When the fog gradually dissipated, Rhodes saw thousands of countless black spots on the sea.
To be precise, they are barbarian longships.
"Don't think too much of them. In fact, most Norscans are just a bunch of beasts. Don't think that they will make a desperate move and sail the fleet to Altdorf. They will only burn, kill and loot along the way, even if it is a worthless building.
Every village will become a target for their robbery."
Standing on the bow of the ship, Maximian said with a slightly mocking voice.
"So, we saw their lone boat."
He scoffed, his voice full of pride.
Gradually, with the help of the strong sea breeze, the empire's fleet approached the Norsca fleet with absolute speed advantage. If this is still a fleet...
More people are still clamoring.
Soon, the first cannonball fell into the sea. While making a huge splash, it also overturned a Norscan pirate ship. There was almost no scream, and the ant-like crowds in the distance fell into it one after another.
in water.
The gap in technological strength proves that this battle does not need to be fought to know the outcome. However, the Norscans on the opposite side are not a thoughtful civilized race. With a numerical advantage, countless barbarian soldiers drove small boats and rushed towards
To the Imperial Fleet.
Even the three provinces of Osterland, Ostermark and Nordland have only about 30 ships combined. And what they faced were hundreds of small pirate ships.
Increasingly dense artillery fire sounded around Rhodes, almost drowning out the shouts of the soldiers.
The Imperial Navy lined up in a straight line and bombarded the Norscan barbarian fleet on the wide sea. This was the simplest formation, but it was the most effective. A straight formation can maximize firepower.
.like a sea fortress.
Looking from the side, the flames and smoke continued to rise on the sea.
One after another, the Norscan longships sank under such intensive bombardment. Rhodes saw with his own eyes that a Norscan longship rushing at the front disintegrated under the shells of the Imperial Navy. The solid bullets killed the pirates.
The long ship collapsed from the middle, and the pirate ship that was traveling at high speed was instantly blown into two pieces. Blood mist flew up from the sea...
To be precise, it was not an explosion. Instead, it was a more brutal and direct way to tear the ship from the middle and break it into two pieces. Then, like two wooden boards, it tilted, fell, and sank in the vast ocean.
.Most Norscans can swim, but in the vast sea, swimming can only save your life for a short time.
The sound of artillery fire continued. As the distance approached, more and more Norscans were hit by the cannonballs. Some bodies were directly penetrated and smashed. The whole person fell into pieces into the sea. Some had their arms broken.
and thighs, screaming in agony.
Naval battles are far more tragic than land battles. Because you cannot retreat... Once defeated, there is no chance of survival.
"We should fall back."
Looking at the approaching barbarian warships, Rhodes felt faintly uneasy.
"I'm afraid there's no chance."
Maximian on the side looked at the tragic sea and silently lit a cigarette.
"What's not a chance?"
Rhodes was a little confused.
The elector of Osterland raised his head and pointed at the sail behind him. Suddenly, Rhodes knew. There was no wind...
Naval battles also pay attention to the right time, place and people. For the Norscans, the biggest threat is the huge waves, because their boats cannot withstand waves of more than three meters. For the Imperial fleet, the biggest trouble is the wind. Most of them
The Imperial Navy still uses sails as power. Once the power of the wind is lost, the huge battleships will be unable to move. At this time, no matter how talented your commanding ability is, it will be of no use.
This exchange of advantages gave the Norscan pirates an opportunity. With the sound of drums and driven by a primitive and brutal force, hundreds of uninjured Norscan longships quickly approached the Imperial Navy's line.
"Free launch! Stop them from boarding!"
Maximian shouted an order.
The uniform sound of artillery fire turned into scattered gunfire. The barbarian longship was approaching, and when it was close enough, the sailors of the first barbarian longship set up a crossbow. It was huge and heavy.
The heavy crossbow is more than two meters long. When fired at close range, its power is no less powerful than conventional artillery.
The sound of wooden arrows scraping against the tracks was heard, and a streak of silver light appeared on the sea surface. It was the heavy crossbow arrows of the Norscans flying across the sea. The slightly experienced Imperial sailors immediately showed frightened expressions. They looked at
At this point, the giant crossbow broke through the battleship's armor, and the destructive force caused even left a huge hole in the hull. The cracks spread out like a spider web.
Moreover, the hull of the Norscan ship is very low, and the crossbows fired can fly at low sea levels. Once they penetrate the lower ship plate, the consequences will be serious.
"Change grapeshot! (shotgun)"
The Navy Commander ordered.
Above and below the deck, sailors carried heavy cannonballs, which were cannonball bags packed together with many small projectiles. The range would not be very far, but after being launched, the cannonballs would disintegrate midway, scattering countless small projectiles.
Forming an intensive killing effect. Generally speaking, this kind of shotgun will be fired at each other before a boarding battle, causing intensive killing to the crew on the deck.
A tragic scene unfolded. Rhodes knew that he was almost useless in a naval battle. Unless the opponent boarded the ship, he could only stand and watch. He did not even have the right to command. Because of this invasion, the barbarians were targeting the empire.
Although the empire was relatively powerful despite boasting its military strength, Rhodes wanted to teach these imperial guys a lesson, so he did not dispatch Elengrad's navy. Therefore, he did not have the authority to command any imperial navy.
After giving the order, scattered grape bullets were fired. This was almost a free fire. The distance was so close that there was no possibility of dodge. Moreover, this wave of firing was fatal. If we talk about the previous solid projectile cannons,
The bombardment was to scare the wolves, so this close range salvo was a substantial killing.
The Norscan pirates who had just approached the hull and were about to board the ship were unable to avoid these numerous shotguns. The projectiles fell like a torrential rain, making a frightening sound of falling in the air.
After a while, bursts of blood mist rose from the sea. Hundreds of Norscans fell to the sea after being hit by shotguns. The screams continued like ghosts and wolves. The sea water was quickly dyed red. Countless. Bodies and debris were floating on the sea, and the thick smell of blood even reached the nostrils of the Imperial sailors.
However, war makes people forget sympathy and compassion.
"Keep reloading and blow these barbarians to pieces!"
In my ears, I heard the hateful curses of the Imperial Navy soldiers...