He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 194

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 194 (194/547)

(194) France, Stand Against Nelson’s Touch

There are so-called “touches” that remain in history, moments that define a conflict.

-Bang! Tatang! Tatatatang!

The sound of gunpowder exploding and bullets flying is deafening on the sea.

It’s a close-quarters battle, a rarity in late 18th-century naval warfare, which was typically dominated by artillery duels.

The distance between ships evokes medieval naval battles where vessels collided and sailors engaged in sword fights.

Sailors aim their muskets at the enemy within sight.

Of course, the ones being hit are mostly French, and the ones shooting are mostly British.

“Break through! No matter how many ships-of-the-line they have, our turning speed is absolutely superior!” shouted the captain of the ship *Majestic*, George Westcott.

The *Majestic* is a 74-gun *Canada*-class ship-of-the-line [a standard warship of the era, carrying 74 cannons].

It measures 52 meters in length and 14 meters in width.

But what’s particularly striking is the long 18-pound carronades [short-barreled cannons] installed on the upper deck.

It’s a carronade, a short-range, large-caliber gun that Britain excels at producing.

Westcott’s adjutant, Cuthbert, and other officers ran around giving orders.

“Aim the carronade! Light the flintlocks!”

“Rapid fire! Rapid fire is important! Pour all the gunpowder on the enemies, you slowpokes!”

“Fold all the sails! Now, we must get behind their ships!”

Shelling, impacts, and commands.

All sorts of noises echo with the waves on the battlefield.

But even in this chaos, the British Navy’s sailors move the ship like a well-oiled machine, precisely following orders.

Moreover, they execute a dangerous maneuver, circling right next to the enemy’s ship-of-the-line.

“Here it comes, their ship-of-the-line!” Westcott, one of Nelson’s Band of Brothers [a group of elite captains under Nelson’s command], roared.

“Raking Fire!”

Commonly known as scraping fire, or more precisely, frontal shelling.

In naval warfare, ships-of-the-line typically fire cannons from the sides of the ship.

However, the British Navy also uses a bold tactic.

Passing by or scraping the opponent’s side, they unleash vertical shelling from the front or rear of the ship.

The number of cannons used in this way is much smaller.

However, the damage is great because the shelling is fired from an unexpected direction.

Twenty-eight carronades are fired at the ship all at once.

They are aimed towards the French ship-of-the-line *Tonnerre*, or *Thunderer*.

-Bang!

The French *Thunderer* twisted from the British *Majestic*’s shelling.

“Got it! Direct hit on the ship!” the *Majestic*’s crew shouted all at once.

In an instant, the ship *Zelus* approached next to it.

It’s so close that you can hear the captain of *Zelus*, Samuel Hood, giving orders at the bow.

“Aim for their powder magazine! Let’s blow it up in one go!”

“Hey, Hood! That’s too close to us!”

“I don’t care!” Captain Hood retorted to Westcott and shouted.

“If we blow up three enemy ships and one of our ships blows up, we’re at an advantage! Hahaha!”

Just as Hood said, French ships-of-the-line around the *Thunderer* are flustered and confused.

The captains and sailors, who are used to long-range shelling, are caught off guard.

This close-range engagement is a first for everyone.

If Hood’s *Zelus* succeeds in raking fire as it is, the *Thunderer* and its surrounding fleet will sink in succession.

In an instant, carronade shells are fired from *Zelus*.

In a moment, the powder magazine of the French *Thunderer* explodes.

-Kwaaaang!

The captain of the *Thunderer*, Aristide Aubert Du Petit Thouars, is caught in the explosion and dies.

The entire ship is on fire and in danger of colliding with other ships-of-the-line.

Hood whistled, watching the other ships-of-the-line hurriedly avoiding it.

“Wow, it’s really exploding, isn’t it?”

“What are you just looking at! Shut up and run away! Hey, first mate!”

“This is really thrilling! Westcott, aren’t you?”

Westcott burst out laughing as he urgently gave orders.

“Yeah, it’s not every day you see a ship-of-the-line explode right in front of us!”

British and French ships-of-the-line moved all at once, as if avoiding the *Thunderer* engulfed in flames.

The west side of Abu Qir Bay, far from Alexandria, was dyed red with flames.

In fact, the leading line of the French ship-of-the-line had been broken in the opening battle.

But Westcott and Hood, intoxicated with victory, had no time to look elsewhere.

That’s why Hood saw the fleet coming from the rear long after the *Thunderer* exploded.

-Flutter!

Hood turned his head and shouted to Westcott.

“What, it looks like someone’s coming from behind?”

“Is it our ship? Oh, but they’re ships I’ve never seen before.”

“Huh? There are too many of them.”

Hood, blinking his eyes, screamed and turned to the navigator.

“Oh my, Fucking Jesus! They’re French ships!”

It was the ship-of-the-line *Horus*, led by Eugene, that was approaching.

The Mersa Metruh fleet, consisting of the *Horus* and *Hercules*, and 12 frigates [smaller, faster warships].

The Boarnehaut cannon [a type of advanced cannon] shone on the deck of the *Horus*.

-Bang!

A heated shot hit the side of Westcott’s *Majestic* and exploded.

***

Unlike the captains who are busy with the battle, the admiral has a broader view.

“Rear! Enemy ships are coming!” Nelson frowned at the report from the captain of the *Victory*, Berry.

“Are my eyes deceiving me? Somehow they look like French ships, but they’re flying the British flag.”

“You only have one eye left, but you’re fine! They’re French ships flying the British flag!”

“Why are those guys doing something that will be revealed soon?” Then Vice-Admiral Bowle pointed to the west of Abu Qir Bay and hurriedly handed over the telescope.

“Oh, I see why! Look over there!” Nelson looked at the rear with one eye, that is, the west side of Abu Qir Bay from the French side, the left front.

There, the French fleet that suddenly appeared from the west is seen engaging with the British fleet.

But something is a little strange.

The shelling of the British ships-of-the-line is a beat late.

Their rapid-fire speed should never be behind.

Nelson clicked his tongue.

“Huh, the firing speed is slowing down momentarily.”

“What should we do! Should we have all our ships lower their flags?”

“It’s an interstate war, Bowle!” In an instant, Nelson scolded Bowle and ordered.

“Just because those guys are playing tricks, there’s no need for us to do that! Crush them with all our might!”

At that time, the adjutant, Cuthbert Collingwood, who had been watching the front, ran up and shouted.

“*Theseus* and *Orion* are going to the front!”

In front of the *Victory*, there is the flagship of the French Mediterranean Fleet.

A ship whose enormity can be seen even with one eye.

The 4-story giant ship-of-the-line boasting a total of 120 cannons, *Le Orient* [The East].

The British 1st class ship-of-the-line 74-gun *Theseus* and *Orion* only looked small compared to that ship.

But Nelson smiled leisurely and gestured.

“If it’s *Orion*, is it Captain James Saumarez? Let’s help him a little.”

“Yes? How do you mean?”

“Send a hulk ship.”

Hulk ship, that is, a fireship [a ship loaded with explosives and set ablaze] that sends an old ship loaded with gunpowder.

The ship that Sydney Smith sent to the French Mediterranean Fleet in Toulon was the hulk ship.

But now, the British Caribbean Fleet does not have an old ship that could be a hulk ship.

Vice-Admiral Bowle asked, dumbfounded.

“Where do we have a hulk ship now? It’s a complete combat fleet.”

“Why not? There’s a useless frigate.”

“My God, Admiral!”

Frigate ship, usually a medium-sized warship equipped with less than 50 cannons.

However, the frigate ships that the British fleet brought are ships with less than 40 cannons that emphasize mobility.

It is clear that they are for patrol purposes rather than combat.

In an era when naval battles are dominated by ships-of-the-line, frigates usually watch from outside the front lines.

Even so, setting fire to a perfectly good ship is an unthinkable tactic.

Besides, isn’t this clearly enemy territory?

But Nelson, the victor of the Caribbean, Gibraltar, and Malta naval battles, was firm.

“This single battle will determine the fate of Europe. Should we spare a single frigate ship!”

Bowle gritted his teeth and ran to the sailor sending flag signals.

Anyway, Nelson is now the admiral who has achieved the best results in the British Navy.

Furthermore, he is the fleet commander who has literally annihilated the Spanish and French fleets and rushed to the Nile.

It is impossible to refuse the order.

Bowle shouted to the sailor.

“It’s the Admiral’s order! Burn the frigate ship *Guerriere*!”

“Yes? Vice Admiral, what is that!”

“Make it a hulk ship and send it!” Bowle shouted, pointing to the *Orient* with a vengeance.

“Show the French bastards the power of the fireship!”

In the end, Nelson’s extraordinary decision was accepted.

On the frigate ship with 40 cannons, the sailors set fire and urgently evacuated.

Gunpowder is poured all over the deck, and torches are thrown.

-Whirr!

The frigate *Guerriere*, which had roamed the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Mediterranean, rushed in flames.

Towards the French flagship, the *Orient*.

***

*Le Orient*, meaning *Eastern*.

“That’s it! It’s our fleet’s pincer attack! We’re alive now!” The flagship captain, Casabianca, cheered.

Casabianca is participating in this battle with his young son.

In fact, it is the same as betting the family’s fate on this naval battle.

So I couldn’t be happier.

The adjutant, Martin, also looked back at Brueys and shouted.

“Admiral, we won!”

It is true that they were in crisis due to Nelson’s blitzkrieg tactics, the British Navy’s rapid maneuvering capabilities, and rapid-fire.

But strictly speaking, the French fleet has more than 30 ships-of-the-line.

In terms of land, it can be said to correspond to an army of 100,000.

On the other hand, the opponent has only 21 ships-of-the-line, and in the first place, there are many relatively small 2nd class ships-of-the-line.

But even though it is mainly a frigate ship, a pincer fleet has appeared.

If there is no chance of winning in this situation, it is not a navy but just a captain of a shipping vessel.

Brueys nodded vigorously and ordered.

“Okay, *Le Orient*! Full speed ahead! Show the enemies the new incendiary shells!”

The ambitious work of the Boarnehaut Cartel.

Currently, only 200 pieces were produced and divided into 100 pieces each.

The fuses of the Boarnehaut cannons installed on *Le Orient* began to light.

If they hit even one shot, the opponent will be shocked.

Because they will witness for the first time the sight of shelling leading to an explosion rather than a shock wave.

It was then.

-Kukung!

Brueys staggered from the sudden explosion and shaking.

“What, what is it?” Suddenly, Casabianca, who looked back at the stern of the ship, opened his mouth wide.

“It’s a fireship, Admiral!”

Hulk ships are a kind of taboo in ship-of-the-line engagements.

Because it can blow away even friendly forces.

But Nelson believed in the cruising skills of *The Orion* and *The Theseus*.

Indeed, the British ships-of-the-line, which had been pouring shelling just a moment ago, are seen quickly avoiding it.

Brueys ordered Casabianca.

“Hurry, maneuver the ship to avoid it!”

“I can’t! There’s an enemy ship-of-the-line on the side!”

“What? Are they entering this direction now?” Looking back at the front at that word, Brueys was shocked.

“Crazy bastards. Are they deploying a one-line charge with the ship now?”

Nelson’s battleship, the *Victory*, was approaching directly.

It is a so-called 11-character tactic [a straight-line formation].

A tactic of deploying a charge that the army deploys at sea.

In an instant, shelling poured from the front of the *Victory*.

-Kukung!

Reflexively, counter-shelling poured from the *Orient*, but it was too late.

“Ah, the fireship is being pushed by the current!” Vice Admiral, Martin, shouted.

Because the current situation was unfavorable to the *Orient*.

There is no time to escape.

In this situation, the super-giant ship acted disadvantageously.

In the end, the hulk ship collided with the *Orient*.

-Kwaaaang!

The scary thing about a fire ship is not just burning a wooden hull.

Because it is such a huge ship, the fire does not spread quickly.

The real problem is different.

In the age of naval warfare dominated by gunpowder and cannons, the ship always carries a large amount of black powder.

However, gunpowder is usually hidden deep inside, but in battle, it must be placed close to the cannon.

The flames of the fire ship covered this gunpowder.

Instead of the adjutant, Martin, who had fallen from the explosion, Casabianca ran up and shouted.

“Admiral, the powder magazine is on fire! We have to get out of here!”

Looking at Casabianca, who was bleeding, Brueys said.

“Get off the ship except for the minimum number of people. In particular, make sure your son gets off.”

“Admiral!”

“Patron entrusted the ship to me.”

Brueys was already stabbed in the side.

The wood pierced through as the ship’s side was broken by the shelling impact.

Brueys smiled, holding onto the flowing blood.

“Patron, please win at all costs. Point the ship straight ahead!”

Casabianca gritted his teeth and carried out the last order.

The crew urgently disembarked.

Casabianca’s son, a 10-year-old boy named Giocante, who was trying not to get off by force, shouted.

“Father! No! Let’s go together!”

But the flagship captain, Casabianca, only smiled while holding the key.

1,000 sailors and officers boarded the boat.

British and French ships-of-the-line scattered to avoid the burning ship.

How much time has passed?

-Kwarreung!

*Le Orient* exploded.

As if to announce the victory of England.

However, Eugene had not yet started the real operation.