Great Entrepreneur of the Universe

Chapter 274 A glorious New Year’s Eve dinner

February 2, Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Led by the Sihai, followed by the Huanghai, Penglai, Yingzhou, Fangzhang and other large ships with a displacement of 21 tons, equipped with torpedo boat destroyers, several large merchant ships carried a fleet of hundreds of torpedo boat suicide squads, stabilizing Sailing to Saipan.

When the flag of the Four Seas was flying brilliantly, a Hanscat Braunschweig-class battleship also sailed out from Saipan and approached the Four Seas Fleet with a semaphore.

A moment later, Louis and Leon on the Hans Cat ship boarded the deck of Sihai. Louis laughed and handed the cigar, "King, I have long asked you to station a squadron with us in Saipan."

"You refused before and went to develop in Kalimantan. Now you know the disadvantages, right?"

"Your war with the island nation has blocked Malacca and the East China Sea and South China Sea waterways, but Saipan and Guam are also important channels for the island nation to enter the Pacific."

"Strangle this place to death, just waiting for work."

Due to the geographical location of the island country, the series of island waters in the southeast are basically blocked by the Four Seas Escort Bureau. They continue to want to operate and explore the Pacific Ocean, or they can go northeast to the Bering Sea.

Either it is the Mariana Islands for mid-way replenishment, and from here continuing southward is Inni and Australia, and if it turns eastward it is the Hawaiian Islands.

Moreover, the climate is pleasant, the water is clear, the sand is young, and the sunshine is abundant. It is a paradise island level for tourism and vacation. Of course, this refers to peacetime. In wartime, this is a military fortress base.

In a night battle, his strength as the artillery king was limited, and the opponent was even more limited.

Many people may not believe it. At the beginning of the 20th century, William planned a violent attack on New York more than once, using New York as a starting point to blast away the North American continent, instead of fighting against each other in Europe with France and France.

Like an unsinkable aircraft carrier.

Otherwise, starting from New York... the whole world will be completely different.

Louis smiled again and said, "After this naval battle, do you want to consider leaving a squadron in Saipan?"

Palau is more than 1000 kilometers away from here, five to six hundred nautical miles.

Lewis nodded, "I received the news yesterday that we should have left Palau soon. If nothing unexpected happens, we will arrive in the waters of Saipan tonight, or after sunrise tomorrow."

“It’s another brand new lifeline to fight from here to India, Australia, or Central and South America.”

The next moment, he sent an order and signaled for the 21 torpedo boat destroyers with a top speed of 35 knots to separate out several ships to wait and search for the whereabouts of the Japanese fleet.

It was not the country that Louis took the initiative to sell Hans Cat. It had to share its colony with Wang Shouliang. The purpose was still the same. Hans Cat was firstly hungry for Wang Shouliang's oil exploration technology and secondly, he was hungry for the car and truck manufacturing technology.

Wang Shouliang lit a cigar and said with a smile, "Is there any news about the Japanese fleet?"

It was the industrial miracle of the Titanic that rewrote the ocean running model in the period before and after World War I in 1912.

Wang Shouliang smiled and nodded, "Okay, it's not bad to visit Saipan. When there is no war, this is really a good place for tourism and vacation."

I don’t want to go back to Hanscat... This is indeed the case. At this stage, the white engineers of Zhujiang Automobile, Yan Lun and North America only spend money, and there is no way to go back.

Also, Hans Cat is too weak in the Pacific. It only has Palau, Saipan, Guanning Island, etc., as well as China Qindao, and has gathered a little territory.

After bombarding the New World from New York and being blocked by various ministers, the next battle took place.

At this stage, Hans Cat's biggest competitor in the Pacific is North America.

You can also let the torpedo boat destroyer fleet and the torpedo boat death squad compete with each other for the courage of the death squads.

Everyone knows that the Japanese are losing power in the Pacific at this stage. In the Pan-Pacific territory, aside from the traditional powers such as Yan Lun, the biggest risers are North America and the Sihai Escort Bureau. The two are competing for who is the better brother. It is estimated that the date is not far away. .

What he said was correct. If there was a night battle, Sihai Escort would not be able to take full advantage of it, but if it really encountered a night battle, it would not be impossible.

If you get closer, you can rely on the lookout system and semaphores to communicate. If you get further, you can directly let the radio station on the ship transmit instructions.

"You are like this too! Going to sea to fight and taking your wife with you?"

North America is currently suppressing Hans cats in the Pacific. In addition to Guam, they also have the huge colony of the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands, and the huge west coast of North America.

The fleets of both sides were still approaching each other, and Cao Yun had been standing on the deck with Wang Shouliang. In this world of giant ships and cannons, Cao Yun used to occasionally ride on ships...

In the past, she only learned about Yalun, France or other powers through various news, newspapers, etc., and used giant ships and cannons to blast away and clear out places.

Louis smiled again and said, "King, according to our estimates, it will take three or four hours for the island nation's Nagato fleet to arrive in the nearby waters at the fastest speed. Do you want to go to Saipan for a tour first?"

For these reasons, Yan Lun did not hesitate to trade the land reclamation and development rights of Kalimantan. Kasabana, Sarawak is a huge land of 20 square kilometers.

Needless to say, Guam is an important base in the western Pacific of North America.

The entire province of eastern Guangdong only covers an area of ​​17.98 square kilometers.

The Grand Fleet has a speed of about 15 knots and can arrive in more than 30 hours. Before the sinking of the Titanic, sailing day and night was the norm for many Grand Fleet fleets.

However, before going to visit Saipan, Wang Shouliang had already issued an order for the three large ships Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang to lead a squadron north to Guguam.

It is almost 200 kilometers from Saipan to Guam.

Saipan is not small, with a total area of ​​185 square kilometers, which is twice the size of Hong Kong Island. Even Tinian Island not far away is the size of three Haojiang Islands.

Leon also smiled and compensated, "King, these days, without the trade chain in East Asia and Southeast Asia, island country merchant ships often travel from Saipan and Guam."

A real war was an experience I had never had before.

Louis once again invited the Sihai Escorts to keep a squadron, which was really to bring the Sihai Escorts together to resist the pressure of North America in the Pacific.

Wang Shouliang smiled and said, "I'm really moved."

Wang Shouliang clicked his tongue, "If we encounter a night battle, we won't be able to give full play to our advantages."

Although this place is a bit remote, it is quite large in area, equivalent to two or three Hong Kong Islands and Haojiang Island combined.

Just like when Louis first wanted many automotive engineers to return to their hometown as soon as possible, Wang Shouliang said that even if Zhujiang Liberty Truck and Xijiang Truck were successful and mass-produced, he felt that those engineers would be happy to miss their days.

If the Japanese are not stupid, when they sail to the waters of Saipan, they find that Wang Shouliang has five Sihai-class ships, and they only have two? The best thing to do is to escape first.

If the other party concentrates on escaping, then there may not be much gain from this trip to sea. To put it bluntly, our seven large ships all have the same speed, with a maximum speed of 17 and 18 knots. It is far worse than the maximum 35 knots of the torpedo boat destroyer of the co-command.

But now that the troops are divided in Saipan, only two ships are left. There is still a chance that the enemy will stay and fight when encountering the Japanese. When the number of artillery is equal, the strength of Wang Shouliang's strongest gunner can bloom again.

With the help of 10,000 cubic meters of portable space to collect the artillery shells, the Japanese picric acid is about to bomb the command tower and can be confiscated. After all, Wang Shouliang's basic physical fitness is too abnormal, and the rapidly flying artillery shells are also in slow motion against him...

With an invincible defense and the strongest gunner, he is confident that he can easily defeat two enemies.

What if the Japanese wanted to flee when only the Sihai and Huanghai fleets were left? Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang heading north can then go down from the north and outflank the Sihai and Huanghai ships. As for being too far apart to communicate using semaphore? The radio station sent messages, and the radio team worked hard to pay attention to all the messages and telegrams flying over the sky.

………………

After a few hours, night falls.

In the northwest waters of Saipan, Wang Shouliang stood in the command tower of the Sihai and was methodically issuing flag orders for the fleet to go head-on to pursue the Japanese Nagato fleet.

The two sides had just discovered each other and were still about 40 kilometers apart.

The Japanese's Nagato and Kaga led the team to escape. The two large ships were escorted by only 10 upgraded PLUS torpedo boat destroyers and two or three -ton passenger ships.

The other 20 torpedo boat destroyers spread out and cruised, bringing fifty or sixty torpedo boats with them to delay the formation and slowly leave.

The semaphore spread, and Huanghai, in cooperation with the nearby torpedo boat destroyers, followed Sihai in a 1-shaped diagonal line to pursue.

Wang Shouliang's fleet pursued them quickly, but the Japanese fleet retreated slowly.

When the two sides were about to enter a 20-kilometer range from each other, Wang Shouliang suddenly discovered that as the sky darkened, there were actually more than a dozen suspected modified minelayers among the ships...

In the slow retreat, mines were laid quietly.

Don't blame Wang Shouliang for discovering it late. At this stage, the usage rate of minelayers in the naval battles between the major powers is actually not high. The earliest was the Xiaoliuqiu naval battle. He laid out a minefield on the sea, and also thought of using a false surrender strategy to fake defeat. The pattern led the Japanese fleet to the minefield.

At that time, I just felt that the combat effectiveness of the artillery of the Sihai Fleet was not as good as that of the Japanese artillery.

Mine warfare is also one of the last resort.

However, in the Xiaoliuqiu battle, thanks to his super performance, he didn't use that back-up move.

Next is the Battle of the Ghost Bear, where the Japs and the Bears engage in mine warfare. Apart from such modern wars, there are not many opportunities for mines to appear and shine in the naval battles of the European powers.

So internationally, professional minelayers... don't look particularly professional at this stage.

There is no such detailed distinction between cruise minelayers, destroyer minelayers, high-speed minelayers, offshore minelayers, offshore minelayers, submarine minelayers, etc. in later generations.

It was not uncommon for minelayers of this era to be modified from various other ships, including merchant ships. Therefore, among the fifty or sixty torpedo boat death squadrons left behind by the Japanese, a dozen minelayers were quietly hidden.

During the slow retreat, mines were quietly laid.

This is a very common and insidious move in a normal war. It may have miraculous effects in the battle, or it may not have much effect. It all depends on the luck of both sides and their command on the battlefield.

Observing this scene, Wang Shouliang decisively issued an order to have the fleet bypass the waters east of the Japanese fleet behind...

Such mines during retreat on the waterway can indeed give the pursuers a big surprise.

But if you find it, just avoid it!

The flags turned, the big searchlights were turned on, and they began to clear the direction for the upcoming night voyage. The fleet was skillfully turning around. Cao Yun looked a little frightened. He wanted to say something, but he did not dare to speak at will in such a battle and interfere with Wang Shouliang's thinking.

Wang Shouliang also discovered this, but he didn't say much. Now is not the time for small talk.

It is true that the Japanese fled without a fight when they saw that he only had two Shikai-class ships. Or maybe the mine laying during the retreat was just a tactic. After this tactic is exposed, will Nagato and the Kaga return to the battle? ? ?
Put yourself in his shoes, if the Japanese knew that Wang Shouliang was on the Sihai.

Now, as the night deepens, the opponent's torpedo boat destroyers and torpedo boat kamikazes, which have the upper hand in numbers, are the best time to cooperate with Nagato and Kaga to launch a counterattack.

Only at night, whether it is a door-to-door torpedo launcher on a torpedo boat destroyer or a suicide boat, it is easiest to get within one kilometer of the Sihai alive.

On the contrary, if he did not send three large ships to Guguan to arrange an interception mission, but stayed here, five Sihai-class battleships? Nagato and Kaga's escape was a 100% chance of running north without turning back.

When they were attacked again and again by the Four Seas Escort Bureau, and merchant ships on all waterways were looted, causing the internal financial collapse of the island countrymen, being able to meet two against two was the easiest time for the torpedo boat death squads to show off their power and make achievements. This pair of devils was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Opportunities come across.

As long as I can rely on luck to kill Wang Shouliang himself and the huge fleet from all over the world...

During careful observation, by the time Wang Shouliang discovered the watchman's message, the Nagato and Kaga had already run far away and began to make a detour to intercept the Shikai.

Wang Shouliang laughed and clapped his hands, "Charge!!"

Everyone can hardly see each other. The searchlight technology of this era is just like that. This is Wang Shouliang using himself as bait to fish.

His ability to hang on the wall cannot be explained...

The outside world basically thought that the glory of the Xiaoliuqiu naval battle was just the goddess of luck shining on him.

………………

Half an hour later, a glorious and heroic naval battle ended. The Japanese Kaga was already sinking, and the Nagato was seriously injured and escaped. The speed was average. Without major interference, the Nagato would be easily overtaken. .

Up and down the Sihai escort agency, there were cheers and celebrations everywhere.

However, amidst this noise, Wang Shouliang was still running between the turrets, firing as hard as he could, targeting the dozen or so torpedo boat destroyers that the Japanese were still struggling with.

If the Shikai hits Nagato and Kaga, it will kill them with cannon fire! It’s not completely dark yet! There was still residual light, which was as bright as day to him.

Only the confrontation between the torpedo boat kamikaze and the torpedo boat destroyers, who charge to the death, can determine the quality and morale of the artillery.

Because the Horai, Yingzhou, and Hojo had taken away a group of ships, the Shikai Escort Bureau was still at a numerical disadvantage. However, this disadvantage was quickly torn apart by the Shikai's artillery group during the sinking of Kaga and the escape of Nagato. The ten destroyers became the death horn of the opponent's defeat.

Even so, before the rout began, the fire net of twenty or thirty destroyers that poured about 2000 75mm shells a minute down the sides, at least half of them fell on the ten destroyers in the four seas.

This is when each other has just entered the maximum shooting range.

The shooting percentage started to skyrocket in the second minute.

Fortunately, these are not picric acid shells, and their armor-breaking capabilities are average. Many destroyers from all over the world are from Hanscat, equipped with armored steel, and are only slower.

If only a few more minutes had passed, the Sihai Destroyer Fleet, which was at a numerical disadvantage, would have been doomed.

But without ifs, the Japanese have already been defeated, and the torpedo boats were defeated halfway through their dare. It only depends on how much chance of survival the ensuing night rout can give them.

After the victory, Wang Shouliang went on the deck and celebrated this glorious New Year's Eve dinner with the navy with beer, bread, and ham.

At this moment, the nearest Japanese torpedo boat is still five kilometers away, and 90% of them will change direction and escape.

There were also those who charged, but they could not escape the destruction of the torpedo boat destroyers.

Of course, to be on the safe side, he ordered the fleet to return to Saipan before dinner.

(End of this chapter)