"Preparing for war is like a race. While you are working hard towards victory, your opponent is also working hard. And all you can do is try to run faster than your enemy." - Beiyang Deputy Admiral Lang Weili

Just as the Beiyang Fleet and the Overseas Fleet were expanding their military strength, the construction of the Russian Far East Fleet had also entered a high-speed stage. A large number of transport ships transported various materials and machinery from distant Europe to Muroran Port. For this sneak attack strategy,

The Russians put extraordinary effort into the ice-free port! Many equipment that the Black Sea Fleet and the Baltic Fleet did not have were carefully transported here by the Russians. And more and more warships began to set sail from the Baltic Sea to the Far East.

In the eyes of the Russians, although the war process was very frustrating, the results were still quite good! So far, the Russians have not only obtained the coveted ice-free port, but also turned the Japanese Sea into their own inland sea

!And occupied a large area of ​​Japan's territory. In the eyes of Tsar Nicholas II, the port of Murolan will become Russia's

As a springboard for China's expansion in the Far East, sooner or later all Japan will become Russian territory, and after sufficient preparations, the Northeast of the Qing Dynasty will also become "Yellow Russia". Of course, in order to realize this grand plan, he also

There is an important task to do, which is to eliminate the Beiyang system and the powerful Beiyang fleet!

For this reason, the Russians have made careful plans and arrangements for their operations in the Far East. Not only Muroran Port, but also the entire Hokkaido and Vladivostok were included in the naval combat system of the Far East. In the plan formulated by the Russian Navy, the Russian fleet

The main tasks are two. One is to cooperate with the army to occupy the Japanese mainland at the appropriate time, and the other is to actively challenge the Beiyang Fleet when necessary and gain control of the sea in the entire Far East.

Regarding the first point, the Russian Navy is full of confidence. No matter from any aspect, the current Russian fleet is simply not something that the Japanese can compete with after the Sino-Japanese War. The Russian Far East Fleet can defeat the Japanese at any time without external interference.

Sea transportation was cut off. But regarding the second goal, the Russian Far East Fleet generally felt a lot of pressure!

"Within the next five years, we will not be able to gain an advantage over the Beiyang Navy and its auxiliary forces on the seas of the Far East. The gap in fleets is relatively small, while in ports, logistics and especially personnel quality gaps. Let us

We cannot easily launch a war against the Beiyang Fleet." In an admiralty recollection in 1897, Lieutenant General Makanov said bluntly.

The Russian military officers who accompanied Makanov in the Sino-Japanese War expressed support for Makanov's views, and Roger Destvinsky also agreed with Makanov's views. However, the approval of these people did not determine

Russian naval plan! At least it cannot be completely decided. The proud Tsar Nicholas II refused to admit this fact.

"I can give the Far East Fleet the best warships, the best sailors, the best equipment and treatment, and kill the Beiyang Fleet. Then, you will become the governor of Yellow Russia!" Nicholas II faced Ma

Kanov said this. The will of the Tsar is an order. The helpless Makanov and others began to strengthen the Russian Far East Fleet as much as possible and improve related strategies in accordance with the Tsar's will.

In Makanov's view, if the Russian fleet must defeat the Beiyang Fleet within 5 to 8 years, the key lies in how long it will take for the fleet in Europe to rush to the Far East once the war begins! The strength of the Far East Fleet alone can

Russian Navy three points

Going to fight the powerful Beiyang with no fleet at all. That would be to risk death. Therefore, what Makanov means is that before the war begins, the Russian fleet must complete its assembly. The reinforcement fleet from Europe and the Far East Fleet must merge. Then

Only then can the war begin.

However, considering the international situation and actual situation, this idea of ​​​​assembly first and then going to war is a bit too idealistic. It is very likely that Beiyang will take the initiative before the Russian fleet has completed its assembly, and then attack the Russian Far East Fleet! In other words, the Russian Far East Fleet

The fleet must be supported for a period of time with the strong strength of the Beiyang Fleet. If it cannot hold on, then needless to say, the naval battle part of this war will definitely be lost!

"We must link Vladivostok and Muroran Port into a whole. Muroran Port will serve as the front line and become the first line of the battle between our navy and the Beiyang Fleet. The dominant Beiyang Fleet will definitely come to our door at the first moment of the war, and

This action is likely to gain ribenzheng

With the support of fu. Under the attack of the Northern Fleet and its affiliated fleets with 2 battleships and 6 10,000-ton armored cruisers, the two battleships of the Far East Fleet Peter Pavlovsko, Poltava and Liuli

The armored cruiser "K" must remain in the port to assist in the defense.

Otherwise, once the minefield is cleared, Muroran Port is very likely to fall, and the fall of Muroran Port will directly cause Hokkaido to be under attack from the Japanese Army. Therefore, maintaining more than 3 capital ships will be the key to defending Muroran Port.

Minimum needs," Markanov wrote in his minutes.

"Excluding these three battleships, we currently only have the Turquoise and the Pearl to watch. After improvements, the protection of these two battleships will be improved, but it is obvious that facing Beiyang's Guiyuan

Type battleships are still at a disadvantage. If the Beiyang Fleet can dedicate an armored cruiser and bring two Guiyuan-class ships, then

The situation of these two Azov-type cruisers will be extremely difficult! Therefore, we must strengthen the cruise fleet. It is best for this fleet to be stationed in Vladivostok when the war begins, so that it will not be blocked in the port by the Beiyang Fleet.

We launched break-up warfare and guerrilla warfare to gain time." Makanov then also made arrangements for Vladivostok.

Then the two sides had great differences on the issue of adding new battleships to the Far East Fleet. The Navy Ministry meant to add one more battleship, because after the Beiyang Fleet ordered two Dante-class battleships, it is very likely that it will continue to order another new one.

Dante-class battleship, so the Admiralty believes that in the battleship

The ship cannot be inferior to the Beiyang Fleet, and in terms of cruisers, the Navy Ministry stated that it can only add up to 3 more cruisers. One of them is the perfect armored cruiser ordered by Russia in France. This ship is equipped with a 274mm turret gun. And 4

12,000 for 8-inch guns and 8 6-inch guns

The former ton-class armored cruiser was named Russia by the Russian Navy. It is enough to show that the Russian Navy has high hopes for this battleship. The French are very confident that their battleship will never be inferior to any first-class armored cruiser, whether it is

pisa is still king! Garibaldi and

The era when its descendants dominated the oceans has passed! In addition to this eye-catching battleship, what the Admiralty can provide is two improved versions of the Azov sea type, the Warrior and the Goddess! These two cruisers will be combined with other

Two original Azov-type cruisers are stationed in Vladivostok in case of emergencies.

However, Makanov requested that the Far East Fleet be equipped with 2 Russian-type armored cruisers, 1 battleship and more than 2 improved cruisers in the Azov Sea. Such high requirements surprised the Navy Ministry! Even the Tsar questioned: "

Is Makanov planning to move all the new Russian Navy ships there?" Let alone the cost of these warships, even the production plan cannot be arranged. The Russian-class armored cruiser was built in France, and now it is on the slipway.

There is only one ship!

In this regard, Makanov explained that in his opinion, in the next five years, the Northern Fleet and the Overseas Fleet will eventually have 3 Dante-class cruisers, 3 King-class armored cruisers, 2 Pisa-type armored cruisers and 2

Garibaldi type armored cruisers, plus 5 to 6 Guiyuan type and its improved version 50

00-ton light armored cruiser! And what about the Russian Navy? Even if its plan is fully realized, there will only be 3 Poltava-class battleships. These three battleships are not opponents of the Dante class at all. 2 Russian-type armored cruisers and 1

A Rurik-type armored cruiser. These three ships have the same quality of personnel.

It can only tie with 3 King-class cruisers, and then more than 4 Azov-type cruisers, and these 4 ships can't beat the 2 Garibaldi-type and 2 Pisa-type armored cruisers of the Beiyang Fleet, and even more

Not to mention that Beiyang still has 5 to 6 second-class armored cruisers and the Nanyang Fleet that may participate in the war! In

Considering the gap in personnel quality, once the two fleets meet, the outcome is basically determined! In addition, the opponent's speed is more than 20 knots, while the speed of the three battleships on our side is only about 16.5 knots, and the gap in maneuverability is even more obvious.

So this number can only be high, not low! This is the bottom line!

But such a huge demand has exceeded the maximum limit that the Russian fleet can allocate to the Far East. Especially the precious Russian-type armored cruiser, it is not that you can add one more! At least before 1901, don't even think about it! But

Finally, after a period of bargaining, His Royal Highness the Tsar finally agreed, and the number of first-class armored cruisers on both sides could barely reach the same level as the Qing's Beiyang Fleet plus foreign ships.

The team has the same level. That is, 1 Rurik plus 1 Russkoye, plus 3 new Azov sea-type armored cruisers, Warrior, Goddess and Parada. Plus two original Azovs

The sea-type armored cruiser has finally increased the number of first-class armored cruisers to 7. Of course, if these 7 ships compete with the armored cruiser fleets in Beiyang and Nanyang, the result will be tragic, but at least the numbers look good.

few!

"Even if there are no new warships, it is always okay to provide some old warships to the Far East Fleet?" When Makanov saw the approval from the Ministry of Navy, he insisted on obtaining another auxiliary warship for the Far East Fleet. After all, the Beiyang Fleet's

The Guiyuan type battleship is not for eating either.

In addition, the tactical quality of the Beiyang Fleet is much higher than that of the Russian fleet. In the battle between 5 Guiyuan and its improved models and 5 Azov sea-type ships, it is not known who will lose and who will win! So in the spirit of the fly, no matter how small it is, it will not matter.

According to the principle of meat, Makanov asked for a few more auxiliary battleships!

"Then we can only assign the slow coastal gunboats and torpedo boats to the Far East Fleet. You have assigned almost all of Russia's armored cruisers to the Far East. Our door in Europe is wide open!" Facing Makanov

With repeated requests, the Navy Department's patience has reached its limit! And this also reflects the biggest problem of the Russian Navy, which is unable to concentrate all its strength in a certain strategic direction!
Chapter completed!