Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 57 Decisive Battle: Prelude

June 6.The city of Castro ignited soaring smoke, and the warehouses, barracks, prisons, offices, lumberyards, etc. in the city were burned down, and the Spanish colonial efforts for many years were destroyed.When the raiding fleet led by Yunsheng No. 28 left, Xiao Bailang with ulterior motives also left some captured matchlock guns and cold weapons to the local Araucan Indians.There are quite a few Araucans living scattered on Ziloe Island, and most of them are usually masters who disobey the rule of the Spaniards. If these Araucans can take this opportunity to cause some trouble for the Spaniards, then Xiao Bailang is probably dreaming. The mouth will be crooked.

After the fleet left, it began to sail towards Chacao, another Spanish colony on the island.Chacao is located at the northern tip of Ziloe Island, across the Chacao Strait from mainland Chile.This small city is slightly larger than Castro City and has a slightly larger population. On the evening of June 6, the fleet appeared in the Chacao Strait. Due to the heavy rain, the planned landing operation was canceled.The whole fleet hoisted the Spanish navy flag, slowly passed through the Chacao Strait, then turned due north, and headed towards Valdivia.

At the end of June, the Chilean coast was calm, but the sea off the Dayu River was covered with battle clouds.Diego Garcia's task force ate up the cold wind in the vast South Atlantic Ocean, but failed to catch Xiao Bailang's fleet.Angrily, they had just returned to Buenos Aires when they heard the bad news that the Tartan fleet had sunk three Spanish offshore warships. At this time, the naval blockade against the Tartans had actually collapsed.

After calming down, Diego Garcia had to admit that relying on the navy alone could no longer resolve the battle smoothly.That being the case, let the army solve the battle altogether.As long as the Tartans' castle on land is conquered, the war can be declared over.

At the end of May, two transport ships loaded with various military supplies arrived safely in Buenos Aires from Lima; The cavalry also arrived without incident.So far, the Spaniards' war preparations have been basically completed.Major Antonio Carlos, who had arrived with the Peruvian cavalry, served as the newly created Superintendent of Buenos Aires, with full responsibility for all army affairs, but under the command of the commander of the fleet of Diego García.

On June 6, when Xiao Bailang's fleet set fire to the Port of Castro, a large number of Spanish warships and transport ships gathered outside the Dayu River.Wang Qinian sat in the cement bunker of the main fort, closely observing the movements of the Spaniards at sea.This time the Spaniards should have done their best. The total number of large and small warships and transport ships exceeds 28, which can be described as a luxurious lineup.However, Wang Qinian is also confident in the firepower of his fort. There are 20 artillery pieces in the main battery, 24 artillery pieces in the second battery, 8 artillery pieces in the third battery, and 8 artillery pieces in the newly built fourth battery. 6 terrifying 46-pound long-barreled cannons.In addition, the fort is equipped with more than 8 various types of army light artillery, which is prepared to deal with enemy army soldiers who intend to land and attack the fort. The total number of gunners in the entire fort exceeds 32, a record high.

Captain Li Yi, the commander of the main turret, was a football teacher at a university before crossing. After crossing, he has spent a lot of time studying artillery knowledge, coupled with a lot of live ammunition shooting training. It can be regarded as an artillery expert among the crossing crowd.

"Attention, the Spaniards seem to have an attempt to forcibly break into the port. They probably thought we only had more than 20 cannons, haha, then give them a surprise. Orderer, notify the A2-A8 artillery positions, and do not launch without authorization. Cannon, follow up and shoot at the same target after firing the cannon from the A1 gun position. Go and send the order!" Li Yi held up the binoculars while ordering the messengers around him.The artillery positions A1-A8 are equipped with eight 8-pound heavy guns, semi-closed forts, and the exterior is camouflaged.

"The Spaniards are moving!" The gunner of the A1 battery suddenly shouted excitedly. He was standing on tiptoe to observe the situation outside the port from the top of the firing hole.

At this time, under the order of Diego Garcia, the gunboat "Bison" of the Spanish task force sailed into the mouth of the Great Fish River first, followed by the "Countesa Alfonso" and the "Conqueror of Araucan". " and "Glory".The four warships lined up in the sea outside the river mouth, and after lowering their tail anchors, they all faced the harbor with their starboard sides.

Diego Garcia stood on the bridge of the flagship "Cádiz Rock", holding a monocular to observe the situation in the port.According to the information obtained before the war, the Tatans built certain forts in the port. The number of cannons was between 18 and 24. The largest caliber of the cannon was 24 pounds, which was the same as that on their own warships.On paper, the strength of the Tartans' forts should not be underestimated.However, his fleet has a huge strength of more than 250 artillery pieces. Even if only one side of the battleship can shoot, there are still more than 100 pieces, which is enough to suppress or even destroy the Tartan forts, as long as he is willing to bear a certain price.

Major Antonio Carlos sat on the bridge leisurely. To be honest, he was very tired of the officer in front of him in name.A descendant of a pig herder, who is cruel and greedy, has nothing to do with elegance, yet he can command himself swaggeringly.God, something must be wrong!Major Carlos cursed, let this short man in front of him be severely humiliated.

It was as if God heard his response.A Tartan battery on a small alluvial island in the estuary opened fire, and the iron projectiles whistling out of the gun barrel effortlessly hit the "Alfonso Countess" anchored in the harbor, and successfully created a A little mess.

"Good luck! The first hit!" Ding Wei and Liu Dafa, who replaced Lu Ming and Chen Tumu as the commanders and deputy commanders of the No. [-] Fort, looked at each other excitedly, "These gangsters actually dropped anchor to fight with us in order to improve shooting accuracy. , so you can’t blame us for being so supportive.”

But their excitement didn't last long, and the Spaniard's counterattack came soon.Projectiles fired by more than 60 naval guns poured towards Battery No. 18, most of which landed in the sea, but a considerable part still landed on the island.The roof of the gun emplacement where Ding Wei and Ding Wei were standing was smashed by an [-]-pound iron bullet, and a Charuya who was carrying the shell was hit on the head and died on the spot.The two of Ding Wei who witnessed this scene were shocked and speechless for a moment.

"Damn it, I still don't believe it! The fort can't beat your wooden boat!" Ding Wei was also a ruthless person, and he rolled up his sleeves and started to move the shells.The well-trained gunners completed the loading immediately, and the artillery roared and fired deadly shells towards the sea.The 8 artillery pieces on Fort No. [-] opened fire one after the other, fighting against the Spaniards tenaciously.

Seeing that the 4 warships were still unable to suppress a small fort at the forefront of the Tartans, Diego Garcia ordered the "Bishop of Lima" and the "Judge" to join the battle group, increasing the number of Spanish warships to 6 , the firepower was greatly enhanced.They carefully controlled the distance between the battleship and the main battery, trying to keep their anchoring positions away from the opponent's artillery.

"Fort No. 32 is in danger, and if it continues like this, it will be blown up. Li Yi, don't wait any longer, the opponent's flagship should not come up. Give the Spaniards a surprise, they should be very happy to receive the message we sent. [-]-pound iron bullet." Wang Qinian said.

Li Yi didn't speak, and simply walked to the 1-pound artillery in the A32 gun position, picked up the torch and pointed it towards the fire door. "Boom!" Accompanied by thick smoke, the 32-pound iron ball rushed towards the enemy warship on the sea with great force.The iron ball flew over a distance of nearly a thousand meters, passed over the deck of the battleship "Judge", which was the last row, and landed on the sea surface more than ten meters away from the port side of the "Bishop of Lima", splashing a jet of water into the sky .

After the gun position A1 was fired, the gun positions A2-A8 also opened fire quickly, and two 32-pound solid balls hit the "Bishop of Lima".One hit the toilet on the open-air gallery behind the poop, and the other hit the starboard gun deck, both of which caused considerable damage to the 500-ton warship.

"Damn! Their 24-pound guns fired, uh... no! This is not a 24-pound gun, it's a 32-pound gun! Damn it, the Tartans actually have a 32-pound heavy naval gun!" Diego Garcia was finally moved, My own fleet anchored under the muzzle of someone else's 32-pound gun. Isn't this courting death? "Quick, first mate, take the traffic boat to inform the 'Bishop of Lima' and the 'Prosecuting Judge' to retreat!"

Diego Garcia stared at the firing position of the 32-pound artillery on the main battery with a binoculars.These artillery pieces are all installed in well-protected semi-enclosed emplacements, and the exterior of the emplacements has also been camouflaged to a certain extent.And there are as many as 8 such artillery pieces. I really don't know where these Tatan people got so many large-caliber artillery pieces.

After the 32-pound artillery was fired, it was followed by 24-pound and 18-pound artillery. According to prior orders, these artillery concentratedly bombarded the traumatized "Lima Bishop" gunboat, and the dense shells fell on the "Lima Bishop" like rain. Around the "Bishop" and even the "Judge" which was next to her were also hit by several shells.

The bridge of the Bishop of Lima was hit by four shells, and the navigator and first officer were killed instantly.The captain still insisted on commanding, and he ordered the sailors to pull up the stern anchor and prepare to flee to the open sea.At this time, another round of 32-pound shells hit. This time, the accuracy of the shells was much improved, and 4 shells directly hit the hull.Among them, one hit the mainmast by accident, completely interrupting it, and the lookout in the masthouse screamed and fell off the deck; The chain bomb hit the sail surface and damaged it in a large area, making it almost unusable; the sail hawser was also scratched by two 24-pound shells, and an unlucky sailor died on the spot.

It wasn't until this time that the fleet commander Diego Garcia suddenly discovered that after two rounds of intensive shelling by the Tartans, the frigate "Bishop of Lima" seemed to have lost most of its ability to move!

(End of this chapter)