"That seems to be...a pirate ship?"
Gus rushed up to the mainmast at the first opportunity and saw the outline of the black figure clearly.
[Golden Deer] unfolded the fore-and-aft sail, pulled the slew line to change the fore-mast square sail into the fore-and-aft sail, and completed the attitude adjustment of "starboard quartering to close to windward sailing".
Go against the wind.
The huge black shadow on the opposite side rode the cold current along the nearby ice sheet, and the two sides soon met each other.
Byron was also able to see clearly that the black figure that seemed to have experienced a tragic massacre and exuded a strong smell of blood was actually a pirate ship.
The ship flying the black pirate flag maintains a "sailing brake" state.
The sails on the foremast and mainmast open in opposite directions, and the mainmast generates thrust in the opposite direction to the forward direction, braking the sailboat.
There is no need to anchor, and the sailboat can be still relative to the wind, allowing the sailboat to drift slowly with the wind and ocean currents.
When there is an emergency, you can quickly use the swivel rope to adjust the sail's windward angle to restore maneuverability and get into battle as soon as possible.
Looking at it now, it looks like it was killed by an unknown enemy before the crew could react and enter combat mode.
"This is the [Rainbow] that suddenly left the port yesterday along with a dozen privateers and the best 'confidant' candidate without a trace!"
When the distance was close enough that he could clearly see the somewhat broken pirate flag, Byron couldn't help but be surprised.
The [Navigation Log] in his eyes clearly records the information of every ship he has ever seen.
Just by glancing at the rainbow pirate flag on the mast, I immediately recognized the identity of this ship.
It was at the moment when they could both clearly observe each other.
The privateer "Rainbow" on the opposite side suddenly "awakened" like a frightened beast.
The sail that was opened in the opposite direction instantly returned to its original position, catching the Category 5 wind blowing from the north, and charged towards the "Golden Deer" with great momentum.
No signals were sent during this period, and there was no intention of communicating at all.
Even when there was no pirate ship plundering normally, the pirates were shouting excitedly.
What's even weirder is that when the ship moves, the surrounding mist also moves with it, as if the mist comes from the ship.
clang! clang! clang! ...
Second Mate Gus on the mast immediately sounded the alarm.
Byron immediately gave the order:
"Level 1 combat readiness! All crew members will enter combat positions immediately!"
The opponent's boat is in the favorable wind direction to windward, while their boat happens to be to leeward.
How similar is this to the time when the [Man-eating Shark] faced off against the [Stern]?
Moreover, there was no change in wind to save the situation this time. The Rainbow, which was in the upper hand, also had the assistance of ocean currents and could at least increase its speed by one more knot.
The Rainbow's advantage was even greater than the original Yan's.
But the crew members on the [Golden Deer] who had experienced the original battle had no fear at this time, and their eyes were only filled with excitement of eagerness to try.
This privateer is just a pirate ship converted from a small armed merchant ship, and it is not much better than the original "Man-Eating Shark".
Even though the current situation seems a bit weird, they firmly believe that they will win!
Will they be afraid of being chased while driving the world's fastest three-masted sailboat?
What a joke.
Byron also calmly gave the order:
"Order: Get the upper hand, maneuver into the wind, and get around to windward of the Rainbow."
There is no doubt that "seizing the upper hand" is the only way to achieve single-ship duels and fleet duels in the age of sail.
It is easier to attack the opponent below the waterline, the wind increases the range of the artillery shells, the wake creates strong maneuverability... Everyone wants many benefits.
In the past, the full-sailed "Man-Eater Shark" with only horizontal sails could not be obtained, but now there is no problem with the "Golden Deer" equipped with two huge longitudinal sails.
"The sails and cables are long, the course is three compass points north and west, sail close to the wind, let it see what it means to be the best in the world!"
The longitudinal sail can be attached to the wind at 30-40°, and the horizontal sail can only be attached to 60°, and then match the special effects of its own name.
The current [Golden Deer] is like a group of light cavalry fighting a group of heavy infantry.
It has enough mobility to support the strong tactics of "when the enemy advances, we retreat, when the enemy retreats, we pursue, when the enemy is stationed, we harass, when the enemy is tired, we attack".
"As you command!"
Captain Thomas immediately directed the sailors to adjust the sail through the densely packed white staying ropes on the ship to face the wind at the best angle.
The [Rainbow] located at the ten o'clock direction obviously also understood the intention of the [Golden Deer], and according to its inertial thinking, it stretched its horizontal sail to the limit.
A tactical action of "adjustment with the wind" was used, and the wind was also reversed.
The [Rainbow] was 5 nautical miles to the northwest, circling upwind at an angle of 60°, and at the same time, it continued to approach the [Golden Deer].
The "Golden Deer" also keeps the wind at an included angle of about 35° (one compass point is 11.25°).
Before the battle, the two pirate ships were like two leaves dancing in the wind. They were moving forward in zigzag directions, getting closer and closer.
It is an eternal truth that whoever has better windward maneuverability will gain the upper hand.
[Rainbow] also gradually realized that something was wrong. Its wind-fighting efficiency could not be compared with [Golden Deer] of similar size? !
As if risking his life, he adjusted the steering again, trying to use the sail to speed up and rush towards the "Golden Deer".
"Get the 'T' for me! Blow its ass off!"
The [Golden Deer] was not afraid at all, and cut to the west with extreme dexterity and passed its stern.
“Each battery of the cannon is loaded with solid shells, and the carronade is loaded with shotgun shells.
Target the poop, shoot from front to back.
Three, two, one...fire! "
When the distance was reduced to within 200 meters, Byron decisively ordered all long-range cannons to fire.
"Fire!"
The first mate and the gunnery commander shouted together, and the roar echoed throughout the ship.
boom! boom! boom! ....
Orange-red cannon flames flashed one after another.
The seven 6-pound guns on the port side opened fire one after another, and one after another the hot cast iron shells penetrated into the tall stern of the Rainbow.
Whether they are merchant ships or warships, their sterns are all equipped with officer bedrooms or large living areas consisting of cabins and balconies.
These exquisite but fragile "glass curtain walls" are not much stronger than a layer of window paper in the face of a salvo of naval guns.
The spherical projectiles that passed through the stern of the ship could not stop at all.
They all bounced and screamed as they flew across the entire gun deck of the privateer, penetrating from front to back, smashing everything here to pieces.
Or it could hit the deck and beams and shoot out pieces of death fragments.
That’s the beauty of grabbing the “T” word.
As the "horizontal", I used my side of the artillery array to face the opponent's stern or bow, which was unarmed and had extremely weak defenses.
Easily deal tons of damage, one shot into the soul!
The smell of blood from the privateer became stronger and stronger, causing the man-eating sharks lurking in the sea to become restless.
However, far from hearing a few voices, everyone on the [Golden Deer] heard a sharp scream coming from the cabin.
"Continue to reload, we circle to the windward side of the enemy ship, and fire another 'T' salvo at the bow of the enemy ship."
Byron waved his hand.
Having the advantage of mobility is capricious capital.
The advantage of mobility allows him to dare to take risks and adopt more dangerous tactics, thereby achieving overwhelming battle results.
The significance of sea trials is not only to test the performance of the ship, but also to find out a combat plan suitable for the ship.
In the future, the "Tudor mixed sailing ship" will take into account the "long-range" artillery battle beyond 200 meters, but will pay more attention to the short-range artillery battle of about 100 meters.
The 32-pound Caron gun at this attack range has absolute fire dominance.
However, [Rainbow] is not entirely a target for anyone to mess with. Although its speed is slow, its turning radius is also smaller.
He successfully avoided misfortune and turned his windward side towards the [Golden Deer].
When he passed by at a close range of 100 meters, Byron, holding his trump card and fearless, had cold eyes and shouted an order to the gun crew:
"Caron gun, prepare for me to clear the open deck of the enemy ship! Three, two..."
At the same time, the flintlock igniter in the gunner's hand fell on the Caron gunpowder tank.
On the opposite deck, a figure wearing prison uniform, with eyes replaced by blood-colored silver coins, also waved.
Boom boom boom...
Rolling smoke rose into the air.
But what was fired from the six cannons on the open deck of the [Rainbow] were not normal cannonballs, but six oversized parasites...whale lice!
