Chapter 576 Daming accepts the challenge (fourth update, please subscribe)

When the news of the Ming fleet's visit to Hawaii reached the United States, it naturally aroused dissatisfaction among many American politicians. After all, the United States' ambitions for Hawaii have always been well known.

In Washington's political circles, the threat of the Ming Empire was imminent, and for this reason, at the end of 1871,

Under the slogan of "Remember Los Angeles", the US Congress passed the Naval Act almost unanimously. According to the authorization of the Act, the US Navy will build 12 ironclad ships within five years.

"The country's security, economy and honor all require us to revitalize the navy!"

On Capitol Hill, President McClellan delivered an impassioned speech, and the United States abandoned its previous view - once upon a time, many American officials believed that the United States did not need a strong army and navy, because since the United States had no intention of competing with the European powers, the country did not need a strong army and navy to challenge them.

But this world is so realistic.

Either accept the challenge or be challenged!

In other words, either you slap someone in the face or you get slapped in the face.

As for whether the United States will slap others in the face or be slapped in the face in the future, it is not clear yet.

But one thing is certain: when the United States ambitiously wanted to rearm, the Ming Empire bravely accepted the challenge.

On November 30th, at 6:15 p.m., Emperor Zhu arrived at the Nanhua Shipyard. After ten years of development, it had long become the largest shipyard in the entire Western Hemisphere.

The Ming Dynasty has three shipyards in total - Nanhua Shipyard, Linhai Shipyard and Yingtian Shipyard which is under renovation and expansion. However, among these three shipyards, only Nanhua has the ability to build large warships.

Although the sky was a little dim, in the dock of Nanhua Shipyard, thousands of craftsmen were crowded on the edge of the hull like ants. The sound of pneumatic rivet guns hitting rivets echoed in the night sky like a cheerful symphony. The fiery red rivets were tossed in the air. After the workers threw the rivets with pliers, the workers on the stage took them and stuffed the rivets into the drill holes. Then, sparks flew along with the sound of pneumatic rivet guns hitting them.

Electric lights illuminated the dim dock, allowing workers to build day and night.

The invention of the electric light is actually the arrival of a blessing. While it dispels the darkness, it also makes night work possible for humans.

It is for this reason that, thanks to the efforts of thousands of workers, this warship, which has been under construction for more than two years, is about to be launched.

"Your Majesty, since last year, in order to speed up the construction of "Battleship No. 1", we have been working overtime day and night. Now 85% of the work on "Battleship No. 1" has been completed. It is expected to be launched at the end of December this year and delivered to the navy as early as April next year!"

As the designer of "Battleship No. 1", Ruanda had an expression of pride that was hard to conceal when he gazed at the warship.

"Next year, this time is just right..."

Zhu Xianhai nodded and said.

"How's the calculation? Can we replace it with a 280mm main gun?"

According to the previous design, the main gun of "Battleship No. 1" was 254 mm, but after the "Friendship Class" returned to Ming Dynasty, in order to strengthen its combat effectiveness, the arsenal designed a 280 mm naval gun. As a result, the navy's requirements for "Battleship No. 1" were "slightly" increased.

"No problem at all. I have calculated that it can be equipped with not only 280mm naval guns, but even 305mm naval guns. However, we currently have no experience in building such large-caliber naval guns. However, I think that as long as the arsenal is willing, they will definitely be able to build 305mm naval guns. After all, technically, it is not much more complicated than 280mm."

In fact, the artillery technology of this era was not at all "cutting-edge". It was nothing more than drilling holes in forged round steel columns and then using several layers of casing. This kind of recoil cannon, let alone Nanhua, even the Qing Dynasty would be able to produce it in a few years as long as there were the equipment.

"We can communicate with the arsenal about large-caliber artillery. As long as there are no technical problems and it can be installed on the ship, then we can use it. Naval warfare is essentially about big ships and big guns. Since the Americans have challenged us, then we must accept their challenge."

Zhu Xianhai's tone was full of confidence.

"Your Majesty, are we sure we want to engage in a naval arms race with the United States?"

“It’s not about the United States, but the inevitability of development!”

Nodding, Zhu Xianhai said.

"Our territory is located in the north and south of the continent. In order to gain population, we need to introduce a large number of immigrants. For us, the interests at sea are not only related to the integrity of the territory, but also to the lifeblood of the country. Therefore, the construction of the navy is urgent. At present, only two "Friendship-class" ships cannot support our marine strategy, and even the "No. 1 battleship"..."

Pointing to the large warship in the dock, Zhu Xianhai said.

"Even if we build four more 7,000-ton warships, it will not be enough to meet our maritime security needs, so..."

Looking back at Luanda, the first generation of naval ship engineer of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xianhai said with a smile.

"We can consider designing larger and more advanced warships as a response to the expansion of the US Navy. After all, we cannot let others look down on us!"

"A bigger warship?"

"The oceans of the future, at least the oceans of the next thirty to forty years, will belong to big ships and big guns. The strength of a navy lies in how many capital ships it has. Its tonnage is at least 10,000 tons - with armor of more than 350 mm, at least four or even six 300 mm guns, and a tonnage of about 10,000 to 15,000 tons..."

When describing the warships of the future, what comes to Zhu Xianhai's mind is of course the pre-dreadnought. It is of course impossible to build a dreadnought in this day and age, and it is technically unrealistic. After all, even the barrel recoil technology is not mature now, it is just being developed.

It is impossible to meet the recoil requirements of 300mm large-caliber artillery by relying on the hydraulic shock absorber-type recoil mechanism similar to that of an electric car. The long journey is still on the way!

However, before that, Zhu Xianhai did not mind engaging in a maritime arms race with the Americans.

After all, there should be only one king in the Americas!

And this king must have ascended to the throne by stepping on the corpse of another king. In order to become the winner, it is of course inevitable to engage in all-round competition.

"10,000 tons!"

With his eyes wide open in astonishment, Luanda's breathing became a little rapid, and his gaze also became a little rapid. He didn't know how far the arms race would go, but what was certain was that his spring had come!

Spring is coming for naval ship engineers...

(End of this chapter)