Chapter 398 Mortars can also wash decks (first update, please subscribe)
Gun smoke, blood, cannon fire, gunshots and shouts echoed in the black smoke. On the boiling river surface, the dreadnoughts were like elves on the river, constantly firing at the Brazilian warships.
Dense shells hit the planking like raindrops. While the shells tore the planking apart, in the bottom hold of the "Amazon", the damage control sailors tried their best to block the gap with canvas and wood.
Although the sailors tried their best, the surging river water still made the Amazon slower and slower. What was even more fatal was that when the Nanhua gunboat passed by his side, it would always accurately hit the hull with shells. In the continuous explosions, both sides of the "Amazon" were full of holes of various sizes.
Faced with the madly influx of river water, the already overwhelmed "Amazon" even began to emit human sounds. Faced with the reality of serious water inflow, Admiral Inacio gave direct orders.
"Quick, rush to the sandbar at full speed!"
In order to avoid sinking, this was the only option. In the naval battle with the Paraguayans, several warships were forced to run aground on the sandbar.
"Let him go!"
After discovering the Amazon's intention, Du Guofeng did not continue to stare at the Amazon, but turned his attention to the Belmonte coastal defense ship. Unlike the previous column-style cutting, the dreadnoughts that now had an advantage over the Brazilians in numbers, like a wolf pack of three boats in a team, surrounded the Brazilian warship and launched a fierce attack. However, it was only a moment, and the Belmonte was severely damaged. The 20mm machine gun had opened more than 20 basin-sized gaps on one side of it, and more than a dozen gaps on the other side. Although the damage control sailors tried their best to rescue, the surging river water almost flooded the bottom cabin. In order not to sink, Captain Antonio could only command the warship to run aground on a sandbar.
The same situation happened to the "Jekitinya". This warship was surrounded by three dreadnoughts and was constantly hit by artillery fire, and it didn't even have a chance to land. In order to rescue him, the "Panaiba" coastal defense ship tried to rush up, but its rudder was shattered by a 20mm shell. In the end, she could only remain motionless, like a woman facing three strong men, and could only helplessly and silently endure the fierce output of the three dreadnoughts.
In the continuous bombardment, the ammunition depot of the "Panaiba" was hit by a shell. The moment the gunpowder barrel was detonated, there was a loud "bang", and the 1,255-ton "Panaiba" was torn into pieces in the violent explosion.
Hundreds of Brazilian sailors did not even have time to jump into the water. They were blown into the sky by the violent explosion and then fell into the muddy river. Among the floating corpses and wooden boards that were swaying with the waves, only a few lucky ones were struggling to survive.
The river surface near the shipwreck was dyed scarlet in an instant. As for the "Excellent", it turned around with difficulty during the siege and headed towards the sandbar in the river. Faced with fierce artillery fire, the Brazilian sailors could only huddle together as if they accepted their fate, waiting for an unknown fate at a loss.
On the smoke-filled river, the three surviving Brazilian warships flew through the black fog and headed for the sandbar, desperately trying to run aground to avoid sinking. And around them, the dreadnoughts that followed them were like vicious wolves, with no intention of stopping at all. These dreadnoughts were like hungry wolves, determined to tear the prey to pieces, including bones and flesh.
When the dreadnought was sailing at high speed, it would always collide with Brazilian sailors struggling in the water. The sailors who were hit did not even have the strength to struggle and sank to the bottom of the river.
Although the "Amazon" was just stranded on the sandbar, the Brazilian sailors on board did not give up resistance. The gunners operated the 68-pound cannon and aimed at the dreadnought speeding on the water and fired shotgun shells at it. At the same time, the sailors on the ship also fired back with rifles and machine guns.
courage!
These Brazilian sailors definitely did not lack the courage to fight. Whether they were black or white, they all shouted and responded to the attacks of the South China gunboats with rifles.
Although the dreadnought was very fast, there were always sailors who were unfortunately hit by bullets when facing such a hail of bullets. The gunner operating the machine gun fell down without even having time to make a groan when he was hit.
But other than that, the rifle bullets hitting the steel hull of the dreadnought were just like a tickle, except for some paint peeling off.
By 11 o'clock in the morning, the battle had been going on for two hours. The three Brazilian warships stranded on the sandbar fired back at the Nanhua gunboat like a cannon. Although the gunboat's Gatling machine gun fire was fierce, it was completely useless facing such a "cannon".
Seeing that the casualties on the boat were increasing, Du Tianfeng immediately gave orders.
"Stop attacking temporarily and stay alert on the periphery..."
A fierce battle finally came to an end. Both the Brazilian and South China sailors had a chance to catch their breath. When they sailed to safe waters, Li Tao sat down on the gun position as if he was exhausted. Brass shells were everywhere around him, some of which were even stained with blood. Several sailors who died in the battle were lying there on the deck.
Victory never comes without a price, and sacrifice is always inevitable. The lead-gray hull of the boat is now covered with bullet marks.
"Captain, do you want to follow the smoke?"
"Give me……"
When Li Tao wanted to raise his hand, he found that he could not lift it anymore. Two hours of fighting had turned his Qilin arm into waste.
Du Guofeng, standing on the command tower, looked at the exhausted sailors around him, whose faces were covered in blood, and who were exhausted all over.
"Sir, they are stranded now, so we can't use small artillery!"
Wang Huidong said loudly.
"Not even to wash the deck!"
Small shells washing the deck can kill sailors, but they can't sink the ship! As long as the ship doesn't sink, the Brazilians will definitely continue to resist.
"otherwise……"
At this moment, Li Tao, who was sitting on the gun position and couldn't even lift his arms, shouted loudly.
"Sir, let's use the mortar, the distance is just right!"
Mortar!
There were also mortars on the ship. Li Tao's suggestion made Du Guofeng's eyes light up. He stared at the 150 mortar in front of the gun position and spoke forcefully.
"Then let's try firing a few shots!"
The mortar gunner, who was loaned from the army, stood at the gun position at the bow, staring at the "Amazon" in the distance and adjusting the firing angle little by little. While he was taking aim, the helmsman tried to keep the gunboat still.
"Try firing one first!"
The ammunition handler at the side immediately stuffed a 35-kilogram shell into the chamber. With a dull "bang", the gunboat shook slightly at the moment the shell whizzed out.
A few seconds later, a cloud of smoke suddenly exploded on the sandbar beside the side of the "Amazon". The sudden bombardment and rising smoke startled Admiral Inacio, who was discussing countermeasures with his officers.
"They actually have heavy artillery!"
Before Admiral Inacio could come to his senses, more shells came whistling in. Although many shells missed, some still hit the Amazon. The 35-kilogram high-explosive shells even smashed through the deck when they fell from the air and exploded directly in the bottom cabin. The power of the shell explosion was extremely amazing, almost directly opening the deck of the warship and blowing the sailors on the deck into the air...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
