Wild North America 1846

Chapter 519 Hasty Encounter at Sea

The smuggled steam freighter is a coastal ship, sailing basically along the coastline, generally within 2 to 3 kilometers from the coastline, with a draft of 4.2 meters when the cargo ship is heavy, and a draft of 1.9 meters when it is empty, basically It is impossible to run aground.

After sailing for more than two hours, the lookout post on the mast suddenly rang a bronze bell. This was an alarm for the discovery of the enemy's situation, and the sailors on the ship suddenly became nervous.

Zhu Fengchen also rushed out of the cabin in a hurry, holding a piece of leftover pancake in his hand, and while chewing, he asked loudly, "What's the matter...what did you find?"

"Boss, there are three sloops moored in the harbor ahead, flying the flag of the Spaniards, and they are probably not directed at us."

"Notify the boiler in the engine room to pressurize, speed up to leave this area, and the gun position in the aft compartment is ready for battle."

"Yes, sir!"

After the order was issued, the sailors on the steam freighter quickly got busy.

About 20 strong sailors quickly ran to the stern of the ship, and lifted the thick canvas covering the cannon, revealing two shiny 18-pound Colt breech-loading guns covered by the canvas, with black muzzles pointing directly to the rear.

In this era, it is not uncommon for cargo ships to be equipped with artillery, and some cargo ships are equipped with more than a dozen artillery pieces.

But it is indeed rare to be equipped with such advanced and sharp artillery.

This is the smuggling ship of the operation team under the General Security Administration. Seeing that Spanish merchant ships occasionally play robbers, wouldn't it be nice to do some welfare for the brothers?
Looking around at the naval vessels of various countries in South America, there are only a handful of Colt breech-loading guns. It can be said that except for the two 1500-ton steam iron-clad frigates imported from Paraguay, none of them have them. They are basically bronze or steel hoop guns.

With such a sharp weapon, Zhu Fengchen didn't panic at all, but ordered the steamer to speed up to leave the area, not because he was afraid of the Spaniards.

The three sloops on the other side were obviously troop carriers, and even if they won the battle, there would be nothing to gain, so why bother to cause trouble?
just a few minutes later
The steam freighter began to speed up visible to the naked eye. Zhu Fengchen held a telescope in his hand and looked into the distance. He saw the Spaniards in the harbor pointing at the freighter and yelling. The hawser of one of the sloops had already climbed onto the mast and untied the mainsail.

The mainsail fell down with a "crash", and quickly swelled up due to the sea wind, and then under the adjustment of the sailors, the hull began to move, as if preparing to chase the steam freighter.

The other two sloops were still moored at the same place. Through the binoculars, it could be seen that the boat was full of soldiers and were ferrying. It seemed that the Spanish soldiers were returning to the ship after completing their mission. At this moment, they were hit by a steam freighter.

Luck is bad enough!

The binoculars extended to the distance, and one could faintly see thick smoke rising from the depths of the lush and dense forest, but from here one could not see the flames, let alone the sound of killing.

According to Zhu Fengchen's estimation;

It should be that the Spaniards got the news from some channel. They arrived here on a sailing troop carrier to raid the rebel camp, or the villages and towns that housed the rebels. They should have returned from their mission now.

According to the cruelty of the Spanish colonial army, it is estimated that there will be no living in this village.

"Boss, they're catching up."

"Keep on course, if you dare to catch up, you can give them a little bit of strength, and let the brothers copy the guys." Zhu Fengchen ordered in a cold voice.

He took out his gold pocket watch and looked at the time. It is now close to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and there are still two and a half hours before dark. There was no detour, just speeding up and leaving.

The sloop that took the lead behind it drew a semicircle on the sea, and was adjusting its sails and slowly accelerating to catch up. The gap between the two seemed to be about 5 kilometers.

From this point of view, it is estimated that there is no escape.

Steam iron-hulled freighters are mainly economical. The fastest speed is about 12.5 knots, and the economical speed is 7-8 knots. The speed of the empty ship can be slightly faster, but it is difficult to get rid of the sloop known for its flexibility.

Regardless of the fact that these Spanish armed sloops are about 260 tons, they are often equipped with 12 to 16 cannons and carry nearly 200 sailors or soldiers. big.

In the case of 3-4 winds in coastal areas, it can easily run to more than 15 knots, which is also the confidence that the Spaniards dare to catch up with.

"Trouble with real special food!" Zhu Fengchen frowned and cursed, and then shouted loudly; "Raise the skull flag to show your identity, and you will not be polite if you chase after him."

"As ordered, sir."

The subordinates raised the black skull flag neatly, which is to warn the other party that our ship is armed, don't be ignorant.

The Caribbean Sea is a warm sea area with an ancient pirate tradition. The British, French, Dutch, Spaniards and Portuguese were all frequent visitors here. Later, the Americans and various Caribbean regions were added, and the flag of their home port was not hoisted. ships, it is difficult to ascertain the source.

Generally, unidentified ships that hoist the pirate flag are not easy to mess with.

never thought of
Instead of hesitating, the Spanish sloop behind him sent a signal to the other two Spanish sailboats moored in the bay, and adjusted its sails to quickly catch up.

see this scene
Zhu Fengchen had nothing to say, he just ordered the crew to prepare for battle.

The crew started busy moving out the shell boxes, opened them one by one, and then began to install trigger fuzes on the shells, shake the handle to adjust the muzzle, and prepare for the battle.

from the heart

The secret operation of the General Security Service should not be publicized. They are people who walk in the shadows. This hasty sea battle can be avoided if it can be avoided.

But in the face of the pursuit of the Spanish armed ships, there are not many methods that the steam smuggling freighter can take.

The two sides chased and fled on the sea. Behind the first Spanish sloop, the other two also chased up one after another. They both opened a distance of 1 to 6 kilometers from each other and cut through the waves all the way.

After chasing at sea for more than an hour, the Spanish sloop that was the first to catch up was at a distance of more than 2 kilometers. It was the first to fire a shot. A black iron ball landed about 600 meters behind the steam cargo ship, splashing A tall splash.

This shot was a stern warning, if it were an ordinary cargo ship, its legs would be weak from fright.

Slow down, obediently waiting for the capture of the Spanish armed warships behind, not daring to resist anymore.

At this moment, Zhu Fengchen raised his eyebrows, and the unknown fire in his heart suddenly rose with a "bang".

He loudly ordered the sailors, saying: "Guys, how much do the Spaniards look down on us? Then prepare to give them a surprise! Cover our artillery with canvas, put away the skull flag, and replace it with the Brazilian flag. Slow down, let's meet these Spaniards."

"As ordered, sir."

The sailors moved very neatly. They followed the command of the officer while holding back their smiles. They covered the two cannons at the end of the bed with canvas. The speed of the ship slowed down visibly, and the Brazilian flag was raised again.

This is done to confuse the Spaniards.

10 minutes later
The Spanish sloop plucked up its sails and pursued aggressively. The distance between the two sides was close to about 1 kilometer. The densely packed Spanish soldiers on the bow were waving guns and yelling, with fierce expressions on their faces.

Zhu Fengchen looked at the impatient sailors, and said calmly; "Don't worry, guys, let them get close to within 500 yards, aim and fire me hard, and let them taste the power of the advanced artillery." sharp."

Although the Spanish sloop is equipped with 12 to 16 cannons, there are only 6 to 7 cannons on each side, and one cannon on the bow, and the one that just fired is the bow cannon.

To exert full firepower, it must be parallel to the chasing ship or expose the broadside.

Seeing the enemy chasing closer and closer, from 800 meters to 700 meters to more than 600 meters...500 meters...

Zhu Fengchen suddenly gave an order and said, "Accelerate with all your strength, open the gun cover and fire me hard, let these Spaniards taste the power."

The sailors were ready long ago, and immediately acted as soon as they gave an order.

There is still a process for the steam freighter to accelerate, and it will take at least a few minutes. The sailors at the stern have already lifted the cover with force, stuffed the shells into the barrel nimbly, and shook the handle to aim at the chasing Spanish schooner.

At this time, the Spanish soldiers standing on the boat and yelling had already seen the black muzzle aiming at themselves. The guy sitting in the bow was so frightened that he fell backwards, and the other Spanish soldiers screamed in horror. shouted; "God, it's artillery..."

Before they could react, they heard two loud bangs, one in front and the other in the back, slammed into the Spanish warship and exploded, blasting out a large group of orange-red bombs. Fireball.

The distance was only more than 450 meters. A shell in front hit the poop, and the yellow ammonium nitrate explosives loaded with the 18-pound shell exploded violently. The violent air wave pushed the debris flying across, clearing out a large area of ​​soldiers around again, and blood flowed everywhere.

The cannonball made a hole in the poop half the size of a door, and the cannonball that exploded in it then caused a violent combustion and caused a greater disaster.

The following shell directly hit the bow of the ship. In the orange flames of the explosion, at least a dozen sailors at the bow were lifted into the sky by the strong shock wave, and the bow of the Spanish sloop was blown away. A large piece was destroyed, and the bow gun was also blown into scrap iron.

The Spanish schooner seemed to have been hit hard, and the course was thrown off course.

The sailors on the steam freighter took advantage of the situation. After quickly cleaning the barrel, they loaded two more shells, aimed at the leaning hull of the crying Spanish schooner, and fired two more shots in a row with "Boom..." .

in a violent explosion
The Spanish sloop made a piercing snapping sound, and the tall mainsail collapsed. As many as 10 soldiers fell into the water in the explosion, and the scene was extremely chaotic.

"Okay, stop shelling." Zhu Fengchen ordered.

The steam iron-hulled freighter was slowly accelerating. He stood at the stern and watched with cold eyes that the flaming Spanish sloop had tilted severely, and half of the bottom of the ship was exposed along the direction of the main mast's fall. The Spanish soldiers on board jumped like dumplings. Into the sea, it is simply a disaster scene.

With such a tragic example, there is no need to worry that the two Spanish schooners will come after them again. They have not been so bold, and this small encounter at sea has come to an end.

The steam freighter drove farther and farther, and soon disappeared when the sea and the sky meet...

(End of this chapter)