Chapter 214: Blood Fire Manila
If someone could overlook the entire battlefield from the perspective of God, he could find that the U.S. fleet was not far from Sevilla. On the fourth day of the battle, a supply fleet carrying ammunition and coal came to Mo Luo Wan, completed the supply of the US fleet that had just finished the warm-up exercise, and the instructions of the US government. The US fleet was here immediately, crossing the strait towards the Sulu Sea, and when the Japanese fleet dragged the Carlos V to the north, the US fleet was only half a day away from where the Spanish fleet was finally destroyed!
At this time, the towing speed of the Japanese fleet was only about 8 knots per hour. If the Americans sail at the highest combat speed, they can catch up with the Japanese fleet retreating north in up to 10 hours, and hope to see the other side’s smoke plume, and then determine the direction. But it is a pity that in order to save fuel as much as possible while ensuring the physical strength of the personnel, the speed of the US fleet is only about 10 to 12 knots per hour. This can’t be blamed on the Americans, at least they haven’t received any news from the Japanese fleet. The Spanish fleet has just been severely damaged, so there is no problem in occupying Manila Bay.
Before leaving the United States, Dewey once asked specifically, what if you encounter a Japanese fleet in the Philippine waters? An unnamed executive of the Navy Department once said: "If the Japanese fleet cruises in the Philippine waters, the US fleet only needs to be on guard. If the Japanese dare to land in the Philippines, then both sides will automatically Enter a state of war!"
The Americans considered that Japan might have ideas about the Philippines this time, so the Philippines and Cuba were already in the war zone on the second day of the declaration of war with Spain. That is to say, in theory, in the Americans’ eyes, as long as The Japanese army dared to land, so there is no need to say anything. Of course, the specific operation depends on the front-line commander. But at this time, Dewey did not expect the Japanese people to move so fast, and coupled with the delay of intelligence transmission, he still has no idea Japan's participation in the war and the fall of Manila Port. So he now believes that the Port of Manila is still in the hands of the Spanish.
Dewey’s idea is very simple. Now everyone hurries over, taking advantage of the fact that Manila Bay has no defenses, shelling them directly, and then sending someone up to control the port. By the way, it also announced the ownership of the United States of America in the Philippines, and then the fleet patrols the Bashi Channel to block the Japanese fleet that may come. This is the best way to avoid trouble. When the Japanese saw that the North and South of the Philippines were stepped on by the Americans, they would give up, right?
As a result, the western waters of the Philippines presented a very strange state. The Japanese fleet sailed slowly north, while the American fleet followed the Japanese at the most economical speed. In the end, when the Japanese fleet arrived in Manila Bay and continued to move towards When they sailed north, they still did not find the American fleet following them. Of course, the Americans agreed that they did not find the Japanese fleet in front. Now the two sides are more than 25 nautical miles apart!
The Japanese fleet continued to head towards Taiwan, and when the US fleet arrived in Manila Bay, it was already around 8 o'clock in the evening. The sea was dark, and Manila Bay was full of light. Even if they are far away, they can be seen under the light source. Busy fleet and temporary docks! The Americans did a good job in their homework. They knew that Manila Bay had no mines before the war, and after they happened to occupy Manila Bay, the Japanese Navy did not have torpedoes either. So under the guidance of several torpedo boats, the U.S. fleet sneaked in. Manila Bay, and pointed the muzzle at the busy dock and berth in the distance!
Considering that 10,000-ton class warships may be more troublesome to enter this harbor, it is the New York, the Russian Bayan, Parada, and General Shelley’s 5 protective cruisers, and 8 warships entering the harbor. Go to the port and attack the fort at the entrance of Manila Bay at a distance of 2700 meters! Along with the shaking, orange fireballs flew out from the muzzle, whistling and flying to the distance, which had been bombed by the Japanese navy once, leaving only the ruined turret.
If it's daytime, Americans can naturally find the strangeness of Manila Bay, and they can also find all kinds of Japanese transport ships that fill the entire port. But unfortunately, it was at night, and according to the secret order of the Admiralty, even if the Japanese fleet was actually discovered, Dewey would probably fight!
Eight warships swiftly passed by the side of the turret, flooding the entire turret with fierce gunfire. When they found that the turret did not counterattack, and there was no light rising, the Americans believed that they had defeated the opponent’s defenses, so Killing non-stop to the depths of the harbor! At this time they were faced with hundreds of various Japanese transport ships, thousands of Japanese, and thousands of tons of materials piled up in the port... And none of this is protected!
"What does the Spaniard want to do? Are they preparing to evacuate?" Shelly was a little confused, but this did not prevent him from executing the battle order, "Blow everything to ashes!" The order was simple and bloody. The Japanese army in the port area followed this command, and its ending has been determined! In the face of fierce naval gun fire, they have no way to escape!
At a distance of 2,800 meters from the Japanese berth~www.wuxiaspot.com~The Shelly fleet opened fire! Countless shooting star-like shells lay across the night sky, and the howling of shells in the air was like the wailing of death. The Americans attacked so suddenly that when the shells landed in the harbor, most people did not respond! Didn’t the combined fleet guard outside the port? Who is firing at us? Is it Spanish?
The American artillery is really not good, especially this distance is still too far for the Americans. You must know that in history, Dewey violently attacked the Spaniards at 1,800 meters apart. But it doesn't matter, this time I hit a dense stationary target! Maybe you aimed at one ship and hit another ship. Anyway, these battles must be dead. The Spaniards want to evacuate, how can they do?
A large number of picric acid high-explosive shells turned the entire berth into a sea of flames in a very short time, and the projected volume of several tons of ammunition per minute caused the shells to fall into the target area like raindrops. "We don’t need to aim at all. The targets are too dense. Their ships are crowded together, and there are a lot of inflammable and explosive materials stacked on the dock. One shell may destroy a warship. At the time, I even felt like I The sea in front of us is burning, and the joy of destruction is deeply involved.” A US Navy soldier who participated in the Battle of Manila Bay recalled after the war.
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