I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Naval battle off Toulon (4)

5pm. Italian Navy 1st Squadron flagship ‘Francesco Caracciolo.’

Caracciolo was in charge of the Italian Navy’s first super-dreadnought-class squadron, but Admiral Arturo Riccardi aboard it could not be relieved.

“Admiral, we have been spotted by an enemy reconnaissance aircraft.”

“Where is the enemy fleet?”

“According to reports from the port of Toulon, it is still 50 km off the coast of the port. The French fleet seems to have already been defeated.”

“You pitiful bastards… … .”

Tsk, clicking his tongue, the admiral shook his head.

I can’t stand it for only 5 hours. Napoleon’s name is a waste. No, because of that name, is he showing such a pathetic figure on the sea?

Anyway, now it’s their turn to pretend to drive them away. Admiral Ricardi was worried about that.

“Commander, how did the management of this ship go?”

“Until yesterday there was no problem. I think we will at least hold out until this battle.”

“I really hope so.”

Sighing, the admiral continued with difficulty.

“I heard that their new battleship has appeared. I heard it was equipped with a 16-inch gun.”

“Yes, if the story of the French guys is correct, it is a formidable performance. But Admiral, we have 4 ships and they have 2 ships. There are enough opponents.”

The battleship squadron commander answers with a confident voice.

Admiral Ricardi also wanted to think so. However, in the memory of the seasoned admiral, the name of the Royal Navy was not so easy.

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

However, aside from the power of the opponent, he was worried from the flagship he was riding.

After being built in 1920, it was considered to be remodeled as an aircraft carrier, but it was all canceled and was abandoned. Even after the launch, there was no budget to carry out the construction, so the yard was neglected.

If the U.S. had left the disarmament treaty just a year later, this ship would have been scrapped.

However, the situation changed with the decision of the Hoover administration of the United States of America. The craze for building new battleships in Europe, which resulted from the withdrawal from the treaty, was nothing compared to Italy.

Innumerable giants such as England’s Invincible, France’s Lyon, and Austria’s Monarhi came out of their graves. Some of them were very close to Italy.

He had no choice but to cry and eat mustard to build a new battleship.

What caught the eyes of the Navy Department was the Caracciolo, which was left with only the hull floating.

“In the reconnaissance plane! Based on this ship, a bearing of 330 and a distance of 40,000 enemy ships were discovered! 25 knots!”

“It will be in sight soon.”

The chief of staff reports in a nervous voice.

The admiral bit his lip and rolled his eyes. There was not yet a smoke stack on the distant horizon.

However, it is certain that there are enemies out there.

“How do you feel, Squadron Commander?”

“The Caracciolo class is the strongest battleship in the Mediterranean. There’s nothing wrong with fighting.”

Hearing the confident answer, Admiral Ricardi smiled bitterly.

Certainly the flagship he is on is clearly the most powerful battleship in the Mediterranean. It overwhelms the British Queen Elizabeth class in speed, and outguns the Lyon and Monarch class in firepower.

However, the problem was that if you look closely, you can’t see that the state is in good condition.

Insufficient deck armor, torpedo protection system, etc., he could only say that it was defective.

Fortunately, it became a successful test bed for the successor ship, but he himself became a ship that he was not very pleased with. It is a plate that sometimes even floods due to damage to the hull.

It was regrettable that such a battleship had to be written as a flagship, but unfortunately, Caracciolo was the only battleship equipped with facilities for a test flagship.

Can this flawed, tattered battleship defeat the enemy’s mighty new battleships?

it would be impossible It was an admiral who firmly denied it in his heart.

However, it is just that they cannot easily escape when the number doubles.

At least two of these, he thought, would be beaten to the ground before they even got close.

“Would you like to engage?”

“Well, exchanging fire from a distance would be fine.”

Fortunately, the hit rate of artillery fire at around 30,000 meters is around 1% no matter how high you set it. Unless you’re extremely lucky, there’s nothing wrong with it.

Eventually he made a decision.

“Entire fleet, course 300! Block the enemy fleet’s path!”

An admiral who commands with confidence.

Before long, the four giants turned vigorously.

* * *

At the same time, Mobile Z Fleet flagship ‘Repulse’.

Around the time the bright sky was gradually submerged in clouds, Repulse joined Indipatigable. Leaving the burning harbor behind, we picked up our speed, but we weren’t too relieved.

“Port-side watch report! Defense 220! Distance 30,000! Two large enemy ships!”

Chimney smoke rising from the horizon.

Seeing the sight of the dark tail fluttering, I sighed.

Damn it, I spurred on the strategy to avoid seeing this.

The enemy ship that appeared before us is probably the Caracciolo class. It is a powerful enemy with a combination of eight 15-inch guns and high speed of 28 knots. Since it came out after the treaty, it’s likely that the defense against it will be substantial.

“Admiral, what should I do?”

“What? We have to fight.”

“But haven’t you reached your goal?”

The chief of staff frowned as if he didn’t understand.

I shook my head and answered him.

“Isn’t it possible that they escort the emperor across the sea?”

I was worried that the fake Napoleon son would have a wrong mind.

Since we have come this far, we must achieve our goal.

sh*t! But things are too bad. Of the current forces, the only one that can face them on the first line is Indipatigable.

But can that damn ragged battleship really fight? Moreover, ammunition is about to run out.

“Where are our supply crates?”

“The rendezvous point is 30 miles to the south.”

“I don’t have time. I have no choice but to fight as I am now.”

When I looked at my watch, I sighed. too tight a time. If it is a high-speed fleet of 28 knots, there is a possibility that it will invade while we are receiving supplies. To stop it, stop here.

“What about Task Force Gibraltar?”

“I’m just heading north.”

“time is?”

“We will arrive in about two hours.”

It’s just as slow as this one. Well, at least it’s two outdated battleships and two heavy ships.

However, it is a regrettable power now that I want to grab at least a straw.

“I join them after wasting time with long-range firefights. If there are more numbers on this side, they will step back in moderation.”

One good thing is, the port has been destroyed, so it’s true that we won’t be entering there.

Then, the only place they will return to is Naples. If even the Italian fleet goes back, the emperor will lose the will to use the sea routes.

However, the opponent is four new high-speed battleships. In fact, it may be a 4-on-1 fight. Anyway, this is hard to beat. Now is the time to question our survival.

… Even as I thought about it, the enemies continued to approach.

“Request to engage in Indipatigable!”

“Permission. Engage!”

Finally, the battlecruiser that put the enemy within range spews bright red flames. Looks like a dragon roaring. Fortunately, the main gun works normally.

“I think it will be difficult to observe because of the distance.”

“It is a threat. Don’t expect.”

I answered the words of the chief of staff while looking at the water surface shaken by vibration.

But I’m a little worried about the remaining ammo.

“What ammo is left?”

“One engagement is sufficient to carry out. but… I don’t know if I can deal with all four ships.”

“You should hope that doesn’t happen.”

If we come to a situation where we have to catch all 4 ships, we have already lost. At that time, you really have to think about a shock charge.

As anxious thoughts passed, a white column of water was finally engraved on the horizon.

A plume of water collapsing. Sparks flash behind the curtain. Caracciolo class fire.

“What is your current distance?”

“28,000.”

“It’s just about the maximum range.”

At the same time as the shooting of the enemy fleet was observed, the second company of the Indipatigable emitted a roar. However, the flagship’s bridge was silent.

“Admiral, Repulse is not firing.”

“That’s the right decision. We’re running out of ammunition, so there’s no need to waste shells.”

He nodded, thinking of Tobay, who was directing the bombardment from the top floor.

Even if the new main turret is applied, the maximum range of Repulse remains at 26,000m. If you want to increase the range beyond this, you will need to use newer ammo and add more charge.

Both are still too early to use.

I added words like a sigh.

“Anyway, if you run into them, the only ones that can fight properly are the Indipatigables.”

“It’s a really bleak situation.”

“That’s what I mean.”

Can that accident-prone battlecruiser fight properly at an effective engagement distance?

What is certain is that nothing can be certain.

All I could do was blink my anxious eyes.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, the flagship of the 1st Squadron of the Italian Navy, Francesco Caracciolo.

“Red bullets, bullets!”

A cold sensation passes in front of your eyes.

Soon a huge column of water rose up beside Caracciolo’s hull.

“It’s a near bullet!”

Listening to the shocking report from the watchdog, Admiral Riccardi changed his hair. A column of water carved a shadow on the bridge tens of meters high collapsed like a cold iceberg.

It was much more powerful than the main gun of the battleship he rode on.

“As expected, 16-inch naval guns.”

“Our shooting is also recording narrow gaps.”

“But there are no hit bullets.”

The admiral responded sharply. He bites his lips and bites his tongue.

“And according to their report, even if you hit it right, it’s hard to get a critical hit.”

In fact, in centimeters, it is 40cm vs. 38cm. It’s only 2cm difference. However, it is that small difference that determines the victory or defeat of a battleship.

As if to prove it, Caracciolo’s hull was shaking with violent vibrations. Before long, the guns on the forward deck roared again.

Fangs of counterattack that pierce through the smoke. The shells, which were moving in a clear parabola, soon pierced the steel plate.

On the bridge, the watchdog shouted in an excited voice.

“Hit!”

Everyone in Caracciolo, you and yours alike, gazed at the horizon with exclamations.

A hit at a distance of 25,000. That’s also the record of this side firing as they approached. It can’t be an encouraging achievement.

“Enemy ship, fire on deck!”

At the good news that followed, Admiral Ricardi nodded.

Certainly, the skill is not inferior to this one either. But he couldn’t let go of his expression.

“As expected, I don’t even dream of shooting at this level… … .”

The enemy ship, still running at high speed, flashed its gunfire fiercely.

The appearance of not caring about a direct hit from a 15-inch bullet.

But it was hard to imagine that this side would be so fine.

“Can we win… this fight.”

The admiral muttered inadvertently.

Fortunately, a report was heard while asking about such trivial noises.

“Red bullets are coming!”

thud-

A cold column of water hit Caracciolo. A shell that fell only 30 m to starboard knocked some fragments into the hull.

“Admiral, Repulse is also attacking!”

It wasn’t just the 16-inch guns.

The rear enemy battlecruiser, presumably repulsed, also opened fire just in time.

The two Royal Navy capital ships opened fire, holding the Caracciolo by the head.

“Should I charge… ?”

“However, we are concerned about damage to the flagship.”

The chief of staff who gives worried advice.

Breaking into a cold sweat, he pointed at his watch.

“In addition, as soon as the sun goes down, we have no choice but to switch to night battles. Then they will run away, can you catch up?”

The problem was right there.

What if the enemy fleet escapes under cover of night? His fleet, which is several knots behind in speed, has no choice but to catch up.

Even if you’re lucky enough to maintain contact, you’re bound to be hit by sunrise and airstrikes.

Admiral Ricardi groaned with his head down. He was proud of his fleet. But at the same time did not ignore the ability of the Royal Navy.

Above all, it wasn’t too bad that there was a legitimate reason for retreat. Then he gave the instructions he thought were most appropriate.

“Turn the boat. Return to port.”

Caracciolo fires a loaded 15-inch gun. After that, without hesitation, turn the player.

It was the last shot in the naval battle off Toulon.

* * *

Two days later in the afternoon, the port of Gibraltar.

Leading the hull charred by gun smoke, Repulse docked at the port. After giving a brief speech to commemorate the end of the battle, I immediately got off the dock.

“Admiral, this is a reconnaissance report from our submarine.”

“Something?”

“It is said that the wake of a large enemy ship led to the Port of Naples.”

“Isn’t it back in front of Toulon? Good luck.”

He pretended to be calm and nodded his head and waved his hand at the chief of staff. I let out a long sigh as I watched him leave the commander’s office.

The battle with the Caracciolo class was quite tense.

Indipatigable was also hit and set on fire for a while.

The shooting was precise and the coordination was excellent. Maybe I should rate it higher than expected.

First of all, I decided to think of Indipatigable as a half ship for the time being.

This is because the skill of the crew is too low.

I was lost in thought as I lay face down on the bed.

The Mediterranean campaign is not finished. As long as the Italian fleet lives, they will always be our stumbling block.

something is needed

“Admiral, this is urgent!”

It was then that an urgent voice broke through the door.