Chapter 1339 The Future of the Imperial Navy (First update, please subscribe)
At the Nanhua Shipyard, the sound of pneumatic rivet hammers hitting rivets echoed in the air. The rotating tower was hoisting large components from time to time. This shipyard, the largest in the empire, was still as busy as ever.
The docks and slipways are full of merchant ships being built, and of course there are also warships. These warships are ordered from both the Imperial Navy and overseas.
In Dock No. 19, which is 320 meters long, 45 meters wide and 11 meters deep, it is still the same as in the past, with soldiers patrolling back and forth beside the towering walls and soldiers on the road leading to the dock.
What is being built here?
Only a very few people know that the ship under construction is the first ship of the "Dynasty Class" - the "Daqin".
Unlike warships built on traditional slipways, this one is built in a dock. The dock itself can cover half of the ship, making it difficult to see the entire ship from the side. But this is far from enough, so the shipyard built a wall with iron sheets around the edge of the dock to prevent anyone from spying on the warships being built in the dock.
"…Everyone who enters and leaves here must sign a confidentiality agreement, and everyone must receive a special pass with a unique number and a photo of the person. The shipyard is closely guarded by military police, and no one is allowed to enter without a pass or if the pass is seriously inconsistent with the regulations. If an employee is found to have leaked secrets, he will be arrested immediately."
Even as a senior officer of the Imperial Navy, Song Mingjie was still required to sign a confidentiality agreement when entering Dock No. 19.
"Sir, confidentiality... is of utmost importance!"
Under the watchful eyes of the military police officer, Song Mingjie signed the confidentiality agreement. When he saw the words "will be subject to the most severe punishment under the law" written on the confidentiality agreement, he knew what the price of leaking secrets was - the death penalty!
"clear."
Nodding, Song Mingjie received a temporary pass. Although he was given a temporary pass, two military police still followed him throughout the visit.
According to relevant regulations, the temporary pass only allowed him to enter the dock and stay in a few visiting positions.
Finally, after entering the dock, Song Mingjie, a colonel of the Imperial Navy, finally saw the legendary "Dynasty-class battleship" - a streamlined clipper-shaped bow, a tall and beautiful bridge that looked majestic and magnificent from the front, quite like a Chinese pagoda, and on the bridge there was an amazing and miraculous 10-meter rangefinder - it was the masterpiece of the Imperial Phoenix Optical Instrument Company and the best rangefinder in the world.
And what is truly spectacular?
Of course, it was the four twin main turrets that looked very intimidating - two twin turrets on the front and back, which were its most lethal weapons - twin 380mm cannons! The 45-fold barrel pointed straight ahead.
"This is the legendary 380mm cannon..."
He stared at the giant ship with astonishment. At least for a moment, he was deeply shocked by the huge cannon.
The secondary gun turrets neatly arranged on the side replaced the old gun frames. The two new wide and flat chimneys with smoke guides were visually much better than the old cylindrical chimneys of the old warships. It also hinted that the power of this warship must be no less than others...
The Empire is building more than one Dynasty-class battleship! In the naval shipyard on Cape Island, there is also a Dynasty-class battleship under construction, which is its second ship, the Dahan.
After looking at the new battleship in front of him for a long time, Song Mingjie couldn't help but exclaimed:
"Oh my god... This thing is much bigger than the 'Liangzhou' we are still testing. I think it weighs at least 40,000 tons! How thick is its armor? It should be more than 300 mm..."
There is no doubt that no one will answer Song Mingjie's questions. These data are highly confidential and will never be shown to anyone easily.
In fact, its tonnage is not as large as Song Mingjie imagined. Its displacement is only 32,800 tons, which is only 6,000 tons more than that of the "Dreadnought". However, its powerful 380mm cannon is destined to become the most deadly weapon in naval battles for the Imperial Navy, and it is also destined to become the ruler of the sea.
…
"You saw it?"
In the captain's office of the former dreadnought battleship "Qingzhou", Brigadier General Sun Youli looked at Song Mingjie and smiled.
"How was it? What did it feel like?"
"What does it feel like..."
Song Mingjie said with longing in his eyes:
"I am sure it is destined to be the king of the sea, the 'Dynasty Class'... so to speak... once it appears on the sea, it will rule the sea, and the sea will be ruled by the dynasty. Sir, with it, we will definitely be ahead of the British and Americans in all aspects, there is no doubt about that!"
“It certainly seems to be the case.”
Sun Youli, who was sitting on the chair, continued,
"But we don't need to be too proud or conceited. Although the Dynasty-class battleships are our trump card to regain maritime superiority, the British and Americans will definitely catch up. We probably need to maintain our advantage for two to three years, and this advantage is our biggest advantage in the upcoming events."
"An upcoming event? What is it?"
Song Mingjie asked.
Looking at the somewhat curious Song Mingjie, Sun Youli did not answer him directly, but said.
"There are some things that we cannot explain to you in detail now, but we must be prepared to receive the ship.
The Qingzhou will be presented to the Mexican Empire, and the same will be done for the other old ships. In the next two years, the Imperial Fleet will have 18 dreadnoughts. Although we are slightly inferior to the British Royal Navy in quantity, we are definitely far superior to Britain in quality... Anyway, just wait and see, a new era is about to come."
Although the commander's words were a bit confusing, Song Mingjie still nodded as if he understood, and then he said.
"So when are we going to take delivery of the ship? Sir, I see it's almost finished."
"Recently..."
As Sun Youli finished his words, cannon fire suddenly rang out. This was a routine maritime training of the Empire's Atlantic Fleet. This fleet of old warships continued to spew out puffs of white smoke on the sea, making them look like a mirage disturbed by smoke.
Amid the rumbling of cannons, the naval soldiers participating in the exercise at this time may not have imagined that in this passionate industrial age, humans will create even greater and crazier mirages. And these warships representing the highest level of industrial technology in various countries are destined to disappear in the sea like mirages...
I have set up a book club: 739209015. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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