The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 888: The US Pacific Fleet launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor?

In April 1882, the Pacific Ocean south of Oahu was calm, the sun shone on the deep blue sea, and the waves sparkled. The frigate "Pearl Harbor" of the Hawaiian Kingdom's Zhenyo Militia Navy was breaking through the waves at a cruising speed of 4 knots.

Although this 1000-ton battleship is not huge, it has a slender hull and smooth lines. It is a mass-produced near-shore defense ship specially designed and built by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Jiangnan Shipyard. Because the first ship was sold to the True Creed Militia Navy of the Kingdom of Hawaii and named "Pearl Harbor", it is also called the "Pearl Harbor Class". It is a very useful miscellaneous ship.

On the bow deck, several sailors were busy wiping the barrel of the 150mm Tenryei 45-year-old -caliber rapid-fire gun. The barrel was hot from the sun, and the metal surface was gleaming with a grayish-white metallic luster. Inside the bridge, the deputy captain, Major General Shuzo Nanyun, was leaning over the chart table, marking the route with a pencil. This naval officer from the Yonezawa domain of Japan was in his early thirties, with a thin figure, and his skin was tanned from years of duty at sea, but his eyes were bright and energetic.

"Captain, enter the bridge!"

The officer on duty suddenly shouted, and the officers and soldiers on the bridge immediately straightened their backs, put their heels together, and quickly raised their right hands to their temples. The hatch was pushed open, and Lieutenant Colonel Takano Sadayoshi strode in. He was about 40 years old, with a stern face that looked particularly energetic. There were a few fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

He and Nanyun were both graduates of the Shodoshima Naval Academy near Osaka. They both entered during the period of the Asahi-Japanese Union and received full British naval officer training. However, in order to enter the officer school sponsored by the Shinyoku sect, they were both baptized into the Shinyoku sect and performed the ceremony of vassalage to Kusunoki Inako and Kusunoki Takako. In theory, they were both samurai of the Kusunoki domain under the Shinyoku Shinto Shrine.

Because they were not from the "anti-Jingu faction" of Satsuma, Choshu, Saga and Tosa, they all belonged to the True Promise faction in the Japanese Civil War after Yang Xiuqing's death and followed the Kusunoki family to fight. After the Battle of Tsushima, as officers of the Marine Infantry Corps, they followed the lord of the Kusunoki domain, Takako Kusunoki, to participate in the Shikoku Counterattack War and made meritorious contributions. However, they and some other graduates of the Shodoshima Naval Academy were unwilling to continue to participate in the Japanese Civil War, so they asked Takako Kusunoki to be sent out, came to Pearl Harbor, and became officers of the True Promise faction militia navy.

I have to say, this is fate!
Both of them have a connection with Pearl Harbor, and their sons have an even stronger connection with Pearl Harbor. They can both be born in Pearl Harbor!

"Report to the captain!" Major Nanyun stood at attention and saluted, "The lookout spotted seven columns of smoke 20 miles southeast, heading directly towards Oahu!"

Gao Ye frowned, walked quickly to the porthole, and raised the telescope. On the distant horizon, several thick black smoke columns were slowly rising, twisting like poisonous snakes and spreading towards the sky.

"British ships are patrolling from Christmas Island?" Nan Yun asked tentatively.

Christmas Island is located more than 1100 nautical miles south of Hawaii. After the New Yorkists took Pearl Harbor, it was occupied by the British and built into a naval base. It is an important stronghold of the British Royal Navy in the eastern Pacific, with a squadron stationed there all year round.

Takano sneered: "The British cruisers burn Welsh anthracite, and the smoke is light gray. Look at these--" He thrust the telescope at Nanyun, "It's as black as ink, it's low-quality Pennsylvania bituminous coal! Only the poor devils in the Eastern US Navy use it!"

Nan Yun took the telescope and looked carefully, his face gradually becoming serious. A month ago, the intelligence report of the Taiping Army General Staff had warned: at least ten East American ships sailed around Cape Horn and secretly entered the port of Valparaiso, Chile!

"Messenger!" Gao Ye shouted, "Launch the green rocket immediately to warn Pearl Harbor!"

"Yes!" The messenger turned and ran to the communications room.

Although the Pearl Harbor was a very good frigate, it was not qualified to be among the first to be equipped with wireless telegraph, so it could only launch two rockets into the sky to warn Pearl Harbor.

Takano took a deep breath, turned to Nanyun and said, "Whether it is an American or not, we need to get closer to confirm it."

Nan Yun nodded: "But if it is the US East Fleet, our frigate is no match at all."

Takano's eyes were cold and resolute, "The warriors of the Shinjo faction are not afraid of death! Besides, the American cruisers are slow, we can run away!"

Twenty nautical miles away, the protected cruiser USS Charleston, flagship of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's Hawaiian Squadron, was sailing on the ocean at 14 knots!

This 3730-ton steel behemoth is a product of the Naval Shipbuilding Act of 1877. The two 203mm main guns on the bow gleam coldly in the sun, and the muzzles of the 152mm rapid-fire guns on the side are slightly raised, ready to fire at any time.

Inside the bridge, Rear Admiral John M. Brooke was standing in front of the chart table, his fingers tracing the coastline of Oahu, looking a little excited. He was in his fifties, with some graying hair on his temples. He had waited too many years to occupy Hawaii - if it weren't for the Civil War that broke out more than 20 years ago, Hawaii would have long been a U.S. territory!
"General!" Lieutenant Colonel James Wilson, the first mate, walked over quickly. "The lookout reported that a frigate is approaching us at a speed of about 12 knots. It is suspected to be the Hawaiian Navy!"

Brooke frowned. "Are you sure it's not a British ship?" Wilson shook his head. "The smoke from the British frigate is lighter. This ship is burning low-quality coal. It is likely to be the 'Pearl Harbor Class' of the True York Militia Navy."

"The True Jockey Club militia navy..." Brooke sneered, "It seems that our 'old friend' Hong Renzheng has not learned to keep a low profile." He turned to the communications officer and ordered, "Contact the 'New York' immediately and order it to lead two 'Bainbridge-class' destroyers to escort the troop transport fleet to Honolulu! This ship and the remaining destroyers will form an interception team and prepare to meet the enemy!"

As the flag signal was raised, the two American destroyers immediately accelerated to 22 knots and flanked from the left and right wings like hounds. Brooke raised his telescope, looked at the lonely enemy ship in the distance, and whispered, "Let's see how powerful these Orientals are."

"Enemy destroyers are speeding up to encircle us! The distance is closing rapidly!" The shouts from the lookouts made the atmosphere on the bridge of the Pearl Harbor suddenly tense. Lieutenant Colonel Takano stared at the chart and suddenly punched the table: "Sound the battle alert! Communications officer, fire two red warning rockets!"

Lieutenant Commander Nanyun immediately said, "Captain, we have now confirmed the enemy's strength and intentions."

Gao Ye nodded: "I know, turn left! Pull smoke cover! Evacuate at full speed!"

Boilermen below the deck frantically shoveled coal into the furnace, black smoke billowed out of the chimney, and soon formed a thick smoke screen at the stern. At the same time, the sailors on the rear deck had already loaded the red warning rockets.

"Bang! Bang!" With two loud bangs, two rockets soared into the sky, leaving bright red trails and exploding into eye-catching red smoke clouds in the blue sky.

"150mm guns ready!" Takano gave orders to the gun position through the megaphone, "Target the enemy destroyer on the starboard side, free fire!"

About 10 minutes later, the 150mm main gun of the Pearl Harbor roared, and shells whizzed towards the approaching American destroyer. The first shell landed meters to the port side of the enemy ship, splashing a huge column of water.

"Correct the parameters! Keep firing!" the gunner shouted at the top of his lungs. The loaders, their naked upper bodies covered in sweat, stuffed shells into the gun barrels one after another.

The destroyer's 76mm rapid-fire guns began to fire back, and shells blasted water columns around the Pearl Harbor. Shrapnel from a near miss hit the ship's steel plate with a clang, and several sailors fell to the ground.

"Don't stop! Keep shooting!" Takano held onto the handrail tightly, the ship shaking violently during the high-speed maneuver, "At the same time, retreat to Pearl Harbor at full speed!"

Inside the Pacific Fleet Headquarters Operations Room.

"Tesla Mark III radio urgent message!" The voice of the translator exploded, "The Pearl Harbor frigate was besieged by the East American fleet, coordinates 21°18′ North Latitude, 157°50′ West Longitude... Three signal rockets were launched, two of which were red rockets fired in succession!"

"Two red rockets were fired in quick succession. Has the war started? It turned out to be Pearl Harbor! The Americans in the East are so shameless that they want to attack Pearl Harbor!"

Pearl Harbor was the territory of the Kingdom of Hawaii, which is still an independent country. The first shot of the American East-West War was fired on foreign soil. How American!
Colonel Liu Buchan, the chief of staff, put away the surprise on his face, and quickly grabbed a red pencil and put a cross on the location of Oahu. Then he shouted to a naval staff officer beside him: "Quick, notify all the captains who can be notified, and have them rush to the fleet headquarters immediately!"

An hour later, the door of the Pacific Fleet Command's conference room was thrown open, and Colonel Luo Xinhua rushed in, smelling of horse sweat, with his belt slung across his uniform. He was not on duty on the Dingyuan today, but was at home in downtown San Francisco with his wife and children. He had hurriedly come on horseback after the fleet headquarters' staff called him.

"The 'Charleston-class' cruiser of the East American Fleet appeared off the coast of Pearl Harbor, and six troop transport ships, escorted by destroyers, rushed towards Honolulu! In addition, the British secretly handed over the Diamond Hill Battery to the Americans who sneaked in earlier!" Liu Buchan slapped an order signed by Pacific Fleet Commander Luo Zhongtian on Luo Xinhua's chest, "The commander orders you to lead the first squadron to attack and support Pearl Harbor immediately."

"Go support Pearl Harbor now?" Luo Xinhua was stunned. "Only the First Squadron? The enemy must have sent out battleships!"

Liu Buchan said: "The commander also guessed that your Dinghai has a radio, which can contact our battleships California and Huazhou at any time, so he sent you! Remember to keep in touch with the two battleships at all times."

(End of this chapter)