I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Caribbean Naval Battle (2)

350 nautical miles east of Belize. US Navy’s 1st Battlecruiser Squadron Flagship Constalation.

The mighty roar of the 16-inch guns cut across the bridge. Eight main gun doors that roar and shatter the surface of the water.

Watching the flames cover the deck, Admiral Ian silently put his back on his back. A gunshot reverberated across the floor.

“Enemy ship! Distance 30,000! About 1 minute until impact!”

“Crossing the T! Admiral!”

Following the report from the gunnery commander, Captain Constalation spoke excitedly. Just as he said, the masts of the enemy ship seen over the horizon in front of him were two crossed in a row.

A large ship that thrusts its bow into this side without fail. In such a formation, only the main turret on the bow side can be used. On the other hand, the U.S. Navy, which is in single formation, can fully use all guns. In terms of firepower, a 2:1 fight unfolds.

“It’s worth following a day. Now I think I know why the admiral delayed the engagement!”

Admiral Ian gave a sneaking glance at the words of the captain who was still shouting with excitement. Soon, he asked the chief of staff with a calm face.

“How is the situation on the Panama side?”

“It is said that the canal was bombed. One bomb hit.”

“Sorry. Well, because I couldn’t find where the carrier was.”

The admiral just clicked his tongue lightly. The captain looked at him with puzzled eyes.

The canal was attacked, such a turani. It’s not something that can be easily passed over. The Panama air raid is clear evidence that the American leash is threatened by the British. This is an issue that will have huge political repercussions.

Even so, the admiral just stared out the window of the bridge at the smoke that was being blown away by the sea breeze.

Soon after, he opens his mouth as if nothing happened.

“After the battle, we will immediately pursue the aircraft carrier. Battlecruisers come first.”

“Yes, I will make sure to finish them off!”

The captain had no choice but to answer.

I don’t know what the heck he’s up to, but he must believe in something.

It was best to think so now.

“Attack! Wontan!”

At the watchman’s report, they raised their binoculars and looked at the horizon. Behind the two masts, several huge columns of water rose.

“The distance seems shorter than I thought.”

“I will correct it to aim 28,000.”

The main gun door lowers slightly, and then fires again. A thunderclap across the sea. As if in response, flames spread across the horizon.

“Enemy ship, return fire!”

The captain hardening his face.

He looked nervous, nervous. After glancing at the captain for a moment, the chief of staff immediately added loudly to the admiral.

“According to the information we have obtained, Repulse’s 15-inch guns do not reach our location.”

“It’s going to be a bluff. Captain, let’s proceed like this. There is no need to be afraid.”

calm voice.

Only then did the captain remove the shadow from his face. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth as if agreeing with the chief of staff.

“ah… yes. Certainly at this distance, even if it hits, it doesn’t do much damage. After all, I’ve been strengthening my gloves.”

Yes, the Constellation is a new ship. A powerful ship that reaches first-class firepower, defense, and speed. There was no need for the captain to be frightened by the relics of the great war that lasted nearly 15 years.

While the captain thought so and relaxed, the admiral quietly lowered his binoculars and looked at the water column rising in the distance. Huge traces of 15-inch guns appeared at least 5,000 m away.

As if laughing, Constalation’s cannonballs fell on the horizon.

“Attack! Wontan!”

The chief of staff looked at the situation with binoculars and turned to the admiral. It was a fairly good shotgun.

“The water column is pretty close this time.”

“The next shot should be a close shot. Isn’t that right, Captain?”

“Yes, yep!”

Sensing something in his slightly exposed eyes, the captain took a deep breath and answered. Leaving behind the voice urging the gunnery range with a gunnery look, the admiral looked at the horizon where the smoke was spreading. A column of water rose a little closer.

“If they’re shooting at maximum range, the approximate range would be around 25,000.”

“It’s a fairly long-range gunfight.”

Those were the words of the chief of staff. The Admiral agreed with his assessment. The engagement distance of the fleet is 30,000… No, now it was often done at distances invisible beyond the horizon. Just like the last aircraft carrier battle off the coast of New York.

“The world has changed, Chief of Staff. In the future, we will beat each other more and more in invisible circumstances.”

It was a voice that somehow sounded like a sigh. The chief of staff accepted it that way. The admiral, who kept his mouth shut, spoke after a while.

“But at least for now, it’s time to exchange fire while looking into each other’s eyes. That’s why I’m looking forward to it even more.”

As if waiting, the third shot landed in front of the bow of the British battlecruiser squadron in the distance. The admiral murmured as he looked at the numerous water columns covering the hull.

“What judgment will the enemy commander make when he is in an overwhelmingly inferior state?”

Little by little, the corners of his mouth went up. The chief of staff made no reply. Beyond the chilly bridge windows, the gunfire vibrated again.

* * *

The bridge of the battlecruiser Repulse.

Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Parr, the water column breaks and wets the deck.

The roar of the 15-inch guns blinded the eyes and pushed the waves away. While the thick smoke parted, I looked up at the sky with anxiety.

“Red bullets, the third close bullet!”

“Turn the key! Uro 15!”

“Enemy battlecruisers, 4th shot!”

Two battlecruisers lined up on the horizon. The distance is over 25,000. Overwhelm our range. We are already being bombarded three times.

“Chairman! It is dangerous at this rate!”

While the floor was tilted due to sudden maneuvering, the operation officer, who had changed his hair with one hand, came to the side.

“You must retreat immediately!”

“late. Our kinetics can’t beat him.”

He shook his head firmly. If you look at the power, it’s right to retreat, but…

“They can maneuver at 30 knots. Once you are within range, it is impossible to escape.”

The officer hardens his face. Yes. We are already rats in the dock. It was decided from the moment I approached Dan Jong-jin, who seemed to have waited in advance.

damn it It is my mistake. Somehow I didn’t see them. It had already identified our position and was aiming for a golden opportunity. Where did you get your back? scout plane? submarine?

… I can not know. But what’s certain now is that they’re well prepared and ready to beat us. You cannot escape from them by running away.

“If you stay here, you will only be beaten one-sidedly. It’s better to close the distance and give it a blow before leaving.”

“Damn it, it’s a judge’s game.”

The officer biting his lip. That feeling is really right. The key to this operation is not victory. To escape alive somehow. With two battlecruisers covered in scars, even if you wake up dead, you can’t beat that new ship.

From my point of view, knowing the specifications of the ship, only the obvious results were drawn.

“Part 4 is coming!”

An almost screaming lookout.

It was soon time to run out of bullets. I grabbed the bridge railing tightly.

A whistling sound cuts across the bridge ceiling.

In the blink of an eye, the hull shook violently as if an earthquake had occurred.

“I’ve been narrowed down!”

A plume of water covering all sides. Waves crashing against the hull.

He shook his head, getting out of shock. I immediately approached the front of the Jeonseonggwan.

“A hit bullet?”

“doesn’t exist! Nothing more than the forecastle deck!”

“No damage to the ship!”

“Turn around. Break the key! Uro 15!”

you have to approach There is no time. Hitting a gun is a matter of luck. It is a long-range shot. Strictly speaking, the chances of being right are slim.

However, the story changes when the exposure time is prolonged. Hit bullets are bound to come out with probability. You must hit the enemy before that and run away.

“The 3rd bullet landed!”

I picked up the binoculars with the feeling of catching at least a straw. But the miracle didn’t happen. Columns of water from the 15-inch guns rose from well short of the enemy ships. In the case of the Tiger, the line of sight was covered by the repulse, so it could not even fire at all.

The distance is too far. There, the formation is also extremely disadvantageous. At this point, no matter how many bullets you fire, it’s useless.

Damn it, there is no way.

“Enemy number 5 is coming!”

Tightly, I closed my eyes. Looking at the officer swallowing dry saliva in anxiety, he said quietly.

“are you okay. The angle is sharp.”

The projectile area is also small, and if it hits the side, it can bounce off at an inclined angle.

“I can hold on. Because it has always been that way.”

The longer the distance, the lower the penetrating power.

hold on somehow

“So relax, operative.”

“Chairman… .”

The operative raises his head slightly. However, both eyes were looking at me clearly with tension. It was only when he saw me reflected in his eyes that he covered his mouth with his hand. Lips were trembling.

“A shot!”

Cuneiform- A sharp bursting sound.

My eyes are dizzy. The yellow heat wave covers the front of the bridge window, followed by an irresistible force attacking the body.

blinking sight. The background slowly tilts.

“I, the flyer leader!”

… When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the floor. The operation officer and the navigator came running and supported their arms.

did you fall Damn it, my head is dizzy. It seems that the left and right are reversed and the ceiling is approaching in front of you. I shook my head vigorously to drown out the noise.

“… Report the damage!”

The voice still comes out. can fight

A report came in from the Jeonseonggwan.

“Two main turrets! Complete!”

damn it

I ran to the bridge window. It really was.

The turret, which was proudly aiming at the horizon, is engulfed in fierce flames.

“Chairman, we need to turn the boat around.”

While the main turret took his eyes off it for a moment, the operative shook his shoulder and shouted.

“You can’t do anything with the two front guns.”

I turned my head.

A look that asks for a decision. The captain of the ship and the chief warden are looking at me. The communications officer poked his head out of the observation deck with a frightened face.

A cornered mouse bites a cat. You have to find a way.

I just heard that.

“Institution Medium Speed.”

“yes?”

The operation officer asked back as if he had heard the wrong thing in a low voice. Is the explanation insufficient?

added quickly.

“We need to change formation.”

The operative looks back with surprised eyes.

“yes? However, if you turn the boat in a narrowed situation… .”

“The hit area will increase, so it will take a blow to the side.”

It is a matter of course. But even now it’s not safe. Maybe it was fortunate that it hit the main turret.

If it hits the bridge, the command is annihilated, and if it hits the deck, it is fatal to the important compartment. If it hits the front, the ammunition magazine is pierced as it is.

So I couldn’t let go of it.

“There is a way. Let’s remember the time of the fleet battle.”

Little by little, he raised his eyebrows.

The officer with his eyes wide open.

Leaving him behind, he called out to the communications officer.

“Join Tiger! I’ll slow you down, so tell me to go ahead!”

“Chairman! It’s dangerous to slow down here!”

“are you okay. Take it!”

Unbeknownst to me, a ferocious voice came out.

Thump- Again the water column wraps around the hull.

“Starboard secondary turret No. 3 hit! Complete!”

“Medium deck, fire!”

“Hurry up with the fire extinguisher!”

Not even enough time to explain. Now I have no choice but to hope that everyone believes in me.

He raised his hand and gave instructions to the crew.

“Send a message to Tiger, raise a signal!”

people looking at each other. He nods his head immediately. Each hurries his feet to his position. movement without hesitation.

The accumulated sensations of the past few months dominated my body.

These are all elite soldiers. therefore…

“Let’s pretend to be crazy one more time.”

I will surely return alive.

* * *

Battlecruiser ‘Constallation’ bridge.

“Hoo? Deploy a smoke screen?”

Admiral Ian removed his binoculars and looked at the horizon with his bare eyes. A smoke screen spread like a cumulus cloud and was spreading over the sea.

“Are you running away from here? It’s a pretty bland choice for a masterpiece that swept the South.”

“But wise.”

At the chief of staff’s reply, the admiral shrugged.

“Well, chief of staff. Opponents are slower than us. Doing it like that only slows down time in the end, and it doesn’t change the fact that you will be annihilated by us.”

He raised his binoculars again and looked at the smoke screen. The smoke that quickly spread to the left and right blocked the view with a pitch-black curtain.

Unable to identify targets, the two battlecruisers also paused their guns for a moment. Silence seemed to follow.

“It would have been better to keep charging at least one shot…” .”

“Shall we send the destroyer fleet in?”

The operative made a sneaky suggestion. The admiral thought for a moment before opening his mouth.

“well… First of all, advance left and right through the smoke screen. Search the enemy ship.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

The signal went up, and the six destroyers, which were guarding the front and rear, split into two units and proceeded on either side. The two battlecruisers still aimed their guns at the enemy ships behind the smoke screen.

However, for over an hour, there was no sign of movement.

“Didn’t you run away?”

As the silence grew longer, the captain spoke in an impatient voice.

“There has been no response so far, Admiral, you should pursue it right now… .”

Suddenly, the admiral raised his hand and glanced at the captain.

A silent captain. Then a cold voice whispers.

“Wait.”

Like frozen steel, the admiral spoke quietly. The captain stood still.

… How much time had elapsed, by the time the destroyers who had gone out to search found the tracks of the enemy destroyers who had turned from both ends of the smoke screen,

“Port-side watch report!”

Something huge broke through the veil and emerged.

“Enemy large ship, coming out of the smoke screen, is constantly approaching! Defense 280! Distance about 20,000!”

“I knew it… !”

Admiral Ian stepped closer to the bridge window. He nodded as he watched the two battlecruisers approaching proudly.

“You wouldn’t be an idiot to back down like this.”

Unlike the calm admiral, the captain gave instructions with a contemplative face. The battle between battlecruisers is an egg with a hammer. Now that each other is within range, if anyone gets hit, it’s a fatal blow.

Boom—The two battlecruisers approaching, crossing each other, flashed their main guns.

“Enemy ship, open fire!”

“This side is also prepared for damage and moves forward. All gates open! Engagement commences!”

Constalation’s main guns roared loudly. Again, gunfire ruled the sea.