Gibraltar is a city and port located at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.■↑On the north shore of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, it crosses the throat of the Atlantic and Mediterranean transportation, and its strategic location is very important. Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, most ships traveling from the East and West enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar and then travel to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, which further improves Gibraltar's strategic location. If anyone masters Gibraltar, he will have the ability to cut off this important route.

In ancient times, Gibraltar was a settlement of the Phoenicians in North Africa. It was conquered by the Roman Empire in the second century BC. After the demise of the Western Roman Empire, some Goths competed with local Iberians and Moors for this place.

In the 8th century AD, the Arabs landed in Gibraltar when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Gibraltar became a stepping stone for the Moors who believed in Islam to invade Europe. A Moors established several small countries in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula (including the Gibraltar Peninsula) and accepted Christianity and Islam coexist. When the Spanish and Portuguese fought against the invasion of North African Muslims who wanted to unify their faith in the 11th to 15th centuries, they joined forces with some European Moors who were mixed-race and Islamic but tolerant Christianity to expel the invaders.

In 1410, Gibraltar was recaptured by the Spanish and was officially incorporated into the Spanish territory in 1501. After Spain's country was strong, Spain adopted a policy of expulsion or forcing the Islamic Moors in Gibraltar, and many people were forced to move to Morocco in North Africa even after the conversion.

The Spanish King Carlos II had no heir and asked the French Bourbons to inherit the Western throne. After the death of Carlos II in 1700, Philippe, the grandson of King Louis XIV of France, was declared the Western King. However, the nephew of Carlos II, Austria's Grand Duke Charles also demanded the inheritance of the throne according to the blood relationship between the Habsburg royal family. This led to the war of succession to the Spanish throne in 1701. Britain and the Netherlands supported the Grand Duke Charles. His coalition forces captured Gibraltar in 1704 and established a military fortress. In 1713, the two sides signed the Utrecht Peace Treaty. Philippe's status as king of Spain was recognized, but in another condition. Gibraltar was ceded to Britain.

After the British occupied Gibraltar, they expelled the original Spanish residents and immigrated from other places. Many Italians and British also began to move in, and some Moroccans also returned to enrich the local population. In 1830, Gibraltar officially became a British colony and major naval base. Since then, all military and political affairs in Gibraltar were under the jurisdiction of the Governor appointed by the British royal family.

The British Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet took Gibraltar as its home port. Here, the British established docks that could be docked with large warships and dock repair shops and other supporting facilities. In order to strengthen Gibraltar's defense, the British also built large fortresses on the platform in the south of the port. In order to prevent the Spaniard from attacking Gibraltar, the British also built many fortifications, bunkers, trenches and fixed firepower points on the Gibraltar Rock Peak, with all kinds of them. Especially after the establishment of the two opposing military alliances, the United Kingdom deeply felt the importance of Gibraltar and repeatedly strengthened Gibraltar's defense.

Now, in addition to the Mediterranean Fleet in Gibraltar, the United Kingdom has also deployed a 5,000-man Marine Corps. In addition, in the fortresses in the southern platform, there are thousands of fortress artillery, using more than one hundred fortress cannons of large and small caliber to resist enemies from the ocean. It can be said that the defense power of the fortifications built by Britain in Gibraltar has been very strong. The former commander of the Mediterranean Fleet who supervised the construction of the fortress of Gibraltar even claimed that Gibraltar has become a fortress that will never fall.

Of course. This is just an exaggeration. There has never been a fortress in the world that will not fall. Even if the fortress of Gibraltar is strong, it is still possible to fall. Especially after the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain joined forces, the fall of the fortress became even more possible.

In order to prevent the British from using Gibraltar as a springboard to attack the Kingdom of Spain, the Spanish Kingdom Army deployed a large number of troops north of Gibraltar. Even after the war broke out, part of the troops here were drawn, the remaining troops still reached two infantry brigades and more than 12,000 people.

According to the plans of the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, the two countries will jointly launch an attack on Gibraltar. Among them, the Chinese Navy is responsible for attacking from the sea, destroying the fortifications of the Gibraltar Fortress, and providing firepower support to the army of the Kingdom of Spain. The army of the Kingdom of Spain launches an attack on land.

The Kingdom of Spain did not object to this plan, but instead actively participated. After all, after the recovery of Gibraltar, Spain will have a strategic location, which is also very effective in improving the strength of the Kingdom of Spain.

Queen Isabella II ordered that the army of the Kingdom of Spain cooperated with the Chinese Navy to take down Gibraltar. He drove the British out of Gibraltar and let this strategic place return to the rule of the Kingdom of Spain again.

On the morning of August 4, 1854, the main force of the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet arrived outside Gibraltar. On the sea surface more than ten kilometers away from Gibraltar, the four "Qin-class" battleships, four "Western Han-class" battleships, three "Eastern Zhou-class" battleships and four "Western Zhou-class" battleships, all the main guns were aimed at the British fortress in Gibraltar. As for other small warships, they were responsible for vigilance. After all, fortresses poured with steel and cement can only be chewed with large-caliber armor-piercing bullets, and the main guns of small warships are powerless to do anything about the thick fortress.

"Commander, the information we just obtained is that the British fortress in Gibraltar is mainly composed of two shore defense turrets on the platform. Among them, there are four large turrets on the Fengmiao platform, 12 large turrets of 280mm fortress cannons, 24 210mm shore defense cannons, and dozens of other caliber turrets. On the Europa platform, there are two large turrets, 8 large 280mm fortress cannons, 12 210mm shore defense cannons and nearly 30 other caliber turrets. These turrets have been reinforced in recent years and are poured with steel and cement, which is as thick as two meters. Even if it is used for 280mm armor-piercing bombs, it is difficult to penetrate." Lieutenant General Xu Hai, chief of staff of the fleet, said with a frown.

"The British also knew the importance of Gibraltar, so they strengthened Gibraltar's defense. However, the location here is too important. In order not to get stuck in the neck, we must take Gibraltar down. No matter how many shells are spent, we must smash the British turtle shells!" Fleet Commander General Wei Yong said firmly. Even if the fortress poured with steel and cement is thick, if it is hit hard continuously, it is possible to be destroyed. What's more, the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet dispatched so many warships this time, and it would be too embarrassing if it could not take the Gibraltar Fortress.

"Yes, Commander!" Lieutenant General Xu Hai nodded. Of course he knew the importance of taking Gibraltar.

"Order the fleet and launch an attack in fifteen minutes. Pay attention to protecting yourself when attacking!" General Wei Yong ordered.

Although it is very important to destroy the Gibraltar Fortress, it is also important to protect itself. After all, although the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet annihilated the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, it still needs to face the British Navy's local fleet. Although there is too much loss here, when facing the main force of the British Navy, it will be a little weak.

"Yes, Commander!"

At 9:25 am on August 4, 1854, on the battleship of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, five double-mounted 280mm main guns let out a deafening roar. Ten armor-piercing bullets weighing more than 200 kilograms flew towards the Gibraltar Fortress. The terrifying thrust generated by the volley pushed the warships out of the sea more than one meter.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The shells exploded near the British Navy's fortress. Of the ten shells, only two of the shells fell on the British fortress. However, neither of these two shells could penetrate the fortress, but they only exploded some cement and stones.

After the battleship "Han Gaozu" opened fire, other battleships also opened fire one after another. For a moment, dense shells smashed towards the Gibraltar Fortress. The entire fortress seemed to be covered in smoke.

When the 1st Chinese Navy Fleet arrived in Gibraltar, it attracted the attention of the defenders here. The defenders here also learned about the destruction of the Mediterranean Fleet. However, the British Admiralty gave them the order to hold on to Gibraltar and wait for the Royal Navy to counterattack. The British Admiralty believed that with the strong defense of the Gibraltar Fortress, they would be able to persevere.

However, it is still a bit unbelievable that the Chinese Navy launched an attack on Gibraltar so quickly.

Major General Charles, commander of the Gibraltar Fortress, ordered all the artillery in the fortress to fire and counterattack the Chinese fleet. He knew very well that although the fortress was very strong, if he was always passively beaten, even the most solid fortress could be destroyed. Only by actively launching an attack and destroying the enemy's warships can we truly protect the fortress.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

After being attacked, the defenders of Gibraltar Fortress quickly launched a counterattack. Hundreds of garbage fortress cannons fired violently at the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet. The shells roared on the sea and splashed a series of water columns. On the sea, it seemed like they had been encountered a storm.

The artillery fire between the two sides was very happy to fight. (To be continued, please search for Astronomy, novels are better, updated and faster!

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