Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 42 The Battle of the East China Sea (2)
At this time, the position of the French fleet was that the capital ship "Ya" and "Yitao", which was seriously injured and quit the battle, retreated to the rear.And "Triumph", "Nancy" and "Guin" led four small gunboats and four torpedo boats in the naval port and sank the last "Nanbo" guarding the naval port, but they failed to go further.

When Jiangnan Shipbuilding Bureau was manufacturing, it paid great attention to the protection of the port.There are densely packed forts outside the range of the warships. If you forcefully enter the depths of the military port to attack the Shipbuilding Bureau, you will face the danger of being bombed by the forts.However, it takes too much time to destroy the forts one by one.

Originally, the French army had plenty of time, but the battleship "Elegance" issued a semaphore at this time.Order all the ships to move closer to "Elegance", it seems that something happened in the rear!

However, in the small military port, eleven huge warships turned around together and some confusion appeared.Everyone in the French fleet wanted to take advantage of the backward fort against the Qing army. When they rushed in, they scrambled to be the first.Now that the order is received, no one wants to fall behind and be bombarded by the fort when retreating.So there was some confusion, but fortunately, the chaos was quickly brought under control under the command of "Triumph".But the torpedo ship "Wildcat" that fell last was hit by the battery one after another.There was a fire, and he was dying.

At this time, the seriously injured gunboat "Yitao" resting in the rear has become the front of the battlefield.

"Yang Wei", "Chaoyong", "Unbeaten", "Changsheng" and "Nanfeng" were very fast, and they were already beside "Yitao" in a blink of an eye."Yitao", who had just escaped a catastrophe, will not be so lucky this time. The 210mm main gun of "Nanfeng" had already aimed at "Yitao", and after a loud noise, "Yitao" also sank slowly.

The five main forces of the Nanyang Navy collectively aimed at the French fleet's main battleship "Elegance", and Navy Commander Toure is on board the "Elegance".Facing such a powerful fleet of the Qing army, Toure was also in a cold sweat.

"Quickly, fire guns and thunder at the Qing army and ordered.

When Deng Shichang saw that dozens of warships and two transport ships were sunk or semi-sunk in the military port, and the floating corpses of the Qing army could be seen everywhere, his eyes were red, and he grabbed the artillery from the soldiers and shot at the "Elegance" .

"Chaoyong" and "Yang Wei" also started salvo at this time.

A shell accurately hit the "Elegance" and exploded not far from Toure.Toure was pushed far away by the shock wave generated by the explosion, under the protection of many French soldiers.He stood up slowly and saw the two German cruisers "Nanji" and "Nanxiang", and dozens of "Zhendong", "Zhenxi", "Zhennan", "Zhenbei" and "Zhenzhong" , "Townside" and other small British gunboats also slowly approached themselves.For the first time, fear appeared in my heart.

The French ships that came out of the military port to rescue all faced their opponents. The 4800-ton "Invincible" faced the 4600-ton "Triumph", and "Nanji" and "Nanxiang" joined forces to deal with the 3500-ton "Household". Because of the number, it can be said that it is a match.The fight was inextricably linked.

Unfortunately, only the 480-ton "Poison Fish" gunboat, and the "Viper" and "Glasses" torpedo ships that had already released their torpedoes slammed into the "Long Victory" of the same level as the "Triumph". The majestic scene of "Triumph" was replayed on "Eternal Victory" at this time.Basically, it sank a small French gunboat with one shot. The 240mm main gun fired deadly shells one after another.Deng Shichang's eyes were red, and he shot at the small French gunboats one by one.

However, "Elegance" and "Nancy" who came to protect them still wanted to escape at this time, but surrounded by "Chaoyong", "Yang Wei" and dozens of small gunboats, they had no chance at all, and they were still struggling. .

At this time, the naval battle had lasted for eight hours. After "Changsheng" joined the battle, "Triumph" and "Juyin" hoisted the white flag and formally surrendered to the Nanyang Navy of the Qing Dynasty.

The "Elegance" is worthy of being the first ship of the French army, and at this time it has exerted its strong strength and ability to resist attacks.In the case of being hit by more than 100 artillery shells successively by the Qing army, it still stands tall.And its 320mm main gun has sunk five small gunboats of the Qing army and damaged "Chaoyong". "Nanfeng" has also withdrawn from the battle with black smoke, but still blocks the exit behind.Hold on to the "elegant" escape.

Finally, the battle in the port is over. The two ironclad ships "Invincible" and "Changsheng" also surrounded "Elegance", followed by "Nanji" and "Nanxiang"

Then when it was about to surround "Elegance", "Nancy" suddenly increased its power and rammed into "Long Victory"."Changsheng", which was going at full speed, had to slow down and bombarded "Nancy".

Just for a moment of this pause, "Elegance" has already relied on its excellent resistance to blows.Sink the "Southern Wind" and head east!
And how did the small gunboats of the Nanyang Navy in the periphery block such a behemoth as "Elegance", and watched "Elegance" leave the battle.Evacuate east.

Both "Yang Wei" and "Super Yong" have a super fast speed of 16 knots, but "Super Brave" has already been hit by several bullets.He was unable to chase after him, and Yang Wei's mere 2000-ton cruiser would not do much to catch up.

It may be that Toure was frightened, and at full speed of 15 knots, he also used the stern gun to create thick smoke.After the smoke cleared and the ships "Invincible" and "Changsheng" came out, they realized that "Elegance" was far away and could not catch up.

Seeing "elegance" disappearing on the horizon, the soldiers of the Nanyang Navy didn't even have the joy of joy.Thirteen warships fought against two of the opponents, and they all let the opponents leave calmly.It was also sunk by the opponent six ships and damaged one.Although there are reasons for the strength of the French "Elegance" during this period, their own lack of actual combat experience also made them think deeply.

The battle in the harbor was won with ease under the powerful firepower of the two ironclad ships "Changsheng" and "Invincible" originally ordered by Turkey and the excellent protection of "Nanji" and "Nanxiang" ordered by Germany. In addition to the "Guin", it also sank nine small gunboats and torpedo ships including the opponent "Nancy".

The Nanyang Navy suffered heavy losses in this battle, losing [-] gunboats, including the "Nanfeng" produced in the domestic Mawei Naval Port and five small gunboats ordered by the United Kingdom.Now there are only "Unbeaten", "Changsheng", "Chaoyong", "Yangwei", "Nanji", "Nanxiang" and four small gunboats left in the navy.There are only ten ships left in total.It also includes the seriously injured "Super Brave", which cannot be used on the battlefield without a few months of overhaul.

However, this battle captured the opponent's two ironclad ships, but they were also seriously injured.Can't go into battle right away!
However, although a painful price was paid, all the French fleet was destroyed except for the escaped "Elegance".Completely solved the effective force of the French navy in the Far East.If there is no further increase of troops, the control of the sea along China's coast has been firmly in the hands of the Qing Dynasty.

Tang Hong, the technical director of the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Bureau, was overjoyed by the capture of the "Triumph" and "Juyin". Because the British ironclad ships "Invincible" and "Eternal Victory" were purchased by the British, the British were directly responsible for training soldiers to work. The warship immediately went to perform the escort mission. After returning, it has been in charge of guarding in Qingdao and Tianjin. I haven't come in time to analyze and observe it in detail.

And this time the two captured ships were going to be overhauled, and I just took this opportunity to take a good look at the composition of the French warships.In order to make technical reserves for the self-made ironclad ship, Tang Hong and other technicians from the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Bureau boarded the French ship one after another to analyze the composition and shooting of the warship, draw relevant drawings, and record relevant important parameters.They also forcibly detained "Invincible" and "Long Victory" in the military port, and used the pretext of inspection to analyze and record relevant data on the two British ironclad ships.Thinking about the four German ironclad warships that are about to return to China, "Dingyuan", "Zhenyuan", "Jiyuan", and "Weiyuan", there are also information on German ironclad warships.Tang Hong believes that the Qing Dynasty will be able to build its own iron-clad ships by then.Thinking about it makes me happy.

Guan Xuqing watched the telegram for half an hour, and Wang Shang was a little dazed. Didn't the telegram say "big victory"?Why is the emperor still like this?
Guan Xuqing looked at the content of the telegram and thought that his plan was too risky.If it is one step late, the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Bureau may be completely finished.Those forts will definitely not be able to stop the French ironclad ships, looking at the list of soldiers killed in action.Guan Xuqing can imagine the fierce battle at that time. Seventeen gunboats were sunk and 1021 soldiers were martyred. 4 officers above the rank.These are precious talents of the Qing Navy!
They are all naval talents trained by the British at a high price!But in order to completely defeat the French, in order to ensure command of the sea.Send these newly trained elites to heaven again.

This fierce war made the world know China, and Guan Xuqing deceived everyone this time!Including his courtiers, all the officials got to know the emperor again!
This war was also a turning point in the entire Sino-French war.

(End of this chapter)