Chapter 388: The Laughing Stock of the Naval World
Chapter 378 – The Laughing Stock of the Naval World
The vast and boundless azure ocean, a wave kept coming, crashing into the rocks with a heavenly roar, spraying snow-white foam.
Major-General Popov of the Russian army was standing on his plywood with great vigor listening to this moving music. These days, he had already led the Russian navy to eliminate a number of pirates, and his personal pockets were bulging.
To this “protector”, the California government is still generous, not only all the booty belongs to their personal ownership, but also opened an attractive bounty.
Kill a pirate 50 dollars, capture a pirate 500 dollars. Obviously the California government is still worried about the Russians kill good and take credit for it, so it adjusted the amount of the bounty, with a high bonus to encourage the Russians to catch the live ones.
U.S. Navy Colonel Magill said excitedly, “Your Excellency the General, ahead is St. Clementi Island, three days ago suddenly a gang of pirates occupied this place, seriously threatening our maritime security, please make sure you eliminate this gang of fuckers.”
It was not without reason that Magill abhorred pirates. The United States had a limited number of warships on the west coast, which were gradually depleted in the confrontation with the pirates.
The navy could not win against the pirates, which became the shame of the U.S. Navy, and even more so in his military career. Favorably, the main force of the U.S. Navy is now on the East Coast, and the federal government simply does not dare to divide its troops.
The few shipyards on the west coast, did not manage to escape the pirate attacks, currently repairing ships are difficult, not to mention warships.
Now have to put their hopes on the Russians, Popov led by the Russian fleet, although some old, that is also stronger than the Magill warships used in the beginning.
Before the outbreak of the Civil War, the U.S. government did not pay attention to armaments, limited naval that is also placed on the East Coast. The west coast of this era has not developed, and there is no threat of foreign enemies, naturally do not pay attention to.
The entire west coast, the U.S. Navy’s size of the warships are less than twenty ships, the average age of the ship are 10 years +, combat effectiveness is not to mention.
Of course, the Navy is the Navy, after all, is always stronger than the pirates. Although these pirates behind the scenes there are people to support, people are not crazy enough to sell warships to the point of the pirates.
At the beginning of the war, they were still able to suppress the privateer fleet (pirates). However, with the increase in the number of battles, these warships were gradually consumed in the war, and at the end of the day, they were suppressed by the pirates.
Now with the help of the Russians, and at the strong request of the California government, the U.S. Navy and the Russians formed a coalition force to eliminate the pirates entrenched in the Channel Islands.
Rear Admiral Popov looked at Magill with contempt, then said without a care in the world, “Don’t worry, just a bunch of pirates in the district.”
The confident Popov, still unaware of the enemy he was about to face, took one step into the ghost gate.
……
A small pirate leader said curtly, “Major, our men are ready, just waiting for the Russians to take the bait.”
“Shut up, Will you give stupid, now you have to call me captain. If you give away your identity, you boys will be waiting for a court martial!” British Lieutenant Commander Gurney scolded harshly
This is not a joke, the Royal Navy posing as pirates, if word gets out it will definitely cause a big earthquake.
In short, the gang of bigwigs in the rear will never recognize their identity, this black pot will have to be resisted by themselves.
If it is not the arrival of the Russians, cut off everyone’s financial road, in fact, they will not do so excessive.
Borrowing the name of pirates to annihilate a fleet of Russians is certainly a slap in the face of the tsarist government, and will likewise cause suspicion in the outside world.
The pirates on the west coast, most of them are driven by the Royal Navy from the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean area, the combat power is naturally scum.
If they have the strength to wipe out the Russian fleet, they would have landed on shore and looted San Francisco, how could they peacefully rob the passing merchant ships even if it?
Reacting, Will hurriedly changed his words, “Yes, Captain!”
Gurney glared at him and said in a bad mood, “Send someone to inform the other captains to get ready, this farce can’t be done without them. How can we prove the strength of our Pirate Alliance without professionals attending?”
“Pirate Alliance” was the backstabber the British found for this incident. If a scattered group of pirates killed the Russian fleet, no one would believe it.
In order to prevent the outside world from suspicion, the masterminds behind the scene launched the Pirate Alliance. This explanation is much more reasonable, although the strength of the pirates is limited, but more ants bite the elephant.
As long as there is no obvious evidence left, even if the Russians guessed by their assassination, John Bull can also cover.
……
Through the binoculars, Major Gurney could see the Russian fleet approaching. The pirates who greeted them were real pirates, and as the Royal Navy’s version of “pirates” ambushed at the back of the island, they couldn’t risk their heads in advance.
As long as the battle started, Gurney was not worried about the Russians escaping. Who made the tsarist government poor? From the outbreak of the Near East War until now, the Russian Navy is almost stagnant.
Of course Admiral Maeshkov, who came from the army, deserves a lot of credit for that.
Ever since he popularized the army’s drill code in the navy, the Russian navy’s ability to fight on land has skyrocketed, and even because of the navy’s better food, the boys have a good body, and their fighting ability even exceeds that of most of the Russian army.
In terms of the navy’s ability to fight on land, it is estimated that only Prussia, which directly turned the army into a navy, can match, and other countries have to go on the marines to be able to do so.
Fortunately, the British were preparing to engage the Russians at sea, if they waited for the Russians to dock and then duel, they would understand what the peak land combat capability of the navy.
To give Major Gurney confidence in the speed of the warships, the tsarist government can not afford to give all the warships are replaced by steam engines, which requires a large investment, and the economy is also very uneconomical.
Even the rich and powerful John Bull, but also only modified part of the warship. Sail was still one of the main driving forces of the era, and usually, when not in a hurry, everyone was happy to use cheaper power.
In order to annihilate the Russians, what John Bull sent out this time was naturally a fast ship retrofitted with a steam engine. At full speed, most of these warships could run at 14 to 17 knots.
On this nice breezy day, the Russian warships were able to run at 10 knots, even if God forbid, which was already a gap in time.
Seeing the pirates who were panicking to meet the battle, Rear Admiral Popov very experiencedly ordered, “Launch the attack!”
Looking at the pirates who fled in all directions, Major General Popov was very accomplished, as if this was the happiest time of his life.
Without any hesitation, the combined Russian and American fleet pursued the pirates in the direction they had fled, danger was closing in on them.
Soon came to the corner of the island, the pirate ship issued a signal, lurking in the north after the “pirates” suddenly killed out.
The roar of the guns, instantly confused Major General Popov, how could the enemy ambush?
Do not wait for him to think clearly about this problem, the battlefield of the Russian-American fleet is in an absolute disadvantage, the original scattered and fled the pirates now also joined the battle.
Formation, god forbid, has long ceased to exist. In the pursuit of the pirates, the Russian and American combined fleet swarmed, and now suffered a sudden attack has been a mess.
After realizing the wrong, the experienced American warships spontaneously began to run away. This is their recent years summed up the experience, can not win quickly run.
Seeing his comrades running away, Popov was furious. They are helping the Americans to fight the war, but after encountering danger, the Americans ran away without saying a word.
“Withdraw!” Popov ordered through gritted teeth
If they started running now, they would be lucky to get away with half of the warships. Gunfire is still roaring, the “Moscow” warship was hit five times in a row, finally end of life slowly sinking.
Without an order from Popov, the men on board spontaneously began to abandon the ship. Everyone crowded into the lifeboats, holding the white flag slowly out of the battlefield.
……
(End of chapter)