking. But it’s not over yet.

“Fumi is still alive. find!”

The crew immediately returned to their seats.

A single secondary gun was fired from the cruiser Dorsetshire.

“Fires flares!”

pop-

I turned my eyes to the sea area illuminated by the flash of light. But on the empty sea, only debris and oil slicks rolled over.

“No?”

“Did he just run away… … .”

“Scatter the destroyers and find them! It’s sunrise soon! You have to catch it before then!”

However, the whereabouts of the two remaining ships were not seen until the morning sun rose. When bright yellow rays from the horizon began to illuminate the sea, we were able to spot them.

“Look starboard!”

From the rear of our ship, which stirred the trash-floating battlefield.

“Bar, defense 200! 10,000 streets! Two enemy battleships!”

I turned my head and saw two battleships fleeing in the distance. However, the main gun was pointed in one direction as if aiming somewhere.

“Admiral… Furious!”

The two battleships fired fire in the direction other than us.