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Chapter 110: Mumbai Naval Battle: Three
Vijay carefully watched as a fleet of around 50 frigates approached from the port side. It was evident that these were mid-sized frigates from the Mughal Empire, featuring a single sail and a modest displacement of approximately 90 tons. Observing from his advantageous position, Vijay could discern that the cannons mounted on these frigates were of a smaller calibre, mostly around 8 kg. This detail boosted his confidence, as he believed the battleship he was on would easily overpower this smaller green water navy.
But Vijay couldn't help but feel a sense of caution as he observed the sheer number of approaching frigates. "It will be tricky," he muttered to himself. While the battleship he commanded excelled in every measurable metric such as speed, power, and defence, the technological limitations of this era hindered the precision of targeting. The small and agile frigates of the Mughal Navy presented a challenge, making accurate aiming nearly impossible.
Considering the Mughal frigates' size and the difficulty in targeting them precisely, Vijay foresaw that the impending naval confrontation would resemble a classic case of "death by a thousand cuts." Despite the Mughal cannons' weaknesses in terms of both power and accuracy, the sheer volume of shots fired in the general direction of the capital ship increased the likelihood of hits, emphasizing the vulnerability of the battleship to this swarm of smaller vessels.
Reflecting on the situation, he issued a directive to the battleship's captain, Srinivas, saying, "Captain, instruct the Kingfisher battle group to encircle the enemy ships and cut off their retreat." Kingfisher battle group is a battle group composed of the frigates captured from the Dutch.
"Your Highness...?!" Srinivas questioned, clearly surprised.
"Just do it," Vijay commanded firmly, reiterating the order with emphasis.
Vijay took note of the captain's hesitancy, a clear uncertainty stemming from the Vijayanagara Navy's insufficient training for this critical battle. The naval officers had a hurried and brief training session in naval tactics, mainly guided by Dutch sailors in the past month. The positive aspect of this less-than-ideal situation was the well-trained army's outstanding combat skills, recognized for their expertise in martial arts and resilience in challenging conditions. Unfortunately, these skills had their limitations in the naval context, except for their praiseworthy resistance to seasickness. Many of these individuals hailed from fishing backgrounds, giving them a familiarity with water ingrained in their upbringing. Despite this inherent seafaring knowledge, their recent enrollment in the naval academy, just a month ago, made it perilous for them to dive into battle head-on, as directed by His Highness. However, considering the absence of alternatives, they were vital in this battle, which explains their lack of participation in the landing battle, a situation Vijay had anticipated for this exact scenario with the Mughals.
The Kingfisher battle group, consisting of 20 frigates, each weighing 100 tons, swiftly executed the order to split into two groups and moved into action. Their objective was to encircle the group of Mughal frigates positioned in front of them. The Mughal forces, observing this maneuver, were uncertain about the Vijayanagara forces' intentions but immediately commenced firing their cannons as the frigates approached within range. Unfortunately for the Mughals, their efforts proved to be less efficient, as the frigates targeted by their cannons were the ones previously captured from the Dutch.
The Dutch Whisperer is a 17th-century 100-ton sail frigate known for its impressive specifications. Measuring between 30 to 40 meters in length and 8 to 12 meters in beam, this agile vessel boasts a draft of 4 to 5 meters, striking a balance between size and manoeuvrability. Weighing in at approximately 100 tons, With its one mast rigged with a square sail, the frigate is designed for optimal speed and versatility. While not heavily armoured, the frigate relies on its sleek hull design and impressive speed, capable of reaching up to 12 knots under favourable conditions.
Despite the Dutch Whisperer's superiority, the Mughal ship, weighing only 90 tons, exhibited its own commendable characteristics. Spanning a length of 20 to 30 meters and a beam of 6 to 10 meters, the vessel maintained a draft of 3 to 4 meters, demonstrating a balance between size and stability. While not matching the Dutch frigate in tonnage, the Mughal ship's one mast, rigged with a square sail, contributed to its operational efficiency. However, with a more modest armament of a single cannon, it stood no chance in a one-on-one battle against a real frigate. Despite the limitations, the Mughal ship showcased a respectable speed of 8 knots under favourable conditions. Though not as swift as the Dutch Whisperer, the Mughal frigate was sturdy, with better defence in a smaller frame, emphasizing distinct strengths within the constraints of its 90-ton capacity. You could tell this was a defense-oriented ship.
The Vijayanagara fleet with its superior ship was veering away from the Mughals, but the relentless barrages from the Mughal side still inflicted significant casualties on the Vijayanagara fleet. Although a 4-knot speed difference might seem like a huge difference, it translated to a mere 7.4 kmph disparity. Since the Mughals were positioned inside the Kingfisher's circular path, they didn't need to travel swiftly; they just had to pivot. Consequently, at least 150 individuals lost their lives in this single exchange, with more casualties following. Fortunately, the ships on the other side also circled at the same pace as them. They successfully formed a line parallel to the battleship in an arc, trapping the Mughal ships in between.
The Mughal naval commander felt something was wrong as he turned around, only to see the large battleship, which had been at a distance, approaching only a few hundred meters away from them.
"Ya Allah!" he yelled in horror as he could clearly see the huge number of cannons equipped on the battleship.
Vijay, directing operations from the capital ship, swiftly ordered the repositioning of the cannons to the right side of the vessel. The cannons were shifted to the right side of the ship as Vijay continued to order, As they were merely a hundred meters away from the Mughal battle group, "Hard left rudder." The ship suddenly tilted in a dangerous strategic manoeuvre, prompting sailors to secure themselves to anything sturdy as the vessel turned with a slight drift. This unexpected move strategically aligned the cannons on the right side directly toward the Mughal naval vessels, effectively blocked off by the Kingfisher fleet. Seizing this opportune moment, Vijay's hoarse voice pierced the air, commanding, "FIRE!"
Chaos erupted as the powerful 12-kilogram cannons thundered, "Boom, boom, boom." A symphony of destruction composed of iron and fire surged toward the unsuspecting Mughals.
"Boom, boom, boom." The relentless salvo of the cannons relentlessly pounded the Mughal brigades, drowning the sea in the acrid scent of gunpowder with each reload.
Witnessing the capital ship taking the initiative, the Vijayanagar frigates forming the blockade unleashed their smaller 10-kilogram calibre artillery. The Mughal Navy found itself trapped in a lethal crossfire, with no escape from either the battleship or the Vijayanagara frigates. Their resistance was futile, and their attempts to retaliate fell short against the might of the thousand-ton behemoth.
"Boom, boom, boom."
The sea convulsed as whirlpools formed around the sinking Mughal ships, spreading destruction throughout the battlefield. The scent of blood lured fish and predatory creatures, transforming the central area into a gruesome pool of carnage.
In the aftermath, surviving Mughal soldiers were captured, and an uneasy calm settled over the Arabian Sea. The battle concluded with the annihilation of the Mughal Mumbai Navy and the resounding victory of the Vijayanagara Navy. However, this triumph came at a cost – the capital ship, bearing slight damage, and heavily damaged frigates, with only 8 out of the initial 20 remaining intact. It was a bittersweet victory, tinged with tragedy with the death of at least 600 personnel.