MTL - Napoleon II Reborn-Chapter 563 The trump card is deployed
"Do you want to continue? Marshal, the soldiers are already very tired!" After a day's fighting, many soldiers were already exhausted and out of breath. The reason why Devouring Novels can persist until now is entirely supported by a belief.
Kirkbride frowned. To be honest, the current loss seemed too great for the French Navy. Even if he wins this battle, it will be a tragic victory. But the U.S. Navy still has other fleets, and the entire strength of the French Navy has been concentrated here.
"Marshal, Marshal Hercules is calling!" A staff officer hurried in with a surprised expression on his face. Obviously, the content of the telegram made him feel a little strange. [bsp;Kirkbride took the telegram, the content of the telegram is not long, only a few dozen words. But after reading it, he was also at a loss. The content of Hercules' telegram is impressively to continue the attack until the US fleet is completely wiped out. Don't worry about losses, the French navy still has reinforcements.
Does our navy have other fleets? But why don't even I know? Kirkbride was dubious. But then, the French Admiralty also sent a telegram. Although the content was different from Hercules' telegram, the meaning was exactly the same. They are all attacking the US Fleet with all their strength, and tomorrow, even the US 1st and 2nd Fleets that originated from it will be wiped out in one fell swoop.
"Order the ships to continue the attack. The establishment of the two squadrons has been cancelled, and now they are all gathered together!" Kirkbride finally suppressed the doubt in his heart and ordered the fleet to continue the attack. The remaining 7 capital ships regrouped and launched another fierce attack on the US fleet. None of the seven capital ships is intact. The superstructures of some warships were completely destroyed by artillery fire, which was extremely miserable.
Under Kirkbride's order, the remaining seven French battleships re-formed a battle line, headed by the 'Tuileries', and launched a fierce attack again. Kirkbride was originally on board the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet, the 'Azore', but when the 'Azore' withdrew from the battle line, he replaced the flagship with the 'Tuileries'.
The remaining 6 capital ships of the US fleet are no better than the capital ships of the French fleet. Even the flagship 'New York' of the 12th Fleet sank. Fleet Commander Bartlet was desperate, and before the sinking of the 'New York', he evacuated to the 'New Jersey' in time to continue commanding the battle. The remaining 6 battleships were also wounded. There are no two ships that can exert their full firepower.
"Boom! Boom!" A large number of shells slammed down on the U.S. fleet, and the U.S. fleet quickly launched a counterattack. The naval battle that had been silent for a while started again.
"Damn it, do the French really want to die with us?" Aldrich was very annoyed. The four US fleets that were originally powerful have now been severely damaged.
"General, I don't think the French need to die with us at all!" A staff officer reminded suddenly.
"Why?" Aldridge asked in surprise.
"Our cruisers and destroyers are about to be lost! At that time, do you think our six damaged warships can withstand the endless violent lightning strikes launched by the French destroyers?" The staff officer said.
Aldridge quickly picked up the binoculars on the table and walked to the porthole. Sure enough, the battle between the cruiser and the destroyer in the distance was almost over. The French's four "Tiger Shark"-class battlecruisers are like wolves who have entered the flock, and none of the American warships are their opponents. Under this fierce attack, there are less than 50 cruisers and destroyers in the US fleet that are still struggling to support. The other warships were either sunk or became floating torches on the sea. Or, just run away.
"Damn it, order all cruisers and destroyers to disengage from the enemy, retreat to the capital ship, and then retreat!" Aldrich decisively ordered. If the fight continues, perhaps they will really be wiped out. When all their cruisers and destroyers are wiped out, what follows must be endless lightning strikes from the French fleet.
So far, Aldridge believes that they have already exceeded their quota. Now, even with the addition of 4 "Tiger Shark"-class battlecruisers, there are only 11 capital ships left in the French fleet. As for the U.S. Navy, the 1st and 2nd fleets that came to aid still have 8 intact warships. Not to mention that there are two follow-up Canadian fleets, they will definitely win this battle.
Under Aldridge's order, the cruisers and destroyers of the American fleet broke away from contact with the French fleet one after another, and began to rush towards the capital ship desperately. If it wasn't for the order, they might have slipped away long ago. Companions one after another were sunk, and countless comrades in arms were buried in the bottom of the sea. This kind of pressure that they themselves would die in battle without knowing when, they were almost out of breath.
The French fleet will naturally not let the American fleet escape so easily. Immediately launched a pursuit. When the sky was completely dark, the American fleet began to retreat northward.
The French fleet, on the other hand, was in hot pursuit. Although the sky was gloomy, it greatly affected the hit rate of the shelling. But intensive shelling can still bring some gains. Especially when some warships were hit by fire, they became the best targets.
In order to avoid collisions in the dark, the warships are directly separated by a wide distance. This also makes the hit rate greatly reduced.
"Damn it, you arrogant Frenchmen, we will definitely make you pay the price!" Aldridge said angrily. The French fleet chased after it, which made the American fleet extremely embarrassed. While running for your life, you must fight back. In addition, after a hard day's fighting, the soldiers were already very tired.
"Send a message to General Paret. We are heading north along the Lesser Antilles. The French fleet is now chasing us. It is expected that the two sides will meet after dawn. General Paret, please get ready." Aldridge ordered road. "Hmph! Let's go after them! When the 1st and 2nd Fleets led by General Paret arrive, you will have a better time." Aldridge gritted his teeth.
Paret is the commander of the U.S. 1st Fleet, and he has great prestige in the U.S. Navy. Except for Davis, it can be said that no one can match him.
"General, General Paret called back, Saba Island is here. It is expected to join us near the Guadeloupe Strait at around 7 o'clock tomorrow morning!" The staff officer reported to Aldrich.
"Give power to each ship. Let everyone hold on, the reinforcements have already arrived, and the reinforcements led by General Paret will arrive tomorrow morning. By then, we can launch a counterattack against the arrogant French!" Aldridge said with a face Start with a confident expression. Although now they are being chased by the French fleet. But after tomorrow morning, the whole situation will be completely reversed.
When the American fleet quickly fled north, Hercules also notified the 'Glorious' fleet to change its combat plan. The original plan was to attack the US 1st and 2nd Fleets in Martinique. But as the US fleet fled to the north, the battlefield had to shift to the north.
On the east side of the Lesser Antilles, that is, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, a fleet of 10 huge warships was breaking through the barrier of the wind and sailing towards the north quickly. This fleet is the 'brilliant' fleet that France has been hiding. A young but extremely powerful fleet. They sailed almost parallel to the American fleet across the Lesser Antilles. After dawn, when the US 1st and 2nd fleets show up, they will go straight to the rear of the US fleet, and with the assistance of several other French fleets, they will wipe out the remaining combat power of the US Navy in one fell swoop. Go north together to attack the Canadian fleet and win the entire naval battle.
"Marshal, Marshal Hercules has caught up with the destroyer. He also notified Marshal Clarence and General Bennet!" a staff officer reported to Kirkbride.
Kirkbride was taken aback for a moment, but then he was relieved. Previously, Hercules asked him to continue the attack on the American fleet and claimed that the French Navy had another fleet, which surprised him very much. And now, it seems the time has come to unravel the mystery.
Hercules, Clarence, and Bennet~www.novelbuddy.com~ entered the bridge of the Tuileries, together with Kirkbride, the four sat around a small table beside. In the dark night, the attack effect is not good, so now the French fleet has stopped attacking the American fleet, just follow them firmly, so as not to lose it. Everything is waiting for the final battle after dawn. Now is the time, **** it, let the soldiers who have worked hard all day take a rest.
"I believe that you have always been suspicious, not only because I invited the fleet to pursue the fleet, but not to rest. I am afraid that you have complaints about the Ministry of the Navy and even His Majesty the Emperor's refusal to add more capital ships to the navy. .” Hercules said with a smile on his face. However, because I was too tired, I felt very bad.
Kirkbride, Clarence, and Bennett looked at each other, but they didn't answer and remained silent.
Hercules went on to say: "Everyone should have a good understanding of the current domestic economic situation. Our economy has been dragged down by wars for years, making the current economic situation very bad. There is a possibility of collapse at any time. Therefore, our We cannot start an equipment race with the United States and Canada. If we continue to increase capital ships, the United States and Canada will certainly do the same. This will only increase the number of capital ships on both sides. By that time, I am afraid that the war has not yet started, and the economy It's already broken."
