Zai Zhao looked at him and said: "That's not" Intelligence collection and spying on the British Navy's ironclad ships has always been the top priority of Yuanqi's overseas intelligence department, and the British Navy's ironclad ships that have been built and commissioned over the years are almost all well understood.

Britain's ironclads have been in a stage of experimentation and exploration over the years, although there is no lack of new ideas and new technologies, but conservatism often makes new technologies give way to mature old technologies, such as the sails of ironclads have been retained, the breech guns and breech guns have been repeatedly tossed, and the side guns of sail warships have always been retained.

In order to prevent disturbance and influence on the design ideas of the ironclad ship in Qingdao Shipyard, Yi Zhishu has been secretive about the British ironclad information collected over the years, for the simple reason that a group of engineers in Qingdao Shipyard, including Guan Youling, the director of ironclad ships, have always been skeptical of his advanced ideas.

If it weren't for the possibility of a large-scale naval battle with Britain in South Africa, and if it weren't for the blind confidence of admirals such as Zai Zhao and Guo Zhongmou in their ironclad ships, he wouldn't have let the two of them see these materials.

Although the design of the British ironclad ship is still quite conservative and backward, the powerful firepower configuration of the 'Minotaur' class ironclad ship can still pose a great threat, although the front-loading 9-inch, 8-inch, and 7-inch front-loading rifled guns are slow, they are not inferior to the rear-loading guns in terms of range, hit rate and power, especially the power of close-range salvos, which can be called terrifying.

COMPARED WITH THE POWERFUL FIREPOWER CONFIGURATION OF THE BRITISH 'MINOTAUR' CLASS IRONCLAD SHIPS, THE FIREPOWER CONFIGURATION OF THE 'FAR' CLASS IRONCLAD SHIPS BUILT BY QINGDAO SHIPYARD CAN BE DESCRIBED AS PITIFUL, WITH ONLY FIVE 178MM CALIBER MAIN GUNS, WHICH ARE ONLY EQUIVALENT TO THE 7-INCH GUNS OF THE BRITISH SHIP, AND THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IS NOT ORDINARILY LARGE AT FIRST GLANCE.

After a while, Guo Zhongmu spoke: "Big treasurer, the British ship 'Minotaur' class is equipped with 4 9-inch front-loading rifled guns, 22 8-inch front-loading rifled guns, or 24 7-inch front-loading rifled guns, and our ironclad ship is only equipped with five 7-inch breech guns....... ”

There is no detailed information on the six 'Campareus-class' and six 'Invincible-class' ironclad ships built by the British Navy last year, but judging from the time and number of constructions, they should be no less than the 'Minotaur' class, and may be slightly smaller, but at least it should be a grade of the 'Warrior'.

And Yuan Qi's current 'Yuan' class ironclad ships are only six, if the British Navy pours out, the strength of the top ironclad ships on both sides will not be one to two, but one to three, this is no wonder Guo Zhongmu's tone is a little dignified, after all, the number of British ships is too large, and the firepower is too powerful.

In this regard, Yi Zhizhi also felt a little helpless, the design of the five main guns of the 'Yuan' class ironclad ship was naturally due to his repeated insistence, he actually designed it according to the situation of the twin guns, if the five turrets are twin guns, it is ten main guns, and the rate of fire of the barrel is naturally enough, but he didn't expect that before he put forward the idea of a double gun, it was possible to confront Britain in South Africa.

Seeing that he was silent, Zaizhao changed his words, "If a war breaks out in South Africa, England won't transfer all the ironclad ships to South Africa, right?" ”

Yi Zhishu also thought about this problem, lit a cigarette, and then said slowly: "The original intention of the British army to build ironclad ships was to compete with the French navy, and now France has been crippled by Germany, and it is very likely that it will fall into the arms of Britain and conclude an alliance with Britain against Germany."

In this regard, once a war broke out in South Africa, Britain, which had no worries, would completely dare to transfer all ironclad ships to South Africa.

In addition, Britain and us fought twice, both ended in defeat, and the heart must be extremely unconvinced, after all, Britain failed to fully exert its naval superiority in those two wars, and the British must have been very aggrieved in their hearts when we expanded in the Persian Gulf last year.

Coupled with the fact that South Africa was extremely important to the British, it was highly likely that the British would fight if war broke out in South Africa. ”

"France has also built quite a few ironclad ships." Zaizhao said worriedly: "If France forms an alliance with Britain, will the French Navy enter the war?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "The Franco-Prussian War has just ended, and it has caught up with the Paris Commune, France can be said to have suffered a great injury, and in addition, Yuan Qi also showed favor to France many times during the Franco-Prussian War, so it is extremely unlikely that France will participate in the war." ”

Speaking of this, he glanced at the two of them, "After seeing the true strength of the British Navy, I don't know the bottom of my heart?" ”

Zaizhao nodded and said, "I do feel a little lacking in confidence." ”

"Don't be arrogant, and don't be presumptuous." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The number of guns of our ironclad ships is small, but the caliber is unified, and it is a tube-retreat rear-loading gun, and it uses mechanical loading ammunition, in terms of rate of fire, it exceeds the large-caliber breech gun by several times.

In terms of the hit rate, our ship can achieve fire coverage of the target area by centrally controlling the rapid salvo of artillery, and the hit rate is at least twice as high as that of the British ship.

In addition, our ship's artillery shells are filled with picric acid explosives, and its power is much higher than that of British ships loaded with cotton gunpowder, as well as the speed of the battleship, we also have an advantage.

I'm not just talking about large ironclad ships, we also have these advantages for small and medium-sized ironclad ships, and on the whole, the gap between the two sides is not big. Besides, you don't have to worry too much, if you really can't beat it, I don't have to touch the stone with an egg. ”

After a pause, he continued: "Okay, take these materials back and eat them thoroughly, if the weather is good these days, prepare for a live-fire training." ”

Coming out of Canghai Park, Zai Zhao and Guo Zhongmu were both in a bit heavy, and no one spoke along the way, until they got into the four-wheeled carriage, Zai Zhao spoke: "What is there in South Africa?" Is it worth the headmaster to fight the UK? Why didn't you ask? ”

"That's not what we should be thinking about." Guo Zhongmu said: "However, listening to the principal's tone, I am afraid that the first war in South Africa is inevitable. ”

"Could it be that you are timid?" Zaizhao's secluded road.

"Timid?" Guo Zhongmu laughed and said: "Since the beginning of Yuanqi's group training, we haven't been afraid of anyone?" It's not like the British haven't fought ....... ”

Zai Zhao smiled and said: "The armor belt of the 'Warrior' is 4.5 inches thick, and the inner lining is 18 inches thick, and our shells can form scattered and flowing flames after exploding, which can be said to be enough to constitute a fatal blow to the ironclad ship with the inner wooden plank, but it seems to be a little unsatisfactory for the pure ironclad, especially the broadside salvo ironclad." ”

"Not necessarily." Guo Zhongmu said: "Get a target ship and test it with people inside." ”