"You mean to say that we encountered the Italian fleet in the waters thirty-eight nautical miles southeast?"
Yuhiro Ito asked once again for confirmation, and beside him, Shiki Kayama, Shigeta Dewa and others also looked at the ordeal-ridden Captain Nakano with serious expressions.
"Yes, Commander, I did encounter the Italian fleet thirty-eight nautical miles southeast."
"Do you see clearly?"
"You can see it clearly."
At this time, Dewa Shigeno suddenly intervened in the conversation. "Is there a transport fleet in the Italian fleet you saw?"
Although Nakano Ikki didn't know why the Chief of Staff would ask this question, when he saw the three officers with their bright eyes wide open, he immediately understood that this question was very important.
"Although my main attention is on the Italian fleet, I can still see a large fleet of transport ships behind the warships."
Nakano Ikki's answer made the three of them shine, because they all knew that Colonel Dewa's plan was based on the fact that the Italian transport fleet was still there.
Vice Admiral Ito asked a few more questions, and Captain Nakano answered them truthfully.
"Okay, we already know the situation. Thank you and the other officers and soldiers of the Yaeyama for your efforts. I hope you will continue to serve the empire."
After Nakano Ikki left, as the chief of staff, Dewa Shigeno was the most frustrated.
"Since the enemy's transport fleet has not left, I think the plan can continue to be implemented. It is time to send an invitation to the enemy to fight."
Dewa Shigeon's invitation to fight put great pressure on the commander, Lieutenant General Ito, because he would need to rely on him to give orders. Regardless of whether the naval battle was won or lost, he would be the first person responsible.
However, Ito Yuheng also knew that he had no choice. Now he had an arrow on the string and had to take action.
"Immediately order the fleet to form a battle formation and advance to the southeast at a speed of 14 knots. In addition, the first battle group is composed of Yamashiro, Matsushima, Itsukushima, Hashidate and other ships, and the third battle group is composed of Yoshino, Takachiho, Hayami, Izumi and other ships.
Team Two.”
Following Ito Yuhiro's order, the combined fleet no longer controlled the Eagle on the periphery, but instead formed a battle formation and advanced to the southeast.
Faced with the actions of the United Fleet, Lieutenant General Alvaro, who had a powerful communication tool, had been fully aware of the situation since he was able to contact the Eagle. After giving the order to continue monitoring the Eagle nearby, Lieutenant General Alvaro immediately ordered the transport ship
team in pernia, courage, brilliance
Under the leadership of the three cruisers, they turned to retreat to the rear. Let these three cruisers leave with the transport fleet to avoid distraction. Moreover, these three cruisers are also the weakest in terms of tonnage and firepower in the formation. They all only have one or two.
With a tonnage of thousands, the main responsibility is to protect the transportation team.
"Since the enemy wants a frontal naval battle, then we will give it to them. Order all ships to prepare for the battle."
Following Lieutenant General Alvaro's order, the remaining battleships began pre-war preparations. Sandbags, fire-extinguishing equipment, ammunition, etc. were continuously moved out by the sailors, while Lieutenant General Alvaro maintained contact with the Eagle.
Contact so that you can control the enemy's dynamics at any time.
At this moment, Lieutenant General Alvaro felt that radio had a profound impact on naval warfare. It was impossible to know the enemy's movements without using a lookout post. This was simply unimaginable in the past. Of course, this had a lot to do with the normal operation of the Eagle's radio.
At 1:25 in the afternoon, the rail pole of the combined fleet finally appeared on the sea level, and before that, the lookout post had already issued a warning in advance through the smoke column.
"Finally here!"
At this moment, many officers and soldiers of the combined fleet, as well as officers and soldiers of the task force, suddenly had this idea in their hearts.
However, as the commanders of both sides, Lieutenant General Alvaro and Lieutenant General Ito Yuhiro had no such idea. The moment they discovered each other, they began to compete.
"Order the fleet course to deflect 15 degrees eastward."
Since the Combined Fleet is coming from the northwest and the Italian Fleet is in the southeast, turning eastward can give the Combined Fleet an advantage in grabbing the enemy.
However, in the face of Ito Yuhiro's operations, Vice Admiral Alvaro sneered. "Order the fleet to speed up and increase the speed to 18 knots."
That's right, the Italian task force commanded by Lieutenant General Alvaro has an unparalleled speed advantage. You can manipulate it in any way. Why don't I directly use the speed advantage? Unless the combined fleet is willing to divide the formation into two parts, otherwise the "t"
He was determined.
Of course, if the Japanese fleet commander really divides the fleet into two parts in order to grab the "T", then Lieutenant General Alvaro will really laugh his head off. He can happily divide and eat the Japanese warships and return them to the opponent.
Take a lesson.
As for the Italian fleet's use of speed as a means to grab the enemy, of course the opponent Yuhiro Ito discovered it at the first opportunity.
However, as a saying goes, knowing a problem does not mean it can be solved, and Yuhiro Ito is in this state.
Lieutenant General Alvaro's move directly affected the lifeblood of the United Fleet. Because according to the short board theory, the United Fleet has a lot of 14-section warships, and it is impossible to compete with the Italian fleet in speed.
So despite the expectations of others, Ito Yuheng has no solution.
Without the speed advantage and unable to divide their troops, Ito Yuhiro could only find compensation from other aspects. But fortunately, they did not want to fight a formal naval battle.
"Let the fleet turn 30 degrees to the west and continue sailing at a speed of fourteen knots. Also adjust the fleet order, with Yamashiro as the bow, followed by Matsushima, Itsukushima, and Hashidate, and then Yoshino in turn
No. 1, Akitsusu, Chiyoda, Iwajima, Takachiho, Izumi, Atago, Maya, Kaimon, Tateyama. After each ship conducts its first artillery attack on the enemy, each ship will act according to the plan assigned to its respective formation."
That's right, the combined fleet led by Ito Yuhiro must compete with the Italian fleet before they can carry out the plan formulated by Colonel Dewa.
Because they need to bypass the obstruction of the Italian fleet, they must line up for a bombardment, and then leave the first team to entangle the opponent, while the second team leaves the battlefield and pounces on the transport fleet behind. This is why the Yamashiro (formerly known as Yamashiro)
Bullard) will stay in the first team. The Sanjing ship is not strong and is afraid that it will not be able to withstand the giant guns of the opponent's three battleships. After all, apart from the 320 mm main gun, the Sanjing ship has no protection and speed.
There is nothing to be desired.
Of course, in addition to the main battleships, the combined fleet also carries some other warships.
"In addition, the torpedo boats Kitty Hawk, No. 7, No. 11, No. 12, No. 13, No. 19, No. 22, and No. 23 are ordered to follow behind and wait for the opportunity to
Torpedo surprise disrupts enemy fleet."
Following Ito Yuhiro's order, the combined fleet began to form a bombardment line formation.
On Lieutenant General Alvaro's side, he laughed when he saw his opponent starting to prepare for artillery attacks from a distance. "It seems that the enemy has given up on fighting. In this case, we will do our part and turn 45 degrees to the west.
Let us teach them a lesson with naval gunfire."
Although Lieutenant General Alvaro said it very easily, the bombardment formation was also going on. Three Turin-class battleships took the lead, followed by two Venice-class armored cruisers, and then various types of protected cruisers based on tonnage, firepower and other factors.
Ranked at the back.
The two warship formations lined up two to three kilometers long and began to gradually approach.
However, as it gradually approached, the Italian fleet led by Lieutenant General Alvaro relied on its high speed of 18 knots to firmly grasp the T-prefix advantage.
Yuhiro Ito, on the other hand, led the combined fleet to move left and right, not wanting to give the opponent a chance to insert the prefix T perfectly.
Although neither of the two sides fired a single artillery shell, the two sides battled wits and courage and demonstrated the abilities of their officers and soldiers to the fullest.
Those watching from the sidelines were amazed by the warships of other countries.
However, no matter how hard the Combined Fleet struggled, the task force had an incomparable advantage in terms of the capabilities of its officers and soldiers and the performance of its warships. Not to mention that the Italian fleet also had the weapon of radio, which made it impossible for the Combined Fleet to get rid of it.
The two fleets are approaching, and the opponent's figure is getting clearer and clearer.
Eight thousand meters!
Seven thousand meters!
Six thousand meters!
Five thousand meters!
When the two parties reached a distance of five thousand meters, Lieutenant General Alvaro gave an order. "Order each ship to open fire in turn."
