Opening game, American Tycoon

Chapter 576 Daming accepts the challenge (fourth update, please subscribe)
The news of the Ming Fleet's visit to Hawaii naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of many American politicians after it reached the United States. After all, the United States' ambitions for Hawaii have always been well known.

In Washington political circles, the threat of the Ming Empire was imminent, and as such, at the end of 1871,

Under the slogan of "Remember Los Angeles", the U.S. Congress passed the "Navy Act" almost unanimously. According to the authorization of the bill, the U.S. Navy will build 12 ironclad ships within five years.

"National security, economy and honor require us to revive the Navy!"

On Capitol Hill, President McClellan delivered an impassioned speech. Since then, the United States has abandoned its previous views. There is no need for a powerful army and navy to challenge them.

But this world is such a reality.

Accept the challenge, or be challenged!
In other words, you either slap someone in the face, or get slapped in the face.

As for whether the United States will slap people in the face or be slapped in the face in the future?It's not clear yet.

But what is certain is that when the United States was ambitious to rearm its armaments, the Ming Empire bravely accepted the challenge.

On November 11, at 30:6 pm, Emperor Zhu came to Nanhua Shipyard. After ten years of development, it has long become the largest shipyard in the entire Western Hemisphere.

There are three shipyards in Daming—Nanhua Shipyard, Linhai Shipyard, and Yingtian Shipyard, which is being rebuilt and expanded.But among these three shipyards, only Nanhua currently has the capacity to build large warships.

Although the sky was a little dark, thousands of craftsmen crowded around the edge of the ship like ants in the dock of Nanhua Shipyard. The sound of the pneumatic rivet gun hitting the rivets echoed in the night sky like a cheerful symphony. Then, the fiery red rivets were thrown back and forth in the air. After the workers pulled the rivets out with iron tongs, the workers on the stage took the rivets and stuffed the rivets into the drill holes. Then, accompanied by the sound of the pneumatic rivet gun, sparks flew everywhere. .

Electric lights illuminated the dim dock, allowing workers to build day and night.

The invention of the electric light is actually the advent of blessings. Human beings dispelled the darkness and made it possible to work at night.

Because of this, with the efforts of thousands of workers, this warship, which has been built for more than two years, is about to usher in the moment of launching.

"Your Majesty, since last year, in order to speed up the construction of "Battleship No. 1", we have been working overtime at night. Now 1% of the work on "Battleship No. 85" has been completed. Launched at the end of December this year, it can be delivered to the navy as early as April next year!"

As the designer of "Battleship No. 1", when staring at this warship, Luanda had an unconcealable pride in his expression.

"Next year, this time is just right..."

Zhu Xianhai nodded, and then said.

"How is the calculation? Can it be replaced with a 280mm main gun?"

According to the previous design, the main gun of "Battleship No. 1" was 254 mm, but after the "Friendship Class" returned to Daming, in order to strengthen its combat power, the arsenal designed a 280 mm naval gun. "Battleship" requirements have also been "slightly" raised.

"There is no problem at all. I have calculated that not only can it be replaced with a 280mm naval gun, but it can even be refitted with a 305mm naval gun. However, we have no experience in building such a large-caliber naval gun. However, I think that as long as the arsenal Surely they could make a 305mm naval gun if they wanted to, after all, technically it's not much more complicated than a 280mm."

In fact, the artillery technology of this era is not "cutting-edge" at all. It is just a forged round steel column drilled, and then a few layers of casing are used. My Qing Dynasty can also make it, as long as I have the equipment.

"Large-caliber artillery can communicate with the arsenal. As long as there is no technical problem and it can be used on the ship, then use it. Naval warfare! It is essentially a giant ship cannon. Since the Americans have challenged us, then we will Accept their challenge."

Zhu Xianhai's tone was full of confidence.

"Your Majesty, are we sure we want to engage in a maritime arms race with the United States?"

"Not with the United States, but the inevitable development!"

Nodding, Zhu Xianhai said.

"Our land is located in the north and south of the mainland. In order to gain population, we need to introduce a large number of immigrants. For us, the interests of the sea are not only related to the integrity of the country, but also to the lifeline of the country. Therefore, the construction of the navy is urgent. As far as China is concerned, only two "Friendship Class" ships cannot support our maritime strategy, even the "Number One Battleship"..."

Pointing to the large warship in the dock, Zhu Xianhai said.

"Even if we build four more 7000-ton warships, it will not be able to meet our maritime security needs, so..."

Looking back at Luanda, the first generation naval ship engineer of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xianhai said with a smile.

"We can consider designing larger and more advanced warships, as a response to the expansion of the U.S. Navy. After all, coming and going is not indecent, we must not let others underestimate it!"

"A bigger warship?"

"The oceans of the future, at least the oceans in the next thirty to forty years, belong to large ships and cannons. The strength of the navy lies in how many capital ships it has, and its tonnage should be at least 350 tons—with armor of more than 300 millimeters. , with at least four, or even six naval guns above 10000 mm, with a tonnage of about 15000 to [-] tons..."

When describing the warships of the future, the pre-dreadnought ships that appeared in Zhu Xianhai's mind were of course. It is of course impossible to build a dreadnought ship in this year, and it is technically unrealistic. Mature, but only developing.

It is impossible to meet the demand for retreating 300mm large-caliber artillery by relying on the type of re-entry machine similar to the hydraulic shock absorber of a battery car. The long journey is still on the way!

However, before that, Zhu Xianhai did not mind a maritime arms race with the Americans.

After all, on the American continent, there should be only one king!
And this king must step on the bones of another king to ascend to the throne. In order to become the winner, it is of course inevitable to compete in all aspects.

"10000 tons!"

Eyes widened in astonishment, Luanda's breathing became a little short, and his gaze also became a little short. He didn't know how far the arms race would go, but what was certain was that his spring had come!
The spring of the naval ship engineer has come...

(End of this chapter)