I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Battle of the Bay of Biscay (5)

after about 10 minutes.

Bay of Biscay, French 2nd Task Fleet Flagship ‘Duquen’.

“Enemy ships, Japanese soldiers!”

“Battleship Squadron, Freedom of Evasive Movement!”

lapping waves.

Enemy warships’ fire broke through the rough waters and flashed. Black smoke flowed through the hull like a curtain. Admiral Muselier tightly closed his eyes, thinking of the time the bullets would fly.

Impact time about 30 seconds. It’s too soon to turn the steering wheel. I’d rather spur a little more and close the distance.

“Red bullets are coming!”

Shun-

The impact shook the bridge with a whistling noise. A hit must have been fired.

Staggering, the admiral stood on the bridge railing.

“Squadron commander! Are you all right?”

“Yes, yep!”

“Check the state of the flagship!”

The squadron commander, who had noticed Admiral Muslier, approached Jeon Seong-gwan and shouted. After a while all sorts of noise flowed out, and then a weary voice.

“… One hit on the center deck. A fire broke out in the engine room, and the maintenance team is currently working on extinguishing it.”

“Damn it, you’re already stranded?”

Admiral Muslier, who unconsciously clicked his tongue.

In an instant, he realized his mistake and shook his head. The admiral sighed and turned his body toward the squadron commander.

“Admiral?”

“You can’t stop your feet.”

“Yes, Admiral. But it’s dangerous as it is. Why don’t you just take out the flagship?”

“If even Tourville gets close while we’re being beaten, we can take a shot.”

“but… The power difference is too big!”

“Do you know a way out of here?”

A voice shouted as he turned his head.

The commander-in-chief sighed and closed his mouth. I really couldn’t think of any way.

“The only way to get out of the net is to catch the fisherman.”

The admiral, who spoke like a sigh, looked out the window with a tired face.

Duquen’s main gun that breathes fire even while the deck is on fire. The front 8 doors survive safely and pour out fire. A column of water rises as if intersecting with the fire of an enemy ship.

This is already the 6th Japanese Civil War. Perhaps thanks to the consistent impact correction, this shot accurately put the hull of the enemy ship into the impact force.

Flashing – the stern of the Invincible class with fireworks exploding. Soon, thick black smoke rises.

“The 6th shot, one hit shot observed!”

“at las!”

Clenching his fists tightly, the admiral gritted his teeth. The distance is 24,000. Still not valid. We need to narrow the distance to at least 20,000… !

“Red bullets are coming!”

Kugu Palace –

A counterattack salvo came close to Duquen.

The 30,000-ton hull shakes mercilessly and spray covers the deck.

“Report the damage!”

“Narrow against enemy bullets! No hits!”

Watching the water column collapsing beside the bridge, Admiral Muslier swallowed dryly.

The opponent is a monster with a whopping 16-inch gun. You shouldn’t let go of the string of tension yet.

“Don’t panic! As it is, we can only approach within 20,000!”

“Yes, Admiral!”

Fortunately, the enemy ships are not widening their distance. If you steadily increase your speed, you can put it into effective range.

The chief of staff, who was carefully examining the enemy ship with binoculars, spoke in a questioning voice.

“Why doesn’t the enemy ship run away?”

“I don’t know if something went wrong. or not… … .”

Grinding his teeth, Admiral Muslier added:

“Even if you don’t run away, you have the confidence to deal with us.”

Insulting the French Navy.

But it also meant that there was still some hope left.

Anyway, if you close the distance, this side won’t be inferior in firepower either.

“The 8th bullet, landed!”

The volley that roared the sea with the sound of thunder again reached the hull of the enemy ship.

Even before the water column from Duquen’s shot had subsided, the rear tourville’s fire covered the enemy ship.

continuous saturation. Even as he watched the sight of overwhelming the enemy with gunfire, the admiral could not calm his trembling heart.

* * *

At the same time, the battlecruiser Indipatigable.

“Red bullets, bullets!”

thud-

A roar from the stern. A heavy vibration is transmitted to the bridge.

Soon, the sound of bullets again.

The bullets lodged in the turret shattered like wedges, scattering shrapnel everywhere.

“It’s a direct hit to turret one!”

“Is it possible to fight?”

“… All right!”

“good.”

Indipatigable’s gloves haven’t allowed a single effective hit yet. However, it was unavoidable that the structure outside the important compartment was slightly damaged.

Some anti-aircraft emplacements in the aft area were destroyed, and a small fire broke out on the middeck side.

Fortunately, it can still be covered enough with the conservative team’s performance.

“Are our hit shots still?”

“Shooting continues to be narrow. Let’s wait a little bit.”

Still, getting hit in succession is still unsettling.

At the words of the chief of staff, he clicked his tongue and turned his head.

Distance 22,000. Even this was long enough, but the enemy fleet used many guns as weapons and steadily produced hit bullets.

Now, if the bullets don’t hit, the damage will accumulate on this side as well… … .

“Admiral, why don’t you shorten the distance?”

“Let’s get closer?”

proposal of the chief of staff.

I tilted my head. When asked in a questioning voice, he continued his explanation.

“Isn’t it when the No. 2 turret is facing the rear that our main gun blast hits the bridge?”

“yes.”

“Then, on the other hand, if the firing position of turret number 2 is directed forward, wouldn’t the aftershock be less?”

is it? If you think about it, the problem is that turret number 2 is exceptionally close to the bridge.

“What about turret number three?”

“Aren’t we located in front of the bridge? Besides, the rear bridge windows are still intact.”

I nodded my head at the exquisite point.

Certainly, if the distance is shortened, the dispersion of this side will also decrease. It is said that the possibility of a hit bullet is increased.

The rear bridge workers must be in trouble, but it’s none of my business anyway. If you twist it, make it an admiral.

Anyway, the main gun of the enemy ship must approach at least 10,000 to penetrate our intensive protection division. It’s worth a try.

I heard that judgment.

“Okay, let’s try that.”

Before long, the huge hull moved through the waves. Inclining toward the enemy line, Indipatigable fired the first salvo in a new stance.

“The thirteenth, shoot!”

Stroke, bowed his head.

A storm sweeps across the deck. Disasters created by humans fly over the surface of the water.

“Approximately 30 seconds until landing!”

“… Too tight for tea.”

It was said as a joke, but no one laughed. Everyone was looking out the window with binoculars on their faces.

On one side of the battlefield where the giants punched each other, friendly destroyers steadily attempted to infiltrate. However, the desperate resistance of the enemy escort squadron did not seem to yield much.

“It lands!”

I turned my head and looked at the Lyon-class, which appeared to be the enemy’s flagship. An astonishingly vicious explosion soared above the deck.

“A hit on the enemy ship! Fire observation on the aft deck!”

“Nice job, Captain!”

As soon as I spoke to the former, I heard a calm answer.

“… Not because of me, but because of the artillery range.”

The appearance of giving credit to subordinates is also elite. To be honest, doing well is a lot of lip service.

Our Repulse gunnery field worked well even with 6 guns. Even during rapid maneuvers.

… Looking at it now, that friend was quite a monster.

“Admiral! The enemy flagship is deploying a smoke screen!”

“Change the target. With an aftertaste.”

Smoke billowing in front of the burning battleship.

I sighed as I watched the turrets quietly change prey.

* * *

The flagship of the 2nd Mobile Fleet, Duquen.

Admiral Muslier, who was about to fall into shock, managed to hold on to the bridge railing and turned his head. One by one, the bridge personnel came to their senses and hurriedly looked outside and reported.

“Admiral! I was hit by an enemy bullet!”

“Damn it, I know! Just avoid it!”

“Two hits on the aft deck! Turret No. 3 is completely destroyed!”

“Left propulsion failure! Flooding in the propulsion section!”

It’s a total mess. Damage equivalent to medium damage in one hit.

The admiral rushed out to the lookout deck to check the damage himself. A fierce fire engulfed the aft deck. The gun barrel bent like a candy toe made me feel sorry for him.

“Squadron commander, withdraw the flagship! After emergency repairs, we go into battle again!”

“Admiral, we must retreat!”

“Even if you run away, you will be caught anyway!”

However, his argument did not last long.

Before Indipatigable changed its target, the last salvo fired reached Duquen.

A shell that hit the mid deck shattered a chimney, and one exploded at the base of the bridge, blowing hot air up to where the admiral was standing.

The admiral, who crashed into the bridge wall, bowed his head with the help of his subordinates.

“Admiral! We need to move the flagship!”

“… Call the destroyer! I understand!”

Duquen fluttering Lee Hamgi.

Tourville, which valiantly advanced in place of the damaged flagship, took fire from the enemy battleship instead.

While countless Japanese soldiers came and went, the distance between the two ships was reduced to 19,000. Thanks to the approaching enemy ship, I was able to close the distance faster than I thought.

Turville’s main gun howling fiercely.

But the lightning-like volley pierced her front without hesitation. Simultaneously with the screams of steel, the two forward main turrets burst into flames with their barrels bent like dry toothpicks.

Tourville turned course.

Subsequent shelling hits the hull one after another.

Beneath the deck engulfed in flames, a huge mass of iron slowly tilted.

“Tourville… Inability to fight.”

“What kind of monster is that?”

In a dejected voice, Admiral Muslier shook his head.

It’s such an overwhelming disparity. Even though it is a new battleship with 16-inch guns, it is not even effective.

The judgment was wrong. The admiral regretted his judgment. It wasn’t a gap that could be resolved by approaching it fairly quickly.

“What a ridiculous monster!”

High speed of more than 30 knots, 16-inch guns, and heavy armor.

Looking back, there was no chance of winning from the beginning. The hope I had so far felt like a joke.

“Port-side watch report!”

“What else?”

But the disaster did not end here.

“Bearing 190! Enemy destroyer squadron approaching! Distance 8,000!”

The light cavalry was approaching.

* * *

6th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyer Akkasta.

A player who cuts the surface lightly. Hitting the waves as they were, the eight destroyers sprinted toward the two giant ships in front of them at full speed.

“Enemy battleship! Distance 7,000!”

“Has the flagship contacted you?”

“Only orders to move forward!”

“Are you going to go up to 3,000? Not bad!”

Acasta’s captain, Woodward, said in a cheerful voice.

pop-

A huge column of water rose beside the hull, but he calmly took out his binoculars and surveyed the surroundings. Countless bullets rained down on them.

“Watch starboard! Defense 040! Distance 5,000! Two enemy destroyers! Keep approaching with this ship!”

“Turn the gun! gunnery field! Respond!”

Fire-breathing 4.7-inch gun. Large and small water columns cover the surface of the water. But none of that stopped the destroyer squadron’s charge.

The battleships were disabled, and the destroyers had no time to wake up to avoid the enemy’s fire, block the destroyers, or rescue allies.

The mast of the destroyer, which was hit by the enemy ship’s secondary guns, broke before I knew it and fell over the chimney. However, beyond the slowed ship, the fellow ships advanced like hungry ghosts.

When the distance decreased to less than 3,000, the 6th Destroyer Flotilla turned their heads in unison.

“Captain! The signal for torpedoes has been raised from the flagship!”

“good! Project all the torpedoes from tube #1!”

A splash, four torpedoes thrown to the surface.

The destroyer fleet, which fired half of the torpedoes each loaded, fled, showing their sterns.

A torpedo darting through the blue water. Captain Woodward raised his binoculars with strained eyes.

“Check the hit!”

It was fired at a close range of 3,000m, but unfortunately the torpedo’s accuracy is not very high.

Worst case, they would have to go back into low saturation. The captain broke into a cold sweat and adjusted his binoculars.

However, fortunately that didn’t happen. One after another sharp columns of water rose from the hull of the battleship.

Additional attacks didn’t seem necessary. The sound of the steel tipping echoed across the bleak sea.

* * *

Four days later, Leicestershire, England.

After parting with Kirk in front of the house, I quietly entered the house.

In the previous year’s battle, Indipatigable, which unilaterally defeated two battleships of the French Atlantic Fleet, added another record to the myth of invincible class invincibility.

However, I immediately posted a defect report about her to the upper management and got my returned vacation back.

If it was Repulse, I wouldn’t have taken leave. It’s many times better to roll around in his captain’s office than to go home.

However, I had no intention of sleeping with a terrible guy whose bridge windows were broken during the Japanese occupation.

As I was about to enter the room, I realized that my brothers and father had all left the house. At the same time, my mother’s eyes met as she came out of the kitchen.

“fountain? Are you back already?”

Am embarrassed. I was thinking of sneaking into the room, covering it up with an attendant, and leaving.

It was like trying to take care of a family photo book, but from the beginning it looked twisted.

Shouldn’t he have just blushed and stormed into Kirk’s house?

“ah… sorry. Suddenly there was an emergency call.”

“I see… … Good job.”

Unexpectedly, the mother said calmly and held hands.

what? Haven’t you heard the news of the match yet?

It might be that they didn’t tell the story because they were so dumbfounded. It hasn’t even been a week since I came back from the operation.

At least, if her mouth is a little heavy… … .

“Hasn’t anything happened while I’m gone?”

“huh? yeah, it wasn’t a big deal. Why?”

“no. I was wondering if everyone is doing well.”

A mother who smiles and pats her shoulder. The fingertips are exceptionally warm.

I guess I didn’t mention my nonsense. Now that I see it, thank you very much.

Cecilia Rose! I don’t know where I am now, but I hope there will be infinite glory in the future… … .

“But why are you like that when you meet?”

baby girl