Chapter 590 French Navy Festival

Chapter 591 French Navy Festival

Joseph's design layout for Sane is certainly excellent, because he copied it directly from the famous "Napoleon" battleship more than half a century later.

Although the "Napoleon" was the world's first sailing warship equipped with a steam engine, its overall structure was very reasonable under the careful design of French designers.

This is also the easiest to understand for Sane, who is designing a sail steam engine battleship for the first time. After all, although the subsequent designs are getting more and more sophisticated, they are also more difficult to understand.

In addition, Joseph actually had a model of the "Napoleon" later in life, and he assembled it himself, so he was relatively familiar with the internal structure.

Sane's ship was based on the light frigate "The Wave" from the Seven Years' War, with minimal modifications, so it took only a few months to complete the preliminary design.

Sane pointed to the lower cabin at the rear in the design with a slender wooden stick and explained to the officers: "The sailor cabin here has been moved to the forward position and expanded and reinforced to install two steam engines.

"They can provide more than 100 horsepower of thrust. Relying on the propeller alone, the warship can reach a speed of more than 8 knots. And when the sails are used at the same time, it can even reach a speed of 12 knots!"

All the officers looked excited.

You know, even in the Atlantic Ocean, the third-class battleships, the main force of the British fleet, can hardly reach a speed of 10 knots. Frigates can approach 12 knots in strong tailwinds, but if placed in the Mediterranean, their speed will be reduced by 30 or even 40%. Because there is only a breeze in the Mediterranean all year round.

Even the darling galley of the Mediterranean can reach 11 knots at its maximum output, but it can only maintain this speed for half an hour at most.

Therefore, the new ships of the French Navy are unmatched in the Mediterranean!

Sane continued: "Eight of the original side gun emplacements have been eliminated, and the free space is used to store coal. Oh, there is also a coal storage cabin in the lower compartment. All the fuel combined can support the battleship to sail 900 nautical miles.

"Of course, if the maximum speed is maintained, it can only travel 570 nautical miles."

Although this voyage is not far enough, it is basically enough for the narrow Mediterranean. You know, it’s only 400 nautical miles from Toulon to Tunisia.

And during non-combat periods, it is entirely possible to save fuel by sailing only with sail.

However, Rogifor, commander of the Brest fleet, frowned slightly and interrupted the designer: "Mr. Sane, light frigates are usually equipped with 28 to 30 guns.

"Your ship has eliminated 8 gun positions, so it can only carry 20 guns. With all due respect, this firepower configuration is probably too weak."

Joseph smiled and continued: "General Rogifort, in fact, the 'Light of the Mediterranean' only has 17 guns.

“But you don’t need to worry because it’s not designed for traditional broadside fighting.

"Do you still remember the navy's new tactical specifications? It is the 'ranger tactics' that the staff department is formulating to adapt to the new warships."

Rogifort had seen the first draft of the "Ranger Tactics" and vaguely remembered that it was a style of play that focused on harassment.

Following the words of the crown prince, Sane pointed to the stern of the design and said: "The gun cabin here will be modified to install three 24-pound long guns.

"The side gun positions are equipped with 6 18-pound long guns, 4 12-pound guns and 4 32-pound carronade guns. There are no bow guns."

Rogifort quickly understood that the heaviest firepower on the ship was all arranged at the stern, which meant he was ready to turn around and run away at any time!

If you dare to chase me, I will blast you with my stern cannon.

France's long-barreled cannon has always had a range advantage. Although this proved useless in the fleet shooting in the Seven Years' War, it can play a unique role when placed at the stern of the ship.

He could already imagine the French steam sailing ships taking advantage of their speed to hover around the British warships. Once the British caught up, they would immediately flee while keeping the distance within the range of their long guns.

The British's bow guns could not reach the steam sailing ships, but the French's stern guns could fire continuously.

Although it is difficult for three guns to cause a devastating blow to enemy ships, they can always cause you to take some damage. If a little adds up, you have to return to Hong Kong for repairs. And maybe one of the cannons hit a critical point such as the mast, which would make a lot of money.

In fact, the "Mediterranean Light" has another advantage that he doesn't know about, that is, ships equipped with propellers can turn more quickly.

Because the thrust of the propeller will be deflected by the rudder behind it, thereby generating lateral thrust, it can turn much faster than a sailboat that only relies on the rudder deflecting the water when moving.

In this way, even if the "Mediterranean Light" contacts the enemy ship with its side, it can quickly switch to the stern to attack the enemy, running and fighting at the same time. The sailing battleship was still slowly turning around at this time, and had already been bombarded by several rounds during this period.

Nearly two hours later, Sane had given a general introduction to the new frigate.

All the naval officers' eyes lit up when they heard this. The French Navy had been suppressed by the British for so many years. This time at least it could fight back in the Mediterranean!

The Minister of the Navy looked at Joseph expectantly and asked very respectfully: "Your Royal Highness, perhaps you can tell me how many such frigates the Navy can get?"

Joseph said without hesitation: "20 ships."

Several navy officers' eyes lit up, this was enough.

You know, the navy has only built one third-class battleship and four light frigates in the past three years, which is almost like a beggar.

At the same time, the British fleet has added one first-class ship, three third-class ships and seven heavy frigates, and there are so many light frigates that I am too lazy to count them...

This is the result of the British seeing that the French Navy on the other side did not build many ships, so they slowed down.

After three years of hard times, the French Navy finally ushered in a festival today.

Especially the Marquis de Castries, who was so excited that his nose was sore.

Unexpectedly, Joseph continued: "After the 'Light of the Mediterranean' class is launched, Mr. Sane will immediately design a new steam-powered frigate based on the 'Virgin', which will be driven by three steam engines.

"This class of ships will be built 12 ships. "

The Marquis of Castries was so excited that he almost couldn't breathe. The "Virgin" was a heavy frigate of 32 guns, much larger than the "Light of the Mediterranean", and could be equipped with 32-pound guns, which could already threaten battleships.

And 12 ships were built at a time!

He suddenly asked Joseph nervously: "Your Highness, if you build so many at a time, will it reduce the number of other battleships built?"

Although frigates are cheap, there are so many of them, and new technologies are used, the total price will not be cheap.

Joseph smiled and shook his head: "Don't worry, these new frigates are all additional funds."

It's no wonder that he is so generous. Just yesterday afternoon, he received a secret letter from Kalona from London, saying that the "project" there has raised more than one million pounds.