I Became a Captain of the British Empire

March to the Sea (5)

The sea where the gunfire stopped.

Remnants of the engagement burned forlornly, revealing the background. Seeing the half-submerged destroyer, the squadron commander, Admiral McCree, wrinkled his expression.

“Where did the enemy go?”

“I do not know. I can’t see anything.”

Tsk, the admiral clicked his tongue and shook his head. In the sea without cannon fire or flares, only the sound of the waves drove away the silence.

“Have you not contacted the destroyers?”

“Destroyer 40, 41st, right ahead.”

“Destroyer 42, no response.”

A communications officer reported with a contemplative face. The only unanswered destroyer was the vanguard that had just charged the enemy battleship row. The only contact they had left was the wreckage in front of the admiral.

“entire… Did you get hit?”

A trembling fisted hand. But there was no time for regret.

“Contact the entire fleet, spread out immediately and search the strait at full speed. When it finds something, it immediately shoots a flare and sends a light signal.”

“yes? But Admiral, you don’t even know the enemy’s strength, but to divide the fleet recklessly… .”

The bewildered chief of staff gave advice. However, the admiral shook his head as if it was not right.

“Anyway, our numbers are twice as many. Whoever sees it first wins.”

“Certainly, the field of vision is this far, so the more eyes the better.”

Those were the words of Captain Florida. He looked at the dark background outside the window with mixed eyes.

“You can’t see miles ahead without a searchlight. We have 12 destroyers left, so there’s no room for him to escape.”

Everyone agreed with the quiet admiral’s opinion. After some time, the watchman’s report crossed the bridge.

“A light spot ahead!”

“Flash flares!”

A flare was fired from the front not too far away, and the night sea was brightly colored again. Amidst the crashing waves, a destroyer with a raised forecastle deck appeared.

“Enemy destroyer spotted! Defense 010! Distance 7,000!”

“Leave it to our destroyer. We do not shoot.”

I still don’t know where the battleship is.

The admiral made it a top priority.

“Enemy destroyer smoke spread!”

“Are you trying to run away? Sailing staff, how much time is left until sunrise?”

“Three hours ahead.”

“3 hours… Yes, just hold on for three more hours.”

If you receive the support of the land force, the work is a piece of cake.

The admiral thought so. The sound of exploding flares resonated in my ears.

* * *

Battlecruiser Tiger’s bridge.

Captain Bedford suppressed his nervousness and looked out the window with hard eyes. The sea without a navigation light was really dark.

“Captain, are you sure you’re okay?”

The officer with a worried face next to him opened his mouth. Bedford looked at him with calm eyes.

“I don’t see why we have to do this. What the hell are you thinking in the flagship… .”

Seeing his trembling head, Bedford smiled softly. It was a sympathetic sentiment, but he spoke in a solemn voice.

“What is certain now is that we are the only ones who can do this. Isn’t that the most important thing?”

“Of course it is, but… .”

Then he lightly rhymed and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Don’t worry. Whatever happens, we can get through it.”

The captain, who finished the story with a pat on the shoulder, eventually put his hands behind his back and looked out at the tail of the tiger and the sea where the flares were exploding. A yellow light illuminated a place not too far away.

“Because this ship is a warship of reversal.”

Whispering as if talking to himself, he gazed into the deep darkness beyond the flare.

* * *

After an hour of searching, Admiral McCree received no reports. Nervousness fueled the tension, but the admiral decided to think a little more carefully.

“Has there been any contact from the outskirts?”

“I didn’t see any signs.”

“Hmm, shall we expand the scope of the search?”

Hearing the admiral’s agonizing words, the chief of staff shook his hand in a cold sweat.

“If you go further out, it’s a perfect coast… There is a risk of stranding.”

At the chief of staff’s suggestion, which added the word stranding, Admiral McCree was silent.

Seven years ago, no naval officer was ignorant of the disaster that occurred at Cape Honda.

Seven destroyers were wrecked and lost during the night voyage.

Even at that time, the destroyers that ran aground were the flat-deck destroyers that are now in charge of escorting the US fleet. There was no guarantee that another such disaster would not occur during the night voyage. The admiral nodded meekly.

“There is no wake? Can’t you hear the engine?”

“Yes, there have been no reports of any abnormalities.”

“… Well, I see.”

The flares exploded, and then the destroyer could be seen spraying smoke again. The gunfire rang out without stopping, but there was no response from the enemy. The admiral opened and closed his hands.

“Rapid dispatch from the 41st destroyer!

“what’s the matter?”

Did you find the wake of a large ship?

It was time to have such hopeful thoughts.

“Large torpedo wake found! Two wakes! Approaching from bearing 010!”

“Doing useless things… . See and tell even in the rear!”

The giant ship Florida turned and tilted. While the floor was shaking slightly, the admiral quietly put his hand in front of the bridge window and thought.

In front, it seems that there are only destroyers. However, I searched all the places that could be searched on the side. In the end, what remains… .

“Enemy, flare, falling!”

In a fleeting moment, a flash of light covered Florida. Admiral McCree bit his lip as he looked around the illuminated area.

“Our location has also been discovered. Let each ship be more strict on its surroundings!”

Hearing the more urgent footsteps, the admiral swallowed dryly. I waited with a calm mind to see if a shell would fall around, but the sea was still calm.

Are there really only destroyers ahead? then… .

“Left, port side watch report!”

A breathless voice crossed the bridge. Gyeonsi, whose face was contemplative, shouted in a stuttering voice.

“Bar, defense 200! Enemy battleship, approaching this ship! Distance 4,000!”

“Did you hide in the rear? !”

Feeling a sinking feeling, the admiral hurriedly ran out to the observation deck. Fireworks shimmered in the black background of the distant sea behind.

* * *

At the same time, the battlecruiser Repulse’s bridge.

“Enemy Florida-class second ship landed! Near bullet!”

“Fix the impact!”

“Enemy ship! I respond!”

“Turn the key! Uro 15!”

confused voice. shaking ceiling. My heart feels like it’s going to explode. My heart pumps like crazy and my heartbeat echoes in my ears.

In the midst of dizzy eyes, I barely stood in front of the Jeonseong-gwan.

“warden! Move as fast as possible!”

“Captain! Already running at full speed! If we overwork the organ here… .”

Before he could finish his words, a shock gripped the bridge.

“… Report the damage!”

“Port-side side armor hit!”

I hurriedly looked out the window. Under the No. 2 main turret forward, graphite rose.

“Report the damage!”

“Fire on deck! Block the port passage!”

“What about the main gun?”

“No problem!”

“Okay, here we go!”

thank god. There seems to be no damage to the main compartment. It’s a short distance, but if you keep this angle, you can endure it.

“Enemy secondary battery, open fire!”

“don’t mind! Close the distance with this angle! If you care about the angle, you can stop about 12-inch shells!”

A small column of water rises around the hull. The 4-inch auxiliary battery spewed fire as if in response.

Repulse approaching from the side at a sharp angle. The course is 200 based on enemy ships. If it only hits the side, it is unconditionally a ricochet. Of course, if you get hit in the front, you’ll be seriously injured… .

“warden! It doesn’t matter if the boiler explodes! Speed up, overload or whatever!”

“yes! Current speed 28 knots!”

That means, as long as it doesn’t fit only from the front.

For several hours now, Repulse followed the coast at low speed, risking running aground. It was the moment of walking on the edge of a knife.

If the course had changed even a little, it would have run aground.

But we came back alive in that deep darkness. So you can’t fail here.

“The gunnery field! Make sure the next shot hits the target! It is an order!”

“yes! I will do my best!”

The gun barrel raises the elevation slightly to correct the impact. Then, a flash of light accompanied by a roar appeared in front of my eyes. Huge flames obscured Repulse’s bow, and explosions erupted from enemy battleships.

“A hit on the enemy battleship! Fire in the aft!”

The next shot, the No. 2 main turret spews fire. Two 15-inch armor-piercing bullets flying behind the cannon fire.

About 4 seconds passed, and another explosion occurred at the rear of the enemy ship, where the flames soared. Fragments that scatter like pollen. The gun barrel bends like a tong.

“Destroy an enemy main turret!”

“good! Next shot, hurry up!”

But the enemy does not stand still. Behind the broken main gun turret, guns number 3 and 4 lined up on the center deck look this way. A bloody flash flares up.

“Enemy ship firing!”

“Prepare for shock!”

I didn’t even have time to dodge this time.

fortunately close. A huge column of water rises in front of you.

“Maintenance chief! Report status!”

“Small flooding in the bottom of the ship! The rest of the bulkhead no problem!”

“good! Everyone, don’t panic! Keep moving forward!”

“speed! 31 knots!”

Repulse steadfastly advanced through the water column.

The current distance is about 3,000 m. The enemy ship’s turn speed can’t keep up with ours, so only the four rear main gun turrets are firing this way.

One of them just defeated. The rearmost main turret also looks intact, but remains silent due to damage. Only the 3rd and 4th main turrets breathe fire. Even that is soon covered by the 5th and 6th main turrets.

Another Florida-class in the forefront only turned its gun to see if the aft ship was caught. Now is your chance. If you catch Fumi’s boat first… !

“Ahead! Approaching torpedoes!”

“Turn the key! Fifteen to the left!”

be sick! is a destroyer

The ship’s body shook violently due to the rapid turn. During the turn, the skewed starboard side was placed in front of the wake’s course.

“Uro 15 again!”

“Uro 15!”

Fine-tune the direction. A steering wheel that turns around.

The floor vibrated, and the wake narrowly brushed the starboard side.

“Chairman! It’s an enemy destroyer!”

“I know!”

There is no time. Hurry up and stick to the enemy ship to block the torpedo. If our battleships are in line of fire, they won’t be able to recklessly hit torpedoes. So, we need to push even harder.

“The gunnery field! As you can see from now on, tell the secondary battery to grind the flares! It’s okay even if you’ve never had one! It is enough to light up the surroundings!”

“Can I waste it like that?”

“doesn’t care! Think of this as your last engagement!”

The triple-barreled secondary turret shoots fire into the air while aiming in all directions. The flares that flew like starlight illuminated the surroundings.

Under the flashing lights, numerous wakes and shadows appeared.

“Enemy ship firing!”

Everyone lowered their heads and prepared for the projectiles without saying anything.

The bridge shakes. The sound of something breaking and breaking. Explosive sounds linger in my ears like screams.

“The port side secondary battery was hit! Complete!”

“Middle Deck Fire!”

The deck behind the bridge burning brightly. Sailors rushing to spray fire extinguishers can also be seen here.

But there was no time to be silent. The 15-inch guns opened fire.

Four main guns that fire sequentially. The first bullet unfortunately creates a near bullet and a column of water. The same goes for the second bullet that flew off.

From the third, it penetrated the rear and wiped out the 5-inch auxiliary battery. The fourth bullet hit the barely working No. 6 main turret, and the turret with a hideous hole pierced it and stopped pouring flames into the ceiling.

“Default the enemy main turret!”

But I couldn’t be relieved. The Florida-class, which had gained sufficient momentum, turned its hull and turned.

“warden! get back soon! hurry!”

“Current speed 33 knots! It’s the limit!”

It’s too late.

The central main turret with heat shielding to the aft flashed the muzzle.

“An enemy bullet! coming!”

humming-

huge sound. A plosive across the bridge.

I involuntarily lowered my head at the sound of the air being crushed.

A 12-inch shell passed through the sky, barely five meters away.

The shock continued without surprise.

“Top No. 1 hit!”

I ran to the forward bridge window and looked down at the deck. There was a dark bullet mark on the right side of turret number one.

“Dodge!”

“Bridge base damaged! Many wounded!”

The damage is not insignificant.

A bullet that deviated from the side shattered and scattered fragments in all directions.

“Main turret! Can we still engage?”

“it’s possible!”

“The Agency Department! Report!”

“Current speed 35 knots! I can only last two more minutes!”

Fortunately, there are no problems with firepower. Then you have to blow that bastard out ASAP.

“Turn the key! Uro 15! gunnery field! Kill that bastard!”

“The 3rd bullet, Japanese fire, shoot!”

A repulse that turns slowly due to resistance due to acceleration. Six 15-inch guns fire side by side towards the target. yet…

– Koo Goo Goong

A flash of light flashed over the dark bow. The storm broke the waves and rushed out. Six bullets hit the enemy battleship. A roar erupted as it shattered the hull.

“Chairman… ! An enemy ship!”

The officer’s voice opened in surprise. And the plosive that covers the end of the speech.

I took my eyes off my binoculars at the light pouring in. I could see with my own eyes what had happened.

An enormous flash of light enveloped the battleship.

* * *

The bridge of the battleship Florida.

Admiral McCree looked at the incomprehensible sight. Clearly, it was a dangerous approach, firing only one battleship, and even the front guns.

However, it caught the rear of Utah with an amazing reaction speed, and turned the 20,000-ton class giant into a pit of fire. It happened after only three Japanese sacrifices.

“this… What the hell is this all about!”

There was nothing to say.

Ammo depot width.

“Admiral! We must strike back immediately!”

Captain Florida hastily issued a mantra. The admiral, who was staring at the burning sea with wide eyes, turned his head. The captain swallowed dry saliva and continued.

“The Florida has ammunition magazines spanning the entire hull. If we lose sight of ourselves and get hit by shells, we will get hit just like Utah!”

“… Not like that!”

The admiral immediately turned to the chief of staff and shouted.

“Notify the entire fleet right now! Sink that damned battlecruiser unconditionally! turn the boat! Don’t mind the line and pour it all out!”

“Yes, yep!”

Florida’s 12 guns hurriedly fired at Repulse. All the admiral could do was stomp his feet as he watched the main turret turn frustratingly slow.

But even that didn’t last long.

“Ooh, starboard watch!”

At the report that came along with an inexplicable explosion, Florida’s bridge personnel all looked to the right.

“Check for gunfire and binge drinking ahead! Defense 010!”

Something slowly appeared in the dark background that I was watching closely.

Side view of a flat deck destroyer.

The admiral was relieved for a moment. But then I noticed something strange.

“The bridge… doesn’t exist?”

And that wasn’t all.

The destroyer approaching with its profile exposed as if pushed by something had been cut in half. Between the sinking destroyers, something huge broke through the waves.

“I, the enemy battlecruiser… !”

Gyeonsi couldn’t bear to speak. But it would have been fine if I didn’t have to tell you the story behind it. Everyone on the bridge was watching the scene.

“Enemy battlecruisers! Approaching from nearby! Distance 3,000!”

It was only when the muzzle protruding from the darkness was aimed at Florida that the next report was heard.

* * *

“Tiger! Engagement begins!”

A gunshot vibrating in the sea. The gunfire that roared like thunder shook the surroundings along with huge waves. Florida, which was turning its muzzle this way, was hit helplessly by Tiger’s sudden volley.

In the black background, as if lightning had fallen, the light continued to flash. In the burning shadows, a hideous twisted shipboard structure could be seen.

“Enemy ship! Fires all over the deck!”

“We support you too! All gates open! Target, enemy battleship!”

“Japanese ceremonies, we will do it!”

A voice that can be heard in full force.

He covered his ears and bowed his head. There was a flash of light outside the bridge window.

A total of six 15-inch guns. Three of them went right through the center of the Florida-class hull. Flames shoot up from the hull like sparks.

Both forward main turrets lowered their barrels simultaneously, and one central turret was completely destroyed and collapsed.

However, there was still a surviving main gun door, and gunfire could be heard from the other side.

“Red bullets are coming!”

the sound of cutting the wind. The sound of bullets that followed.

I heard a lot of breaking sounds from the middle deck.

“Dodge!”

“Center hull penetration! A stack hit!”

“Engine room, is everything okay!”

“Smoke is pouring in! Needs some maintenance!”

“Hurry up the maintenance team!”

the guy is still alive We need to see the end soon.

At that moment, a small hull protruded from the Tiger’s side. The destroyer Achates gallops toward the burning battleship at full speed.

“Acates, conduct a lightning strike.”

Accates, who twisted the hull swiftly, leisurely passed the burning battleship. Before long, a sharp column of water rose one after another.

That was the end.

Explosions erupted all over the long hull, and it tilted in an instant, exposing the bottom.

A huge explosion adorned the end.

“Chairman! Two enemy battleships, both sunk!”

Cheers crossed the bridge. He nodded his head with a weak face and looked back at the commander. It felt like my legs were losing strength.

That moment,

“Watch starboard! Defense 050! Multiple wakes are approaching with this ship!”

“… Evasive maneuver!”

The battle wasn’t over yet.

* * *

It was a night as if a storm had passed.

Destroyers rushing madly in the dark, dozens of attack planes attacked as soon as the sun rose.

Against them, they turned their wheels like crazy and fired anti-aircraft guns. When the last squadron of dive bombers finally broke away, building a column of water around the hull, we all looked up at the sky with a broken face.

“The sky is clear!”

When the watchdog’s report rang, there was no sound of applause. Only a tired face and wide eyes remained. On the bridge, out of breath, I looked around.

It’s an incredible past.

Destroy 2 enemy battleships, at least 9 destroyers, and 10 aircraft.

“Gentlemen.”

And no loss of allies.

Repulse was still capable of 25 knots. Tiger was fine, except for one torpedo hit on the starboard side.

It is currently speeding at 26 knots.

In addition, the two destroyers had small damage, but their combat capability was intact.

Most of all, we got to places we never thought we would be able to get to.

“Welcome to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Calm waves caressed the smoke-stained hull.