Because the ship was parked before, they did not realize that there were enemy warships nearby. This is a total encounter. On the four boats, the sailors were chatting, hanging out, and some were smoking. The officer is drinking tea. It wasn't until they heard gunshots on the hill that they were alerted.
Therefore, when Count Masfeld boarded the ship, the gunners went down to the gun warehouse to prepare the artillery to bombard the arrogant pirates who were chasing Count Masfeld. However, other personnel on the ship still did not pay attention and were still not at their posts.
It wasn't until the enemy ship suddenly appeared, blocked the overseas exit, and opened fire that they woke up.
With the drum beat the command is delivered. The chef and helpers immediately rushed to the kitchen and put out the fire. This is to prevent the open flame from being hit by the cannonball and flying around, igniting the gunpowder and causing an explosion.
The Marines who escaped back to the ship immediately began to clear the deck of all wooden partitions, livestock, sailor boxes and other personal belongings. These messy things piled on the deck will be transferred to the cargo hold on the bottom of the hull. This cleared out a series of obstacle-free passages that ran the entire length of the deck.
This will make it easier to dispatch personnel and transport shells and gunpowder. Evacuate the injured. In an artillery battle, the efficiency of gunfire is directly related to the traffic capacity of the deck. Whoever fires more efficiently is more likely to win the battle. Must race against time.
Boatswain Johnson shouted loudly and ordered the sailors to stow the small boats under the warship and tie them to the stern. These sampans are also lifeboats. Once the ship is at risk of sinking, it must be available immediately. Allow officers and soldiers to enter the water from the rear and escape.
Jack, the second boatswain, directed the sailors to open the protective net above the upper deck. This provides some protection from falling rigging that is shot down after a firefight. Otherwise, the enemy's grape bullets, chain rounds, and rod rounds flew in, shattering the sail ropes, and smashing down a large number of copper rigging parts, which would definitely break the sailors' bones, tendons, and brains.
The second officer and his men emerged from the cabin. They used baskets to spread sand on the deck to increase friction. Because the blood on the ground in battle will make the deck slippery. In this way, the person transporting the shells from the bottom warehouse during the artillery battle will fall, which will affect the timely delivery of the ammunition.
The ordnance chief hung a blanket soaked in water at the entrance of the powder magazine, filled fire buckets with water, and the water pump was ready for use. This prevents burning objects from falling into the powder magazine and causing an explosion. At the same time, it is convenient to use water to put out fires.
The water pump is located in the middle of the top deck and is used to pump out the ballast water from the bottom tank to put out fires. If the bottom bin and ship deck are hit and burst and water enters, the water can also be pumped out to buy time for damage control personnel to quickly plug the leaks and prevent the ship from sinking.
Under the leadership of the squad leader, the ammunition carriers moved the gunpowder and cannonballs out of the safe cabin below the waterline. Quickly move to each gun emplacement. The gunner and his assistants are also ready to continue to provide shells and ammunition packages for the gun position.
At the same time, the ship's doctors and assistants also began to prepare for surgery in the stern cabin. The operating room is usually located in the ensign candidate's quarters. If there is enough time, the officers will put on their best uniforms.
Now, the artillery battle broke out suddenly. However, following an order from the captain, General Theodore. Everyone on the ship immediately performed their duties. Everyone knows exactly what they want to do now. Where to go. This is a reflection of the high quality of Western navies in this era.
In less than half a minute, almost all artillery combatants entered the designated positions of their artillery positions and prepared for artillery firing, or went to other assigned positions to stand by.
After being shelled, Gunnery Commander Matthew hurriedly entered the lower gun compartment. The scene at this time was shocking.
Thick smoke billowed in the gun bunker, and the enemy's terrifying fifty-pounder guns fired lead balls that made a mess inside. A deadly storm of steel and sharp wood splinters swept across the entire lower deck, with mutilated limbs everywhere. and overturned artillery pieces.
"All gun positions that can fight, fire immediately, target the gun bunker of the enemy ship." Matthew yelled.
At this time, shouts and howls of pain were mixed in the gun barn, and many people were running. Very noisy, not loud enough to hear at all.
With the arrival of the gunnery commander, the two-story gun warehouse immediately became quiet, and the eighteen 36-pound cannons and twenty-eight 24-pound cannons that had not been hit immediately began loading.
The gun crew used ropes and pulleys to pull the gun. Adjust left and right shooting angles.
The gunner asked the four gunners to pass a wooden pole through the two lugs at the upper end of the long cannon, and use their shoulders to lift the cannon body more than ten centimeters high. Because it is too heavy, it can only be lifted so high.
He used a triangular wooden wedge with a lower front and a higher back. According to the required muzzle height, he adjusted the front and rear positions and inserted it. In this way, the muzzle can be aimed at the enemy ship at an angle of elevation.
The gunnery commander has to command the upper and lower gun warehouses at the same time. Therefore, he stood in the middle of the stairs, with his waist on the floor of the upper and lower floors. Constantly issuing orders to the middle and lower gun warehouses.
The space in the gun warehouse is small and very crowded. The shells just now caused many people to be injured or even killed. But these people were so crowded that there was no room to lie down on the ground.
"Throw all those people who are not worth saving from the gun window into the sea." Matthew shouted loudly.
Naval battles in this era were so cruel. The crew of the broadside artillery needed to operate in a very crowded environment, and the casualties did not even have room to fall.
"Report to the gunnery commander, Lucas is dying." The gunnery commander of the No. 6 gun crew shouted.
The high-speed flying shell just now broke one of his arms, and almost at the same time, it tore open his stomach with a terrifying high-speed rotation. As he fell, his entrails spilling out onto the floor, two or three men grabbed his arms to prevent him from contaminating the propellant charge.
"Throw him overboard, quickly," Matthew shouted. Although Lucas was still alive, he was thrown directly into the sea because he could not survive.
At this time, any mercy or the Holy Mother is the way to death. Because the efficiency and speed of firing are affected, more enemy shells will be fired. By then, more people will die.
"Report to the gunnery commander, the No. 1 gun crew is ready."
"Report to the gunner, gun crew No. 6 is ready."
…
Matthew looked at the second hand of his pocket watch. The speed was good, which showed that the strict training in peacetime showed its value in wartime.
"Fire all the left side guns!" Matthew shouted at the upper and lower gun bays respectively.
All the 36-pounders and 24-pounders that could be used had their fuses lit with matches. The bay at this time was calm because it was an inland sea. There are almost no waves.
This way the hull is stable. There is no possibility of up and down movement. In this state, the artillery will not have the problem of firing the shells high or low due to the up and down movement of the hull. Because there is no side-to-side swing of roll.
The three armed merchant ships near the Prince were also equipped with 8 24-pound guns and 12 12-pound guns. On one side were four 24-pounders and six 12-pounders.
The ships were not hit. He also followed the Prince and opened fire on the cruiser Hengshan, which was more than 200 meters away.
