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Chapter 1430 Each Has Its Own Strengths 3
After more than ten years and trying various methods, they finally figured out that the Ming Dynasty navy's cannon casting technology was called internal mold cooling. They also gradually obtained some core data and spent a lot of money to hire two old craftsmen who had worked at the Haihe Machinery Factory.

Although these two were not master craftsmen, they had participated in the cannon-casting process, which was much more reliable than guessing blindly. So the East India Company set up a workshop outside Amsterdam to secretly test it, but the results were far from satisfactory.

The cast iron naval guns produced were somewhat better than before, but still not as good as those cast by the Ming Dynasty. For example, the barrel walls had to be thickened, otherwise the chamber pressure would be insufficient. Another very troublesome defect was that they could not be further processed.

The expensive craftsmen hired said the problem wasn't with the casting technique, but with the material of the cast iron. The Ming Dynasty used a special cast iron, called gray cast iron, which was highly tough and easy to work with, when casting cannons.

However, they didn't know exactly how this iron was smelted. They would have to find engineers in large smelters to know, and in addition to people, specialized equipment might also be needed.

This put Cohen in a difficult position. His job allowed him easy access to the Navy, including some of the shipyard's craftsmen, some of whom knew how to cast cannons. However, he had little access to metallurgical experts, and he couldn't just wander around the foundry without a reason.

So the remaining problems can only be solved by the smelting experts in the Netherlands and other European countries, who will have to figure out the best formula through continuous experimentation. When they will make progress depends on God's mood.

However, relying solely on the internal mold cooling casting technology, the Dutch still took a significant lead over all Europeans in artillery, especially naval guns.

The ability to use cast iron instead of bronze would drastically reduce costs, effectively allowing for unlimited casting. Combined with advantages such as light weight, high chamber pressure, and long barrel, it surpassed contemporary European bronze cannons in almost every aspect, except for rate of fire and service life.

In terms of tactics, the Dutch differed from other European countries. They clearly favored smaller, more maneuverable, and highly seaworthy warships.

For example, Tropp's flagship, the "Amelia," was a medium-sized three-masted sailing ship with a displacement of over 600 tons, armed with more than 50 long-barreled guns, a relatively low freeboard, and a strong emphasis on seaworthiness.

According to the Dutch's unique classification, this flagship was categorized as a heavy frigate. It adopted some Gothenburg hull designs and had a more elongated hull, resembling the Han-class warships of the Ming Dynasty navy.

Not only did they resemble each other in appearance, but their combat philosophies were also similar. Compared to the British, the Dutch warships were generally smaller in tonnage and gun caliber, but had higher speed and range. They would never get close to fire if they could do so from a distance, and they certainly wouldn't try to solve problems through boarding maneuvers like the Spanish.

The first thing Wang Tiemao encountered was the Holy Cross flag. These 30-plus British warships, along with the Dutch fleet, were providing cover for the landing forces on the east side. Upon discovering the Ming fleet flying the Sun and Moon flag, they were the first to engage in battle.

The British commander planned to sail southeast first, using the tailwind to gain a broadside firing position ahead of the Ming fleet. Then, they would seize the opportunity to charge into the enemy fleet and create chaos. Even if they didn't gain an advantage, slowing the enemy down would be a victory, as the Dutch and Spanish fleets would follow.

On the question of how to counter the Ming Dynasty fleet, the British were far more attentive than the Spanish and more willing to embrace new ideas. After their disastrous defeat at the Cape of Good Hope, they had been pondering how to defeat the Ming navy and had developed a strategy. Essentially, it boiled down to two words: slow them down! British naval commanders believed the main reason for their defeat at the Cape of Good Hope was speed. The Ming navy's warships were fast and maneuverable, somewhat like cavalry against infantry—they could approach or distance themselves at will.

If infantry always fights at the cavalry's usual speed, they will never have a chance to win. Only by finding a way to slow down the cavalry can infantry have a chance to win.

So how to slow down the Ming Dynasty navy on the high seas? The answer is the same: angle cutting! The British specially invited experts in mathematics and geometry to calculate several solutions for quickly approaching the Ming Dynasty navy by using angles under different wind directions and course.

After multiple tests, it proved to be very effective. Even if the opponent's speed is faster, as long as they do not notice the change in angle in time, by the time they react, it is likely that it will be too late to dodge. Moreover, as long as they dare to change course at a large angle, their speed will inevitably decrease, making it not only impossible to dodge but also easier for them to get close.

However, simply closing the distance was not enough to win, because the Ming Dynasty's warships had powerful cannons, strong hull protection, and a high rate of fire. In close-range gun battles, the British warships would still suffer heavy losses.

At this point, we need to rely on numerical superiority to make up for it. The Clippers are the ones who use the angle to get close, and they will do whatever it takes to disrupt the opponent's formation, block their path, and prevent them from accelerating away.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, even more warships were continuously added, turning the naval battle into complete chaos, even resorting to ramming ships. The point was, as long as the Ming navy couldn't get out of control, victory was assured!
"Oh dear, the British have gotten quite capable! They're even cutting in with the wind now! Navigator, signal the fleet to be aware of the enemy ships approaching at high speed, but don't change course immediately. Prepare for the flagship's signal."

"Bosun, it's your turn to shine. Tell all the ships to bring up all the big stuff from their hold; we'll unload it all when the fleet turns. You keep a close eye on things, and have experienced sailors handle the operations. Don't blow ourselves up before you hit the enemy!"

The tactics summarized by the British were quite reliable, especially when facing a tailwind or headwind; choosing the right angle could indeed compensate for a lack of speed. Unfortunately, they overlooked a crucial fact: the Ming navy, from sailors to officers, had received advanced mathematics and geometry training.

Moreover, it wasn't just a one-time formality; it was a mandatory requirement for promotion and was subject to frequent assessments. Those who failed the assessments would be dismissed from their posts, let alone become officers, and even ordinary sailors would have to leave the ship until they passed the assessments.

As a veteran of the first generation of naval personnel, Wang Tiemao had spent countless nights and put in immense effort on these problems, and the conversions between course, angle, speed, and wind force were almost second nature to him. After clearly seeing the enemy's course and sail configuration, he immediately realized what was about to happen.

But instead of immediately taking the safest evasive action, he chose to take a risk to maximize his gains. This is simply the nature of every commander; if Yan Busi were in command, he certainly wouldn't have done it this way; and if Setter were brought in, he might have gone even further.

Years ago, the Naval Staff formally submitted a document to the General Staff detailing operational rules, which received partial support. The rationale was that such detailed rules would minimize the impact of individual commander errors on the battle situation and would be more conducive to training a large number of qualified officers.

(End of this chapter)