Chapter 441 Sinking

The 'Bellerophon-class' battleship is the earliest mass-produced dreadnought ship for the British Navy. After the 'Dreadnought' battleship was launched into service, the construction of the 'Bellerophon-class' battleship began. A total of three ships of the same class were built. Pushed the Royal Navy into the era of dreadnoughts.

It's just that, as a standard dreadnought, the performance of the "Belle Rophon-class" battleship is undoubtedly much worse than that of the later super dreadnoughts. The 'Belle Rophon-class' battleship has a displacement of less than 19,000 tons and is equipped with five twin 305mm main guns. However, only four main guns can fire on the same side. In terms of armor, the thickness of the main armor belt is 254 mm, and the armor of the turret and conning tower is 280 mm. Such a defense is not considered weak among the warships of the British Navy. However, compared with the German Navy, it is undoubtedly much worse. The maximum speed is only 21 knots. After serving in service for several years, it is not bad to have a maximum speed of eighteen or nine knots.

The carrier-based aircraft force of the German Navy took the "Belle Luofeng-class" battleship as their preferred target for attack. Compared with other battleships of the British Navy, this class of battleships is undoubtedly much weaker and more likely to be sunk. After all, the light aviation torpedoes carried by carrier-based aircraft are too weak. It will undoubtedly be a bit difficult to deal with those super-dreadnought ships with thick armor.

Four torpedo attack planes rushed towards the British Navy's battleship Bellerophon, which made the British sailors on the battleship look at each other, not knowing what these German planes were going to do.

When the four torpedo attack aircraft flew to a distance of more than a thousand meters from the battleship 'Belle Rophon', their altitude had dropped to only a hundred meters from the sea.

A torpedo attack aircraft dropped a torpedo, which hit the sea heavily and sank directly. Then it floated up again, and quickly rushed towards the battleship 'Belle Rophon'.

The other three torpedo attack aircraft also dropped torpedoes at this distance. Four torpedoes rushed towards the battleship Bellerophon in a fan shape.

"What is that?" The British sailors on the Bellerophon saw the plane drop something onto the sea, but they didn't know what it was.

Of course, when they saw the four torpedoes rushing towards them quickly, they immediately understood everything.

"God! Torpedoes, those planes can drop torpedoes." A British officer shouted in horror, frightened out of his wits.

"Quickly evade! The four torpedoes on the port side should be evaded immediately!" The captain also immediately issued an order to evade.

The battleship Bellerophon immediately began an emergency turn. However, it is not so easy to turn a huge warship with a displacement of nearly 19,000 tons and a length of more than 160 meters. After all, this is a battleship, not a boat.

Under the horrified eyes of the officers and soldiers of the Royal Navy on the battleship Bellerophon, the four torpedoes were getting closer and closer to them. Even if the battleship has started to turn now, it is almost impossible to avoid it.

"Boom!" The first aviation torpedo hit the stern of the battleship Bellerophon, and the warhead exploded violently. The huge power immediately tore a big hole in the underwater armor of the battleship Bellerophon.

Immediately afterwards, one of the other three torpedoes scored a hit again, tearing a hole in the midship of the battleship Bellerophon. The other two torpedoes were missed.

Being hit by two torpedoes, even light torpedoes, is enough for the battleship Bellerophon to drink a pot.

"Quickly, carry out damage control immediately, and the loophole must be plugged." The captain shouted loudly.

In the case of two loopholes under the waterline of the battleship, if the loopholes are not blocked, the consequences can be imagined. At that time, the entire battleship will have to sink.

At the same time, the "Magnificent" and "Reckless", which are the same class of "Belle Rophon" battleships, were also besieged by carrier-based aircraft of the German Navy. These two battleships were also hit by one torpedo and two torpedoes respectively.

Moreover, this was only the first attack by the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft unit. 12 torpedo attack aircraft that had dropped torpedoes began to return. They need to return to the aircraft carrier to mount new torpedoes, and then rejoin the attack.

The other 12 torpedo attack aircraft continued to attack the "Belle Luofeng-class" battleship. In the previous combat plan, the task of the carrier-based aircraft force was to sink the British Navy's 'Bellerophon-class' battleships and 'Saint Vincent-class' battleships. Launch an attack on other battleships of the British Navy. Of course, for those battleships with relatively thick armor, it may be very difficult to sink them with light torpedoes. However, even if they can be injured, it will be very beneficial for the next main decisive battle.

Admiral John Jellicoe and Lieutenant Admiral David Beatty on the battleship 'Revenge', the flagship of the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet, were beyond shocked.

In the distance, the carrier-based planes of the German Navy are besieging three "Belle Rophon-class" battleships, but they can't do anything, they can only watch from a distance. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow for them.

"Damn it, the German planes can actually drop torpedoes. How did they do it? How did they come up with such a tactic?" Admiral John Jellicoe was about to go crazy.

He had never heard of this new tactic adopted by the German Navy. The entire British Royal Navy was simply not prepared for this. Under such circumstances, it is completely at the mercy of the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft!

"It would be great if our battleships were equipped with anti-aircraft weapons." Lieutenant General David Beatty sighed.

However, it is too late to say this now. They had never expected that the German Navy would adopt such tactics before, so naturally it was impossible to prepare in advance.

During the ensuing attack, the battleship Bellerophon suffered two torpedoes again. This caused the battleship to start flooding continuously. Even with the efforts of damage control personnel, the loopholes could not be plugged. As a last resort, they had to close the watertight cabin. However, due to too much water, the warship could no longer maintain its balance, causing the warship to capsize on the sea. The battleship Bellerophon also became the first warship in history to be sunk by a carrier-based aircraft.