Wild North America 1846

Chapter 743 Bombarding Batavia
"Boom boom boom..."

The powerful sea fleet of the Tang Empire is launching a large-scale bombardment of the Batavia Coast Fort. The 305mm main gun of the Duke-class battleship roared, and the rumbling critical strike was earth-shattering.

The coastal fort did not show weakness, and fought back bravely with old-fashioned artillery, pouring artillery fire on the sea, stirring up high water columns.

When Governor Perth and his party arrived, the East Coast Fort, which was attacked by the naval fleet, was already engulfed in a sea of ​​flames. The violent explosion destroyed the East Coast Fort. The black mushroom cloud produced by the explosion was tens of meters high and separated by more than ten miles. The road can be clearly seen.

Dongguan Fort is over!

General Michels twitched violently a few times, his heart felt like a knife was being cut, and it was difficult to accept the situation in front of him for a while.

Generally speaking

The condescending coastal fort has an absolute advantage over the incoming local fleet. Standing high, shooting accurately, and having a long range, it is the biggest threat to expensive warships.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, the fleet will not choose to bombard the coastal fort, that would be too much of a disadvantage, and the loss would be too great.

The reason why the Royal Navy Task Force of the Datang Empire dared to attack the fort unscrupulously was that it had solid information;

Most of the two fortresses on the east and west coasts of Batavia are equipped with old-fashioned muzzle-loading guns, but eight German Krupp 8-caliber 25mm breech-loading steel hoop guns imported at a huge cost are the most advanced, with a maximum range of 305 kilometers. Each coastal battery is equipped with 7.8 doors.

This series of 305mm main guns was also equipped on the giant ships Zhenyuan and Dingyuan introduced by the Qing Dynasty, but unfortunately they failed to play a decisive role in the Nissin naval battle.

In the face of general sea threats, the range and firepower of these eight 305mm shore guns are sufficient.

Since the coastal fort is built at a higher place along the coast, its firing range has also been improved, with a maximum firing range of 9.2 kilometers.

Coupled with the advantage of the permanent fort on the coast, the shooting elements are calibrated for the guarded sea area, and the attack on the invading fleet is more accurate, deadly, and more powerful.

But I'm afraid of comparing anything;
The Duke-class main battleship of the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire is equipped with the world's first-class main naval gun. It also has a caliber of 305 mm, but has a diameter of 40 times, which means that the barrel is longer and the range is longer.

E.g
The 1890-type 280mm 40-caliber main gun equipped by the German Navy was used on the "Brandenburg" class battleship.

Its muzzle velocity is 715 meters per second, its effective range is 11000 meters, its maximum range is 15090 meters, and its shell weighs 240 kilograms. The penetration and power of its artillery are better than those of 305mm caliber artillery (note; refers to 25 times caliber artillery) .

The 1893-type 305mm 45-caliber gun equipped by the French Navy was used on the "Bouvet" ironclad ship, and the indicators were also excellent.

Its muzzle velocity is 815 m/s, and its maximum range is 12000 meters. The power and penetration of the shells are much higher than those of low-caliber guns.

The Duke-class main ironclad ships of the Tang Empire are lined up in a combat queue, aiming at the coastal turret with their broadsides. It can be seen that the huge 305mm double armored turrets on the bow of the ship, and the long barrels spit out flames, firing deadly shells far away. Come on, its range is up to 13.5 kilometers.

After rounds of earth-shattering bombardment, the Batavia east coast fort was blown apart, and the surrounding area was submerged in a sea of ​​flames. The more than 1300 officers and soldiers in the fort saw that it was a disaster.

such a scene

General Michels was heartbroken and his face turned ashen. Seeing that the Royal Fleet of the Tang Empire stopped bombarding one after another, the fleet was heading west...

General Michels woke up suddenly, and hurriedly shouted; "Quickly, quickly pass on my command, let all the personnel of the West Coast Fort withdraw, leaving only the battery manipulating the 305mm main gun, and all the others withdraw. .”

"As ordered, sir."

The officers under him galloped away immediately, and went to the West Coast Fort to deliver orders.

The east fort was destroyed by the enemy fleet, and the west fort was about to face the same tragic fate. Now the officers and soldiers in the west fort were in danger of being wiped out. One by one, there was no need to wait for death.

In the face of the enemy's powerful artillery fire, the small and medium-caliber artillery in the West Fort could not be used by ordinary combatants.

The Governor of Persia remained silent with a livid face. His eyes looked at the dozen or so Dutch Royal Fleet in Batavia Harbor with a look of sadness flashing in his eyes.

For the glory of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the officers and soldiers of these Royal Navy fleets could not abandon their ships and land to avoid the battle, but could only face the powerful enemy in a desperate battle.

These old-fashioned warships with sails fluttering represent the glory of the Royal Netherlands Navy across the seven seas. That blood-swelling era has long gone, and the afterglow of the empire today will be trampled underfoot by the enemy.

The Dutch Royal East Indies Fleet hiding in the harbor is now like a shivering chicken, facing the villains who broke in, they have little power to fight back.

A sad mood rose in my heart, and unconsciously, the eyes of the governor of Perth were blurred...

on the sea

The 5 Duke-class main ironclad ships lined up like giant steel mountains, presenting a rigorous battle line. The front and rear main turrets of the battleships all turned to the side, and the long and huge gun barrels revealed the atmosphere of crazy destruction.

On the deck of the battleship, the heavy gunpowder smoke filled the air after the launch, and the sailors on the ship pushed the propellant package with a small cart, and urgently transported it to the turret.

The officers commanded in an orderly manner, with commands one after another, and a state of tense pre-war preparations.

The artillery battle just now has achieved a satisfactory result, and the next round of artillery shells is about to begin...

On the large main bridge of the USS Duke of Hawaii

His Highness Tang-Li Xin, Prince of Pingxi, was standing on the gangway at the moment, holding a copper monocular with both hands to observe carefully, and several senior officers beside him were also holding binoculars to observe the movement of the fort.

"Report to the commander, it seems that some enemy officers and soldiers have withdrawn from the West Fort." A naval colonel put down the binoculars in his hand and hurriedly reported with his finger ahead.

The binoculars in the hands of His Royal Highness Tang-Li Xin, the Prince of Pingxi, turned to that direction, put it down after looking at it for a while, nodded and said;

"That's right, the enemy's fear is chilling. This shows that the Dutch have a deep understanding of the greeting gift we sent. It's a good sign!"

His words aroused proud laughter from the surrounding senior officers.

Strong self-confidence comes from strength. The artillery fire of the enemy's counterattack was several kilometers away, but countless water jets exploded on the sea surface. It looked amazing, but in fact it exploded into loneliness.

The shells closest to the landing point were also 1 kilometer away, posing no threat to the fleet.

For the heavy bombardment just now, the bombardment level of the five main ironclad ships has to undergo post-war evaluations. Among them, two ships can be played well, and three ships can be played well+, which is quite good.

Every training is actual combat, and every actual combat is a test.

no doubt
The capital ship of the empire has withstood the severe test. The three captains who performed well in bombarding the forts on the east coast are now showing a hundred times more energy, and are loudly urging their officers to cooperate with all their strength. , and play "First Hit".

The engine power output is more stable, the ship operation is more detailed, and the gun crew is more closely coordinated, striving for better performance.

Marshal Tang-Li Xin, Prince of Pingxi, ordered: "Raise the battle signal flag, keep an eye on the movement of the Dutch fleet in the port, and order the Second Fleet and Third Fleet to prepare for battle to prevent the enemy from jumping over the wall in a hurry."

"Obey, Commander." The herald immediately ran to carry out the order.

on the sea
The other battleships that followed the main ironclad fleet far away, a cruiser fleet composed of 7 ironclad cruisers, and a guerrilla fleet composed of smaller displacement ironclad ships, immediately formed a battle formation after receiving the order. A death trumpet forms outside the port of Via.

The two fleets swam slowly in the shape of an "eight" and their broadside muzzles aimed at the open sea without exception.

If the Dutch Royal East Indies Fleet wanted to break through, they would have to go through the dead sea sealed off by artillery, which almost doomed their complete destruction.

If you don't fight, then you will be captured obediently.

And this is obviously a great shame that the proud officers and soldiers of the Royal Netherlands Navy Fleet cannot accept. Therefore, when the rumbling gunfire sounded again, the Royal Netherlands Navy Fleet launched a death-like counterattack.

in the bay

One sail warship after another raised its sails, left the dock nimbly, formed two battle formations in the bay, and began to break through under the leadership of four 4-ton ironclad ships.

This is an extremely tragic scene, and it is also an unprecedented tragic scene.

The Dutch fleet was divided into two rows with an interval of about 3 kilometers between them, and began to assault the dead horn sea area surrounded by wolves, and soon increased the speed to about 12~13 knots.

Behind the ironclad ship are sail cruisers and single-masted frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The sailors on the ship are full of sails. Black holes are exposed on both sides of the battleship. All combatants are already in place.

Between sea and sky
The battle line composed of five hill-like iron-clad giant ships is pouring artillery fire on the west coast fort one after another rhythmically, blowing up the huge west coast fort, causing the rocks to collapse, like the end of the world.

The forts on the west coast of the Dutch army were also fighting back with all their strength, but unfortunately all the shells fired fell into the sea, blasting high water columns one by one, unable to bring any damage to the enemy fleet.

The main armored ship of the Royal Fleet of the Tang Dynasty, at a rate of 5 minutes, steadily poured artillery fire on the west coast fort, pouring 40 rounds of 305mm shells in each round, the defensive walls, warehouses, barracks, auxiliary battery and main battery of the west coast fort All were affected, and the flames of being bombed were raging.

After only 5 rounds of shelling, three of the four 4 mm 305-caliber Krupp cannons on the West Coast Fort have been destroyed, and only the last one is still fighting back tenaciously.

At this moment, the most tragic scene happened
After the assaulting Dutch Royal Fleet entered the bell mouth sea area of ​​death, with an order, shells rained down on the head and covered the face, immediately turning the sea area into a boiling soup pot.

The dense fire coverage area formed by the 29 warships of the Tang Empire, in just a few minutes, had already beaten the leading four 4-ton ironclad ships into flames, and the flames of the explosion rose high.

The warships of the Royal Dutch Fleet also fired back. Unfortunately, 4 warships counterattacked 29 warships. They were still in a state of accelerating breakthrough.

God knows where these counterattack shells went?

Not long after the bloody battle
The iron-clad ship "General Van Campbell" on the right column seemed to be hit by a sea giant. It was hit by two 280mm shells and exploded. The huge power of the explosion knocked the iron-clad ship "General Van Campbell" sideways.

After the water mist and explosion debris fell from the sky, it was discovered that the bow of the ironclad "General Van Campbell" had been blown off, and there was also a laceration of more than 7 meters long in the midship.

A large amount of sea water poured in quickly, and the entire hull tilted severely to the right. In just over two minutes, the iron-clad ship "General Van Campbell" had completely disappeared on the sea.

The iron-clad ship "General Ian" that followed it passed by without stopping, firing wildly to counterattack, while galloping at high speed trying to break through.

Its hull shook violently in the sea area where the raindrops exploded, braving the gunfire and advancing, as if dancing in the sea area of ​​death.

The iron-clad ship "General Ian" was lucky. Under the intensive artillery fire, only a few rounds of small and medium-caliber shells were hit, and no fatal wounds were caused.

A three-masted sail cruiser that followed was not so lucky, and its stern was hit by a 280mm large-caliber shell.

As if being punched down by a sea giant, the stern of the three-masted sail cruiser sank suddenly, the bow of the ship was raised high, and a dozen sailors fell into the sea due to the huge shock.

This 280mm artillery shell blew up the entire stern of the ship into a mess, and the wooden planks torn by the huge explosion were stunned, causing countless casualties to the officers and soldiers on board.

The violent explosion affected the tall mizzen mast and the top mast. The mizzen mast was directly blown off, and the tall top mast made a toothsome cracking sound before toppling down.

After this heavy damage, the sailing cruiser with a crew of more than 830 people was already limp and powerless on the sea surface, and the long mast toppled down on the sea surface, holding the sailing warship tightly.

Shells continued to rain down, and the battle at sea entered an unprecedentedly tragic stage.

The Second and Third Squadrons of the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire used intensive artillery fire to weave a sea of ​​death and fatally strangled the assaulting Royal Dutch Fleet.

The naval battle with distinct strengths and weaknesses turned into a one-sided massacre.

The Royal Netherlands Navy, which had risen bravely to attack, was annihilated in the intensive artillery fire, and it burst into bright and heroic fireworks, which was witnessed by everyone at the harbor and was moved.

One after another Dutch warships exploded under intensive artillery fire, and the blazing flames filled the sea, announcing the end of the former glory of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

It's too miserable, it's simply a charge that never returns...

Under the strangulation of intensive artillery fire in the sea of ​​​​death, the Royal Netherlands Navy fleet trying to break out of the encirclement struggled in vain, and was finally annihilated in the sea of ​​​​fire.

Not a single battleship rushed out, and all the glory and glory of the past sank to the bottom of the sea, turning into a futile struggle.

In the face of the absolute superiority of the naval power, all resistance is like a joke, which can be broken with a light poke of the hand.

(End of this chapter)