The sun never sets in America

Chapter 295 The competition caused by Nuwa

On the Atlantic Ocean, a huge steel "monster" was sailing at a "turtle speed" of twelve knots per hour.

The main reason why it is so slow is to test performance and long-distance voyage performance.

If the speed is too fast, many performances will be difficult to truly test.

"accelerate---"

Buzz! !

Following the captain's acceleration order, the entire steam unit started running at high speed. First, the machine was extremely heated, and then the load on the power system increased. Finally, in just seven minutes, the first acceleration was completed. At this speed, For the first ironclad ship, this is already very good data.

When the "Nuwa" was "skating" on the sea, the tracking ship on the opposite side was chasing after it to test its data.

In the captain's room, the first captain Zhuge Cheng was commanding the Nuwa in an orderly manner. The surname Zhuge Cheng was actually just a common surname for him, but because he believed in Zhuge, when he went to the Naval Academy, he Just be "attentioned".

Just like what his teacher said:

"Your name is a bonus if you do well. If you don't do well, you will be scolded!!"

I didn’t know that Zhuge Wuhou had a spirit in heaven. Zhuge Cheng had been very smart since he was a child. So when he was in middle school in Yunzhong, Yunzhong Zhuge’s name spread like wildfire.

Later, the same was true when he was admitted to the Naval Academy. Because of his excellent grades, he was called Xiao Wuhou within the navy. Although it was a joke, it truly reflected the status of the surname Zhuge in the hearts of the Chinese.

And now, the reason why he was able to lead those classmates at the same time and become the captain of the first ironclad ship in Han Dynasty was mainly because of his surname. When the navy reported the places, Liu Peng fell in love with this man named Zhuge at first sight. A young man who once joked to Navy Minister Lu Mushan:

"Zhuge Liang saved the former Han Dynasty and died with all his strength. We, the Han Dynasty Navy, also want to produce Zhuge Liang!!"

Although it was a joke from the king, for Zhuge Cheng, it was a major event that changed his life, so much so that he was sometimes very grateful to the surname "Zhuge", which made him known to others without the need for introduction. expect.

"Turn left!!"

Zhuge Cheng held a telescope and gave the order "coldly".

And with his order, the steam unit below started running at high speed again, and the mechanical sound replaced the sea breeze and became the only sound that everyone on the ship could hear.

With the formation of the "bend", a standard full left rudder, just like it was designed in advance, was completed under the exclamation of all the tracking ships on the opposite side.

After driving on the correct track, in order to cool down the power room, it returned to the slow speed just now. The reason for this was not only to protect the machine, but also to make the people inside easier. After all, it had been running at high speed and at full load. For a four thousand five It is also a big burden for a hundred-ton ironclad ship.

Especially when it is still a new product, it is even more important to "slow down".

After driving for a while, Zhuge Cheng put down the telescope in his hand and shouted directly to the gunnery mate:

"Start artillery training!!"

The first mate saluted, and then went to arrange for the test firing of the cannon.

On the deck, several turrets stuck in turtle shells, under the operation of several artillerymen, rotated and pointed the muzzles to the right. The thick muzzles with "metallic light" in the sun were like this era. The alien technology is eye-catching.

Then the muzzle rotated again, moving to the left and southwest, and it seemed to rotate very smoothly without any discomfort.

This kind of rotating turret is a new naval gun technology that was developed by the Han Dynasty in five years. It is much higher than those warships that are still in fixed positions or even on the sides. If nothing else, just A single rotation is enough to crush non-rotating warships in war.

Although it is exaggerated, this is reality! !

Technology is often one step ahead, which is fatal. The British understand this best.

This is also the "basic" reason why the British rebuilt the Queen after learning that the Han Dynasty had turret rotation technology.

Because only in this way can we keep up with the development speed of the Han Navy. In fact, this is not only the case for the United Kingdom, but also for the United States. Originally, the United States' "Apollo" project was almost completed.

The first ship, the Apollo, was about to be launched, but due to the "progress" of the Han warships, it had to be pushed back. The poor Apollo has since become synonymous with failure.

So much so that the U.S. Navy Secretary lamented:

"The greatest victory of the Han Navy is to kill the soon-to-be-born Apollo!!"

Of course, among the current mainstream circles in the world, Britain still believes that Britain has the best naval technology. As for Han, it would be good to rank third behind France! !

"Crack!!"

Several shells were loaded at the bottom, and finally shot out with a "fire" and white smoke.

White smoke rose, and on the opposite sea surface, water spray suddenly appeared like a cannon in the sky, and finally slowly dispersed.

"Intensify testing!!"

Zhuge Cheng looked at the waves opposite him expressionlessly. The test just now was just an appetizer.

Boom boom! !

Cannonballs were shot out one after another like a slingshot, and finally landed on the sea, setting off "turbulent waves". Finally, when the waves dispersed, dead fish began to appear on the sea, and even one appeared. It was a good time. shark.

And those four artillery pieces seemed to have endless strength, and they fired seventy or eighty rounds in one breath.

The layout of the Nuwa is front and rear, with a total of four 240mm main guns. There are also six 75mm secondary guns and two 55mm close-range guns, which are specially used to attack pirates and offshore targets.

There are a total of twelve artillery pieces. It was initially planned to use a 305mm naval gun as the main gun. However, due to tonnage issues and initial design issues, a 240mm gun was just suitable. If it were enlarged, then Bloat will occur.

These artillery are all front-loading rifled artillery, and breech-loading artillery is not absent, but for the navy, they are all experimental products.

At present, the Han Dynasty's breech-loading artillery only has the experimental version of the Army. The Army itself has not figured out how to produce a more complex naval model.

In fact, no one is necessarily more advanced than the other with breech-loaded artillery. The biggest advantage of breech-loaded artillery over front-loaded guns is the rate of fire. Others, whether in terms of distance or power, are almost the same. The development of breech-loaded artillery is just a kind of It’s just the pursuit of strength! !

When the test firing was over, Zhuge Cheng marked "passed" on the test form with satisfaction.

Finally, he ordered to turn around and return to Longjiang Port.

In the New York Shipyard in the United States, a group of engineers were saying their final farewell to the "Apollo".

There were even cries as flowers were scattered across Apollo's massive steel hull, and like "Contagion," everyone was in tears.

Designer Ronnie stood on the second floor of the factory dock, leaning on the rusty railing. He was in a daze. He didn't wake up until there was an extra hand on his shoulder.

"Ronnie, the frustration after failure is often more vivid in your memory!!"

Putt, the owner of the shipyard, was like a "family member" comforting his favorite talented designer.

Ronnie, who was opposite him, barely managed a smile, and then spoke:

"According to intelligence, the Han nationality's Nuwa should be undergoing sea trials today."

"They must be very happy now, after all, they accomplished what we always wanted to accomplish!!"

Listening to Ronnie's "insincere" speech, Putt smiled, and then patted the other party on the shoulder to cheer him up:

"The Han people just took the lead once. When we Americans came to America on the Mayflower, they were still farming in the Far East!!"

"Nothing is impossible. They are ahead of us today, but that is only temporary. Only when the second Apollo appears in front of the world will they know who is the real uncrowned king!!"

Looking at the "impassioned" boss, Ronnie shrugged and finally said "Yes, you are right, no one can lead all the time."

"Put, the Han people's Nuwa is about 4,500 tons, so how about we build a bigger one at once?"

Ronnie's eyes revealed that "extreme control" was madness.

Putt, who was opposite, frowned. After all, this kind of unauthorized design change was not the final decision of their New York shipyard. It had to be approved by the military and Congress, otherwise contract disputes would easily arise. .

On the other side, as a designer, Ronnie didn't understand this and was still talking about his plan:

"I think that if we want to gain a comprehensive advantage, we should at least upgrade to 6,000 tons, or even 7,000 tons, and use larger caliber artillery. The current technology of the Han people can support up to 240 millimeters and 300 millimeters. Zero and Five are very reluctant. If we can be the first to equip 305 mm naval guns, coupled with the tonnage and the numerical advantage on the muzzle, we can definitely suppress the entire Han Navy in the war..."

"I even think that we can design a power system specifically for it. In terms of power, tonnage, and naval gun technology, it will surpass the Han people in all aspects."

"Only in this way, the American oceans belong to the United States of America, instead of sharing them with the damn Han people!!"

Ronnie talked a lot about "ship building", "data", "crushing" and other technical words in succession, including some English words starting with F that were dissatisfied with the Han Dynasty. As if he wanted to vent, he kept talking for seven or eight minutes before he stopped.

On the opposite side, Putt said "think about it" absently.

Ronnie, who was still in the "dream", and the sad engineers and shipbuilders were left behind, watching the "Apollo" become scrap metal.

And when Put sent the news, as expected, it caused a "uproar."

Supporters believe that this is the most beneficial counterattack against Han, the best propaganda for America's national strength, and even a "sharp weapon" for defeating Han in the future.

For those who oppose it, this is a huge "trap."

A huge financial trap! !

Originally, according to the plan, a total of twelve 4,000-ton ironclad ships were built in the early stage. But now that the price is so high, it is directly based on the standard, and each ship has been increased by half.

The increase in tonnage will lead to an increase in other things, including artillery, steam engines, etc.

If you add in the follow-up plans and R&D funding, the money spent will be overwhelming.

Needless to say, it’s another tens of millions of dollars.

Wouldn’t this money be used economically? ?

After a while of "annoying each other", everyone finally took a step back.

The first batch was reduced from twelve to nine, and subsequent reductions were also made, but the tonnage and performance of the single ship were increased.

Congress even allocated a special initial research funding of US$5.75 million, just to "catch up" with Han, the biggest enemy of the United States of America.

As for this new batch of armored ships, thanks to the "reasonable arguments" of Ronny and other design personnel, the Apollo class warships, which represent Greek mythology, were saved.

Apollo and Nuwa are like a pair of twins in Eastern and Western mythology. Although the timeline of their appearance has changed due to the advancement of science and technology in the Han Dynasty, the historical significance they bring is difficult to change.

Even for a long time to come, it will give a huge boost to the development of world shipbuilding and world navies.

.............................................

London, England……

In London after the rain, a rainbow rose and hung in the sky, seeming to indicate the power of this global colonial empire.

The Royal Admiralty is a typical British-style building. Outside the building, guards wearing bearskin hats and navy uniforms stand.

Coming and going, there were all officers above the school level, and a few lieutenants were still standing guard.

Boom! !

Click...

The telephone door of the office was opened. The director of the British Naval Equipment Department looked at the lieutenant colonel who walked in, smiled and went to prepare black tea.

When the sound of stirring the black tea "rang", the director's name was Lucicare. He was a typical bald middle-aged British man with a big belly, leaning on the sofa, enjoying the black tea with an unknown number of spoons of sugar.

Opposite him was a lean young man named Hoffman. He was an intelligence officer who was responsible for the intelligence of the world's navies.

"Hoffman, you have given me a problem this time."

"You should know that the Navy has included the Queen and even the semi-finished products behind it in the transformation plan. At this time, it is simply impossible to add more tonnage!!"

"This would be unacceptable to us."

Lucicare, like most "British bureaucrats," spoke in "unclear" language and in a deliberately drawn-out accent.

Opposite him, Hoffman looked at this disgusting "fat pig" with sincere eyes and replied in a firm tone:

"Mr. Director, you must understand that this is not a simple matter of adding money, it means the sea power of the British Empire."

"The Han people were the first to build a rotating armored ship. This was embarrassing enough for us, forcing us to make large-scale modifications. How many pounds and shillings would it cost??"

"What's even more terrifying is the United States. Following the Han people, they have grown stronger and their armored ships are even bigger. This is a huge challenge to us, the Royal Navy, and the order of the British Empire..."

"For the sake of the British Empire and the glory of the Queen, we must stop this!!"

(Victoria was stimulated by Liu Peng's proclaimed emperor and ascended the throne as the Emperor of India many years in advance)

Lucicare listened expressionlessly to these words that made him "very unhappy". The plan he had just made was about to start, and several valuable semi-finished products had even been destroyed. Now it has been changed. The British Empire can't survive. Mixed up? ?

But Lucicare couldn't refute it directly. After all, what the other party said was indeed right, and he himself recognized it.

But as the saying goes:

"You did it good guy, what should I do??"

"Hoffman, you should understand that this is not a simple modification."

"We have to be realistic."

"This year's naval military expenditures have been calculated and it is impossible to increase military expenditures again."

Lucicare is not one of those "young people" who agrees as soon as his head is hot. He has been in the Equipment Department for many years and has fully understood the "twists and turns" involved.

It is impossible to increase money. Those bastards in the cabinet cannot increase money.

Hoffman wanted to say something else, but in the end, Lucicare said:

"No money" interrupted.

When Hoffman walked home with "lost" steps.

The British cabinet has actually been in a quarrel for a long time.

Why? It’s not because of Han and the United States. These two countries were “playing havoc” in the Americas, causing a group of “young men” in the Royal Navy to make a big fuss.

The reason is also very simple. As the Royal Navy of the British Empire, how can its battleships be inferior to those of other countries? ?

Rear Admiral Balsi, who came to negotiate, just had the word "make money" carved on his forehead.

In Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria also had a headache because of the commotion caused by China and the United States.

After all, if you don't respond, you will tell the whole world and those "careerists" that the British Empire cannot even keep up with its most proud warships.

The British Empire relied on its huge Royal Navy to rule the largest and richest colony in the world.

Once a concubine is exposed in the navy, the consequences will be a colony. When the "turbulence" comes, the UK will not be able to control it.

Thinking of this, Queen Victoria has scolded Han and the United States dozens of times.

In her opinion, these two American countries are typical troublemakers, with no regard for the dignity of the "overlord".

Now that it is better, even if the British Empire wants to avoid it, it will be difficult.

So after two weeks of wrangling, a shipbuilding plan codenamed "Imperial Bow" came into being.

In this shipbuilding plan, the first batch of twenty-four 5,000-ton ironclads designated as Constellation-class ironclads will be built.

Subsequently, the Queen class weighing 7,000 tons will be built, and a total of twelve ships will be built.

(The Queen is delayed)

As the British media "joyfully" announced this naval plan named "epoch-making".

For a time, there was a turmoil, and the whole of Europe and even the whole world were discussing the unfamiliar term "ironclad ship".

The gears of time and space turn again! !

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(End of this chapter)