I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Chapter 73

Battle of the Bay of Biscay (2)

French Royal Navy battlecruiser ‘Indipatigable’ in the Bay of Biscay.

It may sound out of the blue, but there is an anecdote about the landmark Eiffel Tower in Paris.

When the Eiffel Tower was built, people hated it because it was ugly. Among them, it is said that there was an old woman who cursed the Eiffel Tower but went under it every day and forgot her lunch.

One day, a reporter went to the old woman and asked.

Why do you hate the Eiffel Tower and come here every day?

she replied:

The only place in downtown Paris where you can’t see that ugly steel tower is right under the Eiffel Tower.

Of course, I don’t know if this is a true story or a rumor. It’s just a story I’ve heard.

But at least, the story of the admiral boarding the battlecruiser in order not to see the appearance of the ugly battlecruiser can be answered as true.

“Admiral, this is a report from the Furious reconnaissance aircraft.”

“Something?”

“Enemy fleet spotted at bearing 350. Two battleships, one cruiser, and many destroyers. 100 miles away.”

“Go there right now. Ask the Furious to launch a raid, and we will also begin preparations for engagement.”

Busy footsteps echo around. People quickly filled the space wider than Repulse.

Spacious bridge.

After transferring my flagship to the battlecruiser Indipatigable, I calmly looked around. The windows in all directions show the wide horizon as it is, and all the furnishings are neatly arranged, giving off a hint of brand new.

Truly the most up-to-date battlecruiser. Actually, a high-speed battleship is a fitting term, but what do you know? The premise that either way is ugly doesn’t change.

“There are two enemy battleships. Would that be possible?”

“Since it is new. Nine 16-inch guns can do it.”

Responding to the chief of staff’s worrying words, I asked with confidence.

“Captain, from now on we will deal with two enemy battleships. can you do it?”

After a while, a voice came from above.

“The condition of the ship is not yet perfect. However, it is judged that it has the necessary fighting power. So, let’s do it.”

“hmm… I see.”

A hard, dry voice.

Captain Tom Phillips, who commands the new battlecruiser Indipatigable, said so. After hearing the textbook-like answer, the chief of staff and I just shrugged.

“As expected, he is a talented person who has passed through important positions. You can put it in your textbook.”

“I heard that he is a very promising friend.”

Admiral who would later lead Task Force Z and lead Prince of Wales and Repulse in the Battle of Malay. Because of his short stature, he is also nicknamed ‘Thumb Tom’.

However, his skills were outstanding, and he was proving his competence by going through important positions even at this point. Maybe that’s why, when we first met, the impression was of a typical elite who was hard and meticulous.

I feel like it’s similar to Lutzens. Friends who are overly businesslike and strict. He’s not the type that’s popular with his subordinates.

“Still, I feel more confident than when I was riding Repulse. Back then, just getting hit by the main gun of an enemy ship was a fatal blow.”

To put it bluntly, in terms of basic performance, indipatigable is better than repulse. No, it’s far superior. In terms of guns alone, they are 16 inches versus 15 inches. It also has an advantage in the number of shots with 9 gates versus 6 gates.

The same goes for armor plates. Unlike Indipatigable, which can defend itself even if it is hit by the main gun of a ship, Repulse is a basic penetrating wound as long as it is hit by a battleship-class main gun. As a battlecruiser, even the important speed is slightly superior to this one.

“I was lucky. But it was such a great ship.”

However, the friendly feeling in my heart can never beat Repulse.

I tried to think so and closed my eyes. It was just a pity that this ignorant-looking battleship overpowered Repulse.

“But don’t you think you’ve got a boat that won’t budge even if you get hit?”

“Well, I doubt it will work like Repulse.”

“Admit it. Isn’t this much better than that old boat?”

“You will ride this boat for the rest of your life.”

Suddenly, I was in a bad mood, so I spit it out and turned my head. I think I hear a giggle behind me. I’ll see you when I get back, you bastard.

Anyway, now is the time to get ready. It’s a ship-to-ship bombardment after a long time. It is a difficult challenge for a battleship that has barely completed its commissioning test. Still, if you don’t have enough power to mobilize, you’ll have to grab a straw.

Still, as long as I’m here, I won’t let the situation in the Caribbean happen again. … certainly.

About an hour later, smoke began to rise sparsely over the horizon.

“Port-hyeon, watch! Defense 300! Distance 30,000! Two large enemy ships are constantly approaching this ship!”

“Fleet, prepare for battle!”

Footsteps cover the ceiling.

I lifted my binoculars and carefully examined the area below where the smoke was rising. On the high bridge of the Indipatigable, the mast of the enemy ship could be seen from a long distance.

The masts raised two by one appear to cross each other. It seems that Dan Jong-jin is pushing a player here. We also chose the approaching course. It is advantageous to change direction first and open the front door.

“Entire fleet, change course to 070!”

“Yes, change course!”

Commands were transmitted to the signal flag and the jeonseonggwan, and soon the hull of the geoham tilted.

A 50,000-ton class hull that moves while pushing the waves with a roar. The deck trembles as if floating with overwhelming tension.

Including the hidden turret at the rear, all nine main guns are directed at the enemy ship. The distance is 30,000 meters. It is already within range of the 16-inch gun.

As if waiting, a voice came from the Jeonseong Hall.

“Admiral, the firing is ready.”

“Wait. Don’t shoot until you’re within 25,000.”

I shook my head and said.

A long-range shot of 30 km takes more than a minute just for the bullet to land. Considering the dispersion of bullets, it is difficult to expect hit bullets.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that the opponent will notice our strength and run away. If that happens, it will be a chore again. The shorter the engagement time, the better. This is obviously the scope of enemy ground-launched air corps activities.

“… All right.”

The voice cut off with a slightly unsatisfactory answer.

Well, it’s not that I don’t understand Phillips’ feelings. Now that I have been inaugurated as the captain of a large ship for the first time, I must be somewhat excited.

But that’s why we have to show a clean fight without superfluity. I thought so.

Fortunately, in terms of specs, it’s a light fight that’s trivial. The main gun here is 16 inches, 40.6 cm in centimeters. If you recall that the main gun of the Lyon class is 34 cm, it is an overwhelming difference in caliber.

In general, when facing a battleship with a gun one tier higher, you should bring 2-3 times that power. Under normal circumstances, the Lyon-class is just an easy prey.

Yes, under normal circumstances.

At that time, I was overlooking one fact.

“Enemy ship! Distance 27,000!”

“Keep aiming! Where is the Furious raid now?”

“Currently moving to that airspace! 10 minutes until arrival!”

“In 10 minutes, one enemy ship will be gone.”

The chief of staff muttered like a joke. Small laughter spreads around. Everyone is optimistic. Well, it’s an overwhelming power difference.

But I stayed silent.

Even if an unexpected situation arises, I have to react as quickly as I can. First of all, you must not lose sight of the string of tension.

Looking out the window, the waves hit the boat one after another.

The forward main turrets, lined up side by side, were silently gazing at the enemy. Cold seawater wet the deck.

“Enemy ship! Distance 25,000!”

“Captain, open fire!”

thud-

The storm on the sea howled wildly. The Japanese soldiers, who stained the bridge windows with artillery smoke, shattered the waters of Biscay Bay and fired nine armor-piercing shells.

At 11 am, it was the moment when the first salvo of Indipatigable was fired.

* * *

At the same time, the French battleship ‘Duquen’.

Admiral Muselier muttered to himself as he watched the bright red smoke flashing on the horizon.

“Are you firing at this street?”

What I could see through the binoculars was the obvious act of the Japanese imperialists. But the admiral couldn’t believe it easily.

The distance is about 25,000. Repulse, of course, is a long-distance that exceeds the maximum range of Duquen. There’s no way the outdated 15-inch guns could fire shells this far.

“Is it just a threatening shot?”

However, there was no reason to waste shells like that.

The Royal Navy is not a group lacking enough to waste gunpowder on useless things.

The admiral touched his tense hand with a questioning face. But there was not much time to procrastinate.

“Red bullets are coming!”

The nine water columns launched beyond Duquen gave a vague answer to the admiral’s question.

“Red bullets, close bullets!”

“Cannonballs reach this distance?!”

It’s nonsense. British-made 15-inch naval guns with an elevation angle of up to 20 degrees have a maximum range of 21 km at best. Even at such a long distance, it doesn’t have the ability to fire a raw bullet.

In addition to that, the number of water columns he could see was exactly 7 or more. It’s not a record that Repulse with six main guns can achieve.

“Could it be the hood?”

“Hood must be in Newfoundland. That’s another battleship!”

The admiral, who came to his senses at the words of the chief of staff, blinked and looked at the horizon. An enemy ship with an incomprehensible record was slowly revealing its gigantic figure.

A bridge similar to Nelson’s. Main turrets concentrated in the front. And a long row of engine compartments aft. He had seen a similar-looking boat before.

“Invincible level!”

Admiral Muselier shouted like a dying man.

Meanwhile, the enemy’s new battleships spewed huge flames onto the decks. The chief of staff urged him in an urgent voice.

“Admiral! It’s a trap! You have to step back!”

“Damn it, it’s late! He’s faster than us! There is no corner to escape!”

The admiral shouts as if he is angry.

The chief of staff was surprised and paused.

Why is there an Invincible class here?

I didn’t even have time to indulge in such questions. It was his responsibility to make a decision right away.

“And an aircraft carrier assault force will arrive here soon. When will our air support arrive?”

“We are flying this way now. About 30 minutes to arrive.”

“That’s enough when we’re all devastated and the survivors are picking up.”

Tsk, the chief of staff carefully asked him again as he clicked his tongue.

“Admiral, then what will you do?”

“… charge.”

“yes?”

Quickly, turning his head and looking back at the personnel on the bridge, Admiral Muslier spoke calmly.

“If there is no chance of winning even if you run away, it is better to take a shot and hope for luck. If you’re lucky, you might be able to disable an enemy new battleship.”

chilly silence.

Just as he was about to hear an answer, a huge water column shook the Duquen’s hull.

“An enemy bullet! Near bullet!”

“Entire fleet, change course to 330! As long as you approach, there is no opponent for the Lyon class to fear!”

The power of the largest number of guns in the history of a battleship is not so easy. The admiral remembered that and clenched his fists.

Even while the building-like water column rises outside the window.

* * *

Royal Navy battlecruiser ‘Indipatigable’ bridge.

Distance 24,000.

While the bombardment was proceeding without any problems, a report was heard in the Jeonseong-gwan.

“Enemy ship approaching! I will change course for a while to keep my distance.”

“Permission.”