Chapter 159 Explain what a surprise is (Second update, please subscribe)
"Our cannons can definitely handle higher chamber pressures!"
Pierre said with great certainty.
"After all, the steel produced by an open-hearth furnace is of better quality, not inferior to crucible steel at all! But the converter steel used by the British to make the Armstrong cannon is different. Not only is its quality far inferior to ours, but in order to reduce costs, their outer gun casing and gun hoops are made of wrought iron, and even the outer tube of the inner tube is made of wrought iron! That's why there is a risk of explosion!"
In fact, this was the biggest problem of the Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannon in its early days, because the raw materials used in it were not rigid enough, which made it very easy to have a barrel explosion. In history, there was even an incident where five Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannons were fired at the same time on the battlefield, and the 45 gunners around the cannons were all blown away, and in the end, not even a complete body could be found. Moreover, during the Civil War, a total of 168 breech-loading rifled cannons or Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannons on both sides had barrel explosions.
"But there is absolutely no possibility of our barrel exploding!"
In order to explain it clearly, Pierre pointed to the cannon that had been prepared nearby.
"Because when the cannon is fired, a lot of chamber pressure will be generated. In order to ensure the strength of the cannon barrel, it is necessary to tie layers of gun sleeves or gun hoops outside the inner tube. This kind of gun hoop and gun sleeve will be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the inner tube when drilling. When installing, it will be heated at high temperature to expand, and then put on the inner tube. After cooling, it will naturally tighten. Because of the difference in materials, our cannon has a stronger pressure-bearing capacity..."
As an engineering student, Zhu Xianhai is no stranger to this type of layer reinforcement and the hot-insertion process it uses. He has even considered improving the Armstrong cannon, such as borrowing some of the layer technology of the Krupp cannon. Compared with the former, the latter's technology is more advanced and more durable.
Zhu Xianhai came over this time for another matter, so he interrupted him and asked.
"Well, in your opinion, is there any problem if the chamber pressure is doubled?"
"Double it?"
Pierre was immediately stunned and said in astonishment.
"There shouldn't be any problem. After all, the chamber pressure in our test firing is higher? But is it necessary?"
"It is absolutely necessary, because..."
Pointing to the completed gun barrel on the ground, Zhu Xianhai said.
"I'm going to use it to fire a more powerful shell! A shell that's powerful enough to be astonishing!"
Since Buenos Aires has sent their fleet, it is definitely too late to make temporary cannons such as 254mm breech-loading rifled cannons, but there is still a lot of room for improvement in this Armstrong breech-loading rifled cannon! Especially the products reinforced by Nanhua Arsenal with epoch-making high-quality steel (ordinary carbon steel), there is even more room for improvement.
Therefore, Zhu Xianhai decided to "replace the shotgun with a cannon" and give the Argentine Navy a surprise.
A big surprise!
…
"It only takes one volley to bring them to their knees!"
As the captain of the cruiser "General Belgrano", Redesa said to Davis quite arrogantly when he received the order.
"Mr. Douglas, as long as you give the order, my warship can blast open the gate of San Antonio for you at any time!"
The 2,000-ton General Belgrano cruiser has extremely powerful firepower, with as many as 12 nine-inch Dahlgren cannons and two 12-pound guns. This steam-powered three-masted cruiser is the most powerful capital ship of the Argentine Navy.
However, the Argentine Navy does not have many warships, but even so, Redesa still seems very conceited.
"Believe me, those merchants can't stop the fleet's attack at all."
Davis laughed.
"Of course, but we should also know that there are artillery batteries in San Antonio Bay. They even have the most advanced Armstrong cannon in the world."
Some things are not secrets at all, such as artillery batteries and cannons. They can obtain information about them through various channels.
"Only a few, sir, and you have the entire naval fleet of the Province of Buenos Aires!"
In fact, Redesa did not take the merchants of San Antonio Bay seriously at all.
“Just a bunch of businessmen!”
I hope so, Davis prayed in his heart as he looked at the conceited colonel.
Soon, a fleet consisting of three warships left the port of Buenos Aires and headed south after entering the sea. Just a few days later, the fleet appeared on the ocean off the coast of South China.
As soon as the fleet's ships appeared on the horizon, a hurried military call sounded from the artillery platform that had been waiting for a long time. In response to the call, Ding Wentao rushed out of the office, shouting as he ran.
"Everyone, get in position, send a message to the Marshal, the big fish is coming!"
The big fish is coming!
In the past few days, he and his brothers on the fort have been waiting for the arrival of the big fish. When the gunners rushed to the gun positions, Zhu Xianhai immediately went to the dock and the fort after receiving the telegram from the fort. He didn't have to worry about the safety of Nanhua at all. After all, the range of the ship's guns in this era could not reach the city at all.
“The big fish is coming!”
Sitting on the small steamer, Zhu Xianhai talked to himself.
His fists were sometimes clenched and sometimes relaxed, and his seemingly calm expression was faintly filled with a hint of expectation.
Six days ago, when Resas Dela received the order to set off, he had already begun preparing for the "welcome ceremony".
After waiting for six days, the big fish finally came.
It was mighty... No, a fleet consisting of three warships, just came to the sea less than two kilometers away from Nanhua Bay in such a swaggering manner, and then stopped advancing.
"Send a signal to Major Bernardino, and have him approach the coast to signal the other side, telling them that the First Squadron of the Argentine Navy will enter San Antonio Bay!"
When Zhu Xianhai boarded the fort, the fort just received the flag signal from the other side.
"Answer them, welcome them, this is the territory of the American Company, please raise the merchant flag and enter the port."
This was the rule during the Age of Discovery. If it was a national colony, the other country's flag would be raised. If it was a company's territory, the warship would need to raise its own merchant flag when entering the port.
Of course, this is also the rule of international law. To put it bluntly, the competition starts with flag signals.
“Damn it!”
After seeing the turret sending out a flag signal in response through the telescope, Lesas immediately became angry.
"Tell those damn guys that the Patagonia region, including San Antonio Bay, is Argentina's territory. We have the right to enter any Patagonia bay, including San Antonio Bay! If they deny us entry, we will bear the consequences!"
It’s your own fault!
Standing on the fort's parapet, staring at the three warships on the sea, feeling the gentle sea breeze, Zhu Xianhai murmured softly. He didn't even use the simulator, but turned his head and asked directly.
"What do you think, Director Ding? Are you sure you can sink it?"
Big fish!
What is a big fish? Of course, the one that is sent to the bottom of the sea is a big fish. This is a manifestation of hospitality!
Since they are fish, they should be sent to the bottom of the sea!
"Replying to the Marshal, no matter how big the ship is, it's just a wooden ship! As long as the Marshal gives the order, we guarantee that we will sink them in half an hour at most!"
Wooden hull ship!
At that time, even Britain did not have many ironclad ships, and as for Argentina... it did not even have an iron ship with a wooden hull covered with iron sheets.
With the surprise I gave them, it would be easy to sink it. Of course, the prerequisite is that you can hit the target. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the shell is, it will be useless.
"Then I'll leave it to you brothers!"
Zhu Xianhai smiled and said.
"Reply to them that Argentina's southern border ends at Viedma! San Antonio Bay and the surrounding areas are all territories of the Americaga Company. Please ask them to abide by international public law!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
