Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1146

1146. A Killer Gift (11)

“I always expected the cowardly Empire bastards to resort to cowardly tactics, but this is just beyond words…”

Admiral Tourville and his staff wore expressions of utter dismay as their ‘secret weapon,’ the four new Tier 1 battleships, were crippled by the Empire’s unexpected and underhanded move.

“But it’s not over yet! Analyze the situation calmly!”

At Admiral Tourville’s command, the staff diligently assessed the battle situation.

– Tier 1 battleships: All undamaged except for the four that are combat-incapacitated.

– Tier 2 battleships: Half are engaged in a cannon battle with the Empire Navy’s emergency battleships, but damage is minimal.

– Tier 3 battleships: No losses.

– Assault ships: Suffered near-total annihilation.

– Overall: Excluding the assault ships, the fleet’s damage is within the expected range.

Based on the staff’s battle analysis, Admiral Tourville solidified his resolve.

“Continue the battle! Relay to the remaining Tier 1 battleships! The orders remain unchanged! Pressure the Imperial Fleet! Tier 2 and 3 battleships, support the Tier 1 battleships as planned!”

“Aye!”

At Admiral Tourville’s command, the staff immediately relayed the orders.

The French battleships, having received the admiral’s orders, increased their speed and advanced. Admiral Tourville, gazing at the Imperial Fleet positioned far ahead, clenched his fist.

“It’s a slugfest. We have the advantage in a slugfest. That is an undeniable fact.”

Admiral Tourville was confident that the French fleet would gain the upper hand in a close-quarters battle.

* * *

Was it due to the Empire’s influence?

The armies of the European powers had also undergone significant changes.

If battles from 1000 years ago or even 100 years ago were fought in almost the same way, with only the uniforms changing, the concept of ‘analysis’ had firmly taken root in this era. After every battle and war, large or small, both victors and losers analyzed the events.

And based on this analysis, they changed everything from tactics to equipment.

Of course, ‘analysis’ and ‘change and application’ were not entirely absent in the past, but they were not as prominent as in this period. Thanks to this, the armies of the European powers were rapidly changing.

Just like the Empire.

* * *

Admiral Tourville’s confidence stemmed from the results of such analysis.

– If firepower is overwhelmingly superior, quality can overwhelm quantity.

– However, if firepower is within a certain range, quantity overwhelms quality.

This was the conclusion drawn from numerous naval battles fought so far.

The French fleet, led by Admiral Tourville, was structured based on these results.

– We acknowledge that the battleships of the Imperial Navy stationed in Gibraltar are powerful.

– However, excluding the two Assault Flagships, they possess similar firepower to our newly built French battleships.

– Therefore, we can win if we mobilize a fleet larger than the Imperial Fleet stationed in Gibraltar.

The problem was that constructing a fleet based on these analytical results meant bringing almost the entire core strength of the French Navy. This further highlighted the necessity of the assault ships.

– The mission of the assault ships is to damage the Imperial Navy’s main ships before the full-scale slugfest begins, thereby minimizing our own damage.

* * *

Following Admiral Tourville’s orders, the French fleet advanced in two single-column formations, with the Tier 1 battleships in the lead. To maximize the performance of the mounted cannons, the two single-column formations moved with considerable distance between them.

Slightly behind the line of Tier 1 battleships, the Tier 2 and Tier 3 battleships followed in a dispersed formation. Their mission was to tie down the Imperial Navy’s emergency battleships in the vicinity while the Tier 1 battleships and the Imperial Navy’s main ships engaged in a slugfest.

Already, Admirals Pouille and Châtillon’s squadrons were carrying out their mission against the Imperial Navy’s emergency battleships and ‘cruisers.’ However, emergency battleships that had not yet engaged in combat remained, and the remaining squadrons of the French Navy were preparing to face them.

“Fortunately, the currents are also flowing from our side towards Gibraltar! We’re catching up in speed as well!”

With the help of the currents, the French fleet’s battleships were able to approach more quickly.

In other words, the time spent enduring the Imperial Navy’s shelling was reduced, minimizing damage.

While most of the French Navy was preparing for a slugfest, burning with fighting spirit, a few looked at the sky with worried eyes.

“If those planes from earlier attack again, things will get complicated…”

Some of the staff voiced these concerns, and Admiral Tourville immediately responded.

“I’m aware of that. That’s why we need to rush into a slugfest even faster. Once we’re all tangled up, they won’t be able to do anything about it.”

Meanwhile, the Sky Snipe pilots who had returned to base were saying something similar.

“We need to rearm and sortie [go back into action] as quickly as possible!”

“The enemy ships are increasing their speed! If we get tangled up with our own forces, we’ll be left twiddling our thumbs!”

The commander, upon receiving the pilots’ reports, ordered immediate rearming.

Accordingly, the soldiers in charge of the Sky Snipes diligently began refueling and loading guided bombs. The area where the Kestrels were gathered was equally bustling.

“Let’s make the French bastards’ minds race again!”

Shortly after, the Kestrels, having completed refueling and ammunition replenishment, took to the skies again.

And a little later, the Sky Snipes, armed with guided bombs, soared into the air.

* * *

Thanks to the self-propelled reconnaissance balloons, the movements of the French fleet were transmitted to the Imperial Fleet in real-time. Admiral Omansang, who commanded the Imperial Fleet stationed in Gibraltar, frowned deeply as he reviewed the reports.

“Judging by the way these guys are acting, they’re aiming for a slugfest. This is going to be troublesome.”

The Imperial Navy had reached a similar conclusion to the French Navy regarding the ‘relationship between quality and quantity.’ As a result, some within the Imperial Navy were arguing that the size of the naval fleet stationed in Gibraltar should be expanded.

However, the Empire’s ruling class, starting with the Emperor, rejected this argument, citing budgetary reasons. Instead, a policy of utilizing allied nations was chosen.

– Portugal and Italy are also in Europe. Can we trust them?

When the expansionists raised this objection, the alliance faction responded:

– Of course, we cannot trust them. However, if we are dominant, they will certainly side with us. Just as they have done so far.

– If the Imperial Army moves from Bonji and Shinji upon receiving news of an emergency, the allies will automatically side with the Empire.

– Therefore, the forces stationed in Gibraltar only need to be at a level capable of defense and maintaining order, not suppression.

The alliance faction’s opinion was more reasonable, so the expansion of the Imperial forces stationed in Gibraltar was rejected.

Of course, Portugal and Italy, having later received related information through diplomatic channels, wore expressions of disbelief.

“A fleet consisting of two Assault Flagships, six Challenger-class ships, and twelve emergency ships is for defense and maintaining order? Are you kidding me?”

* * *

The Imperial Navy, having recognized the French fleet’s intentions, began to respond.

The destroyers were the first to move.

The one destroyer that had been tasked with hunting assault ships even joined the other two in engaging Admiral Châtillon’s squadron.

– Prevent the problematic French battleships from joining the main force.

This was the new mission assigned to the destroyers.

And three additional emergency battleships were deployed to the side engaged in a skirmish with Admiral Pouille’s squadron. Their mission was also to tie down Admiral Pouille’s squadron.

The captains of the battleships who received the orders all sent back similar replies.

– We will do our best to subdue the enemy as quickly as possible and return to the main force.

Admiral Omansang, having confirmed the replies sent by the battleships’ captains, shook his head lightly.

“Do these guys not even consider the possibility of losing…?”

The ‘relationship between quantity and quality’ was something that those captains also knew. Considering the current situation, tying down the French Navy’s squadron was the best course of action for them.

And yet. The replies that came back were all like that. Admiral Omansang, having reread the contents of the replies, issued an order.

“Relay the following to those guys: ‘Stop fooling around and do your job properly.'”

“Aye!”

* * *

As the battleships of the Imperial Navy and the French Navy faced each other and increased their speed, the Kestrels arrived overhead.

“It seems we’re not too late yet!”

The Kestrel squadron leader, having assessed the situation, diligently sent hand signals to his subordinates. The subordinates, having confirmed the squadron leader’s signals, soon split up into pairs and dispersed.

The Kestrels’ targets were the decks of the advancing Tier 1 battleships.

“Aircraft! Aircraft!”

“Fire wagons! Fire wagons!” [Mobile firefighting equipment]

The French sailors, having recognized the approach of the Kestrels, hurriedly dragged out the fire wagons and responded, but to little avail. The Kestrels’ speed was faster than what they could see.

Just as the Kestrels were wreaking havoc, the Sky Snipes arrived.

In the ensuing second attack by the Sky Snipes, three more Tier 1 battleships were rendered combat-incapacitated.

“Oh, dear…”

Admiral Tourville, having received the report on the damage caused by the Sky Snipes, fell into deep thought.

“Seven in total, 1/3 of our strength is gone…”

While the staff who relayed the damage to the Tier 1 battleships only watched the admiral’s reaction, Admiral Tourville, who was reviewing the report, ordered the staff.

“What is the situation with Admirals Pouille and Châtillon’s squadrons?”

“I will check immediately!”

Unlike the staff’s response, confirming the damage took a considerable amount of time.

The French fleet did not have self-propelled reconnaissance balloons or observation balloons, and the only means of assessing the battle situation was the lookout on the mast.

“The report is that both Pouille and Châtillon are making slow progress.”

“Hmm…”

Admiral Tourville, having heard the staff’s report, looked up at the sky.

Admiral Tourville, gazing at the setting sun, issued an order.

“Send the signal to retreat. Night battles offer more losses than gains.”

“Understood.”

While the signalmen were diligently waving signal flags, Admiral Tourville discussed the following with his staff.

“First, we will retreat to Puerto Real to reorganize the fleet. Next, we will also mobilize the Spanish Navy. The Empire bastards had hidden cards, so we need to rethink our strategy as well.”

“Understood.”

“And we need to request additional assault ships as well.”

“Will assault ships be useful?”

“It’s because we didn’t use them properly this time. Seeing how the Empire bastards use aircraft, I know how to use assault ships.”

At Admiral Tourville’s words, the senior staff quietly replied.

“I will prepare the request form.”

Thus, the first day of the ‘Battle of Gibraltar’ came to an end.

“Report from the reconnaissance ship. Two emergency ships have left Gibraltar. The directions are east and west.”

Admiral Tourville, having received the report while heading to Port Real, sighed.

“Hoo~.”

The day after Admiral Tourville berthed at Port Real, an Imperial envoy sent from Gibraltar came to visit him.

“Duke Yiche, the supreme commander of the Imperial forces stationed in Gibraltar, sends this letter to your King.”

The Imperial envoy, having handed over Yiche’s letter, said to Admiral Tourville with a mixture of cynicism and anger.

“The Duke instructed me to convey this message: ‘Does your country have the confidence to withstand the Empire’s wrath?'”