The main channel of Palembang Port is actually quite spacious. Under normal circumstances, four large merchant ships can pass at the same time. Merchant ships at that time generally had larger displacements than battleships. The White Army Navy has not set up any obstacles in the main channel. Therefore, the Dutch Navy can also adopt a four-ship formation and enter the main channel together.
The Dutch Navy¡¯s Far East main fleet has a total of forty-eight large warships. There are four ships in a formation, a total of twelve formations. Judging from the number of formations, the time it takes for them all to pass through the main channel is actually not that long. Under normal circumstances, it only takes about ten minutes from entering the main channel to leaving the main channel.
However, this is a value that can only be achieved under normal circumstances, without external harassment, and when the wind is very favorable. If there is external harassment or even artillery fire, then we don't know. If even the wind is against the Dutch, the situation becomes even more unpredictable.
"Full speed ahead!"
Seedorf issued the latest order.
No matter how strong the wind was, Seedorf was determined to move forward.
¡°Every idiot knows that the main channel of Palembang Port must be under the strict control of the white-coated navy¡¯s coastal defense artillery. This is common practice in any port. If the Dutch navy wants to break through to the port, it must reach the innermost part of the port as quickly as possible and in the shortest time, and use its own artillery fire to contain the white-coated army's shore defense artillery. Staying in the main channel for even one second longer may increase your losses.
Fortunately, the northeast trade wind happened to be blowing at this time. The sea breeze blew from the northeast, which just helped the Dutch warships to advance at full speed. The wind force is also quite good, enough to push large battleships to speeds of more than twelve knots. One after another, the Dutch warships all unfolded their sails and rushed towards the Balimpang port mercilessly. Looking from a distance, the large Dutch warships looked like abrupt monsters, silent and scary.
"The Dutch are really not afraid of death! Do they think we don't exist? Don't they know that our cannons have tightly controlled the main channel? It seems that the previous lessons are not profound enough! So many good things The food is delivered to our door. If we don¡¯t indulge our appetite and have a big meal, we will really be sorry for the great hospitality of the Dutch people!¡±
"Hey, Zhou Fei, you can't say that. The Dutch people all pounced on you because of your face. Do you know, this is to give you face. This means they think highly of you, right? Holland The main fleet of the People's Far East has a total of forty-eight large warships. Two were destroyed just now, and now there are forty-six more. It doesn't matter at all. I estimate that if they don't kill more than twenty ships, the Dutch will I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t wake up.¡±
"Kill twenty ships? Are you kidding! You thought you were playing house on land! Do you think battleships are as worthless as your previous cavalry? Let me tell you, every battleship is made of gold and silver. Is it good to pile it up? The cost of building any warship is much more than the cost of setting up a cavalry squadron."
"The total cost of the cavalry squadron you commanded for a year, including the salary of the officers and soldiers and food and drink, was ten thousand taels of silver. It would not last more than fifteen thousand taels. Seedorf's flagship cost at least as much as a cavalry brigade. . Not to mention the loss of twenty warships, even the loss of ten would be unbearable for the Dutch."
"I agree with Zhao Gang's statement. If the Dutch really lost twenty warships, they would probably have to evacuate the Far East in despair. How many large warships do they have in the Far East sea? It must be less than a hundred. Even if they mobilize more warships from the country, they will not exceed 150. They lost twenty ships in one battle, and Seedorf will definitely go to court martial. However, I estimate that he will commit suicide to avoid making people think that It¡¯s a fool.¡±
On the fixed fort next to Balin, beside Yun Qifeng, there were several young officers from the White Army, holding up binoculars and whispering. They are all reserve officers of the White Army Artillery. This time they followed Yun Qifeng to Balabang Port to gain practical experience. Young and energetic, they have always been active.
Yun Qifeng actually heard their whispers, but had no intention of stopping them. Chen Xinhai actually heard it and had no intention of stopping it. It is also good to let them exchange opinions with each other. From now on, these young officers will take up leadership roles in other artillery units. They are the future of the White Army.
¡°Boom, boom, boom!¡±
¡°Boom, boom, boom!¡±
The shore defense artillery of the White Army fired more and more fiercely.
The gunner increased the cannon's firing speed to the limit. About every twenty secondstime, a cannonball will be fired. Within a minute, at least three rounds were fired. The forty-eight howitzers can fire more than 140 rounds per minute. This kind of shooting speed is already quite amazing.
You must know that howitzers and smoothbore guns are completely different. The howitzer is so powerful that one shell can kill a person on the basketball court. Everyone within half a football field will be affected by shrapnel and shock waves. Such great power can effectively make up for the lack of cannons. If solid bullets are used, at least five hundred rounds of solid bullets are needed to achieve the effect of one grenade.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The violent explosion sound made the port of Palembang begin to boil.
The arrival of the Dutch Navy¡¯s Far East main fleet is indeed relatively sudden. It must be admitted that Seedorf did a relatively good job in keeping tactics secret. He effectively blocked the news of the gathering of Dutch warships, keeping other forces in the dark. Before the departure of the Dutch naval fleet, the White Navy did not receive any news.
The merchant ships in Palembang Port were even unaware of the arrival of the Dutch naval fleet. Therefore, when the fighting broke out, there were still a considerable number of merchant ships trapped in the innermost part of the port. If a fight breaks out between the two sides, the ones most worried about being affected are probably these merchant ships. If the white army and navy were defeated, their fate would be quite bad.
Fortunately, judging from the current combat situation, the coastal defense artillery of the White Army Navy still has a great advantage. Dutch warships must pay a high price if they want to enter the port. Two Dutch warships had been destroyed. If the Dutch could not afford such a high price, they would have no choice but to retreat in despair.
¡¡
"damn it!"
"The intelligence department has seriously neglected its duties!"
"I think this sneak attack was definitely a mistake!"
Esco¡¯s heart was literally in his throat. He couldn't help but complain fiercely in his heart. He even listed his immediate boss Seedorf among the objects of complaint. There is no way, the current situation is indeed too dangerous. Esco is not afraid of death. Those who are afraid of death cannot conquer the sea. However, he really didn't want to die like this. To be honest, this way of dying is really cowardly.
A large number of near-misses exploded near Seedorf's flagship. The closest one is not even fifty meters away. The shock wave generated by the explosion made Esco feel very uncomfortable. The huge air wave even made him feel unable to stand still. The sea water stirred up by the explosion washed the deck of the flagship countless times. All the debris that was not fixed was washed away into the sea by the sea water and drifted with the waves.
After several consecutive near-missile explosions, the deck of Seedorf's flagship was slippery, and no debris could be seen at all. If the sea fish blown up are not considered debris. What was even weirder was that a big crab landed on top of Esco's head and grabbed his hair, refusing to let go. Esco finally had to use a dagger to cut off his own hair to get the damn crab away.
I don¡¯t know how this unlucky crab was blown up. It¡¯s really weird. Could it be said that there are still crab swarms near Palembang Port? And the shells of the White Army's coastal defense artillery can actually touch the bottom of the sea? That being said, it is indeed terrifying. You must know that the water depth near the port is at least thirty meters!
However, Esco doesn¡¯t have time to study the inner connection between cannonballs and crabs yet. He has a lot of things to do. The top priority is to direct damage control. A near miss at such a short range. In fact, it has already caused some damage to the battleship, but it is not fatal. Fortunately, the Dutch sailors on the flagship were very experienced and their damage control measures were very effective. A little damage could not have a major impact on Seedorf's flagship.
However, this was enough to make Esko feel mortal danger. Very deadly danger. This feeling of danger comes from deep within and cannot be stopped or eliminated. He had never felt that his life was so fragile. As long as one shell falls on the flagship, he, the evil genius of the Dutch Navy, will be completely destroyed.
In the past, those large Dutch warships relied on their strong protection capabilities and could withstand multiple rounds of solid bullets, shotguns and chain rounds. They could run rampant on the battlefield and act unscrupulously, as if they were in an uninhabited land. The senior officers on the main battleships also received more life guarantees as a result. Unless there is a very special accident, they generally will not die suddenly in battle. However, the current situation is completely different.
how to say? nowThe situation here is indeed a bit strange. First of all, large warships are no longer able to run rampant and act unscrupulously. Secondly, it is a senior military officer whose life is completely lost. They are no different from an ordinary sailor. No matter how strong the warship is, it will only die in front of the cannons of the White Army. Even a true warrior would have to think carefully about it, knowing that he was going to die.