Let's say that after Xu Jie sent people to land to take the telegram, he did not rush to lead the fleet to advance the Japanese coastal waters, but carefully planned with Peng Haifeng how to calculate the Japanese troop transport fleet. With the establishment of the escort system, relying solely on

The attack ship already has some strength

At the same time, in order to provide protection for those merchant ships that were not assigned escort ships, Japan also specially provided some weapons and converted them into armed merchant ships. This further increased the difficulty of the attack, and these attack ships were all based on the

Mainly civilians,

In their eyes, it is good to be able to grab something, but if they need to face relatively large risks, they would rather choose to avoid risks rather than try their best. Therefore, the losses caused by the attacks began to decrease, allowing Japan to have a stable

The rear is not what Xu Jie wants to see, and if you want these attack ships to continue to function, you must deal with some of those annoying unprotected cruisers, at least reduce the opponent's escort strength. In addition, this time they face

The number of transport ships is relatively large, if

If the Beiyang Fast Fleet intercepts alone, when it is entangled by the opponent's escort warship, it will be difficult for you to catch the opponent's formation and chase them separately? How do you regroup? What if you encounter a Japanese protective cruiser? Do not separate

?He must have run away

Most of them. Therefore, Xu Jie decided to cooperate with the attack ships headed by Peng Haifeng. The Beiyang Fast Fleet would deal with the opponent's escort warships and destroy the opponent's formation. Then Peng Haifeng and the others would go up and attack the scattered fleet. Between

The target of the attack is Japan

It is very difficult for Peng Haifeng's strength to make a forced landing or capture a military transport ship instead of a merchant ship. Non-military attack ships do not need to abide by international law and are not protected by international law. Therefore, Xu Jie and Peng Haifeng agreed that for

Opponent's transport ship

, no matter it is carrying people or transporting supplies, they will all be sunk! As for the people who fell into the water, kill as many as they can! Anyway, the Japanese will never follow any humanitarian principles when it comes to sunk attack ships, so Peng Haifeng

Of course you don't have to be polite if you wait for someone else.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of the entire plan, intelligence work and concealment of intentions are very important. Boss Peng was indeed very generous. First, with the help of other Chinese shipping companies, he assembled a group of sentry ships to fly the flags of neutral countries (many of them were

The Chinese ship itself is registered in a neutral country) is responsible for conducting reconnaissance of the waters near the interception site, and

Xu Jie and others were informed by relay signals to avoid ships from other countries. In order to ensure the concealment of the fleet's whereabouts, Xu Jie also deliberately avoided busy business routes. On the fourth night, he attacked with Peng Haifeng's six ships

The ships rendezvous, waiting for the massacre tomorrow morning. At the same time, the Japanese transport fleet still knows nothing about its fate.

Escorting the transport fleet this time are three unprotected cruisers, Katsuragi, Musashi and Kaohsiung. The three warships have a tonnage of between 1500 and 1800. The speed is between 13 knots and 15 knots. Their main purpose is to serve as a garrison ship.

The fleet exists, so it is normal to provide escort for the transport fleet. In the recent escort and patrol missions, these three warships performed really well, with relatively high speed and strong firepower.

,3 ships

Four raiding ships have been destroyed and captured, which has greatly reduced the number of raiding ships operating in the east. Compared with the guerrilla fleet that had just been beaten and the main fleet that could only stay in the Korean Strait to defend the communication line, this garrison

The battle results of the fleet were "pretty good". The Japanese navy did not treat prisoners well for those crew members who attacked the ships. If they were white Europeans, the Japanese with low self-esteem might take it into consideration, but they thought they were better than the Qing Dynasty.

How could the superior Japanese be polite to these Chinese crewmen? This kind of behavior also directly led to a change in the attitude of Qing raiding ships towards prisoners during the attack. At first, the captains were more considerate, but generally they would treat merchant ships

Leave the crew alive, and leave enough fresh water and food to put them on a survival boat. However, as the Japanese treated the prisoners too cruelly, the Qing raiding ships gradually changed from hijacking to hijacking.

The main purpose of plundering materials has been changed to robbery and killing. They have to use both hands to grab it! From then on, the captains of the raiding ships no longer have to worry about the so-called moral bottom line. Since the Japanese are not willing to be reasonable, then

Just use guns and cannons to explain everything!! As a result, the maritime raids during the Sino-Japanese War became more and more bloody. And this bloody starting point started when Xu Jie led the Beiyang Fast Fleet and Peng Haifeng and others’ raiding fleet joined forces.

of.

Under the escort of three unprotected cruisers including Katsuragi, six transport ships of Nippon Yusen Co., Ltd. Yamashiro Maru, Omi Maru, Toe Maru, Sendai Maru, Hyogo Maru and Sumie Maru, and three small merchant ships carried 4,500

Japanese Army, 30-door 75

mm mountain artillery and field artillery. There are even 6 heavy mortars and 12 280mm siege guns belonging to the First Army. These soldiers and equipment are very important to the Japanese army. 4,500 people are already a full brigade.

, 30 doors 75mm

Mountain artillery and field artillery are close to the equipment of an army division. Heavy mortars and siege artillery are the key. These are big killers that cannot even be used at the division level. They are reserved by the Japanese army to prepare for Lushunkou and

The key to Weihaiwei Fortress. Therefore, the Japanese Navy

I didn’t dare to be careless at all. Under the leadership of Colonel Oda, almost all capable warships in the garrison fleet were deployed to provide cover for the transport fleet. This force was actually strong enough, but it was a pity that this time they encountered

The one on board was Xu Jie's fast fleet.

After leaving Tokyo Bay, the fleet sailed towards its destination, Nagasaki, at a speed of 8 knots. One day after leaving Tokyo Bay, the fleet had passed through the high-risk area for attacks. In order to avoid the attack ships as much as possible, Colonel Oda also specifically chose a principle

The route of the trade route, because the main target of the raiding ship is the merchant ship running a single gang, these ships are easier to acquire, and the harvest will be more abundant. The resting crew members stood on the deck and chatted while looking at the distant sea view and the seagulls that appeared from time to time.

What.

"Have you heard? The fleet in Incheon was taken over by the Qing Dynasty's Beiyang Fleet Rapid Detachment, and a lot of the army left in Incheon Port was also destroyed." A sailor whispered.

"Those red deer in the navy deserve to die. I suspect there are spies in the navy." A sailor with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks said angrily.

"Not only the navy, there are also spies in the army. Otherwise, how could the Da Dao Brigade be completely wiped out in Chenghuan?" An engineer came over and said.

"Really?" The sailor who started the conversation didn't believe his ears.

"It's eighty percent true. My father's nephew's neighbor's brother works in the Army Depot Department. The Oshima Yichang Brigade has been removed from the logistics supply and soldier supply lists. Then the Army Department found fault and said that it was because of the Navy's

The failure caused the Da Dao Brigade to lose supplies and be defeated. The Navy Ministry retorted that the 4,000-strong Da Dao Brigade could not break through the 3,000-man defense line of Nie Shicheng's troops. This is the incompetence of the army." the first mate said rather gossiping.

Just when a group of people were getting addicted to chatting, suddenly, several masts appeared from the sea level in the northeast and quickly cut towards the rear of the transport fleet.

"What kind of ship is that? Such a fast speed, at least 18 knots!" The first mate of the transport ship Sendai Maru at the end of the team said to himself while observing with a telescope.

"What? 18 knots? In the entire Far East, except for Kurama and Yoshino of the Empire's First Guerrilla Fleet, the only other ships in the Far East that can reach this speed are..." Thinking of this, the captain of the Sendai Maru broke out in a cold sweat.

Aren't they in Weihai? Why did they come here?

At the same time that Sendai Maru discovered that there was an uninvited guest behind it, the Kaohsiung on the right wing of the fleet also discovered the high-speed incoming fleet. The captain of the Kaohsiung responded even more quickly. One look at the formation and he knew that it must be Beiyang's fast cruiser. "Send.

Signal to Captain Oda of the Katsuragi to prepare to meet the enemy." The captain of the Kaohsiung said tremblingly,

The outcome of this battle had been decided before the war started. In the Battle of Toshima, the three new cruisers could not defeat or escape. The combined tonnage of our three ships was not as good as that of one of the opponent's warships. This is not a big deal.

? Colonel Oda, who received the notification, was even more straightforward. While calling the Musashi on the left wing to come over and defend against the enemy with him,

The order ordered the transport fleet to disband immediately and sail to the nearest land. It was certain that he would die, but the transport ship cannot be left without it. This thing is much more important than his three unprotected cruisers. But in this way

, just in time to make it easier for Boss Peng and others who are ambushing right in front to attack. It should be said that these transport ships are in a group.

In other words, Boss Peng's men are still under some pressure when facing the sampan guns and rifles that are temporarily guesting as naval guns, but now it's good, you have disbanded the formation, so there is no need to worry!! When Katsuragi and the other three ships held

When Determined to Die launched a desperate attack on the Beiyang Fast Fleet, the attack ships of Boss Peng and others also began to rush towards those fat sheep!

Just as the three 5,000-ton battleships of the Beiyang Fast Fleet were spraying destructive bullets at three Japanese unprotected cruisers, two unexpected guests appeared above the sea level. This was Bobus of the British Far East Fleet.

and the German battleship Illidas. (These two battleships were indeed in the Far East during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, and they also rescued many Chinese in Toshima.

Crew. And the relationship between Britain and Germany was pretty good at that time, so it was still possible to watch together.) The two ships were originally cruising in the waters of Toshima, but they did not catch up with the Battle of Toshima. Later, I heard that it was fought on the eastern coast of Japan.

It was very lively, so they immediately turned to the eastern coast of Japan. This time, they were very lucky to witness the second naval battle of the Beiyang Fast Fleet.

"The Qing fleet fought very smoothly, and its purpose was very clear, and it went straight to the transport fleet. The resistance of the Japanese fleet was also very tenacious. When it discovered that three new Qing cruisers had arrived, three Japanese unprotected cruisers rushed over quickly

, and implemented a turn in front of the formation. It was like a T-shaped horizontal head lying in front of the Qing fleet. However, the difference in performance of the battleships and the poor grasp of the timing made this heroic interception unsuccessful.

It made no sense. The Qing fleet took advantage of its speed and firepower to pass directly in front of the Japanese fleet's lead ship, Katsuragi, and charged at the dispersing transport ships. The Japanese fleet, which was unable to intercept them, quickly adjusted its formation and caught up. In this way

As soon as it came, the Beiyang Fast Fleet stood between the Japanese escort fleet and merchant ships, completely separating the Japanese fleet." British Captain Philly emphasized the fighting situation between the two sides in his report.

"This was simply a massacre. In this battle, the performance advantage of the Qing Dynasty's fast fleet was fully demonstrated. After easily breaking through the interception of the Japanese fleet, facing the Japanese fleet that was chasing after it, the Beiyang fast fleet used starboard artillery while

The attack is retreating

The Japanese transport ship used its port guns to attack the Japanese unprotected cruiser that came after it. The 170mm Krupp cannon of the Katsuragi battleship at the head of the team was probably replaced with a new gun mount before the war, and the rate of fire was increased, but

It all proved to be in vain

, Katsuragi and Musashi, both equipped with 170mm artillery, had hits, but they were unable to penetrate each other's armor. Once the two iron-framed and wooden-hulled warships were hit by heavy cannons equipped with picric acid charges, they quickly burned. Only 15 minutes later.

, the Katsuragi number at the head of the team

It was beaten into a pile of wreckage floating on the sea. The Musashi tried to get close to fire a torpedo, but an 8-inch main gun that penetrated the side string ended the Musashi's efforts. This shell should have hit the boiler.

cabin, a huge fireball shot up from the middle part of Musashi's hull,

The entire battleship shook like a volcanic eruption, spewing out a large amount of water vapor and debris. After several muffled sounds, the entire battleship made a heart-breaking sound, and then the battleship followed his flagship and sank to the bottom of the sea.

The last cruiser Kaohsiung, in

After discovering that the two battleships in front were sunk, they had the motive to retreat. However, the Suiyuan at the end of the queue quickly broke away from the battle line and began to pursue the turning Kaohsiung. In the next half hour, the Suiyuan and Kaohsiung

The number started like a duel between knights in the Middle Ages.

However, under the attack of three 8-inch guns and four 6-inch guns, the bridge of the Kaohsiung quickly turned into a burning torch, and then a 6-inch shell (or 8-inch) hit

Behind a transom on the side string, a ball of water suddenly sprayed out from the port side of the entire battleship.

Fierce flames, fierce fire and powerful airflow swept across the entire side string. The battleship was as if it was hit hard by a heavy hammer on the left side of the hull. The battleship immediately tilted severely to the left and capsized and sank to the bottom of the sea in 5 minutes." The German captain said.

Pay attention to the record of the war process and the fighting situations of both sides.

But both Britain and Germany deliberately ignored what happened next, which was the massacre of Japanese transport ships by the Beiyang Fast Fleet and Peng Boss's attack fleet! In the next hour, the entire battle area was filled with debris, blood, and corpses.

Facing how big 9

The Japanese transport fleet had no ability to resist the various types of ships. After sinking the convoy at lightning speed, three Beiyang fast cruisers also joined in the massacre of the Japanese transport ships. "We had no intention at all at that time.

Prisoners, since Japan

People are unruly and undeclared war, and kill our captured personnel, then we can only use the weapons in our hands to retaliate, blood for blood!" Peng Haifeng explained his behavior afterwards. Under the blow of various artillery,

Merchant ships were sunk one after another, and a large number of Japanese
To be continued...