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Text Chapter 1081 Rushing to Death

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    At 5 pm on August 16, Admiral Li Haitao, commander of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy, led the main fleet of the Indian Ocean Fleet to set off from Marsala. The fleet consisted of the battleships 'Han Ming Emperor,' 'Qin Shi Huang,' battleships, 'Prince Fusu,'  Battleships and 'Wang Ben', mainly the battlecruiser.  Together with several heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, the total number of large and small battleships reached more than twenty.

    Because this time it was tasked with luring the enemy, which required higher speed requirements for the fleet, the old battleships such as the 'Zhonghua-class' battleship and the 'Middle East,' 'Zhongnan,' and 'Nanyang,' all stayed in Mal.  Sarah.

    The Chinese Navy¡¯s Indian Ocean Fleet left Marsala and sailed westward without concealing the actions of the British and French naval combined fleets.  Although China captured Sicily, there are still millions of Italians on the island, and many of them secretly report news about the Chinese occupying forces to the Italian government.  In a short period of time, the Chinese occupying forces were unable to dig out these people.  However, several field airports are surrounded by heavy military guards to prevent any Italians from entering the vicinity of the field airports.  Therefore, the news that China has deployed a large number of fighter jets in Sicily has not been disclosed.

    At this moment, the combined British and French naval fleets are still more than 800 kilometers away from Sicily. At this speed, if the Chinese fleet keeps sailing westward, the two sides will encounter each other on the afternoon of August 17.

    "Your Excellency, Commander, the Chinese main fleet has left Marsala!" On the battleship "Warrior," the flagship of the United Fleet, Fleet Chief of Staff Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells asked John.  Admiral Jellicoe reported.

    "Oh? Are the Chinese preparing to escape? I knew these cowards wouldn't dare to fight us. They must be scared to death by now!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said disdainfully, but also very regretfully.  If the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet retreats and keeps retreating eastward, then his desire to defeat the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet will be in vain.

    "No, Commander, the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet is sailing westward!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said.

    "Xiangxi? What's going on? Are those yellow-skinned monkeys looking for death? Or do they think they can compete with our more than ten new battleships with their few broken ships?" John.  Admiral Jellicoe was greatly astonished.  In his opinion, the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet should immediately flee with its tail between its legs after learning of the arrival of the combined fleet!

    "Your Excellency, Commander, according to the exact information we have received, three battleships and one battlecruiser of the Chinese Navy, escorted by some heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, have left Marsala and are sailing westward. Those old  The battleships were left in Marsala. Obviously, the Chinese did not escape as we expected. They left the old battleships behind, but the new battleships left the port. They obviously wanted to fight us!  "Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells said.  Although he thinks the Chinese's actions are ridiculous, there seems to be no other reasonable explanation.

    "Hmph! In that case, those yellow-skinned monkeys are looking for death, so let's help them! Send more light cruisers and destroyers out to find the movements of the Chinese navy. We can't let them slip away. I want to take a look,  When the main force of the combined fleet arrives, will they dare to fight us?" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said confidently.  At least, in his view, no matter what machinations the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet has, any machinations are useless in the face of absolute strength.  The combined fleet has 13 advanced battleships and 3 battlecruisers. This strength already has an overwhelming advantage against the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet.  What's more, the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet also left five battleships in Marsala.  Then the main force of the Indian Ocean Fleet that is sailing westward has no chance of winning against the Combined Fleet.  Although, John.  Admiral Jellicoe also felt that the behavior of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet was somewhat unusual, but he really couldn't think of anything wrong, or that the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet would have any means to counter the combined fleet.

    "Yes, Commander!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells nodded.  He has no doubts about defeating the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet. If the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet really dares to come and die, then the combined fleet will definitely win.

    "Wait! Lieutenant General Wells, order the fleet to prepare for anti-submarine warfare. The only submarines that can pose a threat to the combined fleet are those submarines hiding under the water. However, the Chinese want to rely on those water rats to defeat the combined fleet.  That is absolutely impossible!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said.  The reason why the Combined Fleet is equipped with so many destroyers this time is to defend against Chinese Navy submarines.

    "Yes, Commander!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General WellsTao.  After that, a small fleet consisting of several light cruisers and several destroyers formed a formation and accelerated its voyage eastward.  At the same time, the destroyers in the formation also accelerated their sailing speed, keeping close vigil around the battleships, searching for possible Chinese Navy submarines.  The lookouts on all destroyers are required to keep their eyes open. Once a Chinese Navy submarine appears, they must be discovered immediately and then launch an attack to ensure the safety of the main fleet.

    After the main force of the Chinese Navy¡¯s Indian Ocean Fleet set off from Marsala, it did not stop sailing westward.  After being about a hundred kilometers away from Sicily, we started circling the nearby waters.  This made the reconnaissance ships of the joint fleet that were scouting the Indian Ocean Fleet in the distance very confused.  After they reported it truthfully, John.  Admiral Jellicoe was even more certain that the Chinese had prepared a trap in the waters near Sicily. They probably had many submarines ambushed, waiting for the combined fleet to die.

    However, even if he knew that the Chinese Navy had submarines there, John.  Admiral Jellicoe was not afraid.  The dozens of destroyers of the combined fleet are enough to provide the most complete anti-submarine defense for all capital ships. As long as the submarines of the Chinese Navy dare to appear, the destroyers will definitely be able to sink them with depth charges.  The terrifying thing about submarines lies in their mysterious whereabouts. Once discovered, the thin shell cannot withstand a blow at all, and small-caliber shells can destroy it.

    At the same time, John.  Admiral Jellicoe has also become more and more cautious. Although he thinks he has seen through the traps prepared by the Chinese Navy, he always has some worries in his heart.

    At 8 a.m. on August 18, the British and French combined fleets and the main force of the Chinese Navy¡¯s Indian Ocean Fleet met in the waters 150 kilometers away from Sicily.  The attack by the Chinese Navy's submarine force that the Combined Fleet expected did not appear, which made John.  Admiral Jellicoe was greatly surprised.

    "Could it be that the Chinese submarine force has not been deployed to nearby waters? How is this possible?" John.  Admiral Jellicoe was very surprised.

    "Your Excellency, Commander, the Chinese fleet is to the northeast of us and is now sailing eastward at a speed of 18 knots, about 15,000 meters away from us. What should we do?" Roslin, chief of staff of the fleet.  Lieutenant General Wells asked.

    "Hmph! Order the fleet to strengthen anti-submarine alert. The battlecruiser formation rushes up and intercepts those yellow-skinned monkeys. The battleships line up in battle line and pursue at a speed of 18 knots. Once the battlecruiser formation intercepts the Chinese navy,  Let's kill them!" John.  Admiral Jellicoe said.  Although he felt that there must be some conspiracy, but seeing three battleships and a battlecruiser of the Chinese Navy in front, he couldn't let them go for nothing.

    "Yes, Commander!" Roslin.  Lieutenant General Wells immediately conveyed the order.

    A few minutes later, the three battlecruisers of the Combined Fleet, protected by several light cruisers and destroyers, accelerated towards the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet.

    The three battleships of the Combined Fleet, 'Princess Royal', have a top speed of 275 knots, 'New Zealand' and 'Indomitable' have a top speed of only 25 knots.  In John.  Under the order of Admiral Jellicoe, a formation of three battlecruisers chased the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet at a speed of 22 knots, trying to intercept the Indian Ocean Fleet.  At the same time, the 13 battleships of the Combined Fleet also formed three battle lines, launching a pursuit at a speed of 18 knots, preparing to wait until the battlecruiser formation intercepted the Indian Ocean Fleet, and then completely defeat the three battleships and one of the Indian Ocean Fleet.  battlecruiser destroyed.

    "Haha! Those guys have indeed caught up. Send a telegram to General Zhou and tell him that the fish has been baited. Let the aviation brothers be ready!" Seeing the combined fleet speeding up to chase them, Indian Ocean Fleet Commander Li Haitao  The admiral's face is full of smiles, the United Fleet is just here to die!  Haven't they ever thought that the Indian Ocean Fleet dares to provoke them with such a weak strength? Isn't there a problem in this?  In other words, does the commander of the Combined Fleet think that the Combined Fleet is strong enough to cope with all crises?

    "Okay, Commander! However, those three battlecruisers are very fast! If this continues, we will be overtaken in two hours. If we are entangled by them, our situation will be dire.  It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Fleet Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Wu Zhiyuan reminded.

    "Order the fleet to accelerate to 22 knots! In this way, we will be only 70 kilometers away from Sicily in two hours, just within the optimal combat radius of the naval aviation!" Admiral Li Haitao said with a smile.  If the combined fleet dares to pursue it, it is destined to die!
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