Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 115: Attack on Harwich Port

December 1916, 12, 19 nautical miles northwest of Harwich Port, Kingdom of Tarun.

The Talen auxiliary warship and trawler were maintaining the anti-submarine nets and mines outside Harwich Port. The Osprey and Viper light cruisers were cruising nearby to provide surveillance, one on the left and one on the right.

Since the outbreak of the war, mines and submarines have become the sword of Damocles for major ports in Tarun, and fear has spread from coastal cities to the entire Tarun.

As a result, Talen had to waste countless manpower on the long coastline of Albion Island. The Talen people built countless watchtowers to monitor the sea, and almost every day lookouts reported the discovery of Drake submarines to the naval intelligence department.

In order to prevent the harassment of Drake submarines and minelayers, the entire important military port of Tarun spent huge amounts of money to build an all-round three-dimensional anti-submarine warning system consisting of destroyers, torpedo boats, trawlers, airships and anti-submarine nets.

But as the old saying goes, a thief can steal for a thousand days, but you can never be on guard against thieves for a thousand days. This passive defense strategy has a very poor effect and is just self-consolation.

"Harwich Port can be free from the threat of submarines!" said the new commander of the Harwich Fleet, Major General Williams, with a wry smile. He was a commander in name only, and the warships under his command were only a few mediocre ones, and they could only conduct defense patrols around Harwich Port.

"There's no way. It will take some time to replenish the cruisers and destroyers, and all the fleets are scrambling for the newly launched warships!"

"The Harwich Fleet is now unloved by its father and mother, but just wait and see!" Williams said dissatisfiedly.

Since the Tarons don't like the Harwich fleet, Leo has to steal it away.

The shells flew in the air, and the shrill screams frightened the veterans who had participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight. They quickly found a safe place to lie down, but the newly recruited sailors and naval cadets were not so sensitive and still stood there in a daze.

At 9:30 a.m., the Tarun trawler broke into pieces, and countless fragments splashed in all directions. The splashes woke up the stunned Tarun officers and soldiers.

"280mm high-explosive bomb! Leo! That's the battleship of the First Reconnaissance Fleet!" He could not forget the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Heligoland. This was not something he could withstand, and despair surged in his heart.

"Hmm?..." Leo was very dissatisfied with the fact that he had sunk a small fishing boat with the help of his active skill! He signaled to continue firing.

The second round of shelling followed, and this time it was a thousand-ton auxiliary warship that was unlucky. All the buildings above the hull were flattened, and several holes were pierced below the waterline.

"Everyone retreat, let the shore batteries provide cover fire!"

"Inform the Admiralty that the main force of the First Reconnaissance Fleet has launched a surprise attack on the Harwich Naval Port. Send support immediately! By the way, request support from Liam's First Battlecruiser Squadron! Tell them, it's urgent! It's urgent!" Williams was sweating profusely. He didn't want to follow in Harden's footsteps.

Harwich Naval Base has been a military stronghold since the Kingdom of Talen first stepped onto the ocean. It is located at the confluence of two rivers on the southeast coast of the Kingdom of Talen.

作为军用港口，防御设施必不可少。4门305㎜要塞炮、8门234㎜重炮与14门105速射炮组成的防御体系保卫着哈里奇军港的安全。

"Keep out of the firing range of the coastal defense artillery! The warship is not allowed to slow down!" Leo ordered as he looked at the shells falling around the flagship.

"General, the Talen people's coastal defense system is very complete, with no blind spots!"

Leo glared at Captain Lawrence and said, "Go around. Do you think I'm stupid enough to break into the Harwich Naval Port while facing artillery shells?"

The Harwich naval port was in chaos, with naval officers and soldiers rushing to their combat posts and civilians fleeing deep into the land.

The Drake battlecruiser and armored cruiser continued to fire shells at Harwich's coastal defense guns, but the actual damage to both sides was not great.

The Harwich coastal battery only lost several tons of reinforced concrete, and the Drake battleship was only washed by the sea water.

"How did the Royal Navy become like this!" The old captain burst into tears. This was not the scene he wanted to see. Tarun was being bombarded and his hometown was suffering.

"Dad, let's go..." Kata supported him and kept looking back, praying that the Drak people's artillery shells would not hit the fishing boat on which he depended for his livelihood.

The four warships sailed to the north of Harwich Naval Port, where there were no military facilities, only a deserted shoal.

"Captain Lawrence!"

"Here! Commander!" Hearing the voice, Lawrence came to Leo as fast as he could.

"I will give you a glorious mission! Do you have the confidence to complete it?"

"General, I will complete the mission with my life!" Captain Lawrence's face was firm and no one doubted what he said.

"Relax! I need you to lead the Marines to land, protect the artillery observers to set up observation posts, and plant the flag of Drake on a high place!"

"Oh my God, thank you General for giving me this opportunity!" Captain Lawrence was extremely excited.

The Kingdom of Taron is an island country. The sea water surrounding it is its best natural barrier. Relying on the world's best Royal Navy and its ability to stir up trouble, Taron has not been attacked by foreign enemies since 1688.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, the extremely excited Captain Lawrence led a -man marine corps onto several small boats. Under Leo's gaze, they paddled hard towards the mainland of Taren.

"Let's go, with them, our attacks will be more accurate!" The four warships sailed back to Harwich Naval Port.

At 10:30, without any obstruction, Captain Lawrence led the Marines to successfully land and established an artillery observation post on a hillside. Soon with their assistance, many coastal artillery batteries in Harwich Naval Port were destroyed.

"Warriors of the Drake Empire, this is the first time that the Drakes have landed on the homeland of Talen. This is our honor!" Captain Lawrence spoke to the Marines under the Drake flag, and the military staff officer next to him was recording it all with a camera.

The Marines shouted, "Long live the Drake Empire!" "Long live the Navy!"

In the excitement of everyone, Captain Lawrence led them to attack the village near the Harwich naval port and cleanly wiped out the village's defense force, which was just a few militiamen. This did not satisfy Lawrence, so he went on to destroy a naval oil depot.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Kata hugged the old captain's body, holding a loaded shotgun in his hand.

"I'm going to kill the Drakes!"

"There are a lot of them! You are going to die!" Kata didn't dare to let go.

"You coward! Get out of the way!"

"Mom! Come quickly! Dad is going to war!"

An old woman came out of the kitchen with a sobbing voice, "You have already served the kingdom, can you please think more about your family?"

"Yes, my sister-in-law is pregnant! Don't you want to see your grandson born?"

"Hey! What happened to the glorious Tarun?"

The shotgun fell to the ground, and Kata quickly took the weapon away and hid it, leaving the old woman alone to comfort the sad old captain.