Chapter 110: Mumbai Naval Battle: Three

Name：Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology Author：
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Chapter 110: Mumbai Naval Battle: Three

Vijay carefully watched as a fleet of around 50 frigates approached from the port side. It was evident that these were mid-sized frigates from the Mughal Empire, featuring a single sail and a modest displacement of approximately 90 tons. Observing from his advantageous position, Vijay could discern that the cannons mounted on these frigates were of a smaller calibre, mostly around 8 kg. This detail boosted his confidence, as he believed the battleship he was on would easily overpower this smaller green water navy.

But Vijay couldn't help but feel a sense of caution as he observed the sheer number of approaching frigates. "It will be tricky," he muttered to himself. While the battleship he commanded excelled in every measurable metric such as speed, power, and defence, the technological limitations of this era hindered the precision of targeting. The small and agile frigates of the Mughal Navy presented a challenge, making accurate aiming nearly impossible.

Considering the Mughal frigates' size and the difficulty in targeting them precisely, Vijay foresaw that the impending naval confrontation would resemble a classic case of "death by a thousand cuts." Despite the Mughal cannons' weaknesses in terms of both power and accuracy, the sheer volume of shots fired in the general direction of the capital ship increased the likelihood of hits, emphasizing the vulnerability of the battleship to this swarm of smaller vessels.

Reflecting on the situation, he issued a directive to the battleship's captain, Srinivas, saying, "Captain, instruct the Kingfisher battle group to encircle the enemy ships and cut off their retreat." Kingfisher battle group is a battle group composed of the frigates captured from the Dutch.

"Your Highness...?!" Srinivas questioned, clearly surprised.

Vijay, directing operations from the capital ship, swiftly ordered the repositioning of the cannons to the right side of the vessel. The cannons were shifted to the right side of the ship as Vijay continued to order, As they were merely a hundred meters away from the Mughal battle group, "Hard left rudder." The ship suddenly tilted in a dangerous strategic manoeuvre, prompting sailors to secure themselves to anything sturdy as the vessel turned with a slight drift. This unexpected move strategically aligned the cannons on the right side directly toward the Mughal naval vessels, effectively blocked off by the Kingfisher fleet. Seizing this opportune moment, Vijay's hoarse voice pierced the air, commanding, "FIRE!"

Chaos erupted as the powerful 12-kilogram cannons thundered, "Boom, boom, boom." A symphony of destruction composed of iron and fire surged toward the unsuspecting Mughals.

"Boom, boom, boom." The relentless salvo of the cannons relentlessly pounded the Mughal brigades, drowning the sea in the acrid scent of gunpowder with each reload.

Witnessing the capital ship taking the initiative, the Vijayanagar frigates forming the blockade unleashed their smaller 10-kilogram calibre artillery. The Mughal Navy found itself trapped in a lethal crossfire, with no escape from either the battleship or the Vijayanagara frigates. Their resistance was futile, and their attempts to retaliate fell short against the might of the thousand-ton behemoth.

"Boom, boom, boom."

The sea convulsed as whirlpools formed around the sinking Mughal ships, spreading destruction throughout the battlefield. The scent of blood lured fish and predatory creatures, transforming the central area into a gruesome pool of carnage.

In the aftermath, surviving Mughal soldiers were captured, and an uneasy calm settled over the Arabian Sea. The battle concluded with the annihilation of the Mughal Mumbai Navy and the resounding victory of the Vijayanagara Navy. However, this triumph came at a cost – the capital ship, bearing slight damage, and heavily damaged frigates, with only 8 out of the initial 20 remaining intact. It was a bittersweet victory, tinged with tragedy with the death of at least 600 personnel.