"New Spain, full right rudder!"
Following Admiral Garcia's order, the New Spain, the first ship of the Spanish Eastern Armada, was still more than 2,000 steps (more than three thousand meters) away from the Jiangnan (Flying class), the first ship of the coalition fleet. Suddenly turning to the left, the course changed from due north to due west. The purpose of changing the course is, of course, to pass in front of the Jiangnan, the lead ship of the coalition fleet, which is heading due south, so that the New Spain, which has nearly 80 cannons, can concentrate the firepower on one side to bombard the Jiangnan.
The captain of the Jiangnan is Chen Shangchuan, who was transferred from the Henan. He is also the commander of the first detachment. The first detachment consists of seven warships, the main ones of which are the two flying classes Jiangnan and Fujian, and the other five ships. They were all Galenic ships of the British East India Company—British ships were sturdier than Dutch ships and less flashy than French ships, so they were pushed to the front.
Following the first detachment was the second detachment, with the flagships Feixiang and Jiangbei as the main force. In addition to the two ships Feixiang and Jiangbei, the second detachment also had five Dutch East India Company warships.
The third detachment is mainly composed of Zhejiang and Jiangxi ships, and is also equipped with three French warships and two Dutch warships.
The fourth detachment was composed of the two ships Shandong and Henan as the main force, plus a British warship, a Dutch warship, a French warship and a Portuguese warship. Because the Henan was not equipped with bombardment guns, the detachment finally If you are weak, you will be at the end of the entire column.
Four detachments, a total of 27 warships, sailed from north to south, rushing towards the entrance of Kagoshima Bay - Kagoshima Bay is also a big belly bay in general. The entrance is a bit narrow, only more than 20 miles wide, and the internal Most areas are more than forty miles wide.
For the coalition fleet that hopes to fight in close combat and melee, it is natural to try to block the enemy at the entrance of the bay.
The Spanish fleet started to turn left at the entrance of Kagoshima Bay. The Spanish fleet moved along the west coast of Osumi Peninsula. After turning left, it faced Ibusuki Hot Spring (located at the top of Satsuma Peninsula). direction.
The location of the coalition fleet is between the Satsuma Peninsula and Osumi Peninsula, close to the midline of the sea, so there is also room for a detour to the west.
After seeing the Spanish fleet turning to strengthen the T-position, Chen Shangchuan immediately followed up in order to stay in the same direction as his opponent - the two Flying-class ships he had had a total of 10 24-pound short-barreled guns, but these guns could not fire forward. , so the enemy must be faced with the broadside.
"Command, the distance is still too far. It is difficult for our bombardment guns to hit!" Jiangnan's first mate Zhang Guanghui is a naval gunnery expert and the main person in charge of the naval bombardment work on board. Tai knows that after the bombardment is on board, of shortcomings.
Whether it is 24 pounds or 24 pounds, they are both heavy guns. The 800-ton flying class is still too light compared to this kind of heavy gun, so the hull shakes violently when firing, and the shooting accuracy will be greatly reduced. The firepower density of five bombardment cannons on a ship is too low to be used. Firepower density makes up for the lack of low hit rate.
So the best way to use these bombardment cannons is to blast them at close range!
"I know, I've read "Bombardment Artillery Manual", but the Spaniards are not fools, they are just a little crazy, but definitely not stupid!" Chen Shangchuan said loudly, "They will not let us get close easily... But it doesn’t matter, we can fight naval battles without relying on bombardment guns! We have 8 flying-class ships and 12 medium-sized galenic ships of more than 500 tons. They are equipped with much more artillery than the Spanish! We can damage them first Some of the Spanish warships were slowed down and then destroyed with bombardment cannons!
Don't worry, we have plenty of time! "
"The command is very good!" Zhang Guanghui nodded, "Then do you want the bombardment gun to be ready to fire now?"
"No need... we use the 12-pound long gun to fire chain bombs and hit the sails and mast of the New Spain! This time we won't let it go no matter what!" Chen Shangchuan paused, "Hang up Raise the decisive battle flag! The Ming Dynasty... will never retreat if it advances!"
The Ming Dynasty's "Advance and No Retreat" flag is the decisive battle flag of the Ming Dynasty's navy. It was Zhu Cixiang's idea. The design of the flag is very simple. On top of a red flag are four Chinese characters - "Advance or No Retreat"!
As long as this red flag is hung, it means the decisive battle has begun!
...
"Admiral, the enemy has turned to sail in the same direction as us!"
"Got it! The cannon fires chain bombs, hitting the sails and mast of the leading Flying-class ship!"
"As you command, Admiral!"
On the New Spain, Admiral Garcia also chose to bombard the sails of the Jiangnan with chain bombs, because he also knew very well that the most critical factor in determining the victory of today's naval battle was speed!
And the speed of the northwest wind Galen ship is not as fast as that of the Dutch and English Galen ships - not only is there a gap in design level, but the naval combat ideas of Spain, the Netherlands and England are also different. Spain prefers side-to-side battles. Therefore, tall prows are often designed, and the navies of the Netherlands and England prefer artillery battles. Their cannons are advanced!
In addition, there is another reason that reduces the mobility of Spanish warships. That is, there are too many icons and religious decorations on Spanish ships. Unless God bless them, these things will be a burden in naval battles... ...
Boom boom boom...
The first thing to fire was the 20 12-pound long guns on the starboard side of the Jiangnan!
After the installation of bombardment guns, the area of the first-floor gun deck of the Flying Class has been reduced, and the number of artillery (excluding bombardment guns) that can be carried has also been reduced from the original 54-48 to 40 (plus 5 bombardment guns) There are 45 guns after the cannon), but at the same time, the original 12-pound bronze long cannon was also replaced by a 12-pound cast iron long cannon.
And 12 pounds is heavier than 12 pounds, so it has a longer range and greater power.
However, the first round of shelling by the Jiangnan was still empty - because the distance between the two sides was too far, more than 3 miles. If it were on land, this distance was nothing, but on the sea with high winds and waves, it was still a bit far.
Boom boom boom...
More than thirty cannons on the left side of the New Spain roared immediately, but they also missed!
Both sides came up short in the first round.
"Keep the course and keep firing!" Chen Shangchuan didn't care, because he knew that the New Spain was Spain's first ship in the Western Pacific!
The Jiangnan only needs to attract the New Spain. Even if it loses in the end, the winner of the great battle of Kagoshima Bay will be the Ming Dynasty!
"Keep on, keep on fighting! Don't be anxious..." When Garcia said this, he was actually very anxious.
Because he only had a few ships equipped with 12-pounders, and most of the ships were equipped with 6-pounders. A 6-pounder or a 12-pounder, what a loss! If the New Spain cannot repel the Flying Class as soon as possible, then its own side will definitely suffer.
Boom boom boom!
The Jiangnan class fired another salvo. Although it still missed, the impact point of the shell was very close to the New Spain, and the splash even hit Garcia in the face!
Boom boom boom...
The New Spain fired its second round immediately, and the shells also landed near the Jiangnan, causing waves!
"It's about to hit..."
Cold sweat broke out on Garcia's forehead. The next escort shot may decide his fate!
O God! Be sure to bless Spain...
Boom boom boom... hiss...
The sound of shelling and the sound of the ship's sail being torn sounded almost simultaneously!
"Damn it!" Garcia knew that a chain bullet in his opponent's third salvo hit his sail!
Boom boom boom...kaka...
What Chen Shangchuan heard was the sound of splintering wood. He quickly turned his head and looked at the mast, but did not find any mast broken or falling.
"It hit the ship's plank... It's really a blessing from the Bodhisattva!"
Chen Shangchuan also breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately frowned: "Continue, continue to fight..."
After three rounds of shooting, the level of both sides has been revealed - they are evenly matched! Dozens of cannons are firing at each other like this, and the level is not low. Hitting the vital point is just a matter of probability.
Chen Shangchuan also recited silently in his heart: "Amitabha, Immeasurable God, God bless...Sage Kong bless you!"
Boom boom boom...
The gunfire sounded again!
