Gibraltar is a city and port located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. ■↑On the northern shore of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, it is strategically located at the choke point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, most of the ships between the East and the West entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, and then went to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, which further improved Gibraltar's strategic location. Whoever had mastered Gibraltar would have the ability to cut off this important route.

In ancient times, Gibraltar was a Phoenician settlement in North Africa and was conquered by the Roman Empire in the second century BC. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, some Goths and local Iberians and Moors fought over the place.

When the Arabs invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, Gibraltar became a stepping stone for the Moorish Moors of North Africa to invade Europe. A group of Moors formed a number of small states in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula (including the Gibraltar Peninsula) and accepted the coexistence of Christianity and Islam, and in the 11th and 15th centuries, when the Spanish and Portuguese resisted the invasion of North African Muslims who wanted to unify their faith, they joined forces with a part of the European Moors who were of mixed descent, Islamic, but tolerant of Christianity, to expel the invaders.

Gibraltar was recovered by the Spanish in 141o, and was officially incorporated into Spanish territory in 15o1. After Spain became more powerful, Spain adopted a policy of expulsion or forced conversion of Muslim Moors in Gibraltar, and many were forced to move to Morocco in North Africa even after they were converted.

King Carlos II of Spain had no heir, and ordered the Bourbon family of France to inherit the throne of the West. After the death of Carlos II in 17oo, Philippe, grandson of King Louis XIV of France, was proclaimed King of the West. However, Carlos II's nephew, Archduke Charles of Austria, also claimed to inherit the throne by blood of the Habsburg family. This led to the War of the Spanish Succession in 17o1. Britain and the Netherlands supported Archduke Charles. Its coalition forces captured Gibraltar in 17o4 and established a military fortress. In 1713 the warring parties signed the Peace of Utrecht. Philip was recognized as King of Spain, but on exchange terms. Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain.

After the British occupation of Gibraltar, the original Spanish residents were expelled, and a large number of immigrants from other places began, many Italians and British began to move in, and some Moroccans also returned to enrich the local population. In 183o, Gibraltar officially became a British colony and main naval base. Since then, the military and political affairs of Gibraltar have been overseen by the Viceroy appointed by the British Crown.

The Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet is home in Gibraltar. Here, the British built docks where large warships could be docked. as well as dockyard repair yards and other supporting facilities. In order to strengthen the defense of Gibraltar, the British also built a large fortress on the southern terrace of the port. In order to prevent the Spaniards from attacking Gibraltar, the British also built a number of fortifications on the rock peaks of Gibraltar, including pillboxes, trenches and fixed firing points. Especially after the establishment of the two opposing military alliances, Britain felt the importance of Gibraltar even more. Gibraltar's defences had been strengthened again and again.

Now, in addition to the Mediterranean Fleet, Britain has deployed a naval force of 5,000 men in Gibraltar. Other than that. In the fortress on the southern plateau, there are also more than 1,000 fortress artillery, using more than 100 fortress guns of large and small calibers to defend against the enemy from the direction of the sea. Arguably. The fortifications built by the British in Gibraltar were already very strong. The former commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, who had overseen the construction of the Gibraltar fortress, had even declared that Gibraltar had become a fortress that could never fall.

Of course. This is just an exaggeration. There is no fortress in the world that will not fall. No matter how strong the Gibraltar fortress is. But it is also possible to fall. Especially after the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain joined forces, the fortress fell. It's even more possible.

All along, in order to prevent the British from using Gibraltar as a springboard to attack the Kingdom of Spain. The 6th Army of the Kingdom of Spain deployed a large number of troops north of Gibraltar. Even after the outbreak of the war, some of the troops here were transferred, but the remaining troops still reached two infantry brigades and more than 12,000 people.

According to the plan of the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, the two countries were to launch a joint attack on Gibraltar. Among them, the Chinese Navy was responsible for attacking from the sea and destroying the fortifications of the fortress of Gibraltar. and provided firepower support to the 6th Army of the Kingdom of Spain. The 6th Army of the Kingdom of Spain, on the other hand, attacked from the 6th place.

The Kingdom of Spain did not raise objections to this plan, but actively participated in it. After all, after the recovery of Gibraltar, Spain will have a strategic location, which is also very effective in increasing the strength of the Spanish kingdom.

Queen Isabella II ordered that the 6th Army of the Kingdom of Spain, in coordination with the Chinese Navy, must take Gibraltar. Ousting the British from Gibraltar and returning the strategic location to the rule of the Kingdom of Spain.

On the morning of August 4, 1854, the main forces of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy arrived off the coast of Gibraltar. On the sea more than ten kilometers away from Gibraltar, the four 'Qin-class' battleships, four 'Western Han-class' battleships, three 'Eastern Zhou-class' battleships and four 'Western Zhou-class' battleships of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy were all aimed at the British fortress in Gibraltar. As for the other small warships, they were responsible for guarding. After all, a fortress poured with reinforced concrete can only be gnawed with large-caliber armor-piercing shells, and the main guns of a small battleship are simply powerless against a thick fortress.

"Commander, we have just received information that the British fort in Gibraltar is mainly composed of two coastal defense batteries on the terrace. Among them, there are four large artillery batteries on the wind mill platform, and 12 large 28o mm fortress guns are deployed. 24 21o-mm shore defense guns, as well as several dozen other caliber shore defense guns. On the Europa terrace, there are two large batteries, 8 large 28o mm fortress guns, 12 21o mm shore defense guns and nearly thirty other caliber shore defense guns are deployed. These forts have been reinforced in recent years and are made of reinforced concrete, and are up to two meters thick. Even with 28o mm armor-piercing bullets, it is difficult to penetrate. Vice Admiral Xu Hai, chief of staff of the fleet, said with a frown.

"The British also knew the importance of Gibraltar, so they strengthened Gibraltar's defenses. However, the location is so important that we have to take Gibraltar so that we don't get stuck in the neck. No matter how many shells are spent, the British turtle shells will have to be smashed open! Admiral Wei Yong, the commander of the fleet, said firmly. No matter how thick a fortress is made of reinforced concrete, it is possible to destroy it if it is hit by heavy blows continuously. What's more, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy dispatched so many warships this time, it would be a shame if it could not take the fortress of Gibraltar.

"Yes, Commander!" Lieutenant General Xu Hai nodded, of course he knew the importance of taking Gibraltar.

"Order the fleet, and attack in fifteen minutes. Be careful to protect yourself when attacking! Admiral Wei Yong ordered.

While it was important to destroy the fortress of Gibraltar, it was equally important to protect itself. After all, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, although it annihilated the Mediterranean Fleet of the British Navy, still needed to face the home fleet of the British Navy. Although there are too many losses here, when facing the main force of the British navy, it will be a little overwhelmed.

"Yes, Commander!"

At 9:25 a.m. on August 4, 1854, five twin 28o mm guns roared from the battleship Han Gaozu, the flagship of the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet. Ten armor-piercing shells weighing more than 200 kilograms roared towards the Gibraltar fortress, and the terrifying thrust generated by the salvo pushed the battleship more than a meter from the sea.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "The shells exploded near the fortress of the British Navy, and out of ten shells, only two shells fell on the fortress of the British army. However, neither of these shells was able to penetrate the fortress, but only blew up some cement and stones.

After the battleship 'Han Gaozu' opened fire, other warships also opened fire. For a time, a dense barrage of shells smashed down on the Gibraltar fortress. The entire fortress seemed to be enveloped in gunsmoke.

When the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy arrived in Gibraltar, it attracted the attention of the defenders here. The news of the fall of the Mediterranean Fleet was also known to the defenders here. However, the British Admiralty gave them an order to hold Gibraltar until the Royal Navy counterattacked. The British Admiralty believed that with the strong defense of the fortress of Gibraltar, it would be able to hold out.

It's just that the Chinese navy launched an attack on Gibraltar so quickly, which is still a little unbelievable.

The commander of the fortress of Gibraltar, Rear Admiral Charlie, ordered all the artillery of the fortress to open fire and counterattack the Chinese fleet. He knew that although the fortress was strong, if it was constantly beaten, even the strongest fortress could be destroyed. Only by taking the initiative to attack and destroy the enemy's warships can you truly protect the fortress.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

After being attacked, the defenders of the Gibraltar fortress quickly counterattacked. Hundreds of fortress guns of all kinds of garbage opened heavy fire on the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy. Cannonballs whizzed down on the sea, splashing columns of water into the sky. On the sea, it was as if it had been hit by a storm.

The artillery fire on both sides, you come and go, and the fight is very happy. (To be continued!)

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