The Rise of the Empire

"We have a huge advantage now!" Before Dewey received the telegram from the United States, the American commodore had already deduced several times the various situations that the US Navy might encounter in front of the chart. And no matter how he did it, he felt that he was in a situation where the dog tied the dog. What was the dog tied the dog? Even a dog can win if it directs it! As long as Spain and the Japanese don't join forces to deal with themselves, there is almost no possibility of losing for the US-Russian fleet!

Let’s not talk about Spain’s weakling, one 9,000-ton ship and two 6,000-ton ships. If they die, Dewey thinks it will take less than half an hour to end the battle, and drown him with shells!

As for the Japanese? Anyone who can count knows the result. I have 1 10,000-ton battleship, 2 10,000-ton ACR, 3 first-class armored cruisers, 2 first-class protected cruisers, plus 3 second-class protected cruisers VS Japan 2 10,000-ton battleships, 2 10,000-ton ACRs, 1 first-class protected cruiser, and 2 second-class cruisers.

The ratio of first-class armored cruisers and above main battleships is 3 to 2. The ratio of protected cruisers is 5 to 3. Although the Japanese's two 10,000-ton ACRs are really tricky, Fuji Yashima and his like are still inferior to Iowa. In history, who was afraid of Iowa with the main gun of the second-level turret among the battleships of the same period? The two Munich ships can also be called ferocious. One can't beat one, but two can always fight one!

Dewey has already figured it out, Iowa and Brooklyn are dealing with two Japanese second-class battleships, and the combined tonnage of the two battleships Rurik and New York is nearly 20,000. It is no problem to deal with Nisshin, right? It's okay for two Munichs to fight another Izumo, right? The remaining 5 against 3 is also the dog leash win!

So Dewey and Essen discussed this matter, this is the way to do it! The three American capital ships and the three strongest warships in Dewey's hands formed a team, and when they fought, they would catch and fight according to the above order. Dewey served as the commander of this fleet. In order to ensure smooth communication with each other, the US and Russian navies also exchanged liaison personnel. Subsequently, the five protected cruisers commanded by Brigadier General Shirley formed another fleet to deal with the Japanese protected cruisers. The two fleets cooperate with each other, and the latter still has a certain degree of autonomy.

After everything was ready, Dewey rushed to the Philippines with 11 large and small warships, a fleet with a total tonnage of nearly 90,000 tons, and 2,000 US Marine Corps officers and soldiers! On February 22, a detachment of U.S. Marines landed in Davao Bay, Mindanao. Then the American fleet waited here for 3 days, but the Spaniards didn't show up, and Dewey scolded the Spaniards.

Although the Spaniards are indeed a little cowardly, the Spanish Navy cannot be blamed for this. The Philippines is a broken archipelago. Communication and transportation are inconvenient. The news of Americans appearing on Mindanao Island has just reached Manila. At this time, the Spanish fleet is lighting fire and preparing to set sail. Of course, because of the sad communication and the deliberate concealment of the US fleet, the Spaniards still don't know the size of the US-Russian fleet at this time. They are also preparing three big ships to lead a group of younger brothers to destroy Y!

Dewey, who had waited for a few days without any results, felt that life was so boring, why not look for something to do, so he took the second batch of US Marines to Morro Bay in Mindanao, planning to open a sub-base there. Then it doesn't matter if you go, you just ran into the Severa fleet going south from the north!

Looking at the map, you know that the Spanish fleet's closest route after starting from Manila Bay is all the way south, and then cross the Basilan Strait between Basilan and Mindanao! After sending troops to Morro Bay, the US fleet just planned to pass through this strait and go north! So the two fleets met here!

It started like this,

When Dewey's fleet killed the Spanish outpost near the landing point with 10 rounds of 5-inch shells, the US Marine Corps began to move in an orderly manner. Teams of soldiers landed on land without hindrance, and then began to unload supplies and supplies from the ship. artillery.

The bored Dewey here was forced to find something to do for himself, "Then let's add coal if there is nothing to do!" The three colliers were to add coal to the other warships in the fleet, and the Shelly Fleet, which was the first to complete the coal addition, was dispatched Go to Basilan Strait to perform security missions. However, because the two Columbia-class protected cruisers are too capable of loading, the coal loading capacity of 1,670 tons is second only to the Russian Rurik, and Dewey does not plan to bring slow transport ships on the way to the north in the future, so this Two battleships must be filled with coal bunkers and serve as half supply ships.

So the Shelly fleet encountered the Spanish fleet coming from the northwest at a place less than 80 kilometers away from the east mouth of the Basilan Strait. However, it was not Shirley who first discovered the Spanish fleet, but two notification ships under the fleet. At this time, Magiffen was acting as the temporary captain on this notification ship.

In the Russo-Japanese War, notification ships existed, and it was a notification ship that first discovered the traces of the Russian fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. In this era, radio was not popular yet, so it was normal to arrange notification ships as eyes around the fleet's berthing.

"It seems to be a fleet!" Ma Jifen, who has been depressed since he came to the Far East, saw the smoke column of the fleet rising from the northwest, Ma Jifen, who had fought and ran across the road, quickly recognized the opponent through the smoke column The scale, which should be at least at the fleet level, it is impossible for civilian ships to emit so much smoke, and it is also impossible to form groups.

"It should be a Spaniard!" Majiffin then judged the other party's identity. When the person next to him asked about the reason for such a judgment, Majiffin's answer was simple: "Because the Japanese are not so reckless!" Since the Battle of Toshima However, the Japanese fleet has always been very cautious in its actions, whether it was the Dadonggou naval battle or the subsequent sea hunting. Before the Japanese main fleet appeared, there would always be scout ships, or advance fleets, at sea.

Now the distance between the two sides is about 30 kilometers, and there are no sampans around except for American ships. Then the identity of the other party has been confirmed! And counting the time, it's time for the Spanish fleet to act. "What shall we do?" one of the subordinates asked.

"Let the siren inform General Dewey, and we will lead them to General Shelley!" A moment later, Magiffin gave an order that surprised everyone.

"General Shelley probably can't handle these guys. They should be a large fleet." At this time, Shelley's fleet was due east, and Dewey's fleet was north. From the point of view of ordinary people, it is enough to report directly to Dewey before the other party finds out. How could it be so troublesome.

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