The Huashan took the lead and cut through the side of the target ship first.
In the gun warehouse, Gunnery Chief Yu Zijian asked the second gun crew, "You are the most skilled group on our ship. Today I am watching from the deck above. Are you confident about firing the first shot?"
Han Dong, the leader of the Second Artillery Group, said: "Don't worry, boss, we will definitely be better than the remaining eleven cruisers. Just get on with it."
At this time, the Huashan had already approached the target ship and passed by it from a distance of seventy meters. This distance is the distance between European battleships. Because of the shape characteristics of chain bullets and bar bullets, the range is not far. It is also easy to wear the barrel. Generally, the small charge also results in a short range. So shoot at close range.
Yang Fan sat on the bridge and waited for a while to fire. This was his first time sailing on a sailing warship. It was also the first time to observe heavy artillery shooting live. Yang Fan's naval artillery has far exceeded the Western artillery of this era.
The largest cannon on the Spanish galleon could shoot a fifty-pound shell four hundred meters. But this is the maximum range. Generally, the range of confrontation is within 100 meters. This is to ensure penetration.
Yang Fan's 203 heavy artillery uses pointed cylindrical shells and weighs more than one hundred pounds. And it was an explosive bomb filled with ten kilograms of explosives. It is very powerful and can cause devastating damage to wooden ships. Even with a shot put solid bullet, it still weighs fifty pounds. The range is more than 1,500 meters. The effective penetrating range is also more than 500 meters.
It's better to use incendiary bombs. It can hit directly from a distance and then set the wooden boat on fire. The filled aluminum powder and magnesium powder can emit a high temperature of several thousand degrees. The fire extinguishing equipment of this era cannot put out the fire at all.
Zhou Shan said: "Master, madam, the gunfire is about to start. Do you need earplugs?"
What earplugs to use? What a joke. After all, Mr. Yang has a military career, why are he still afraid of firing? Yang Fan shook his head speechlessly. But he still turned to the ladies and asked, "I don't need it, do you want it?"
Xiao Niangpi shook her head resolutely. How could her competitive character be looked down upon by the master?
Lin Yueru saw that the little girl was unwilling to use it, so naturally she couldn't be compared. He also shook his head firmly.
Yang Fan thought for a while and said, "Give the third lady and Mr. Chen a pair of earplugs each."
These two are ordinary people, not martial arts practitioners, so don't be scared. I didn't plan to bring them here, but they were determined to come. Chen Xi’s reason was to test her design results on the spot. Yang Fan couldn't refuse.
The two girls had just put on their earplugs when they heard a loud noise. Yang Fan was shocked.
The sound was so loud that it made my ears buzz and tinnitus.
The launch of the 203 heavy artillery was indeed not blocked.
The ship's hull shook violently. A plume of smoke came out of the second gun port on the port side below. Then there was a flash of fire.
Xiao Niangpi and Lin Yueru stood and jumped a little in shock. exclaimed. The two of them quickly captured Chen Xi and Mei Xiang. to prevent them from falling.
Despite wearing earplugs, both of them turned pale from the loud noise.
The so-called chain bullets are two chain balls connected by an iron chain. After they are released from the chamber, they will pull each other and rotate around each other. Used to cut the ropes and masts of enemy ships and tear the sails. Forcing enemy ships to reduce their speed or even lose their ability to sail.
This ammunition is very useful against enemy ships that need to be captured. Especially when the frigates are catching smuggling ships. Use chain bombs and bar bombs to break the masts of enemy ships. In this way, one can board the ship, arrest people, and seize all cargo, gold and silver without sinking the enemy ship.
Therefore, this is an important training subject for the navy.
Yang Fan has sharp eyesight. At the same time, the flight speed of chain bullets and bar bullets is much slower than that of spherical bullets. They are also larger and more eye-catching and can be seen. The chain bullet spun and flew past. This shot was fired accurately, and the chain directly wrapped around the upper part of the main mast. Then the two big iron balls circled the mast several times.
The iron chain was wrapped around the mast, and with a click, the upper part of the main mast broke, and half of the mast fell down with the sail. It broke with a pop and fell into the sea. The speed of the target ship suddenly slowed down.
Then there were two more gun windows, spraying out flames one after another. This time, Yang Fan and his wife were mentally prepared. In addition to being deafened,
Not shocked.
Two more shots, this time also hitting, but only tearing open the sail. A barrage shot and a chain shot tore open several large holes in the remaining sail at the lower part of the main mast and tore it to pieces.
The Huashan rushed over quickly. The ships behind continued to shoot in turn. After a while, not only the sails and masts of this pirate ship were swept away, but even the buildings above the deck were smashed into pieces and broken into pieces.
After the fleet made a long circle, it rushed over again in an arc. This time, spherical solid bullets were used, and three salvoes were fired from 500 meters.
This distance is not easy to hit. However, when half of the cruisers fought, the large blessing boat was still seriously injured and flooded. The ship began to list and then capsized.
The exposed bottom of the ship looked like a dead fish with its belly exposed. It was densely covered with attached marine organisms, mainly barnacles and gooseneck shells. Then this unlucky pirate ship sank quickly. Even the boats behind didn't have time to fight.
There was no choice but to continue the exercise by bombarding a hill on a small island.
In the rumbling sound of artillery, solid bullets broke the trees row by row. And explosive bombs and incendiary bombs. It caused forest fires.
This is a desert island with no people. There was no need for Yang Fan to put out the fire. Until the end of the training, the island was still burning with thick smoke.
Yang Fan is very satisfied with the training results. This exercise proved that the navy strictly trained in accordance with the drill code. Satisfactory results were achieved. Both ship driving and positioning are very good. The artillery training also met Yang Fan's requirements.
After the exercise, the fleet returned to Wuling Military Port and berthed, and all officers and soldiers went to the school grounds for a meeting.
Yang Fan personally awarded flags to each captain. When the captains received the military flag personally issued by Yang Fan, it meant that the ship had officially become an army.
Yang Fan's naval flag was determined after discussing with Mr. Wu.
This is an abstract phoenix composed of rising lines of flames. It spreads its wings and flies upward from the embers of the flames, shouting and singing a military flag composed of patterns.
Because Yang Fan's navy will mainly operate in the southern seas in the future. The south is fire in direction. The representative auspicious animal is the phoenix. For example, the Chu State during the Warring States Period used the Phoenix flag.
The nirvana of the phoenix also represents the endless spirit. It symbolizes rising from the ashes of every failure and becoming stronger.
Yang Fan personally awarded the flag to the captain of each ship. Complimentary command knife. This represents the master's recognition of them and great honor. The officers and soldiers below burst into thunderous applause.
The shape of the command knife is similar to that of later generations of command knives, and the workmanship is exquisite and beautiful. It is different from the Yanling Dao, Xiuchun Dao and other shapes of this era. The blade is made of gun barrel steel. This material is the pinnacle product of steel technology and has great toughness and hardness. It is the top material for making cold weapons.
After the flag presentation today, everyone will be given a reward of ten taels of silver. Then disband and take three days off.
Yang Fan took his ladies back to the Royal Clipper. Prepare to set sail for Vladivostok tomorrow.
The navy has not yet formed a fleet, and Yang Fan is still examining the abilities of each captain and officer. Next, Yang Fan plans to equip these warships with radio stations and send them out to perform various tasks. The abilities of these officers are examined during the mission, and then a group of people are promoted to form the navy's command organization.
After forming a fleet, Yang Fan will begin to clean up European forces in Southeast Asia. Pull out their colonial strongholds one by one.
