The light cruisers and destroyers of the Japanese Navy suffered extremely heavy losses in the course of the attack on the heavy cruisers of the Chinese Navy. However, their success was quite limited.

In the process of dodging torpedoes, the heavy cruiser "Miyang" of the Imperial Navy was hit by a 533 mm heavy torpedo because it was unable to dodge, causing too much water and had to withdraw from the battle.

A 'Suzaku-class' light cruiser of the Imperial Navy, in order to protect the heavy cruiser 'Shen Monkey', blocked two 533-mm heavy torpedoes. Even though the tonnage of the Suzaku-class light cruiser reached more than 7,000 tons, it still could not withstand two heavy torpedoes. After the torpedo exploded, the light cruiser broke into three pieces and sank into the sea. Of the hundreds of naval officers and sailors on board, only a handful managed to escape.

In addition to this, at most, some light cruisers and destroyers of the Imperial Navy were slightly damaged.

However, in this lightning strike, the British Navy has already sunk six 'C-class' light cruisers and three 'C-class' light cruisers have been severely damaged. Eight destroyers of the 'R-class' were sunk and five destroyers of the 'R-class' were heavily damaged. Such heavy losses made the light warships of the British Navy extremely heavy. Compared with the results they have achieved, such a big loss is simply a big loss.

On the light cruiser 'Monmouth', Commodore Duncan was stunned when he got the damage report. You know, this is already more than half of the light cruisers and destroyers of the formation in which he is located. It also reduced the number of light cruisers and destroyers in the British Navy to an extremely low level. If the battle continues like this, it may not be long before their light cruisers and destroyers are lost.

After dealing with the British light cruisers and destroyers that had launched lightning strikes, the remaining seven heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy once again launched an attack on the British Navy's 'Monmouth class' first class cruisers. 210-mm guns, began to pour shells on these cruisers of the first rank. Weak armor. So that these cruisers of the first rank simply could not withstand these 210-mm shells. Even if they wanted to escape, they couldn't escape because of their low speed.

It can be said that what awaits the British Navy's 'Monmouth-class' first-class cruisers will be wiped out cleanly.

"Bastard! Send a telegram to the marshal with a request to retreat. Brigadier General Duncan ordered. He knows. If you continue to fight, there is only one final result, and that is to be wiped out. The only way is to return to the protection of the capital ship's naval guns.

At this time, Marshal David Beatty climbed aboard the battleship "War Wey" with great difficulty and entered the safety of the conning tower. The flagship flag was also raised on the battleship 'War Weyware'.

"Your Excellency, this is a telegram from Brigadier General Duncan." Chief of Staff Charles Madden sent a telegram to Marshal David Beatty, with a gloomy face.

"What's going on?" When Marshal David Beatty saw the face of General Charles Madden, he couldn't help but ask.

"Commodore Duncan's fleet has suffered heavy losses and requests to return to the gunfire protection of the capital ship." General Charles Madden said.

"What? How so? Field Marshal Davis Beatty was shocked. Hurriedly flipped through the telegram in his hand. When he saw that Commodore Duncan had lost so many light cruisers and destroyers, he almost vomited blood.

"Idiot! Damn fool, I'm going to take him to court-martial. Didn't he know that the reason why I was defeated by the Chinese yesterday was that the Yin Chinese took the opportunity to launch a lightning strike? Now that he has lost so many light cruisers and destroyers, what should we do if the Chinese launch another lightning strike? Marshal David Beatty scolded.

The reason why yesterday was defeated. He has summed up the experience and sent it to the whole army. But. Brigadier General Duncan still fell for the Chinese, which made Marshal David Betty unforgivable.

"Marshal, the Chinese are too cunning. In a duel with our capital ships, we also set our targets on our cruisers and destroyers. General Charles Madden said. Under such a tactical attack by the Chinese Navy, even if it is a change of commander, I am afraid that it will be fooled. Therefore. To a large extent, Brigadier General Duncan is no wonder.

"Let that guy retreat immediately, is he going to wait until all the ships are lost before retreating?" Marshal David Betty commanded viciously. He only felt that the gap between this naval battle and what he had expected before was too great. For the Royal Navy of the British Empire, it was completely full of all kinds of troubles. He was even worried. I'm afraid I'll still lose this time.

"No, we're not going to lose. The Royal Navy will win this naval battle. David Betty shook his head, pushing the bad thought out of his mind and reaffirming his confidence.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Admiral Charles Madden nodded.

Brigadier General Duncan received the telegram and immediately gave the order to retreat. However, how could the heavy cruiser formation of the Imperial Navy let go of this fat that had already reached the mouth? One by one, the 'Zodiac-class improvements' were at full speed and pursued the British Navy's 'Monmouth-class' first-class cruisers, and all the main and secondary guns on the battleship began to fire. In order to increase the accuracy of hits, they even took the initiative to close the engagement distance, in order to destroy more cruisers and destroyers of the British Navy.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The British Navy's first-class cruiser "Berwick" was hit continuously, and the sound of dense explosions continued to sound, and the entire superstructure of the battleship was shattered.

The cruiser of the first class, the 'Berwick', has increased its speed by 20 knots in order to escape for its life. However, this is simply useless. The heavy cruiser of the Chinese Navy on the opposite side had easily soared to 28 knots.

Soon, the cruiser 'Berwick' of the first rank was sunk.

It was not only the 1st class cruiser 'Berwick' that caused the brutal hunt of the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, but also the flagship of the British Navy's 1st class cruiser detachment, the 'Monmouth', did not escape. After being hit several times, the keel of the cruiser of the first rank broke, and then the entire battleship broke in two and sank into the sea. Hundreds of naval officers and men, including Commodore Duncan, all but a few were buried at the bottom of the sea.

The cruiser Doñegal did not escape the pursuit either, and was hit by four 210-mm shells in succession after being advanced to four thousand meters by a heavy cruiser of the Chinese Navy. The cruiser USS Donegal was already badly damaged, and finally could not hold on and soon sank to the bottom of the sea.

The cruiser Lancaster and the light cruiser Suffolk were sunk at this last moment. Only three light cruisers of the first rank, which escaped the pursuit of the Chinese Navy in a life-or-death situation.

In the process, two more 'C-class' light cruisers and two 'R-class' destroyers were sunk, further increasing the losses of the British Navy.

Looking at his own light cruisers and destroyers, one after another sunk by the Chinese Navy, Marshal David Beatty's heart felt as if he was dripping blood. He knew that when the number of light cruisers and destroyers in the British Navy dropped to a very low level, the Chinese Navy would definitely repeat its old tricks and launch another lightning strike. At that time, it will undoubtedly be very difficult to resist the lightning strikes of the Chinese.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

Subsequently, in the face of an attack by the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, the capital ships of the British Navy turned their guns and opened fire on these heavy cruisers. The shells of large-caliber naval guns constantly exploded on the surface of the sea, splashing up columns of water that rushed to the sky.

This made the heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy have to immediately turn and flee, although these heavy cruisers also have a displacement of more than 10,000 tons and also have a certain amount of armor. However, it is undoubtedly very difficult to fight large-caliber shells of more than 300 mm. Therefore, the wise choice is to retreat immediately.

However, the heavy cruiser formations of the Imperial Navy did not give up, and they attacked from time to time, so that the capital ships of the British Navy had to pay some attention to them. This also helped to support the main fleet of the Imperial Navy.

"The British are huddled together, and our heavy cruisers are very difficult to get." Marshal Cheng Biguang said.

"It's a pity that the British have only two dozen light cruisers and destroyers left. If we cause further damage to them, perhaps we can take the risk of lightning strikes. Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong said with some regret.

"Don't risk it, the Imperial Navy has already won this naval battle. Each of our warships is precious, and there is no need to waste it. Marshal Cheng Biguang shook his head.

At this point where the battle has been brought down, it can be said that the Imperial Navy has a great advantage. The British Navy's plan to concentrate all its efforts on defeating the main fleet of the Imperial Navy was completely frustrated. Reinforcements from the Imperial Navy will soon arrive. When the time comes, the Imperial Navy will control the entire battlefield and win the naval battle completely.

Just over ten nautical miles from the battlefield, a fleet of the Imperial Navy was sailing at high speed at 22 knots. This fleet consisted of five 'Five Emperor-class' battleships, two 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers, and two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers. As for the two 'Longxing-class' battleships and the 'Longyao' battleship, they fell behind because of their slower speed.

It was Vice Admiral Li He's idea to let the faster ships go first to support the main fleet, and the slower ships to stay behind. And this, for the Imperial Navy to win this naval battle, is undoubtedly a great help. (To be continued.) )

PS: The fifty-fifth is here, ask for a monthly pass and a reward!