Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 127 Saving the Bella

At 20:55, the five pre-dreadnought battleships that were flanking the rear were already in full battle formation, spreading a large net and waiting. Ten twin-mounted 5mm main guns, a total of 10 main guns, fired a round of straddle fire, covering the battlecruiser Von der Bella with a rain of metal bullets.

Fortunately, only two shells hit, but unfortunately, one high-explosive shell and one armor-piercing shell hit the battlecruiser Von der Bella. The high-explosive shell hit the rear of the bridge of Von der Bella, and the entire bridge was like a bite taken out, with a huge gap. The rear bridge and the chart room disappeared instantly, and all the officers and soldiers in the corridor and the chart room were killed instantly.

The armor-piercing shell hit the bow of the Von der Bella and penetrated the armor plate with unstoppable force. Fortunately, the 50 mm steel plate on the top of the ammunition loading room saved the world and prevented the armor-piercing shell from detonating the ammunition depot under the turret.

The power of the Talens' first round of shooting was more than that. Several near miss bombs exploded near the warship, producing extremely strong shock waves that pierced the hull of this tens of thousands of tons of battlecruiser in many places.

Captain Mahak, the captain of the Von der Bella, immediately organized rescue efforts. He shouted at the communications officer to contact the rescue fleet: "Report the location of our ship to Admiral Apeven, and have the support fleet come to support us as soon as possible! If you come too late, we will all be fed to the fish!"

"Yes!" Fortunately, the radio cables at the bridge were not destroyed in the previous bombardment, so this urgent information could be transmitted.

The situation of the Von der Bella was getting more and more difficult, and people were dying every moment. At 21:03, another turret was hit, which further weakened the Von der Bella's counterattack firepower.

What was even more terrible was that the turret ammunition depot could explode at any time. Colonel Mahak personally directed the work, and dozens of sailors desperately used pumps to pump water into the turret ammunition depot and several adjacent compartments. They finally stopped the fire from spreading and saved this giant steel ship.

When the relentless battleship Monarch followed the sound of gunfire and arrived at the battle area, the officers and soldiers of the Monarch saw a scene that made them ecstatic. The Von der Bella was blocked in front and could not move forward or backward. It was a good opportunity to catch a turtle in a jar. Major General Vincent's performance was excellent.

"Long live the Kingdom of Talen! God save our king!" Cheers resounded throughout the warship. The fatigue and depression caused by the fierce battle like cat and mouse were swept away. They will avenge their dead comrades. It's not a good feeling to be fooled! This time, let the Drake people taste the taste of waiting to die!

"The Von der Bella is finished! Send a farewell telegram to General Apeven. Our ship will fight to the end!" Colonel Mahak said solemnly.

"Colonel, these people are so annoying. They can't even let us die!" Captain Ludi, the navigator, sneered. The Talen fleet did not fire for a long time, which was very mentally exhausting.

"Too arrogant. If they don't fight, we will! Even if the Von der Bella sinks, it will break a few of their teeth!" Colonel Mahak said gritting his teeth.

"Colonel! Colonel!" The communications officer staggered into the command room.

"Why are you in such a hurry? We will all be dead soon!" Mahak teased.

"I can't die! I can't die! General Apewen is coming! General Apewen is coming!" The communications officer said with his hands dancing.

On the mainmast observation tower of the battleship Monarch, sailor Jetton had a puzzled expression on his face. Suddenly, several shadows appeared behind the five old pre-dreadnought battleships.

"What is that, Sergeant?" Jetton couldn't see it clearly and wanted to ask Sergeant Miller who was also on the lookout to take a look.

"What are you looking at? What's the fuss? That could be a Royal Navy ship. Who else could be in Shipwreck Bay except the Royal Navy?" Sergeant Miller picked up a high-powered telescope and looked in the direction of Jetton's finger. The magnified image became clearer and clearer in his pupils.

Miller, who had been cheerful just now, immediately turned into a state of fear. With a pale face, he grabbed the microphone and shouted to the Monarch's command tower, "The Ocean Fleet is spotted ahead, 6000 meters away!"

The Monarch quickly sent a message to Rear Admiral Vincent, "Watch your back!" Then it increased its speed again. The Monarch planned to run away first, leaving the five pre-dreadnoughts led by Rear Admiral Vincent to fend for themselves.

Everyone in the Third Battleship Squadron was sweating profusely. They knew they were finished. Major General Vincent had fallen from heaven to hell in an instant.

Didn't the naval intelligence department report that the elite warships of the Drake Empire's ocean fleet were all training in the Sarmatian Navy at this time? Even if the rest of the reinforcements were sailing at full speed, it would be impossible for them to arrive at this time?

It doesn't matter if they arrive in time. The front main guns of his five Majestic-class ships are pointed at the Von der Bella, and the rear main guns can also fire to resist a wave of attacking enemy ships. But the key problem is that the route ahead is blocked by the Von der Bella, and there are enemy ships arriving from behind. Vincent's five warships have nowhere to escape.

The Majestic-class battleships were not particularly powerful. They were only equipped with two twin-mounted 2mm main guns, one each at the bow and stern, so their concentrated firepower was not strong.

There are also 12 negligible 152mm rapid-fire guns, of which the 305mm main gun uses a new type of smokeless gunpowder to fire armor-piercing shells, which have relatively strong penetration ability. The secondary guns are 16 76mm rapid-fire guns, and the close defense firepower is 12 47mm machine guns. Five Guardian-class ships can block the Von der Bella, but it is very difficult to deal with three battlecruisers, let alone the ocean fleet.

"Let our lookout confirm it! Confirm it again!"

Cold sweat ran down Major General Vincent's collar, but he still held on to a glimmer of hope.

"Three-legged mast, that's the Biloxi, it's equipped with the same mast as the Seydlitz! That's Germany's latest Derfflinger-class battlecruiser! The iconic deep-cut bow, high freeboard, forecastle hull type, and back-mounted turrets, I can't be wrong! Oh my God! Not one, but two! The Drakes have two Derfflinger-class battlecruisers!" The lookout on the flagship Anjou III pre-dreadnought was so frightened that he was incoherent. Panic spread in the Third Battleship Squadron and no one could stop it. Everyone saw the approach of the Drake battlecruiser.

The Drak people are really good at lying. This is a trap. Leo is too cruel. He uses himself as bait. What if his fleet is wiped out? What if he dies in Shipburial Bay?

And the Ocean Fleet Squadron is coming too? Did the Drake Navy betray their emperor en masse? They are really crazy!

"Don't bother with the Von der Bella! Charge on!"

No longer caring about the honor of sinking the battlecruiser Von der Bella, Vincent ordered all warships to speed up and leave. What else did he care about? The most important thing was to survive. At a speed of 17.5 knots, all ships should sail.