Chapter 2229 Storm 2
The British destroyer HMS Competition successfully fired four torpedoes, and then quickly turned to prepare to withdraw from the battlefield. However, the HMS Strong next to it was unlucky. A 6-inch shell shattered the torpedo radar that was preparing to be launched into pieces. The explosion power of tons of explosives and compressed air was so huge that it threw the British destroyer with a displacement of more than 800 tons into the air like a child throwing a toy. Then, the poor destroyer was blown to pieces in the air! Countless pieces of debris fell within a radius of several kilometers, even giving the destroyer Gnome a bath next to it!
The Gnome maneuvered wildly on the sea and tried to dodge. After barely firing 3 torpedoes, it was hit by a 175MM shell. With a loud noise, the entire stern of the ship seemed to be pushed into the sea by an invisible big hand. When it floated again By that time, the two propellers at the tail were gone!
"Damn it, we can't break through!" In the control tower of the Caroline, a British officer said while looking at the British destroyer not far away that was smashed into pieces by naval guns.
"Let the Second Destroyer Division go up, we must tear apart the German blockade! Then let our torpedoes appear in the German sight!" Major General Goodnow ordered loudly.
At this time, not far from the Caroline, Rear Admiral von Ruyter, who was commanding the light cruiser Stuttgart, was controlling a fleet of German light cruisers and destroyers to form a fine interception network to block the approach of the British. !
This interception network consists of two lines. The first line is 6 light cruisers leading 18 large destroyers. None of their warships carry torpedoes, and their mission is to use naval guns to stop most opponents. The second line consists of two light cruisers and a large number of medium-sized destroyers. The latter is responsible for intercepting fish that slip through the net and launching lightning strikes when necessary. .
After the losses of several previous naval battles, the British no longer have that many destroyers to waste. Even if the British try their best this time, their auxiliary warships can only bear up to 2 charges on the battlefield!
More than 20 German light cruisers and large destroyers formed a seemingly loose battle line. They aimed their shark-tooth side cannons at the charging British destroyers, just like the medieval array of musketeers and artillery against the cavalry. Although the latter is very fast, the former's cannonballs are faster and its attacks are more powerful!
"Release the smoke! Let's rush up and fight a bloody path for the destroyer squadron!" When the second batch of destroyers disappeared in the barrage of the German fleet in less than 5 minutes, Goodnow finally made up his mind!
"The British are fighting!" When the clouds of smoke spread on the sea again, von Ruyter accurately realized the British plan. The British used offensive smoke, obviously to cover the destroyer's invasion. , and when more than 30 British destroyers and light cruisers attacked with all their strength, even though they were prepared, the German fleet was still under great pressure!
"Prepare to change the formation as planned! The S-boat force is ready to enter the position, and each light cruiser is keeping an eye on the other light cruiser! The task of intercepting the destroyer is handed over to Brigadier General Michelson, commander of the Lightning Strike Fleet, and that's it!" At the last moment, The German auxiliary ship squadron made its last change. Some smaller light destroyers quickly moved closer to the light cruiser squadron. Some large destroyers began to retreat because they wanted to avoid the first wave of attacks from the British light cruisers. If simply When it comes to artillery battles, large destroyers are nothing more than light cruisers!
The five British light cruisers Caroline, Champion, Birkenhead, Chester, and Bellouna formed an arrow, piercing the German fleet like a spear. On the opposite side, Stuttgart, Elbing The four German light cruisers, Pillau and Rostock, fearlessly faced him! Countless cannonballs flew between the rapidly approaching fleets of the two countries, creating curtains of water on the sea.
The destroyer squadron that followed also rushed through the gap in the light cruiser formation and began to release torpedoes frantically.
Both sides released hundreds of torpedoes in less than 5 minutes. White trails with a breath of death crisscrossed the sea. Accompanied by the hoarse shouts and warnings of the lookouts, the light light cruiser flexibly moved on the sea. Avoid turning. Show off your skills and strength between life and death. However, this is a battlefield after all, and war has always been known for its cruelty and blood!
The light cruiser HMS Champion on the left wing of the British fleet became the first victim in this cruiser melee! When it broke out of the smoke, two huge figures appeared on the enemy less than 4,000 meters away! The two light cruisers Stuttgart and Elbing bit the rash British light cruiser at the first time. Then, countless artillery shells flew. In less than 3 minutes, the two German light cruisers fired at least 20 rounds. The 175MM shell hit the opponent's hull!
The Champion made its final struggle. At the moment it was attacked, it threw away all its torpedoes. Then when the gun emplacement caught fire and the ammunition magazine was hit, the British decisively injected water. However, in the end, under unmatched firepower, the light cruiser finally collapsed and sank. Six minutes later, the front deck of the light cruiser was completely submerged in the sea water. Then, it shook violently and rolled to the right.
At the other end, the Rostock was flanked by the Caroline and the Birkenhead. From a third-party perspective, you can see that the side string armor belt of the German light cruiser is constantly shining with orange light. point! The explosion and water column completely covered the battleship. Although relying on the 6-inch armor belt, the light cruiser bounced off the incoming shells again and again, the large number of high-explosive shells still left the upper deck and surface of the battleship riddled with holes!
However, even so, the six 175MM guns on the Rostock still caused considerable damage to the Birkenhead. At a distance of 2,000 meters, the three twin turrets spewed deadly missiles at the target like three-headed dogs from hell. flame. Until a 175MM shell penetrated the ammunition magazine at the front of the Birkenhead's hull!
The shells easily penetrated the 4-inch side armor, and then flew straight into the ammunition depot. The rumbling ammunition elevator was blown to pieces by the flying shells, and the shells and ammunition bags on them exploded together. The front half of the Birkenhead's hull was blown to pieces! The huge inertia pushed the remaining hull to continue sailing forward. In the end, the light cruiser was like a long sword inserted into the seawater and could never be pulled out!
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