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"We sailed eastward in the South China Sea. [Full text reading] <-" The Feiyun sailed in front as the pilot, then the flagship made the tide, in the middle was the coal ship Haifeng, and finally the Baishuang under my command. Each The ships formed a column. The gunboat I commanded was the tail ship of the group. Shortly after leaving the port and turning eastward, the flagship ordered to sail only by zigzag crosswinds to save fuel. In this way, the speed was greatly reduced, but in order to provide more space for the search and combat stages Reserve fuel, which was already planned in the plan, and there was enough time. Along the way, the four ships communicated with each other via radio at 8:00 every morning, and also reported to the Lingao main station. We carried out coaling at sea several times along the way. ——Danger is everywhere. Before reaching the Balintang Strait, we made several sudden changes in direction. It should be that the radar of the Feiyun detected passing ships. But we did not see any ships directly. Only in the Balintang Strait, we I once saw several small islands in the Babuyan Islands. We passed the Balintang Strait and bypassed Luzon Island from the north, and the dark blue Philippine Sea spread out in front of us." "Lu Yang's Memoirs (Internal Release? No. "One Volume"
Under the guidance of Feiyun's radar, the formation maintained a distance of about 20 nautical miles from Luzon Island and began to turn south. Along the way, there was always southeasterly wind below Category 4, which made sailing quite difficult. Fortunately, sufficient time was reserved. On July 3, the formation bypassed Catanduanes Island from the east. On the far horizon, the "most perfect cone in the world" of Mayon Volcano on Luzon Island can be seen. "Shaped Mountain" stands in the west, and there seems to be some traces of volcanic ash in some cirrus clouds in the blue sky. Continue south the next day. They arrived at the intended interception point.
"We've arrived at the San Bernardino Strait. But there are coral reefs all along the coast here. It's safer for us to stay farther away from the shore."
"Let's start the search formation early tomorrow morning. Let's go ashore to explore Samar Island today."
The formation anchored not far from Samar Island - Lin Chuanqing was cautious and ordered the formation to sail into the bay of the small island on the other side and wait. Although Feiyun's weather radar showed that there was no incident. However, typhoons generate and develop very quickly, and it is difficult for a steam ship to escape once encountered. First Lingao Qiming 445
The small rowing boat was launched from the big ship, and the special force went ashore for a day of investigation. No Spanish strongholds were found, but some local fishing villages were seen from a distance. But there are so many mosquitoes that it’s scary. Before sunset, the special forces retreated to the ship. The city of Legazpi under Mayon Volcano is still a few years away from being built. The time travelers are too lazy to investigate for the time being.
The sailors caught some fresh seafood on the shore, so the elders held a simple barbecue party on the Feiyun.
"This is where the repair gun Ou Nowaki was beaten into parts. The timid Kurita and the stupid Halsey would have a BB gun battle here."
"How about we support several countries here in the future. We specialize in building armored ships for an arms race. Steam, armor and heavy artillery will form a line here to shoot at each other. It's heroic!"
"Are we just going to watch it in an airship in the sky? It's a bit like the Celestial Dragons. I'm afraid I won't be able to do this until the day I die."
The elders were drinking California wine from Qian Shuiting's private collection on the deck of the Feiyun. While talking and laughing.
"The technical level of battleships is very high. I don't know if they can reach that level..."
"I personally like the bunch of weird ironclads in the second half of the 19th century - fat hulls, stubby cannons, weird masts... they are so industrially beautiful. In contrast, the dreadnoughts are all carved out of the same mold. Yes, it would be boring."
On the morning of July 15, the formation launched a search formation and sailed eastward. 854 was located at the northernmost point where Luzon Island could barely be seen, while Feiyun was at the southernmost point. The ships were separated by 5 nautical miles and spread out into a 15 nautical mile long northwest-southeast search line. The radio station sent a simple message to Lingao: "The formation has launched a search at the scheduled interception point."
After receiving the report. Chen Haiyang said to Sansi: "The voyage went so smoothly, better than expected. It's not bad that the first long-sea voyage went so smoothly."
"It's not easy not to meet other people along the way. It would be great if we could complete the mission so smoothly."
The interception point is indeed not a busy waterway, and no merchant ships have passed through it for several days. Even if there are some signals on the radar, they are just small fishing boats of local people. Although some people suggested "killing one person in five steps and leaving no trace in a thousand miles", several leaders thought it was too troublesome and of little significance.
"What do these poor Malays have? It's not even worth the coal and bullets we consume." Lin Chuanqing said, stroking his beard.
In the early morning of July 18, the radar on the Feiyun detected a signal 25 nautical miles away to the east, and it was still moving slowly westward. Feiyun immediately sent a telegram to summon the entire formation. The distance is still far away at the moment. When the battle comes, the walkie-talkie will be more real-time.
Each ship began to increase the boiler power to the maximum and rendezvous first. Half an hour later, when each ship came within range of the walkie-talkie, Zhou Weisen impatiently grabbed the walkie-talkie and asked the Tidemaker to put down the boat and come over to pick him up. Feiyun is too unique in this time and space, with low freeboard, and is not suitable for combat. He can only perform surveillance work from a distance.
After all the ships met, they took the lead with the tide, and after Shuangju came back, they headed towards the direction of the silver ship in a single column. Only Feiyun and Haifeng, with a few people left behind by Zhou Weisen, stayed in place and continued to monitor the positions of each ship with radar. At the same time, Feiyun sent a telegram to Lingao: "A suspicious target has been found, and the fleet is moving to engage the enemy. The wind is southeast, light wind, and the wave is one meter high."
More than an hour later, the target finally appeared in the telescopes of the eager commanders on the tide-ridden bridge. Like rising from the water, the three masts gradually became higher from the sea level, then the tail mast, the forward oblique mast. masts and the tall forecastle and poop of the Spanish galleon. Everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. After running so far, I finally caught you!
This guy is really big. Lin Chuanqing estimates that the displacement is about 1,000 tons or more - only such a large ship can take on the important task of transporting royal funds from New Spain to Manila across the Pacific Ocean. Judging from its draft, it is fully loaded.
He noticed that the royal flag of Castile was flying on the mast. Yes, this was a galleon belonging to the royal family. It was the Manila Galen they were looking for. First Lingao Qiming 445
"Raise the flag! Prepare to fight!" Lin Chuanqing gave the order excitedly, and his order was immediately conveyed to the waiting ship through the walkie-talkie. The two ships simultaneously raised the "ready to fight" signal flag.
"Attention fleet, take the flagship as the benchmark and change direction to the right!"
"Attention, all fleets, turn left at the same time!"
After completing the order, the two ships formed a horizontal formation and continued to approach the Spanish galleon head-on.
"Even if this ship originally had 80 durability, it only has 60 at most now. It saved us a round of grenades." Lu Yang said to himself. In his telescope, the ship was in a bit of a bad condition, and the sails were damaged in many places - it seemed that it had been in a storm. This also explains why it sailed alone rather than in formation with another Galen. Apparently it had also spotted the oncoming fleet and sensed danger. It was trying to turn left into the wind, obviously knowing that it couldn't escape even with the wind, but the turning speed was very slow and laborious.
"It seems that its rudder is broken and you can't run away. You're waiting to be cut off."
Next, the fleet turned right again and moved eastward in column, continuing to cut towards the bow of the large sailboat. When the distance approached an estimated 2,000 meters, Lin Chuanqing ordered: "At a distance of 2,000 meters, load grenades and fire one salvo from each gun."
The 130mm cannon mounted on the balcony on the deck opened fire almost simultaneously, but the shells were all fired close together and scattered in such a thin manner that everyone on the bridge couldn't help but shake their heads.
"This fire control equipment is absolutely rubbish. It will make Father Fei angry to death." Zhou Weisen cursed.
"It doesn't matter if we missed," Lin Chuanqing shook his head, "If a big explosion of character directly hits the ammunition depot, our efforts will be in vain."
Zhou Weisen broke into a cold sweat just thinking about it. It felt like beating a mouse in a china shop.
"Get closer to the enemy!" Lin Chuanqing issued the next order. At this time, we can only learn from Nelson first. Fortunately, the Spaniard's shooting range will only be shorter and less accurate.
"1000 meters away, load grenades! The whole fleet fires in salvo!" This time the accuracy was much better, and the large sailboat was suddenly enveloped in a group of water columns. Due to the slow turn and long distance, the Spaniards' broadside guns were completely unable to fire, and they were in a situation where they could only be hit without being able to fight back.
"Every ship fires at its best! Load grenades and be careful not to shoot at the waterline!" Lin Chuanqing noticed that the trajectory of some shells was very low and hurriedly added. The formation continued eastward, crossing the galleon's bow. The water column rose from time to time near the large sailboat, but the hit bomb could not be seen clearly. Even through the telescope, the commanders just muttered, "There was some smoke, and a hit bomb?" However, a lucky one Everyone saw the obvious effect of the bomb. The topmast suddenly trembled, and then fell backwards with the sail gear, hitting the deck, and then drooped to the starboard side.
"Damn, this is terrible. The ship is paralyzed, but I'm afraid it will be destroyed." Zhou Weisen couldn't help but curse in a low voice, "Which gunner can aim so accurately, the mast will be knocked down in seconds."
After cutting through the bow, the formation turned left, sailed in the wrong direction with the large sailing ship, and continued the bombardment. The sides of the two sides were facing each other, and the opponent's gun deck also began to receive shells, but the artillery fire it fired was completely ineffective. After a shot, a ball of fire was suddenly seen coming from a gun emplacement, and then turned into thick smoke.
"Oops, it seems the Spanish gunpowder has caught fire." To be continued. )
