Chapter 784 Crying Apennine 1

"12 o'clock, speed 18 knots, southeast wind, rapid shooting."

"Falready for the next round."

"It's open, they're open!"

"Damn it, on the left, two joint forces!"

"Cappur team, stop it."

"Be careful, they opened fire first!"

"Boom."

On the left side of the flashing strait, two United Forces-class battleships opened fire first. As the best battleships in Europe that year, they are also recognized as the best warships and firepower configurations in the new battleship era. Eight triple L45/305 mm guns burst into a roar at the same time. In an moment, the water column forest took off from around an unprepared Italian cruiser fleet. Before a cruiser protecting the flank of the battleship completed its maneuver, it was ruthlessly swallowed up by shells.

Although the Austro-Hungarian navy is only a unit under the army, the navy has a much higher quality of personnel and soldiers than the army, and Austria-Hungary is also well aware of its own shortcomings. Before the war, it hired a large number of instructors from the German navy, and even the staff around Grand Duke Delfino, the commander-in-chief of the fleet, had many people. From Germany, if it weren't for the sinister Adriatic Sea and Tarant, who has been cursed countless times by Austria-Hungary, at least he would not have been stuck in the old nest for three years.

Seeing that the two joint force-class battleships that suddenly left the main battleships used the cruiser cover to pull open the gap and fight against the cruiser squadron on their flanks, Italy had to change its formation. The three Italian Count Cappur-class battleships accelerated to turn the rudder to meet, and the battleships of the two sides raised a lot. A ball of fire.

"Have you contacted Taranto!"

"Not yet, General."

"Damn it, order the first and third cruiser squadrons to immediately leave the war and rush back to Tarantto Bay!"

"Yes, General."

The situation outside was extremely fierce, but in the bridge of the flagship Francesco Caracciolo, Lieutenant General Camacho held the telegram sent by Betty and didn't even have the intention to take a look. At this moment, he was already sweaty on his temples, and his throat seemed to be as uncomfortable as if he had been stuffed with a fire.

It has been an hour and a half since the first shell was fired. When the main force quickly sank the Austro-Hungarian battleship Franz Ferdinand, he thought he could quickly defeat the opponent and then turn around and hit two Guam-class battleships with Betty, but he didn't expect Del Fino to suddenly play a fight. Take the initiative to distance themselves.

Originally, he was puzzled, because Austria-Hungary's fire control system was not as good as that of Italy. If it exceeded 14,000 yards (about 15,000 meters), the accuracy of the hit could not be guaranteed at all. Normally, the old fox Delfino had to take the initiative to close the distance if he wanted to win the battle, but who would have thought that he would On the contrary, it has been fired from 16,000 yards away.

Now, all the confusion and doubts became clear with this telegram. When they saw the speculation sent by Betty, their backs were suddenly full of cold sweat. According to Betty, this was a joint exercise between the Chinese and the Austro-Hungarians. They deliberately threw out the news that two battleships had left in the daytime the day before yesterday, and then Let Delfino set out, forcing himself to use the main force to intercept, and lure Betty here, directly emptying the outer defense of Tarantto Bay!

At this moment, there are only three patrol fleets patrolling in Tarantou Bay, if! Camacho shuddered. He couldn't imagine that if Tarantto was gone, the main fleet he led would become a lonely ghost wandering in the Mediterranean Sea!

What a terrible scene this will be!

He only hopes that this speculation is false now. After all, the Xinhua Navy aircraft carrier has never had a record of fighting at night. As long as it can survive until dawn, he can force the Austro-Hungarian navy, and then quickly turn back and re-block the sea off Tarantto Bay.

It's just that I haven't contacted the Tarantto base so far, right?

"General, Chinese, that butcher is coming!"

Just as he was in a hurry, a panic suddenly came from behind him, which made his palms tremble. He didn't even find the telegram on the deck. Looking up, he only saw that in the darkness of the east, two huge warships had gradually revealed ferociousness

..“ Sir, the radio has been positioned!"

"Where is it?"

Li Xiuyan grabbed the report from the electronic officer. Although he did not learn this, as a captain, he could at least understand it. When he saw the detected radio signal source location, the corners of his mouth suddenly surged with sneers. Hiding in the Kerkira Strait, I want to make a detour from behind while I attack the Italian fleet! Unfortunately, you are too anxious to send this telegram!"

"Full rudder on the left, heading 270."

"Full rudder left, heading." The captain repeated here, suddenly stopped his mouth and said in surprise, "Sur, this is not for the buttocks."

"Ha ha, I know." Li Xiuyan waved his hand and said, "Order the cruiser to be ready for assault."

"Yes."

Seeing that Li Xiuyan was obviously prepared, the captain immediately began to adjust the course without saying much. When the bow turned to 270, the gun staff had also got the fire control parameters and completed the calculation. Sir, the distance is 23,000 meters, and the target is Dante!"

"Gain fire!"

"Fire!"

18 406mm heavy artillery roared again. It was not so easy to hit the enemy at 23,000 meters at night. At this distance, the former had a good chance to avoid it, but Li Xiuyan did not care whether he could hit it, but immediately turned around and walked to the chart and drew a line: "Our current position is in the east of the strait. To the south, the bow points to the Apennine Peninsula. Betty didn't know that we had detected him by radio, so as long as we continue to press forward, he will immediately come out from behind the Greek side of Kerkila to block us.

"What should we do?" The captain didn't understand Li Xiuyan's order just now, so he came to him and asked.

"It's very simple." Li Xiuyan pointed to the position of his fleet and said while drawing, "Isn't he trying to block us? Then we will join Austria-Hungary along the middle of the Italian fleet as he wishes. With the words, a standard Z appeared on the strait.

When he saw the word Z, the captain immediately understood, but there was still a question in it, so he asked again, "Sir, this is the tactics of the cruiser! And once Italy is ruthlessly blocked in front of us, it will completely separate us from Austria-Hungary! I'm afraid it's difficult to break through the past.

"I know, so I need the cooperation of Austria-Hungary!" Li Xiuyan suddenly reversed along the word Z! Then he shook his pen and said, "Contact Grand Duke Delfino and tell him that I need his full cooperation and I need command!"

Seeing this symbol, the staff squeezed their eyes at the same time, feeling that the officer had even considered this point. If Austria-Hungary cooperates to take the reverse Z-line, then when the two fleets meet at the middle point! Damn, just cut Betty and Italy!"

"Haha, that's right. Compared with these turtles, it's not a cruiser!" The captain also immediately understood and personally walked to the rudder wheel and began to take the helm

..“ Your Excellency, I received a telegram from the Chinese, they."

"What's wrong with them?" He was upset by the deadlock and entanglement. He didn't understand what the other party meant. When he saw the telegram, Grand Duke Delfino was still in the mood to play hide-and-seek, and immediately asked, "Say it quickly."

"That Major General Li needs us to cooperate with them and ask for command!"

" Hiss."

Prince Eugen suddenly sounded a breath. The staff and officers all admired the boldness of the "butcher" and directly took command, which meant that no matter what the situation was, these people must cooperate with him! Grand Duke Delfino also frowned. He was a little angry that the real goal of the Chinese people was not clear, but he didn't expect that the other party would want to command him directly now!

However, he is not an idiot. Li Xiuyan's name of "butcher" has long been famous in Europe. At that time, he was solid. What's more, the Xinhua Navy has rich combat experience and may have a chance to get rid of the current predicament.

"He sent two telegrams saying that if you win the first condition, then the tactics can be implemented!"

"This bold guy! How does he want us to cooperate?

Although Grand Duke Delfino did not agree directly, this sentence was equivalent to indirectly acknowledging and agreeing to the other party's command, so the staff immediately took out a second telegram: "Inslant the strait, and then meet them on the middle line." Seeing the staff member marked a Z on the chart, everyone took a breath!

It's too bold!

..“ General, the Chinese exchanged fire with Italy!"

"Fing direction?"

"Shopping to the northwest, cut between Dante and the cruiser fleet!"

"Great, let's go!"

The opportunity finally came. David Betty excitedly handed the coffee cup to the guards. Although he had concluded that Xinhua wanted to sneak up on Tarantto before, there were still several hours before dawn. As long as he could hit Austria-Hungary and the "butcher", he would have enough opportunities to rush back to the nearby Tarant Bay. Build an aviation barrier in front of the enemy's aircraft route!

When three Queen Elizabeth-class battleships drilled out of the strait at a speed of 20 knots and appeared behind the two Guam-class battleships, everyone saw that the Chinese support fleet suddenly rushed to the first new Italian battleship Dante blocked in front of them.

"General! General Betty, they are here!"

"Great! Haha."

"This damn "butcher" has been tricked! Order Andrea Doria and Cayo Duillio to move with the flagship, and the rest of the ships to block the Austro-Hungarian pigs!"

(to be continued)