Chapter 141: Promotion in Progress (Two-in- One Chapter Asking for Support!)

Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Promotion in Progress (Two-in- One Chapter Asking for Support!)

Coastal defense ships need no more introduction; as small warships with a tonnage of less than three thousand tons, the primary purpose of coastal defense ships is to patrol the coast of Australia, promptly detect and report any possible enemy movements.

Because of their tonnage, coastal defense ships cannot possibly be a match for medium-sized warships or larger. Even against warships over five thousand tons, these small coastal defense ships have no room to resist.

Headed by Yukichiro Tamura, the Japanese visiting group showed little interest in these small warships but still courteously took a tour.

After the three smaller coastal defense ships, there are two armored cruisers under construction.

These two warships look much larger and more formal compared to the previous coastal defense ships.

As a medium-sized warship with a tonnage of over five thousand tons, the Duke-class armored cruiser combines the advantages of German and British warships and is one of the better medium-sized warships in the world. It is also the most powerful warship that the Australian navy currently hopes to equip.

The construction time for these two warships is not very long. After nearly six months of continuous construction, the shipbuilding work is nearing completion.

“Indeed.” Yukichiro Tamura nodded slightly admiringly and said with a smile, “Judging by the improved technology of this armored cruiser, Australia’s mastery of more advanced battleships doesn’t seem difficult. I envy your country for having such abundant support from Germany. Don’t forget about us when you get the latest battleships.”

“Hahaha.” The Australian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs laughed and said jokingly, “Doesn’t your country also receive the British Empire’s full support? In just a few decades, your country has developed so rapidly that it is not far behind traditional powers such as Italy and Spain in Europe. If given more time, achieving a completely domestic production of battleships should not be a problem.”

Although the rise of the Island Nation could not be achieved without significant support from the British Empire and the United States, one must admit that this East Asian country has shown astonishing potential.

One of the reasons the German Empire quickly rose to power after independence and became the world’s strongest military power, with its navy ranking within the top three, is due to its predecessor, the Kingdom of Prussia, being a brave and warlike nation.

Moreover, being located in Western Europe allowed it to absorb the world’s most advanced technology and knowledge, making the German Empire the world’s second strongest power in such a rapid manner.

But what about the Island Nation? Due to its location in East Asia, its connection to Western countries stems from forceful entry through ironclad warships and heavy artillery.

Before that, the science and technology level of the Island Nation was not even on par with its neighboring countries in the East, let alone in comparison to European powers that colonized much of the world.

Looking closely at the history of the Island Nation, how many years have passed since the beginning of the reform and modernization? It has been just thirty-five years at most.

But what kind of astonishing achievements did the Island Nation accomplish? From a remote island nation with extremely backward technology and knowledge, it became a regional power undergoing initial industrialization and Westernization, and even began to compete with old powerhouses like the Russian Empire for dominance in some areas.