The Rise of the Empire

"Look, it's our people who paid 2,000 pounds to get the photos." Admiral Hoskins, the Second British Sea Lord, handed a stack of unclear photos to the First Sea Lord who was sitting across the table. Admiral Hood. "Our cruiser formation has been severely challenged, and the Edgar-class cruiser may not be able to fulfill the mission we entrusted to it."

"I heard that it took less than half an hour for the new German warship to destroy this target ship?" Sir Hamilton next to him added fire.

"What's Sir William White's opinion?" Admiral Hood didn't bother with the photo, but asked a technical expert, an evergreen tree in the field of British shipbuilding, and the chief designer of the Royal Navy!

"A very good cruiser. But because of the range and other factors, it is not suitable for us to use." Sir White said: "However, if we only talk about combat effectiveness, our cruiser is not an opponent. The combination of this rapid-fire gun and high-explosive shells is simply amazing. It is the natural enemy of the Dome Armored Battleship!"

"Thank you, Sir White, your opinion is very informative." Admiral Hood then turned his head: "Then let's discuss the second question, if the Russians get this class of cruiser, what will happen to our future situation?" What effect will it have?"

The British are not worried about the Germans equipping this cruiser. After all, the size of the German navy is not large now. Don't look at the construction of 7 ships, but in the eyes of the British, this is just to repay historical debts. Moreover, the relationship between Britain and Germany is very good, and the wife of the Kaiser is still the princess of England! There is no conflict at all. But selling this thing to the Russians is different. The current Anglo-Russian relationship is almost equal to the US-Soviet relationship during the Cold War!

"If the Russians get this warship, we will be under great pressure in the Far East. At least the old warships cannot suppress the opponent, and we need new ships." Sir Hamilton said.

"A bigger and stronger cruiser? What about our Mighty-class cruiser design for the Russians' Rurik?" Admiral Hood asked.

"The cost of the Qiangsheng class is too high, and we only have two ships. The Russians can get at least one Rurik-class armored cruiser and two Munich-class armored cruisers in the future. I am afraid it will be difficult to overwhelm the opponent." Hoskins on Will shook his head and said.

The Qiangsheng class is specially designed by Sir William White to deal with the Russian Rurik-class armored cruiser. It has a larger tonnage (14,000 tons), a larger size (163 meters long, 21 meters wide), and greater endurance. (3000 tons of coal, 7000 nautical miles at 14 knots) Higher speed, (22 knots) and more expensive construction and maintenance costs...  And the firepower is only 2 9.2-inch guns and 12 6-inch guns! This is also the result of a crooked technology tree. It is essentially the same as the Russian cruiser. It is enough to fight the cruiser. Going to the battle line is courting death!

The British used the strong-class cruiser to explain what a local tyrant is - only buy expensive ones and not choose the right one. The strong-class cruiser is so against the sky, and the consumption of 48 boilers makes the mighty British navy a little too much. So, the British I can only choose to build 2 ships and it's over. If it is to be built like the Edgar class, the British navy will be waiting to go bankrupt!

"We can use second-class battleships, which have the protection and firepower inferior to first-class battleships, but have the speed of cruisers. Centurion-class second-class battleships are very good. Although the speed is slower than the Munich class, it is barely usable. .” Admiral Hood finally made the final decision.

The next best thing is that when complete suppression is not possible, the British can only choose an alternative. The speed of the Centurion-class second-class battleship is much faster than that of the Sovereign (maximum speed of 18.5 knots), while reducing weapons and defenses to reduce the price, plus greater endurance. (6,000 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots, although far less powerful, but also stronger than the 4,700 nautical miles at a speed of 10 knots of the Sovereign.) And the firepower that overwhelms cruisers,

This class of battleship can barely serve as the main force of the Far East Fleet!

You know, the Russian Rurik has a maximum speed of 19 knots, which is actually about the same speed as the Centurion. Considering the fact that the British are all over the base, it is enough for the Centurion to hunt and kill Rurik who lacks logistical support. Although the speed of 18.5 knots is much slower than the speed of the Munich-type armored cruiser at 21 knots, if they really want to fight, the two cruisers can't leave Rurik alone, can they?

In fact, if you want to talk about the concept of battlecruisers, there have been similarities for a long time, and the British second-class battleships are such representatives. Cruiser-class speed and battleship-class firepower. (If you dare to say that the 10-inch gun cannot be used as the main gun of a battleship, you can look at the former dreadnoughts of Britain, Germany, Russia and Italy.) It is no problem to kill ordinary dome cruisers!

Just after the Russian government announced that it would order two Munich-class armored cruisers in October 1892, and they would be sent directly to the Far East after their completion in 1895. The British government also released the news 3 days later! Said that in the future, two 10,000-ton Centurion-class second-class battleships and two 14,000-ton Qiangsheng-class first-class cruisers will join the Far East Fleet after they are completed in 1895!

"This fucking is a slap in the face!" Russian Tsar Alexander III who received the news angrily threw the document in his hand on the table! The British have made it clear that they want to stabilize the Russian Pacific Fleet. Will they give them a way out? Can you still be happy relatives?

Ruprecht's words became a reality. When the Russians ordered new toys, the British, the biggest potential opponent, decisively expressed that they could not bear it! Start deploying stronger and more fun toys today! However, unlike the British with deep pockets and solid industries, the Russians do not have this foundation. The British can beat the Russians with anything they take out of their pockets, but the Russians can only order from foreign countries at their own expense!

"The Germans' new armored cruiser..." said Alexander III.

"Your Majesty, after we ordered two Munich-class armored cruisers, our naval budget has run out. If we want to order two 10,000-ton armored cruisers worth 1.2 million pounds, we will have to wait until at least 1894. The first sum of money!" The chancellor of the exchequer Witt raised his heart in his throat in fright, if he spends money like this, he will lose his life!

"The two Munich-class armored cruisers have already started construction, and we have already paid the deposit. If we abandon the contract at this time, then we will get nothing! The shipyard will not return the principal! And even if we order these two In the next 6 years, we will not be able to maintain this class of warships in the Far East! Should we go to the British port for maintenance?” Admiral Popov also thought that the tsar’s suggestion was inappropriate.

"Then order in 1894. We must let the British know our determination! Even if we are against the most powerful empire in the world, we must go on in the Far East-Pacific expansion!" Alexander III Said categorically!

"Damn, the British spirit of helping others is so touching! This is simply the spirit of internationalism!" The prince who got the news gave the British 64 likes!

From the next chapter to the Far East dungeon, this book will give you a different Sino-Japanese War~~~, so stay tuned~~~! In addition, ask for favorites, recommendations, and clicks!