Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1143

1143. A Killer Gift (8)

The warships moored at the docks gradually departed, leaving the Bay of Gibraltar. The Imperial Fleet positioned itself in the area connecting Gibraltar and Ceuta.

-If the French fleet clearly indicates, as is customary, that they have no intention of engaging by covering their gun ports, they are to be allowed passage.

-However, should they display any intention to engage, respond decisively.

Before setting sail, the Imperial Fleet began to line up according to the orders issued by Yi Che. Two Assault Turtle Ships were placed in the center, flanked by Challenger-class warships on either side. Ahead of them were positioned Sea Eagle-class warships, with the newly deployed three destroyers at the very front. On the bridge of the lead destroyer, the ‘Yeonil (延日)’ (Always Sun), Ship Captain Jo Myung-soo was holding the signal officer Jeon Seong-gwan, giving instructions.

“As you all know, our Yeonil is the first destroyer ever built. And! It will be the first destroyer to experience actual combat! That means we will be in the history books! Do not forget this and do your best!”

After finishing his address, Jo Myung-soo continued to issue orders.

“The engine room is to maintain maximum engine output! If a battle breaks out, we must be the first to rush out and eliminate those things they call ‘assault ships’!”

In response to Jo Myung-soo’s order, the chief engineer’s reply was heard over the communication tube.

“Don’t worry, sir!”

“I trust you!”

Jo Myung-soo continued his orders and inspections, starting with the engine department and moving on to the gunnery department.

“Hoo…”

Having completed the inspection of all departments, Jo Myung-soo let out a long sigh.

“I wish it was a Sea Eagle…”

Jo Myung-soo muttered quietly.

The ship Jo Myung-soo had previously commanded was a Sea Eagle-class warship. Having sailed around the mainland, Hainan, and Shinji, he was so familiar with the Sea Eagle-class that he could tell what was wrong just by the smell of a newly assigned ship and the creaking sounds of the hull.

However, the ‘destroyer’ was still an unfamiliar warship.

Jo Myung-soo had become a captain after receiving very thorough and in-depth education—personally overseen by Sang Hwang—and passing training and tests that covered everything from the engine room to the bridge. However, the problem was that there was a big difference between knowing and being somewhat familiar with something, and being very proficient at it.

That was why Jo Myung-soo was quietly complaining.

“Even if everything else is fine, it will be a headache if the motor on the main turret breaks down. Although the chief engineer is confident…”

* * *

The destroyer had four main gun turrets installed along the longitudinal centerline of the ship.

Each main gun turret had one rapid-firing gun. The rapid-firing guns, with a caliber of two and a half inches (approximately 75mm), boasted a rapid-firing performance of one shot per *chongak* [a unit of time, approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds].

The problem was the weight of the shells.

The rapid-firing shells, which used brass casings like enlarged bullets, weighed a whopping 50 *geun* [a unit of weight, approximately 15kg]. Lifting and carrying 50 *geun* shells one at a time every *chongak*, especially on a ship rocking in the waves, was not something a person should have to do.

Therefore, the initial design involved installing a separate steam engine in a separate area and connecting it to a shell supply device via a shaft. However, fortunately or unfortunately, a motor using electricity was created just before construction began according to that design, and the destroyer was redesigned from the ground up.

The result of the newly drawn design was the current destroyer. The electric motor would lift the shells from the shell storage under the turret to the turret, and then the soldiers in the turret would simply load them by hand. Of course, there was also a method of manually supplying shells in the training process in case this supply device failed due to being hit or other reasons.

It was a method of pulling up shells like a bucket in a well using pulleys and chains, but it was still not something a person should have to do. As a result, at some point, amulets and hex-repelling pollack wrapped in bundles of silk thread came to be placed on the walls and door frames of the shell storage, especially in the compartment where the shell supply device was located.

No, it wasn’t just the shell storage. Amulets and hex-repelling pollack were placed here and there throughout the ship, from the engine room to the fuel storage. Of course, officials from noble families were disgusted by this, but no one issued orders to remove them. It was believed that they were necessary for the psychological stability of the soldiers.

* * *

“I’m a little uneasy because everyone from me to the soldiers is on an unfamiliar ship, but I have to trust the training I’ve received so far. Yes, that’s right. I can do it.”

With that, Jo Myung-soo began a conversation with the executive officer next to him.

“If a battle breaks out, we must rush forward at full speed and take out the enemy’s assault ships. That’s why we ended up receiving our final training here in Gibraltar instead of Shinji.”

As Jo Myung-soo said, the destroyers were judged to be combat-ready upon arriving in Gibraltar without receiving final training and evaluation in Shinji. This was due to the ‘assault ships’ reported by the Imperial Army’s intelligence network infiltrated in France.

“We could be caught in the enemy’s crossfire if we’re not careful.”

Jo Myung-soo shrugged his shoulders at the executive officer’s concern and replied.

“We’ll have to trust our ship’s speed. It won’t be easy for them to deal with something faster than a Sea Eagle.”

“That’s true.”

While Jo Myung-soo and the executive officer were talking, the lookout’s shout was heard through the communication tube.

“Enemy fleet sighted! Dead ahead!”

At the lookout’s shout, Jo Myung-soo and the executive officer stopped talking and walked to the front of the bridge, raising their binoculars to their eyes. Jo Myung-soo, observing the French fleet approaching from afar, let out a light sigh.

“Hoo〜. They’re coming with a plan.”

The French fleet visible through the binoculars was beginning to change its formation from a two-column line to a single line ahead. At the same time, dozens of small ships that appeared to be the assault ships in question were spewing black smoke and accelerating forward.

Observing the situation, Jo Myung-soo ordered the executive officer.

“Transmit to the flagship! Enemy fleet’s will to fight is firm! We will act according to prior orders!”

“Aye!”

At Jo Myung-soo’s order, the executive officer relayed the order to the signalman. While the signalman was transmitting the message using the flashing light communicator, Jo Myung-soo ordered the executive officer.

“Alright! Then we’ll turn their plan into a mess! Full speed ahead!”

“Full speed ahead!”

At the same time as the order, the Yeonil began to accelerate forward. Following behind, the other two destroyers also began to rush forward, vying for position.

The French fleet also confirmed the destroyers’ charge.

“Imperial cruisers! Charging towards us! They’re very fast!”

Admiral Tourville smiled wryly at the report from the mast.

“The skies have been noisy since morning; I knew they were waiting for us.”

The captain next to Admiral Tourville also wore a similar expression and replied.

“It’s impossible to avoid their eyes unless we travel underwater.”

Admiral Tourville nodded at the captain’s words.

“That’s the problem with Gibraltar. But the Empire is fast. They’re already using ‘airplanes (avion)’ like that.”

“It would have been nice if we could have used our airplanes as well. But we can’t use them with the fleet…”

France had also already developed airplanes.

However, the airplanes developed by France had low engine output and required long runways. The problem caused by the weak engine was not only the need for long runways. The weight limit also meant that the amount of fuel that could be loaded was small, which led to a short cruising range.

Therefore, the airplanes ambitiously developed by France could not leave the French mainland. During the planning of this war, an opinion was raised to station troops in Spain in order to utilize airplanes, but this was immediately rejected.

-Airplanes are the latest weapons. Secrecy is required.

-We cannot trust Spain that much.

-And, it is more important to monitor the Habsburgs in the Lorraine region.

These were the reasons for the rejection.

* * *

“We must leave the regret as regret and think about reality.”

Quickly organizing his thoughts, Admiral Tourville analyzed the situation.

‘Why are those cruisers charging first? It is common sense that the vanguard receives the strongest attack… Does that mean they are confident in their defense? That is the most likely possibility.’

Having thought about the meaning of the ‘cruisers’ charging, Admiral Tourville immediately issued an order.

“Order ‘Yellow (Jaune)’ to engage those cruisers! ‘Blue (Bleu)’ will engage the Sea Eagles behind them! ‘Red (Rouge)’ and ‘Black (Noir)’ will engage the main force!”

“Aye!”

The signalmen who received the order transmitted the admiral’s order using signal flags and flashing light communicators. After a while, the assault ships began to divide their forces and change course.

The convicts piloting the assault ships were skilled pirates and sailors, but they were not capable of carrying out delicate and complex operations. Therefore, Admiral Tourville divided these assault ships into four squadrons and gave them the names of four colors.

And, for the purpose of commanding these squadrons, one command ship was assigned to each squadron. These were assault ships without explosive harpoons, manned by French sailors. Their mission was to confirm the orders sent from the flagship and act as ‘sheepdogs’ leading their respective squadrons.

After leading the fleet according to orders, these command ships would retreat after the assault ships began their attack to assess the results and report.

* * *

As the movements of the assault ships changed according to Admiral Tourville’s orders, the movements of the Imperial Navy destroyers also changed.

“Notify Ulsan and Yeongam! This ship will engage the assault ships directly ahead. We will leave the rest to you!”

“Aye!”

After a while, the executive officer relayed the reply.

“Reply from Ulsan and Yeongam! ‘Good luck in battle’!”

“Send them ‘Good luck in battle’ as well!”

“Aye!”

The three destroyers immediately scattered and charged towards the groups of assault ships. The French commanders watching the destroyers’ movements from behind shouted in unison.

“How can a ship be so fast!”

“What did you Imperials do to your ships!”

Whether the French commanders were surprised or not, the Imperial Navy destroyers began to carry out their mission.

“Open fire!”

Boom boom boom! Thump thump thump thump thump! Bang bang bang bang!

As soon as the captains’ orders were issued, the cannons mounted on the destroyers began to fire simultaneously. As the destroyers’ cannons began to fire, countless pillars of water began to rise around the assault ships.

* * *

The common feature of the cannons mounted on the destroyers was ‘rapid-fire’.

And, these were newly developed carts and cannons for this purpose. The most deployed was the ‘Eul-sik Heavy Hwacha’.

This *hwacha* [a multiple rocket launcher] used projectiles with a caliber of seven inches (approximately 2.1cm), which was intended to solve the problem of the existing Imperial Navy’s firepower being either ‘excessive’ or ‘insufficient’.

In the process of dealing with pirates and enemy small warships, the Imperial Navy’s main cannons were unnecessarily excessive firepower. In addition, even though they were wooden ships made of wood, it became difficult to properly suppress those hiding behind the hull with existing *hwachas*. To solve this problem, a *hwacha* that used larger bullets was created, and this was the Eul-sik Heavy *Hwacha*.

At about the same time, the Eul-sik rapid-firing gun was developed and deployed on destroyers. It was a rapid-firing gun that used projectiles with a caliber of 1.5 inches (approximately 4.5cm). Although the structure was closer to a *hwacha* than a cannon, it was classified as a cannon because the projectiles it used were filled with gunpowder.

The rapid-firing weapons mounted on the destroyers were ideally suited to engage the charging assault ships.

As the firing continued, pillars of water began to rise closer and closer to the assault ships. And finally,

Kaboom!

The Imperial Navy destroyers began to score direct hits.

The heavy *hwachas* riddled the assault ships with holes, while the destroyers’ rapid-firing guns turned the assault ships into broken pieces of planks.