Chapter 167 Great Sea Battle (Part 1)
ps: This is my first time writing a naval battle, and I lack experience, so it took a long time. Ask for tickets, ask for subscription
"Your Excellency, are you sure this method is feasible?"
While concentrating on observing the approaching French ships, a timid voice came from the side.
"It is absolutely feasible. This is planned and implemented with the hard work of His Majesty the King. It is basically foolproof!"
Faced with such a question, Major James did not turn his head, and said affirmatively, which was very contagious.
"This—" the hesitant voice still came from behind.
Behind James, there is a man with a big beard who is wearing a different red military uniform from Major James. His military uniform is white with a little bit of blue.
Facing the binoculars with his right eye, there is unconcealable worry in the dark blue eyes, and the wrinkles on his face that look like mountains and ravines look deeper now.
As the Minister of the Navy of Scotland, generally speaking, he does not need to enter the naval battle. Usually, he only needs to assign tasks and stay in his office.
But Edward was worried that the Scottish navy would not cooperate. You must know that at the critical moment of this decisive battle, a small loophole is enough to determine the outcome.
So Edward threw the minister of the navy to James, thus making the minister a hostage, half coercion, half an order to let the Scottish navy obey the command.
Without looking back, Major James knew that the minister behind him was probably scared to pee.
Also, the Scottish navy usually struggles to clear up pirates. When has it ever seen such a sea battle.
In fact, Major James kept praying to God in his heart. He has been in the navy for more than ten years, and at most bullied pirates and the French offshore navy. He has never commanded or seen such a large naval battle.
Forcibly suppressing the timidity in his heart, Major James concentrated his mind and silently estimated the distance of the French army.
Like Major James who was staying on the flagship of the "Sovereign of the Sea" at this time, Major Charles on the other battleship "Henry VII" was also nervous.
Different from the aristocratic Major James, just like the meaning of Charles' name, he is of peasant origin, that is, the Yeomen farm family, the owner farm family.
Relying on his own efforts, he became a senior officer of the English Navy. He also became an officer leader from the civilian class in the navy, barely able to resist the aristocratic group led by James.
Usually, he is shown as a irascible and reckless man, loyal, approachable, and unscrupulous. This is the evaluation of him in the navy.
If he had no scheming, how could he climb to the top of the navy, which is almost a noble patent.
And what he lives on is one word—careful.
Before doing anything, he must carefully consider the arrangement and prepare for multiple moves, so that he can climb to this position.
"Mardy! (Damn, mardarse simplification) How can the group of Venetians be so fast, let the gunners prepare, and notify the Scots to prepare for artillery fire!"
Looking at the approaching French navy, Charles felt like boiling water in his heart, anxious and anxious, and ordered in a hurry.
"Yes! Your Excellency, Captain!" The young sailor who waited on the side quickly agreed, and then there was a sound of "Dang, Dang, Dang", and the orderly began to wave the flag, asking the nearby ships to prepare.
"What the **** is James doing? It's this time, and he's still hiding it from me!"
Charles rolled his eyes, took a sip of wine, stared straight ahead, and muttered.
At this time, the overwhelming French navy followed the waves of the sea, like Poseidon, the **** of the sea in Greek mythology. .
Under the command of General Renardo, the French Navy's attack shape was like a horizontal "V". Three thousand-ton giant ships braved the wind and waves, acting as sharp knives in front, ready to plunge into the chest of the English Navy in one fell swoop.
The United Navy of England is also in a 'V' shape, but the direction is reversed, and the margin is shorter. The fleet is almost crowded together, and the distance between ships is exaggerated to only five or six meters.
If it is glued on, it cannot be withdrawn. It is almost a replica of Cao Cao's serial plan in the Three Kingdoms period.
"Hurry up, come closer!" Major James counted softly, watching eagerly as the French navy arrived at the estimated distance.
At this time, although the artillery of the English Navy had a range of 2,500 meters, the real effective range was only more than 1,000 meters, which was close to 2,000 meters.
General Renaldo stayed on the "Hunter" at the forefront, in the cabin, staring fiercely at England's formation, frowning.
"Here, here, 3,000 yards, 2,900 yards, 2,800 yards, quick, launch—" Looking at the French navy that was about to reach the range, Major James shouted loudly, especially the last sentence 'launch', It was almost hysterical, screaming desperately.
In the end, he even bent over and covered his stomach, as if he had exhausted all his strength, and sucked in the air with great gulps, his throat seemed to be hoarse.
After receiving the order, the "Sovereign of the Sea" was operated by the gunners who had already been waiting, with twelve light cannons on the deck and fourteen cannons in the two-story open-air gun holes on the waterline, a total of twenty-six cannons , making a loud noise, with a puff of white smoke, and launching twenty-six big red iron eggs in unison.
Drawing more than two dozen white lines in the air, like a goddess scattering flowers, flocked to the French ships heading for the English army.
"Boom—" "Boom, boom—" the roar reached the ears of the French sailors on the opposite side, and then the shells arrived as promised.
Many French soldiers obviously felt that the hull began to sway, and they couldn't stand upright. They could even hear the sound of the aftermath of the shells hitting the hull.
In the flagship, General Renaldo was also surprised by the sudden attack of the English navy, and then his footsteps swayed slightly, and he quickly returned to normal.
'Hunter' is a thousand-ton giant ship, so the waves are nothing, and the ship quickly recovered.
"Our side..." After tidying up his clothes, General Renaldo was about to ask the first mate about his losses in this area. At this time, louder gunfire sounded in his ears, and then the hull began to move faster than last time. There was so much shaking that he couldn't even stand firm, and could only fall into the cabin without grace.
Among the English army, the "Sovereign of the Sea", which was the farthest from the "Hunter", began to fire when the French fleet sailed to 2,800 yards (close to 2,500 meters).
When the closest ship to the French navy was only about 2,500 yards (2,300 meters), all the English navies fired together.
(end of this chapter)