"Distance! Twelve kilometers!" On the Channel Fleet flagship "Paris", the navigator reported the distance between the two sides. On the surface of the sea, two battle lines composed of battleships gradually moved closer. As the distance between the two sides got closer, the atmosphere became more and more tense.
"Fire! Keep your course!" Admiral Hercules, commander of the French Channel Fleet, gave the order to fire. The seven capital ships of the Strait Fleet opened fire one after another. Orange flames flashed at the muzzle of the huge 305mm naval gun, and the shells weighing hundreds of kilograms, driven by powerful kinetic energy, slammed fiercely at the United States United Fleet.
"Boom!" Next to the warships of the United States United Fleet, large expanses of water jets exploded. Although due to the distance, it did not cause any damage to each United Fleet, but in terms of morale, it severely suppressed the United States United Fleet. [bsp;"Damn it! Hit me back!" Harold ordered. Just now, when he was still standing on the deck, the French fired suddenly, which startled him. Hastily ran back to the bridge. However, he was still completely drenched by the splash of water after the shell exploded, like a drowned chicken, very embarrassed.
"General, the distance is too far, we can't hit the enemy at all!" The gunner on the "Superior" replied.
"Could it be that we just don't do anything and watch the French show off their power?" Harold growled.
"General! Shooting at this distance is just a waste of shells. The same is true for the French. We'd better shorten the distance to less than 10,000 meters. Only then can we take advantage of the number of main guns." Long suggested.
"Continue to turn and close the distance. I will teach those Frenchmen a lesson!" Harold said through gritted teeth.
Under Harold's order, the battle line formed by the capital ships of each combined fleet continued to turn in an attempt to narrow the distance between the two sides.
At this time, the French Channel Fleet had fired several rounds of salvo. Although there were still no results, the "Paris" actually shot a stride during the shelling of the "Superior", which scared Harold into a cold sweat.
On the surface, the French Channel Fleet has already completed the calibration of the artillery, and what they lack is just luck.
In order to effectively use firepower reasonably. The 'Paris', 'Marseille', 'Amiens' and 'Metz' all hit the current flagship of the US Combined Fleet, the USS Superior. The other "Le Havre", "Orleans" and "Caen" concentrated their firepower on the "Florida", which ranked sixth in the battle line of the US Combined Fleet. In the battle report sent by the South Atlantic Fleet to the Strait Fleet, it highlighted the effect of the concentrated use of the fleet's main guns. Therefore, Hercules quickly adopted it.
For a while, bullets rained down around the two warships. The splashed water column had already soaked the two warships.
"Damn it, counterattack quickly. Gather my firepower, aim at the 'Paris', and sink it!" Harold roared and gave the order. Although the current distance is still a full 11,000 kilometers, under Harold's order, the ten capital ships of each combined fleet began to bombard.
A large number of shells flew towards the 'Paris'. Each joint fleet has ten capital ships and twenty mén 305mm naval guns. It's just that basically all the shells landed far away from 'Paris', and those who barely arrived were a hundred and eight thousand miles away.
"Damn it! Keep getting closer!" Harold was furious. This kind of shooting accuracy is really wasting shells, even he himself can't stand it anymore.
Now, the time is already 10 o'clock in the morning, and the naval battle has lasted for an hour. However, none of the capital ships of the two sides was hit, but the direct battle between the destroyers and the cruisers was very fierce. French destroyers not only have torpedoes, but also the naval guns and rapid-fire guns on them are not covered. When there was no chance to launch a lightning strike on the capital ship, the U.S. fleet, which was also hit by naval guns, retreated steadily. Even directly using torpedoes to launch lightning strikes on the American "Washington" class light cruisers and "South Carolina" class heavy cruisers also achieved good results.
At 11:10 am on the 27th, the distance between the capital ships of the two sides was shortened to 10,000 meters. The bombardment of the United States United Fleet is not so horrible. More or less, there will be some shells falling around the 'Paris', and occasionally even one or two near-missed shells. Fortunately, it did not cause much damage to the 'Paris'.
"Boom!" The 'Superior' shook violently, holding a binoculars, looking at the 'Paris' surrounded by its own cannon fodder, Lu smiled smugly. It seems that it won't be long before the 'Paris' will be sunk.
The shaking of the distance caused Harold to fall to the ground all of a sudden, and a cut was made on his forehead by the corner of the table, and blood kept gushing out.
"Damn it, what's going on?" Harold got up from the deck in a panic, covering his bleeding forehead with one hand.
"How about the loss?" Harold asked quickly. At this time, he didn't care about his injury.
"It was hit by a 305mm artillery shell on the front deck, and the 305mm naval gun on the front deck was damaged and could not be used." The captain reported to Harold.
"Continue to pull in the distance. Until eight thousand meters!" Harold gritted his teeth and gave the order. At the current distance of 10,000 meters, the hit rate of the American fleet is frighteningly low. If it weren't for God's blessing, it might not even reach the edge of the French fleet.
"Okay, the 'Amiens' did a good job!" Looking at the smoke billowing from the 'Superior', Hercules praised loudly.
"Marshal, the Americans are turning again!"
"Hmph! It's impossible to get closer. Order the fleet to turn left 30 degrees and keep the distance between the two sides at about 11,000 kilometers." Hercules gave the order with a grin. At this distance, if the French fleet plays well, it can hit the United States fleet. And if the United States United Fleet wants to hit the French fleet, I am afraid it really needs God's blessing.
The two long lines of battle began to turn towards the northeast, always forming two parallel lines.
"Damn it, the French simply want to take advantage of their naval guns!" Harold slapped the table fiercely and cursed angrily.
The French warships not only had a higher range of main guns than the American fleet, but also a higher speed than the American fleet. Harold had nothing to do with them.
"General, General Godfrey sent a report asking what measures we should take. If we drag on, I'm afraid the French South Atlantic Fleet should come over." The chief of staff of the 6th Fleet said.
"Damn it, what can I do! The French are too cunning, you can't beat them, and you can't catch them!" Harold was very reluctant. He obviously has a strength far superior to the French Channel Fleet, but he can't use it. Instead, he was beaten everywhere.
"General, there is absolutely no need for us to fight head-on with the French. We are in a dangerous situation now. As long as we get rid of the French and return to the north, it will be a victory." The chief of staff suggested.
Harold's eyes lit up. That's right, the longer the time drags on, the more dangerous it will be for the United States Fleet. The French Channel Fleet also obviously knows this, so it has been holding back the United States Fleet. After preparing to wait for the French South Atlantic Fleet to come up, it will encircle and annihilate the American fleet in one fell swoop. Previously, Harold had obviously reached a dead end, and he wanted to defeat the French Channel Fleet before fleeing back to the north. It never occurred to me that if the French Channel Fleet did not pester them, they could return directly to the north.
"Order the ships to continue to turn the rudder, ignore the French, and prepare to return to the north. At the same time, the cruisers and destroyers are also ready to cover the withdrawal of the capital ship." Harold immediately issued an order.
"What are the Americans trying to do?" Hercules was a little puzzled. Can't they see that the French fleet is obviously unwilling to fight them recklessly? I still want to get closer, how is this possible.
At last the U.S. fleet completed its turn, and both lines of battle ended up sailing directly due north under the control of both sides. Moreover, in order to ensure that it will not be hit by the French fleet, the US combined fleet even took the initiative to distance itself.
"Hmph! The Americans are planning to flee back to the north to join the fleet sent by them~www.mtlnovel.com~ Don't they know that we already have a fleet waiting for their southward fleet? No matter how they turn , and always control the distance between the two sides at about 11,000 kilometers. Then, try to sink them as much as possible!" Hercules was not affected by the US combined fleet, and still chose the safest way of fighting.
The battle continued like this until the afternoon. The U.S. United Fleet is determined to escape, and even the shelling seems to be coping with it. The French Channel Fleet, while preserving itself, tried its best to deal the biggest blow to the US fleet. However, at a distance of 11,000 kilometers, the hit rate of the French fleet is not high. So much so that at two o'clock in the afternoon, only a few warships of the US fleet were damaged. Among them, the "Superior" and "Florida" of the US fleet were more seriously damaged. But he has also been attacked. The "Metz" was hit by a 305mm shell. The "Metz" had a thick skin and only lost one 305mm main gun and a few secondary guns.
"Marshal! General Bennett is calling, and they will arrive at the battlefield in an hour!" the staff officer reported to Hercules.
"Okay! Order the ships! Start to turn around and go up. Entangle the entire United States fleet! Let's see where they flee this time!" Hercules immediately issued an order. With the cooperation of the South Atlantic Fleet and the U.S. Combined Fleet, it is difficult to fly this time even with wings.