Daming 1805

Chapter 521 The Gap With Daming Widens Again
After the fleets of the Thai and Western countries passed through the West Sea Canal and officially entered the Red Sea, they immediately encountered a new "surprise".

According to the notification they received, there was a Ming Navy fleet that would escort and accompany them to Yingtian Mansion.

This fleet was waiting for them in the Red Sea, and then joined them and acted together.

The elites of the Thai and Western countries have long been psychologically prepared for the power of the Ming Navy.

But when I actually encountered it, I immediately had a new feeling.

The size of this fleet is a little bit bigger.

Four [-]-ton high-speed battleships, eight [-]-ton battleships, and eight [-]-ton aircraft carriers.

The tonnage of the capital ship alone directly exceeds the size of the entire Taixi fleet.

Coupled with the cruisers in the fleet, the overall size is more than double that of the Taixi fleet.

The admirals and crews of the fleets of the Thai and Western countries exchanged radio call signs with the Ming Fleet with a feeling of astonishment, and established a communication channel.

Then, according to the suggestion of the Ming Navy, the two sides lined up in a column and jointly formed two columns to advance.

As a result, the size of the Deming Fleet is much larger than that of the Taixi Fleet.

The royal families, officials, and generals of the Thai and Western countries stood on the deck of their own ships and looked at the Ming Fleet not far away, feeling filled with emotion.

King George IV of England, looking at the Ming Fleet opposite him, couldn't help but ask the naval commander Nelson beside him:
"Your Excellency Nelson, do you think this fleet of the Ming Navy is here to protect us, or to monitor us?"

Nelson has been holding the binoculars to carefully observe the situation of Ming's warships, especially the situation of the aircraft carrier.

Four of Daming's eight aircraft carriers have been refitted with angled decks, and they continue to be used as light aircraft carriers.

The other four planes have not undergone large-scale modification on the surface, but the internal cabin structure and configuration of the aircraft have all been adjusted in a targeted manner.

The number of fixed-wing aircraft has been greatly reduced, and the number of various helicopters has been greatly increased.

The main task now is anti-submarine and ground attack, which is a combination of anti-submarine aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship.

Of course, the decks of these two types of aircraft carriers are not equipped with jet carrier-based aircraft.

The fixed-wing aircraft used are all turboprops.

Nelson is carefully analyzing the design logic of the Daming aircraft carrier according to his existing thinking.

"The role of the sloping deck... This is really a genius design... The aircraft will definitely take off and land more efficiently, but... the cost is also higher..."

Hearing the king's question at this time, Nelson's expression and mood were a little helpless.

The new king of England is not stupid, just slightly simple and straightforward.

Nelson put down the telescope and explained to the king next to him:
"My lord, they are not only protecting us, but also monitoring us.

"If we go to attend His Majesty's Enthronement Ceremony normally, then they will indeed protect us sincerely.

"If our fleet has any extra thoughts, it's surveillance.

"After all, there are quite a lot of capital ships in our countries, regardless of whether they are good or bad.

"That's why Daming arranged for such a larger fleet to come over."

George IV sighed leisurely:
"So, Your Excellency Nelson, if, I said if, our navy's fleet broke out in battle with this Ming's fleet.

"Let Your Excellency command the fleet, our fleet has a chance to win... should I say... is there a chance to escape unscathed?"

Nelson realized that His Majesty the King had realized that the possibility of winning this battle was infinitely close to zero.

So when the words about winning came to my lips, I changed the question temporarily.

Nelson said with a wry smile:
"If it was 15 years ago, I can assure you that even if we can't win, we have a good chance of getting out unscathed.

"Even if the battle is actually defeated, I can bring all the main force of the fleet back to the port.

"But now... it can only be said... that the defeated side basically has no possibility of retreating.

"It is inevitable that a large number of capital ships will be sunk or severely damaged on the battlefield.

"According to my understanding of aircraft carrier operations, when there are enough aircraft carriers in the fleets of both parties involved in the war, neither side can avoid it.

"Because the speed of the carrier-based aircraft of an aircraft carrier far exceeds the speed of a warship.

"Once discovered by the enemy's aircraft carrier, it will be directly attacked soon, and it is basically impossible to rely on navigation to get out of the opponent's attack range.

"So in the battle between aircraft carriers, we can only attack with all our strength at all costs.

"Only by destroying the enemy... Even, even if the enemy's aircraft carrier is destroyed, our fleet may not be safe.

"As long as the enemy's carrier-based attack aircraft has taken off, the enemy that has been discovered will inevitably be attacked.

"The total number of aircraft carriers in the UK is not as large as the current fleet of Ming Dynasty. These are obviously not all aircraft carriers of Ming Dynasty...

"The scale of a single ship is even worse, and the design concept should be considered relatively backward.

"It may take the aircraft of two British aircraft carriers to defeat the aircraft of one of Ming's aircraft carriers.

"If the commanding ability of our generals is not much different, the training level and fighting will of our soldiers will also be similar.

"Then it is impossible for us to win...

"At this time, the British navy, combined with the navies of all countries in Thailand and the West, is far away from the Ming navy.

"Compared to the World War period more than ten years ago..."

When George IV heard these real comparisons and judgments, he immediately felt extremely disappointed.

The official coronation has just been held, the ship parade to celebrate the coronation has just been held, and the most smug moment in life has just been experienced.

As a result, he realized now that even with the strength of his entire country, he was no match for a fleet of Ming Dynasty.

This blow is really a little bit big.

George IV has known for a long time that Britain, which has lost a large number of colonies, is unable to continue to gather all major countries in Thailand and West to fight against the Ming Dynasty. It has long been impossible for Britain to compete with it again.

George IV also had no intention of competing with Daming.

It's just this gap in reality that really made him, the king, feel pressured and lost.

Especially in the magnificent era that experienced the anti-Ming war.

At that time, Britain, as the initiator and actual speaker of the anti-Ming alliance, even had the feeling of being on an equal footing with the Ming Dynasty to some extent.

It's a pity that many people later realized that that feeling was just an illusion.

George IV asked a little unbelievingly:

"So, the gap between our navy and the Ming navy has widened further compared to the World War 15 years ago?

"But according to what I've seen and the reports I've received, it's been saying that our navy is making rapid progress!
"At the ship review ceremony not long ago, someone told me that our fleet is much stronger than before!"

Nelson also said very helplessly:

"Our British Navy has indeed been making continuous progress and innovation in the past ten years.

"The combat capability of our naval fleet is indeed much stronger than that of the British Navy for more than ten years.

"However, Daming has made more progress and innovations, and Daming is much stronger than it was ten years ago.

"Many of our own progress and innovations were realized following Daming's step by step.

"So our speed is slower than Daming's, and our scale is smaller than Daming's.

"So, the gap between us and Daming is bigger than it was 15 years ago.

“This gap may continue to widen in the future.

"Because with the development of technology, continuous accumulation is more and more important.

"As long as Daming doesn't stop and wait for us, we may never catch up with them.

"Unless we can master some kind of subversive power that can directly destroy existing warships and armies.

"In order to bring the balance of power between the two sides into a relatively balanced state again."

When George IV heard this, he felt extremely upset, and couldn't help saying some frustrated words:
"That is obviously impossible, even if there is such subversive power, it must be mastered by Daming first.

"We Brits and Thais can only follow behind 'Handan toddlers'.

"Since this is the case, what is the meaning of our British navy?

"Protect our homeland and colonies from being interfered and influenced by other Western countries?

"If we completely lean towards Ming Dynasty, can this be achieved even if there is basically no navy?"

This time Nelson didn't answer, but Charlotte on the other side couldn't stand it anymore:

"If the UK completely falls to Ming Dynasty, Daming will require the UK to maintain a certain size of navy...

"Otherwise, what kind of conditions will the UK offer in exchange for the protection of the Ming Navy?

"Apart from directly handing over a certain percentage of taxes to Daming, I can't think of anything else that can really impress the Emperor of Ming.

"There is no free lunch in the world, and the Emperor Ming was originally the biggest businessman in the world.

"He will not spend his own money to support the army, and help the British protect their homeland, trade routes, colonies and other properties for free..."

Nelson froze for a moment, then said a little surprised:

"What Her Royal Highness said is very reasonable, so the British Navy must have it no matter what."

King George IV was not stupid, he was speechless after hearing his daughter's words, and he turned his head back to the cabin instead of looking at Da Ming's fleet.

Charlotte also followed with a smile.

The remaining Nelson and the generals of the navy, the British nobles, bureaucrats and businessmen continued to admire and admire the fleet of the Ming Dynasty Navy.

On the warships and ships of other countries, elites from all walks of life in various countries have similar feelings at the moment.

They all intuitively felt the gap between themselves and Daming again.

Then I began to wonder and sigh. After more than ten years of development after the war, the distance between the Thai and Western countries and Ming Dynasty did not seem to shrink at all, but widened again.

The "advantage of latecomer", which seems to be correct and completely in line with the logic of thinking, does not seem to work.

"Is it just because Daming's scale advantage is too great? In addition... the best friend... His Majesty's guidance?"

King Louis Charles of France looked at his queen Liu Muyu.

Liu Muyu could only nod in agreement:
"I can only think that it is because of the scale advantage of the Ming Dynasty, coupled with the guidance of His Majesty the Emperor, that a new round of industrial technological innovation has been bred.

"This time Daming is at the forefront again, so the distance with the Western and Eastern countries has once again widened.

"However, technological innovation cannot be sustained forever.

"When the main technology matures, the development speed will gradually stabilize.

"The latecomer advantage of the chaser will be reflected."

Charles murmured a little nervously:

"That's the only way I can understand it..."

Others, however, saw something different.

Gneisenau, the Prussian chief of staff, analyzed his king:
"Unless Da Ming deliberately concealed their new technology, we should be able to confirm a judgment.

"Da Ming has now entered a period of technological maturity.

"Da Ming 15 years ago already designed a high-speed battleship with full main guns, an aircraft carrier with a full deck, and the most important flying machine.

"But so far, the Ming Fleet we have seen still uses these technologies.

"Ten years ago, these technologies were basically only mastered by Daming.

"Whether it is an aircraft, an aircraft carrier or a high-speed battleship, the Thai and Western countries, including us, Britain and France, cannot produce similar products that are useful.

"But now, we also have aircraft, we also have aircraft carriers, we also have high-speed battleships.

"Da Ming's planes are only faster than ours, and Deming's aircraft carriers and battleships are only bigger than ours.

"But our planes and battleships are already the same thing as Da Ming's planes and battleships.

"It's not that Daming has it, but we don't.

"So, purely from a technical perspective, the distance between us and Daming is actually closer than it was ten years ago.

"On the other hand, the biggest technological gap between us and Ming Dynasty was in the few years after the end of the World War.

"Our aircraft carrier, high-speed battleship, and aircraft have not yet been built.

"In the past 15 years, no epoch-making weapons and equipment that can directly change the mode of warfare have been created again.

"It is still a continuous upgrade and optimization based on the existing equipment.

"So, now the military equipment of Ming Dynasty has once again entered the stage of technological maturity.

"Although, even if we continue to catch up, it will be difficult to surpass Daming's technical level in a short period of time.

"However, without the new technology developed by Ming Dynasty, other countries' military equipment updates will also stabilize.

"The uncertainty of the war mode is continuously decreasing..."

Following Gneisenau's analysis, King William III of Prussia also had a feeling of enlightenment:

"So, now the time is really ripe!"

Gneisenau thought about it for a moment:
"It should be mature, but we should continue to observe, at least we have to wait until we return to the mainland from Daming.

"We can only do this...

"Even if the development of military technology has entered a mature stage, even if our equipment is no longer fundamentally different from that of Ming Dynasty.

"But the direct power gap between us and Daming is still absolute.

"Even the generals of the army can see that the gap between our navy and the Ming navy cannot be bridged by other forces.

"So we have to do our best to ensure that Daming does not object.

"Only things that the Ming Dynasty does not object to can be done. This is the request made by the current emperor of the Ming Dynasty during the peace talks during the world war."

William III hammered his own table very seriously:

"I understand."

(End of this chapter)