Chapter 336 Prelude to the Francis Bonaparte Expedition

Chapter 336 Prelude to the Francis Bonaparte Expedition

"Tokugawa?"

Before Daphne could further question Francis about the unfamiliar term, the port was suddenly filled with the blaring sound of a horn. They both instinctively turned their gaze towards the window. What met their eyes was the majestic Pacific Fleet coming into view on the San Francisco Bay. The fleet comprised of formidable battleship, destroyers, battlecruisers, submarines, amphibious assault warship, and auxiliary ships.

"Prepare for departure, Daphne," Francis said as he rose to his feet, his gentle demeanor turning serious.

"Yes, brother," Daphne stood up promptly, matching the urgency in her brother's tone. They made their way to the exit, and trailing behind them was Daphne's maid.

She followed Francis somewhere along the port, and it was far from the Post Office.

"Brother...slow down," Daphne called out, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The brisk pace at which Francis moved was proving to be a considerable challenge for Daphne, especially in the high heels she wore. Each step was laborious, her feet aching from the strain.

Francis engrossed in his thoughts and the path ahead, initially didn't notice Daphne's struggle. When he did, he paused, turning to see his little sister several paces behind, laboring to catch up. A wave of realization and guilt washed over him. He had been so caught up in the urgency of their departure that he had overlooked Daphne's discomfort.

"I'm sorry, Daphne," he apologized, quickly closing the distance between them. His towering frame cast a protective shadow over her, and for a moment, Daphne felt like the little girl who used to follow her big brother around, always a few steps behind.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly wiped the sweat from her brow.

"Are you alright?" he asked with concern etching his handsome features.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

"I just need a moment," Daphne responded, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Moah...brother do you want to kill me?"

"Sorry," Francis chuckled as he rubbed the back of his hair sheepishly. "The sweat ruined your makeup a bit, but you still look beautiful."

"Brother~!" Daphne bashfully hit Francis on his arm, her face turning a slight shade of red. "Stop saying silly things."

"Perhaps I should carry you like a princess to make amends," Francis teased, his tone lightening as he offered a playful smile to Daphne. This brotherly side of Francis, though seldom displayed, was something Daphne cherished deeply.

"Stop teasing me," Daphne replied, trying to mask a smile.

"All right, all right," Francis conceded, still wearing a grin.

The admiral and captain raised their heads and spoke.

"Your Imperial Highness, welcome aboard to the IFNS Napoleon, my name is Gaspard de Richebourg, Admiral of the French Pacific Fleet, and this is the captain of the ship, Frédéric Henri Waldeck."

"Pleasure to meet you two," Francis gestured a nod to the two. "I'm sure you know of my little sister, Daphne."

Upon hearing her name, Daphne performed a curtsy, lifting the hem of her dress slightly. The admiral and captain both nodded respectfully towards her.

"Your Highnesses," Admiral de Richebourg acknowledged. "We are honored to have you aboard."

Francis scanned the appearance of the deck of the ship. "So this is the newest commissioned battleship for the Navy huh?"

"Yes sir, the latest and the most advanced ship in the world. With state-of-the-art radars, communication, and weapon systems. Not even the latest Russian battleship would be able to compete with it in open combat," Captain Waldeck said confidently.

"The naval arms race isn't stopping anytime soon, so we have to be ahead of others," Francis said.

The IFNS Napoleon is a fast battleship characterized by its impressive specifications. With a standard displacement of 64,240 tons and a full load displacement of 72,104 tons, it's a formidable presence at sea. The battleship spans a length of 280.8 meters, has a beam of 36.9 meters, and a draft of 11 meters.

In terms of power, the IFNS Napoleon is equipped with eight water-tube boilers that generate a combined 172,000 horsepower. It employs four geared steam turbines and is propelled by four screw propellers, allowing the battleship to reach speeds up to thirty knots. The ship boasts a range of 27,800 kilometers and is operated by a crew of 2,789 sailors.

The armament of the IFNS Napoleon is as impressive as its structure and power. It's armed with 12 406-mm/50 caliber guns and 20 127-mm/54 caliber guns for significant offensive capabilities. For defense against aerial threats, the ship is equipped with 10 40-mm anti-aircraft guns and 56 20-mm anti-aircraft cannons.

The battleship's armor is designed for maximum protection. It features a main belt with a thickness of 409 mm, bulkheads that are 457 mm thick, barbettes with a 541 mm thickness, and a turret face that boasts 572 mm of armor. The main deck is armored with a thickness ranging between 179 to 187 mm, ensuring the vessel's durability during combat.

Additionally, the IFNS Napoleon is capable of carrying three floatplanes. These aircraft are equipped for forward scouting and artillery spotting, launched via the ship's catapults.

Such a great specification came with a great cost, but France believed that it was a necessary investment to protect its interest overseas. Oh, this battleship is not powered by coal, the reason? Coal is inefficient as it takes up more space while oil provides a higher energy output and is more efficient in terms of storage and handling.

Virtually every European ship, be it a warship or a merchant, has been powered by oil since 1812. It came from a decision from Napoleon, to justify why they have to hold on to their Middle East colonies. Though coal is still used in power generation.

"Okay, let's get this fleet moving towards Japan. We are going to force them to open their country."