Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 953

953. Corsica Naval Battle (8)

“Enemy fleet approaching!”

A staff officer, after confirming the flag signal from a scouting ship, shouted the message at the top of his lungs.

“Direction is to the right of Capraia Island!”

“Approximately 18 enemy ships! Including 2 assault ironclads! Assault ironclads are in the lead!”

“Single column!”

“Estimated contact within 2 hours!”

Admiral Costanzo, the commander of the Venetian navy, nodded as he listened to the staff officer’s words and checked the flag signal with his telescope.

“As expected, ironclads are in the vanguard. And a single column… This is also as I predicted.”

Everything was proceeding as he had anticipated.

“Considering the number of ships, it seems only the ironclads and Challenger-class battleships have come forward… Are they confident they can overcome a 1:10 disadvantage?”

The current size of the allied fleet, including pirate ships, was nearly 190 vessels. Of course, if only the battleships similar in size to the Challenger-class were counted, it would be about 120 ships, but overall, there was a numerical disadvantage of approximately 1:10.

“Is it arrogance? An unavoidable choice? Or both?”

* * *

According to sailors familiar with the ‘Eastern Route,’ the Imperial Navy’s favorite tactic was the ‘single-point breakthrough.’ Battleships in a single column would attack the enemy fleet head-on, break through, and then turn around to repeat the attack.

As the enemy fleet repeatedly suffered these attacks, it would gradually be fragmented, eventually leading to piecemeal destruction. For this tactic to succeed, strong firepower and solid defense were essential. Considering this, the ships built at Prince Henrique’s shipyard were more of a hindrance. Their firepower was among the strongest in the Mediterranean, but their defense was inferior to the Challenger-class. In addition to these limitations, the Imperial Navy clearly had blind faith in the firepower and defense of their ironclads and Challenger-class ships.

* * *

“Whatever it is, it’s not bad for us.”

Quickly dismissing his doubts, Admiral Costanzo looked at the five Venetian galleasses [large, multi-decked sailing warships] surrounding his flagship. Admiral Costanzo, as well as the surrounding staff officers and sailors, looked at the Venetian galleasses with pride.

“In terms of firepower, those ships are not inferior.”

For the Venetian navy, the Venetian galleasses were the best battleships. Among the three decks, including the orlop deck [the lowest deck in a ship], the first and second decks were gun decks, with about 20 cannons mounted on each side. However, the symbol of the Venetian galleass was the forecastle turret located at the bow. The circular turret, resembling a fortress turret, had 12 cannons mounted on the first and second floors.

Thanks to being placed in a circular turret, these cannons could fire in all directions, including the front. This was a huge advantage compared to other ships that only had cannons on the sides. They could fire not only when showing their flanks but also when facing each other or slightly off-center.

Moreover, their defense was also considerable, and their only weakness was their slow speed. However, in the current situation, their slow speed was not a problem, as the Empire was the one charging.

“Two hours… It’s time to start preparing. Issue the orders.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

However, 30 minutes later, Admiral Costanzo was horrified.

“Enemy fleet sighted!”

“What? Already!”

The assault ironclads moving with steam engines, as well as the Challenger-class battleships moving with earnest speed, were much faster than ordinary European ships.

* * *

“Enemy fleet sighted!”

“What is the position of those Venetian galleasses?”

“Right in front! And at Ox and Pig positions!”

Hearing the answer, Captain Im Gil-bok wore a fierce smile.

“Prepare to fire Yonggupo [a type of cannon or artillery piece]! Target the galleass directly ahead!”

“Target is the galleass directly ahead! Target confirmed!”

After confirming the answer coming from the speaking tube, Im Gil-bok grabbed other speaking tubes and issued orders.

“Proceed straight ahead!”

“Straight ahead!”

“Engine room! Engine output to maximum!”

“Maximum! All systems nominal!”

Im Gil-bok’s expression brightened as the situation progressed according to his orders.

“I thought I was just wasting time in Shinji, but such an opportunity has come! It was worth putting clean water by my bedside every night!”

Im Gil-bok, who had become the same character as the famous Captain Kang Nam-gil, under whom he had served as a deputy.

“Listen up, everyone! This is the captain! We will surely split those floating piles of firewood! We will clearly show that our assault ironclad is the strongest in any sea!”

“Woo-hoo!”

At Im Gil-bok’s declaration, the assault ironclad ‘Buji (不止, Unceasing)’ echoed with the shouts of the crew.

“This is Yonggupo! Aiming complete! All preparations complete!”

“Fire!”

“Fire!”

Kuaang!

A huge flame and smoke spewed forward from the mouth of the dragon head (龍頭) located at the bow of the assault ironclad.

* * *

“Enemy ironclad firing!”

“At that distance?”

Admiral Costanzo’s surprise soon turned to shock.

Bang!

The Yonggupo’s shell fired by Buji fell right next to the right side of the Venetian galleass that was holding the front line.

The problem was what came next. The 200-geun (approximately 120kg) shell from Yonggupo was not just a lump of iron. The 80-geun (approximately 48kg) of gunpowder inside the shell caused a huge explosion underwater, and the shockwave created by the explosion struck the Venetian galleass.

The shockwave created by water, which has a much higher density than air, caused more damage than expected. First of all, all the oars on the starboard side [the right side of a ship] of the galleass were shattered, and all the oarsmen on the starboard side suffered major and minor fractures and injuries. It wasn’t just people who were hurt. The impact of the shockwave caused the seams of the planks that made up the starboard hull to come apart, and large and small cracks appeared. And through the gaps that were created, seawater began to pour in. While these things were happening inside the galleass, people watching the ship from the outside were worried about something else.

“Isn’t that ship going to capsize?”

The galleass, swept away by the shockwave, was swaying dangerously. The Venetian galleass was slightly longer than other galleys, but slightly narrower and taller. The fact that there were two gun decks above the orlop deck was similar to other galleys, but the problem was the forecastle turret, the pride of the galleass.

The turret was one deck higher than other galleys, and the stern had to be enlarged considerably to maintain balance. As a result, the center of gravity of the Venetian galleass was quite high. Due to the increased center of gravity, the Venetian galleass in question was swaying from side to side to the point where capsizing was a concern.

Bang! Kwakwang!

“What!”

Startled by the sudden huge explosion, Admiral Costanzo turned his head in the direction of the explosion.

“The ship, the ship…”

The galleass that was at the right front vertex among the five Venetian galleasses arranged in a star shape was gone. Instead, only traces of the ship remained in its place.

“With, with a single shot? Is it the enemy’s luck and our misfortune?”

It was a result that would not have happened unless it was a fluke. At that moment, another roar erupted from the front.

Kwakwang!

The sound of the Yonggupo of Buji, which failed to hit the first shot, smashing the target with an angry second shot. Admiral Costanzo’s face turned pale and his legs gave way as he watched two galleasses disappear in an instant.

“Admiral!”

“Admiral!”

The staff officers, surprised by his staggering appearance, hurriedly grabbed him, and Costanzo barely managed to regain his balance and gritted his teeth.

“The enemy’s firepower is stronger than expected, but we still have an overwhelming number! There is no change in the operation! Cling on with all our might! Deliver the order! The operation remains the same! Boarding action!”

“Yes, sir!”

While the signalmen were diligently waving the signal flags after receiving the order, the surviving Venetian galleasses began firing the cannons of the turret at the Imperial fleet.

Bang! Kwakwang!

The shells fired by the Venetian galleasses created pillars of water around the assault ironclads charging at the front. The Venetian galleasses fired the cannons of the turret like crazy. Some of the shells fired in that way hit the assault ironclads, but they bounced off harmlessly. However, every time the dragon head of the assault ironclad spewed fire, the Venetian galleasses or the battleships around them met a futile end or were wrecked and began to drift. Seeing this, Admiral Costanzo slammed the railing of the bridge and shouted in anger.

“Damn it! Those monsters!”

And at some point, the assault ironclads broke through the allied fleet’s formation. Later, a connoisseur who watched this naval battle from Corsica Island left this record.

-Before the naval battle, the allied fleet’s formation looked like a thick fortress wall. However, as the battle unfolded, it became just a thick lump of butter in front of the charging black battleships of the Empire.

* * *

The assault ironclads bisected the allied fleet’s formation to the extent that metaphors such as ‘lump of butter’ and ‘lump of cheese’ were used. Following behind the relentlessly advancing assault ironclads, the Challenger-class battleships indiscriminately fired the cannons on their port [left side of a ship] and starboard sides.

Bang! Kwakwang! Bang!

The cannons of the Challenger-class battleships riddled the allied fleet’s battleships around them. The allied fleet’s battleships did not just take the beating. They also desperately fired shells at the Imperial fleet. However, the shells they fired, or rather, the lumps of iron, bounced off harmlessly from the steel hulls of the assault ironclads and even the hulls of the Challenger-class battleships.

* * *

The oak trees harvested from Shinji’s mountains were overwhelmingly harder than the oak trees from the mainland. As a result, the Challenger-class battleships made in Shinji were overwhelmingly sturdier than the Challenger-class battleships made on the mainland. Thanks to this, there was one modification to the Challenger-class battleships made in Shinji. Since the defense of the Challenger-class battleships made on the mainland was already the best, the thickness of the planks was reduced to match that level of defense. And through this, more supplies were loaded into the increased space.

It was a modification made due to the lack of manpower and the overwhelmingly increased area to be defended. However, as it became certain that they would be deployed to the Italian front, the Challenger-class battleships newly built in Shinji returned to the pre-modification specifications. Thanks to this, the Challenger-class battleships currently engaged in battle possessed overwhelming defensive capabilities.

* * *

“Breakthrough!”

At the vice-captain’s report, Im Gil-bok reconfirmed the situation.

“How far has our fleet broken through?”

“We are receiving reports that they are following smoothly!”

“Good!”

Nodding, Im Gil-bok examined the nautical chart and determined the course.

“Turn around between Pianosa Island and Montecristo Island! Break through the enemy lines once more! Inform the other fleets as well!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Imperial fleet, which had broken through the allied fleet’s formation blocking the passage between Corsica and Elba, continued to advance south. The Imperial fleet, which turned around between Pianosa Island and Montecristo Island selected by Im Gil-bok, began charging towards the enemy lines once more. The captains of the Challenger-class battleships shouted at their subordinates with tense faces.

“From now on, we have to go against the headwind! In other words, the road ahead is longer, and the number of guys grabbing our ankles will increase! A boarding action may occur, so stay sharp!”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing the captain’s order, the sailors, especially those on the first deck, tightened the belts holding their sailor’s swords – a variant cutlass made by Hyang – and handguns.