Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 540 Concentrated Escort ([-])

Regarding the transfer of the "Bayezid" battleship to the Ottoman Empire, members of the executive committee have communicated privately several times, and basically reached a consensus among the members, and the next step is to hand it over to the Ministry of the Navy for details. Operated.This time Liu Weimin called Lu Ming, the commander of the First Fleet, mainly to ask about the number 1 of the navy in his mind, concentrating the main fleet to escort the merchant ships heading for the Ottoman Empire, what are the chances of winning?

You must know that this escort is not only going to the port of Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire. The route of the east coast fleet is quite complicated, and there are many ports that need to stop halfway.Among them, the route in Europe is roughly: Pisa - Smyrna - Kaffa - Bordeaux - Riga - Danzig. The materials, female slaves, and mercenaries purchased in the Old Continent returned to the east coast.

Such a complicated route, the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Biscay, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea will all be sailed one by one. It can be said that they are circling around Spain. If the Spaniards do not respond, they are really deceiving themselves.Therefore, this escort is very likely to break out a certain scale of naval battle with the Spanish Navy, and the degree of danger is still quite high.Therefore, Liu Weimin summoned Lu Ming because he wanted to know whether the navy was sure to safely escort the merchant ships on the east coast to these trading stations, unload the cargo, load them with the supplies, gold and silver, and personnel accumulated in the trading stations, and return to the mainland safely.

The reason why the merchant fleet was still organized to go to the Old Continent despite the outbreak of a full-scale war with the Spaniards was because the people from the Ministry of Finance clearly told Liu Weimin that relying on an Ottoman market alone was not enough to support the normal operation of industries on the east coast.The northern Italian market represented by Tuscany, the market in central and southern France, the market in some Polish regions (northern Poland + the Principality of Prussia) and the Swedish (mainly southern Sweden, Finland, Sweden-occupied Livonia) market, these markets The combined share of the Ottoman Empire far exceeds that of the Ottoman Empire, and it must not be easily given up.Otherwise, there will be problems in the country's economic operation, overcapacity, decline in fiscal revenue, and insufficient material imports, which in turn will affect the country's war potential.

After Lu Ming pondered for a while in silence, he opened his mouth slowly.I just heard him say: "We don't have detailed information on the Royal Spanish Navy. We only know that they were severely damaged by the Dutch Navy in the Battle of Downs a few years ago. One of the two major fleets, the Mediterranean Fleet was completely destroyed, and the main force of the Atlantic Fleet was also destroyed. After the devastating blow, there are not many ships left. Although it has been several years, judging from Spain's financial constraints, their naval strength should be restored very slowly. But all this is just speculation, and it is not accurate , Only God knows what the specific situation is. But you also said that the country needs those markets, and it’s all about this, can our navy back down?"

"The fleet is organized in a hurry this time. Are there any difficulties in sailing?" Liu Weimin asked again.

"Fortunately, although the sailing season is not very right, but there is no way." Lu Ming replied after a little thought, obviously the answer to this question has long been familiar to him: "October is already spring At this time, the point of direct sunlight begins to move southward, and the subtropical high pressure belt in the southern hemisphere also retreats southward. The approximate southern edge is between Ping An Harbor and San Vicente. However, the intensity and range are much weaker than those in summer. It is more favorable for navigation. Our navy has always recorded the wind direction data of the latitude of Dongfang Port in this season, but to be honest, it is quite chaotic. If we sail northward, we have to go against the warm Brazilian current. Naturally, there is no problem with our steamship , but those flute-shaped boats that rely on sail power to sail are very difficult, so we have two ways to go at this time."

"One, we can wait for a favorable weather to help our fleet pass through these three latitudinal widths of variable wind direction. Then follow the direction of the southeast trade wind that has now moved south to about 30 degrees south latitude. Sail north to the Bahia region of northeastern Brazil, then either follow the North Atlantic Gyre into the North Sea—well, this is not in line with our route, get rid of—or take advantage of the weak crosswind near the equator (which is affected by the earth after crossing the equator from the northern hemisphere). The northwest wind formed by the influence of rotation) enters the vicinity of the Gulf of Guinea, and then follows the near-surface monsoon in northwest Africa to the north into the Strait of Gibraltar."

"Secondly, of course, we can also sail south first, and then go to South Africa through the westerly wind blowing south of 40 degrees south latitude. After replenishing at the port in the river, we will enter the Gulf of Guinea along the strong Benguela cold current and southerly wind, and then go to the Gulf of Guinea. Enter Europe. I personally recommend this route, because we can replenish at the port in the river and Elmina Fort, which is now under the control of the Dutch. After getting supplies and repairing ships at Elmina Fort, we will then Head to the Strait of Gibraltar in good shape for any trouble that may arise."

Naturally, the people present had no right to speak about how the navy chose its route. After all, they did not understand this aspect of knowledge. They only needed to know that even if it was not a more suitable winter for sailing, the navy could reach Europe smoothly.Therefore, after a little discussion, Liu Weimin said on behalf of everyone: "Then let's choose the second route. We also think this route is safer. After all, there is no need to stop in a crowded place like Brazil." Supplies and concealment are also much better. You are sailing this time, and the possibility of a battle with the Spanish Navy is quite high. All kinds of spare artillery, canvas, ammunition, water, parts and even personnel must be brought together. We are waiting in the mainland Come back safe and sound."

"Please rest assured that the executive committee, our navy will definitely protect the country's merchant fleet and bring back the materials, funds and personnel in the European merchant station safely." Lu Ming stood up and said firmly: "People are in the ship, People perish and ships perish!"

After the meeting of the executive committee, Lu Ming hurried back home again. After spending a warm night with his wife and children, he took a carriage to the berth of the Dongfang Port Military Wharf early the next morning. The main force of a fleet is anchored here.

After the last fierce battle with the Spanish La Plata fleet in the port of Buenos Aires, the East Coasters captured three complete warships.Among them, the offshore frigate with a tonnage of less than 100 tons is currently undergoing major renovations at the dock. The engineers are planning to install steam engines on the ship. Of course, the ship's shape and center of gravity will also need to be redesigned. In the midst of tense transformation.When complete, the ship will serve as a fast communications/liaison ship for the Navy's First Fleet.

In addition to this small boat, the East Coasters also captured a 500-ton escort gunboat "Judge" and a standard displacement 850-ton "Cadiz Rock" gunboat. The tonnage of the "Trial Judge" is slightly larger than that of the "Madao" class frigate designed by the East Bank. After removing the old artillery on the original ship, the workers of the Dayu River Naval Shipyard installed 28 artillery pieces on the ship, including Four powerful 4-pound long-barreled heavy guns and eight 24-pound long-barreled/short-barreled naval guns have suddenly improved their power by a notch compared to when they were in the hands of the Spaniards.

And the battleship "Cadiz Rock", which was severely damaged in the port breakout battle at that time, was urgently towed back to Dongfang Port, and the technicians of Dayuhe Shipyard carried out some repairs on it. finished.The brand-new battleship "Cadiz Rock" has a full-load displacement of 1200 tons, catching up with the "August 44th" class battleship, which is the current weapon of the East Coast Navy.The repaired and refitted "Cadiz Rock" is currently equipped with 6 various naval guns produced by the Northern Arsenal, among which the most deterrent are six 32-pound long-barreled heavy guns.

Such a battleship is already worthy of the title of a battleship among many naval personnel.If the time is not too tight, the Admiralty will definitely request that this battleship also be installed with the latest "Popeye" series steam engines, and then it will be incorporated into the battleship formation.

The captain of the "Cadiz Rock" is Lieutenant John Ston (who enjoys the treatment of a captain), the first officer of the former battleship "August [-]" and the adjutant of Captain Lu Ming.He has served in the East Coast Navy for more than ten years. He is skilled in business and has a high degree of loyalty. He is a mid-level and senior navy official that the people of the East Coast can trust.

On October 10, when the East Coast Army's Changkaisheng Detachment in the La Plata area had just rested in Santa Fe for two days, and was struggling with whether to deploy precious troops to take down the upstream city of Corrientes, The main force of the Navy's First Fleet moored in Dongfang Harbor was dispatched to escort the merchant fleet to Europe.

The warships dispatched by the navy include 4 "August 8" class battleships, 13 "Madao" class escort gunboats, and one "Cadiz Rock" battleship, a total of 12 professional warships.And their escorts include 33 flute-shaped transport ships of the South Sea Transport Company, as well as two Dutch transport ships, two Portuguese transport ships, one English transport ship, and one Danish transport ship chartered by the East Coast Republic. ship, a large clipper cargo sailboat loaded with coal.If the sailing battleship "Bayezid" that is about to be handed over to the Ottoman Empire is added together with the team, the size of the entire fleet will reach 2 ships, with a total displacement of more than [-] tons.

After these ships were dispatched, there were only one escort gunboat and one naval training ship left among the local warships, which was basically out of date.

The goods loaded by the merchant fleet include all kinds of textiles (cotton cloth and some finished products), leather goods, steel bars, hardware products, metal farm implements and knives, cement and lime and other building materials, railroad tracks, alcohol (liquor, wine and beer), arms, cheese, animal Grease, soda ash, high-end furniture and musical instruments, heavy wagons, rail wagons, mechanical parts and everything else that can be exported on the East Coast can be said to be of great importance.

At noon on the 17th, the fleet assembled all the transport ships that needed to be escorted off the coast of Dongfang Port, and after forming a team, they headed for the port of Buenos Aires.There they will resupply some beef cattle and fresh water before heading to 40 degrees south latitude.

(End of this chapter)