Chapter 1248 The Empire's Dreadnought (Second update, please subscribe)
If you don't think about the future, you will have immediate worries.
After entering 1887, the world had, to a certain extent, quietly moved towards war, and it seemed that no force could stop it. Britain, the United States, Germany and Italy were all building their fleets.
In July 1887, amidst public anticipation, Britain's "Centurion" was finally launched. When this battleship with a displacement of 17,504 tons, four 12-inch main guns and ten 9.2-inch secondary main guns was launched, its prime minister even ambitiously declared - "The Union Jack of the British Empire is once again flying over the sea"!
This powerful battleship seemed to have surpassed the "Huizhou" which was launched two years ago - although they both had twelve-inch main guns, the "Huizhou" had only eight ten-inch main guns on its secondary main battery.
But the British Empire's "Centurion" has two more secondary main guns. Although the caliber is slightly smaller, 9.2 inches is no worse than 10 inches! And its rate of fire is also faster.
For a time, this news was published on the front pages of newspapers around the world, and overnight "Centurion" became synonymous with the power of the Royal Navy, just as the First Lord of the Admiralty said when she was launched.
"The Royal Navy will never cede its dominance of the seas to any other nation."
Who are the British saying this to?
As we all know, it must be the Ming Dynasty. After all, the Ming Dynasty has always been ambitiously trying to seize an advantageous position at sea.
However, the British Royal Navy would certainly not give in. Not only that, they even ambitiously set the standard of a "two-strong navy", that is, the size of their navy would be equal to the combined tonnage of the second and third strongest navy.
"The Union Jack of the British Empire has always flown, is always flying and will always fly on the seas. The Royal Navy will always rule the seas."
Look at this determination, look at this will.
It seems that it was from this time that the British Empire challenged the Ming Empire.
What kind of challenge is this?
It's a challenge at sea!
Faced with such a challenge, did the Ming Empire remain silent?
At least on the surface, the Ming Empire remained silent. In the following month, when the whole world was discussing the power of the "Centurion", the Ming Empire Navy seemed silent.
Is the Imperial Navy really silent?
Of course not!
Nanhua Bay is not necessarily the best bay in the world, but it is also the most famous bay in the world because it is the place where a powerful empire rose.
Although Nanhua is not the capital of the empire, it is called the "City of the Empire" - it is the most populous city in the empire, as well as the city with the most advanced technology and industry, and the Nanhua Shipbuilding Company is also the world's first-class shipbuilding company.
Nanhua Shipbuilding Company is the mother of the empire's shipbuilding industry. Almost every new ship is first built and launched here. This was the case in the past and it is still the case now.
This day was different from the past. The road leading to the shipyard's largest dock No. 13 was full of guards with guns. The outfitting platform that once stored materials such as turrets and rangefinders was cleaned up, and a temporary viewing platform was crowded with people.
In addition to many Navy officials, there were also shipyard technicians and thousands of shipyard workers on the stage. In addition to most of the Chinese workers, there were also European shipbuilding workers. Everyone looked very happy, whether they were shipyard technicians, workers, or Navy officials and soldiers.
Looking at this huge ship that has not yet been launched, people looked up at it and exclaimed and laughed from time to time.
Today is the day when the battleship "HMS Dreadnought" is launched.
Four years ago, the draft of the new battleship was approved by the Admiralty, and after His Majesty's approval, the Navy began to build two "all-heavy artillery battleships" with "14-inch naval guns".
Today is the day when its first ship, the HMS Dreadnought, is completed and commissioned.
"Today is the day when our navy's battleship, the "Dreadnought", is launched. It is an honor for me to be here to participate in this ceremony. I can represent the opinions of the whole country because I know that the history and engineering of this factory have been progressing at a very fast pace since its establishment, which is enough to be proud of the world... You all know the meaning of "fearlessness" to our navy. The navy "should be fearless of the ocean". The spirit of the navy - fighting when seeing the enemy, not fearing strong enemies, not afraid of sacrifice, and daring to challenge powerful opponents. It has long been the belief of the navy all over the world..."
When the Minister of the Navy was giving a speech on the rostrum, Wang Zhensheng, the designer, was like a father seeing his child grow up. His heart was filled with excitement - this was the most powerful warship ever built in human history. Even European and American countries did not have such a powerful warship.
"It will certainly usher in an era, a whole new era of warships."
When Wang Zhensheng looked at the brass words "Fearless" on the bow, he felt that his eyes seemed a little blurry.
Now, with it, it will become the most powerful warship in this ocean. Not only is it the most powerful, but it will also make all other warships pale in comparison overnight!
In the process of coming down, there were only some words of thanks. The reply was full of boasting in the modesty, showing off the military strength.
At the moment when the Minister of the Navy smashed a bottle of victory wine on the bow of the ship, as the battleship slowly slid into the sea, the "medicine jade" hanging on the bow released countless colored papers, and even the compressed air cylinders on both sides of the battleship sprayed out colored ribbons.
The battleship was launched amid dazzling streamers and the stirring performance of the naval band. The outfitting platform of the shipyard was filled with thunderous cheers from technicians and naval officers and men.
As the waves were stirred up when the warship entered the water, the people on the outfitting platform seemed to have gone crazy. Their excited roars resounded through the sky and continued.
The moment the battleship entered the water, everyone was watching it. In the sunset, the "Dreadnought" battleship with a displacement of 27,800 tons was quietly moored on the sea. This giant battleship just came directly into the sight of the world!
The setting sun dyed the sea red, and dyed the huge warship red. Under the setting sun, its thick gun barrels revealed a strong murderous intent.
Under the setting sun, the red sea surface looks like it is dyed red with blood!
However, at this moment, no one noticed all this. This was a natural phenomenon, but it was also a sign of the future - in the future, this sea would be dyed red by it, and tens of thousands of naval soldiers would fight and sacrifice their blood and lives on the sea and in the warships...
(End of this chapter)
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