I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Naval battle off the coast of Tunis (2)

A sea of gunfire.

On the bridge, where silence lingers, the chief of staff asked, shaking his head as if embarrassed.

“I’m sorry Admiral, but I don’t understand the order.”

“It is literally. Let’s charge in and engage in a melee fight.”

He responded promptly with his mouth wide open.

“Isn’t melee the specialty of our Royal Navy?”

“I’m sane now… Oh no, are you serious?”

He nodded firmly. I thought I heard something strange, but I decided to move on for now.

For now, the priority is to subdue those foolish bastards who are pouring fire on us.

“Fleet, transition to submissive camp. Charge side by side with the Indipatigable.”

After giving the order, I looked at the battle area ahead again.

But no footsteps are heard.

“What are you doing? Without sending a light signal.”

“It’s nighttime, so there’s a problem with the signal!”

“It doesn’t matter. Only capital ships need to communicate. The destroyer fleet advances following the capital ship. That is all.”

Rather, it is during night battles that each ship’s skills are tested to its limits. And at least the Royal Navy is not being pushed back by their skills.

“What are you doing. Can’t you hear the admiral’s orders?”

“yes! Send a light signal!”

The sound of hasty footsteps.

Soon after, each member of the bridge ran to each other’s location. Searchlights flashed on the back of the bridge.

The chief of staff, who had been looking around with sharp eyes, sneaked up behind me and said,

“Admiral, command itself is difficult at night. How about retreating for now?”

“If you can’t lead, the opponent is the same.”

A huge column of water rose near Repulse. However, it was so far away that even a slight shock was not felt.

“Look at their bombardment. Does that look like a proper attack?”

The chief of staff nodded as he looked at the irregularly rising water pillars in all directions.

“It’s tying us up.”

“Maybe they’ll try to close the distance by morning.”

I looked at the chief of staff and asked again.

“How far can we get before sunrise if we move forward as far as we can now?”

“Assuming they don’t run away… … .”

He was calculating in his head for a moment. As the impact of the impact shook the Repulse’s deck lightly, the confident answer came.

“You can access even inside 5,000m without difficulty.”

“good. do that.”

Of course, the damage will be significant. However, in a situation where you have been surprised by a 4v2, this strategy is the best. Some sacrifice must be made.

“Doesn’t the Gulf of Mexico come to mind?”

“Damn it, even thinking about it now makes me vomit.”

“It’s better than then. Let’s do our best.”

He patted the boy on the shoulder and looked away. The pitch-black window outside was bathed in colorful light.

Orange gunfire, flashes of flares, and destroyers whose decks were already on fire. Two heavy cruisers holding off the enemy by setting up a guard in front of the fleet.

A destroyer with a split hull spills grease like blood. Broken garbage floated everywhere, and a huge column of water swallowed everything like a whirlpool.

Mouth is stuffy

My throat felt like it was on fire.

“Acasta, fire flares!”

pop-

A small gunshot was heard in the distance. The bullets flying in a parabolic arc poured out light, illuminating the far horizon.

The approaching destroyer and the battleship shooting fire from afar became more clear.

“Repulse, open fire!”

Thunder roared before my eyes.

The 15-inch guns with open fire appear to be aiming at enemy battleships from a distance. Soon after, Indipatigable opened fire from the side. The forward main turret pours out flames like a roar.

“What is your current distance?”

“About 17,000. 30 seconds left until impact.”

I took a deep breath and made up my mind.

A feeling of blindness. Shortly after, the enemy battleship’s hull was obscured by a column of water.

“Bangtan, wontan!”

It’s a good score for a first time. If the flares land properly, they might hit a few shots.

A squadron of Caracciolo-class battleships firing back fire.

As the two battlecruisers fired their second round, a column of water gushed into the surrounding sea.

“Red bullets, bullets!”

At the same time as the watchman’s report, he hurriedly lowered his head.

Vibration transmitted through the hand holding the handrail. The tremors seem to run through the bones.

But when I looked up, the water column was sinking quite far away.

“Enemy bullets are quite far away.”

They must have been fired five times already… … With the exception of one close ammo, the ammunition is still poor.

“Enemy shooting is strange.”

“Aren’t you having trouble with this observation?”

“Is that so?”

Listening to the chief of staff, I looked around the battlefield again.

Smoke, gunfire, and flashes scattered everywhere… … .

Certainly I don’t know what’s what. The only certainty is that there is a row of enemy battleships in front of me.

The destroyer squadron ahead of them was busy engaging in a slugfest with each other. A salvo from the A-class destroyer, which appeared to be Akkastar, wiped out the enemy destroyer’s bridge.

“Admiral, if we approach it like this, it will reach a distance where we can see it with the naked eye within the next 10 minutes.”

While I was swallowing dry saliva and reviewing the situation, the chief of staff whispered in my ear.

“If that happens, we cannot guarantee survival either.”

“This is a battlefield. There is no guarantee that you will survive.”

I tried to say that, but inside I was worried. Meanwhile, huge shells fell onto the empty surface.

Looking at the water surface, I was lost in thought.

“It certainly is, but… If this continues, there is a high probability of extinction. Admiral, putting the destroyer squadron ahead… … .”

… Something is strange. That’s where the destroyer squadron fights? It’s too far to go after Repulse and Indipatigable. Some bullets even landed on our rear end.

“Admiral? Are you listening?”

Irregular hit.

It could not be seen that systematic aiming was achieved.

Are you not ready for the night battle?

“Admiral! You must decide now! If you keep going like this, you won’t be able to back down any longer!”

If so, there is still hope.

“There is no need to go through the trouble of buying it.”

As I muttered quietly, the chief of staff who had been shouting something suddenly looked at me with a puzzled expression.

He looked at him in surprise and spoke immediately.

“It is a change of operation. The entire fleet, change course to 270 and tell them to spread smoke to the destroyers ahead.”

“yes? Then what about the charge?”

“Stop. I have more urgent matters now.”

He raised a corner of his mouth at him, blinking his eyes in an absurd tone.

“We have to lure them into a trap.”

* * *

At the same time, the Italian 1st Task Fleet flagship ‘Francesco Caracciolo’.

Admiral Riccardi held his breath as he looked at the sea where gunfire reverberated one after another. He asked, lowering his binoculars as if he couldn’t understand.

“What is that?”

“It’s a smoke screen! Enemy destroyers are forming a smoke field!”

Hearing the report from the chief of staff, the admiral blinked in bewilderment.

The squadron of destroyers in front of them all turned their course in unison, covering the airspace with a black smoke screen.

In an instant, the hidden enemy capital ships fell silent without firing a single shot.

Sudden concealment during a full-speed charge?

This is an incomprehensible behavior.

“Are you running away?”

“It’s okay, Admiral.”

The chief of staff spoke firmly as if to soothe the perplexed man.

“Our destroyer squadron is rushing in. They also have a blocked view, so it will be easier to approach them. Just shoot torpedoes like this and tie them up.”

Admiral Ricardi nodded in agreement with the confident answer. Clearly, if you know how to block the view, the approach from this side will only be easier.

“Maybe the destroyer’s torpedoes will decide victory or defeat.”

But why did he make that decision? Isn’t there some hidden number?

However, the dark night sea did not even tell us the route in front of his eyes, so he had no choice but to look at the sea where the smoke was spreading with anxious eyes.

A roar echoed across the sea.

* * *

Five minutes later, battlecruiser Repulse.

thud-

A roar washed over the waves. Enemy destroyers illuminated by searchlights were obscured by intense explosions.

Immediately after the smoke dissipated, only two fragmented hulls were sinking alone.

“Enemy destroyer sunk!”

“Fleet, stay vigilant!”

The fleet, led by two heavy cruisers, advanced slowly, leaving behind a smoke screen to hunt down the destroyers. The enemy destroyers who rushed in, not knowing that this side was reorganizing their formation, were only defeated one by one in a limited field of view.

Heavy cruiser Cornwall with searchlights on. The sleek hull is revealed in the flash. The only thing that greeted the destroyer who was caught was a huge punishment ranging from 4 inches to 16 inches.

It was time to see the enemy ship sinking safely. A sharp bow came out through the starboard smoke field.

“Watch starboard! Enemy destroyer approaching! Distance 2,000!”

crazy! It’s right in front of you!

The main gun is already being loaded, and heat is being dissipated from the front as well. When I lifted up my binoculars, the enemy destroyer, which I could see closely, was rushing towards me, receiving a shower of searchlights.

As the confused murmur spread across the bridge, Tobay’s voice was heard in full view.

“Admiral! I will ram the enemy ship!”

“what?!”

The floor tilted without even stopping. I hurriedly grabbed the railing and gritted my teeth.

Damn, how could these bastards be so anxious to nail it?

Repulse turned swiftly and accelerated toward the destroyer that had just emerged from the smoke screen.

A sharp player breaking the waves. A small hull is hidden in front of the main turret. I close my eyes waiting for the shock.

… feeling fine. When he raised his head, the destroyer, facing the broadside, passed by Repulse. It was a great dodge.

Except for the presence of turret 3, which has just been sighted.

Suddenly there was a flash of gunfire on the aft deck, followed by the sound of something breaking.

The 15-inch guns bit the enemy.

“Enemy ship sunk!”

“Is this the fourth ship?”

Without even time to feel relieved, they rushed through the smoke at the following destroyer.

Repulse’s secondary turret turns quickly.

However, there was another weapon that reacted first.

“Pom Pom Po, fire!”

Accompanied by a report that made it hard to believe that it was an anti-ship operation, familiar gunfire reverberated across the deck.

Dozens of tracer stems covering the sea. The deck of the destroyer covered in gunfire shines like a Christmas tree.

The guy hurriedly turned the hull, perhaps taken aback by the ceaseless barrage. However, before the torpedoes could be fired, a salvo from a 4-inch secondary gun hit the hull. With an explosion, the small hull tilted sharply.

“Enemy destroyer sunk!”

“You catch a lot.”

“Now they will be at their limit too.”

It was as the chief of staff said. Enemy ships still firing cannons were nowhere to be seen.

The Indipatigables ahead were also hunting the destroyers with dozens of secondary guns. As the auxiliary turrets lined up on the side opened fire, the small destroyer was quickly scuttled by a column of water.

In an instant, something blocked Repulse’s path.

“Admiral! ahead… !”

A gigantic Hamyeong jumped out of the smoke screen. not a destroyer The long-hulled light cruiser jumped out swiftly and pushed out the side. A voice filled with astonishment crossed the bridge.

“Street 800!”

Bright red gunfire dyed the bridge windows.

* * *

From the bridge of the flagship Francesco Caracciolo, Admiral Ricardi raised his binoculars with eyes full of anticipation.

“Admiral! It’s a binge!”

“I know.”

The admiral held his breath as he said that to the chief of staff who shouted in excitement. The roar heard through the smoke was so great that it could be heard by the waiting battleships at a distance. Perhaps it was an ammunition detonation.

Of course, I didn’t know what was caught. But at least it seemed like a large ship. If it’s that much noise, it’s probably the ammunition detonation.

While waiting with bated breath, a certain Hamyeong came out through the smoke screen. The admiral unknowingly clenched his fists and said.

“… Did you do it?”

thud-

Scared to finish speaking, something flashed through the black smoke. Before long, the gunfire stained his binoculars.

“Red bullets hit! 300m to starboard!”

A screaming voice.

Before long, a huge shadow appeared over the sea. The chief of staff took his eyes off the binoculars and spoke to the admiral in a trembling voice.

“Enemy battlecruisers… Alive!”

Admiral Ricardi held his breath as he proudly drew his main gun and watched the approaching Repulse.