The Pacific Fleet, formerly known as the First Fleet, had 16 " Queen Elizabeth " battleships, 16 cruisers, 10 frigates, and 10 frigates, making a total of 53 warships.
In terms of sheer numbers, the Pacific Fleet had far fewer warships than the Japan Combined Fleet. However, the Pacific Fleet had 32 battleships and cruisers with ferocious firepower. Their firepower was much stronger than the Japan Combined Fleet, so they had nothing to fear!
"Pass on my order. Immediately send out a baiting fleet to attack Keelung. Once you encounter the enemy's counterattack, immediately flee to the ambush we set up earlier.”Ito Yuheng led the alliance fleet to stop about 40 nautical miles away from Keelung and gave the order to fight.
Immediately, a small fleet consisting of a third-class battleship, two frigates, and a destroyer left the main force and quickly headed towards Keelung.
After the baiting fleet set off, the alliance fleet split into three fleets, left, middle, and right, according to Ito Sukehiro's previous deployment.
On the left was the first squadron, with the battleship Yoshino as the main force. It had four second-class and third-class battleships, five cruisers, six frigates, six destroyer, and three armored coastal defense ships. On the right was the second squadron, with the Hashi as the main battleship, four second-class and third-class battleships, five cruisers, six frigates, six destroyer, and three armored coastal defense ships.
The third squadron was in the middle, with the battleships Songdao and Yashima as the center. It had six second-class and third-class battleships, six cruisers, nine frigates, six destroyer, and three armored coastal defense ships.
These three fleets were less than ten nautical miles apart. Once they encountered an enemy, not only could they face the enemy on their own, but they could also support each other.
……
"You want to bait me by sending four broken ships? Hehe, aren't you afraid that the bait will be eaten?”Zhuge Qing had seen every move of the Japan Alliance Fleet through the reconnaissance aircraft and sneered.
Without any hesitation, he ordered the Pacific Fleet to meet them.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
When the Japan Combined Fleet's baiting fleet entered firing range, the four Queen Elizabeth class battleships and four cruisers of the Pacific Fleet immediately opened fire. Instantly, the sea was filled with artillery fire as hundreds of shells rained down on the four warships.
Under the intense artillery fire, a frigate was destroyed on the spot. Dozens of Japanese soldiers died on the spot, and a destroyer was lightly injured. The baiting fleet was greatly frightened and immediately abandoned the damaged frigate, desperately escaping towards the sea.
Behind them, the cannons rumbled as the four Queen Elizabeth battleships and four cruisers opened fire. The other warships did not fire a single shot and simply followed behind.
This phenomenon was naturally a tactical arrangement made by Zhuge Qing. Just imagine, 16 battleships and 16 cruisers were a terrifying naval force. If they were discovered by the Japan Alliance Fleet, wouldn't they be scared off immediately?
Zhuge Qing wanted to destroy the Japanese alliance fleet, not chase them away!
"This cannon sound…it's from four first-class battleships and four heavy cruisers!”Ito Yuhitsu listened attentively to the sound of cannons coming from the sea and said with a solemn expression. "Such a powerful naval force. Is it really the main force of the Russian Far East Fleet?”
He did not dare to be negligent and immediately ordered the alliance fleet to prepare for battle.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
In the midst of the fierce artillery fire, two loud explosions were heard. The second frigate and a destroyer of the luring fleet were hit by several shells and exploded into the bottom of the sea. The remaining third-level battleship was also heavily damaged and on the verge of collapse, in danger of capsizing at any moment.
"Hehe, we're finally in range.”The corner of Zhuge Qing's mouth curled up into a cruel smile.
Under his control, the Pacific Fleet immediately abandoned the heavily injured third-class battleship and aimed at the Second Fleet on the right wing of the Combined Fleet.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
In an instant, the sound of artillery fire shook the sky. 16 " Queen Elizabeth " battleships, 16 cruisers, 10 frigates, and 10 destroyer opened fire at the same time. Hundreds of cannons fired in unison. It was a terrifying sight.
"Sou!" "Sou!" "Swoosh!"
In the sky, countless cannonballs were flying around, and hundreds of cannonballs formed a terrifying screen of light that covered the entire sky as it shot towards the second squadron!
"How…how is this possible? How is this possible?" Seeing this scene, Ito Sukehiro's vision went black, and his legs went weak. He almost collapsed on the ground.
Damn it, how did the enemy's firepower become so powerful in an instant?
If the enemy only had 4 battleships and 4 cruisers, then the enemy's firepower now exceeded at least 10 battleships and 10 cruisers!
However, how was this possible?
In the entire world, perhaps only the local fleet of the Sun Never Sets Empire, which was known as the " strongest in the world ", had such terrifying naval power. However, how could the native fleet of the Sun Never Sets Empire leave their homeland and appear in such a place?
Putting aside the relationship between Japan and the Sun Never Sets Empire, just the Bay Island alone was definitely not valuable enough for the Sun Never Sets Empire to send their own fleet!
Therefore, the enemy was definitely not the Sun Never Sets Empire.
Of course, the enemy could not be the Russian Empire. If the Russian Empire had such a powerful naval fleet, they would have long competed with the Empire of the Sun Never Sets for the position of world overlord. Why would they care about a small Bay Island?
If the enemy was neither the Sun Never Sets Empire nor the Russian Empire, then who was it?
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