Chapter 82: The New Weapon of the Yamato Empire
Around the time when the dark elves set sail on their Ark of Hope…
In the Yamato Empire as well, new naval vessels were being added to the navy, ready to be deployed into actual battle.
It has been about two years since the transfer to the different world took place.
As expected, with the passage of so much time, the organization of the Yamato Imperial Navy was also undergoing significant changes.
Online strategy game, Last Battalion Online.
The Yamato Empire having lost many ships in the Final War, was constructing new types of ships one after another in order to replenish the lost ones, and send them into the front line.
As a result, the Pre-Dreadnought Ships and Armored Cruisers that have been the main force so far have become obsolete, and the higher-performance Dreadnought Ships and Battlecruisers have joined the battle line.
The flagship is not the only one that has made progress.
The auxiliary ships that support them have also evolved.
the Protected Cruiser which had been used for a long time, was replaced by the Light Cruiser which has a larger size, longer cruising range, and faster cruising speed.
This light cruiser―― the ‘Agano-class anti-aircraft cruiser’, is equipped with 12,7cm dual-purpose guns like the US Navy’s Atlanta-class cruiser.
There are concerns that it is a little underpowered for anti-surface warfare…
In a world where hostile fleets are not so much a threat, but rather where flying monsters are more formidable.
It could be said to be an ideal cruiser adapted to another world.
The destroyer has also evolved.
Speaking of the imperial destroyers before we came to this world, their mission was to eliminate enemy torpedo boats in the coastal area and to launch night raids on the enemy’s main ships that came close to coastal areas.
However, since arriving in a different world, the torpedo boats that can be a threat to large ships have disappeared, and there were no large enemy vessels left that could justify the high cost of launching torpedoes.
However, it’s not as if their role was completely lost.
Their previous mission is now replaced with a new one, which is to patrol the world’s oceans and hunting pirates.
A different world where public order is still not good. There are vicious pirates out there targeting trading vessels for their goods, just like the pirates of the Caribbean.
Such pirates cannot be ignored. However, what they are using are small sailboats and galleys.
It is too much of an excessive force to deploy flagships and cruisers for such a thing.
A small, inexpensive, fuel-efficient, and easy-to-maneuver destroyers were preferred.
However, the existing destroyers were not adapted for the task of scouting the vast ocean for a long time.
Its cruising range was limited, and especially since its main battlefield was in coastal regions, it did not have decent open-ocean navigation capabilities.
Therefore, the destroyers, which were about 1000 tons was became enlarged to about 2000 tons and became a new type called “Special-class Destroy”.
Then.
Most of these brand-new ships were deployed to the Eastern Continent by the 2nd Fleet of the Imperial Navy, based on Truk Island.
This fleet, which was dispatched to ensure the empire’s naval supremacy in the Eastern Continent, had more updates to newer model ships.
Well, it is not surprising as they have always been at the forefront since we transferred to a different world.
Now, about their composition…
2nd Squadron consists of Shikishima-class battleships: Shikishima, Asahi, Mikasa, and Hatsuse.
1st Battlecruiser Squadron consists of Ibuki-class battlecruisers: Ibuki, and Kurama.
1st Air Defense Squadron consists of Agano-class anti-aircraft cruisers: Agano, and Noshiro.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Destroyer Squadrons with a total of 12 Special-class Destroyers.
The old battleships are deployed for the unlikely event of a decisive naval battle, while all other ships are state-of-the-art. You can sense the Empire’s determination to maintain control of the seas around the Eastern Continent.
Furthermore…
“So that’s an aircraft carrier, huh?”
“Yes, captain.”
Truk Island, the base of the 2nd Fleet.
At the harbor, the gruff sea man, Samejima, who rides on the flagship of the 1st Air Defense Squadron, Agano, was staring at the newly deployed ship with curious eyes.
I don’t see anything resembling weapons. It’s just a flat-topped ship. I can’t help but feel uncomfortable with its appearance, which hardly resembles a battleship.
“The new ship Hosho… Well, I wonder how useful this thing will be.”
Samejima, grumbling while sitting down into the captain’s seat in a grumpy mood.
Incidentally, the reason for his bad mood is because Wakabayashi who he unilaterally considers a rival, had become the captain of a state-of-the-art battlecruiser.
The Battlecruiser―― unlike the anti-aircraft light cruiser Agano, which Samejima is aboard, is the flagship of the fleet, and it is also the state-of-the-art battleship.
Samejima bitterly stares at the Ibuki, which is docked nearby.
Ibuki―― It is a battlecruiser with a displacement of nearly 20,000 tons.
Its performance is among the best in the Empire. Excluding the ‘Fuji-class’ Dreadnoughts and monster battleships like the Führer’s ship ‘Akitsushima,’ it is the ship with the most outstanding battle capabilities in the Empire.
Its appearance resembles a smaller version of the British Renown-class battlecruiser, and is sometimes described as “a symbol of the elegant and beautiful imperial warships”.
“Man, that is a good ship. 3 x 31cm twin-mounted cannons, 6 x 12.7 cm twin-mount dual-purpose guns, 30 knots speed… ”
“It’s a different league compared to Agano, which only carries peashooters.”
“…There’s no doubt.”
The rival who became the captain of a large flagship. On the other hand, I am the captain of an inferior anti-aircraft cruiser. There’s no way it’s not frustrating.
This is the current situation of Samejima, which has been sulking for the past month or so.
However, a perfect opportunity for success has arrived for him, who is sulking like a child.
“So, escorting that ‘Hosho’ is my new mission. I don’t really like it, but if it allows me to participate in real combat, it’s not bad.”
“Are we going to use aircraft to search for and exterminate the pirates? Even the upper management thinks extravagantly.”
The aircraft carrier Hosho.
It is the first aircraft carrier developed by the Yamato Empire, it is a masterpiece made by modifying a large passenger ship that was no longer needed after being transferred to another world.
Its performance―― with a standard displacement of about 15,000 tons, a maximum speed of 22 knots, and 24 aircraft on board, it is comparable to that of a light aircraft carrier.
It can be said that it has the minimum necessary abilities.
The carrier-based aircraft consist of 8 carrier-based fighters “Umikaze” and 16 new carrier-based attack aircraft “Umiyama”, which have recently been deployed for actual combat.
This “Umiyama” is a biplane that is very similar to the “Swordfish”, which is boasted as the world’s strongest by the British Royal Navy.
The engine is an air-cooled radial engine Jupiter with 450 horsepower, a maximum speed of 200 km, and two explosive charges of 250 kg bombs.
There are no torpedoes.
We have not yet completed making a small enough aerial torpedo that can be loaded onto a single carrier-based attack aircraft.
The aircraft carrier and its carrier-based aircraft.
Since it has taken shape to some extent, we will conduct a practical test. The pirates causing trouble around the eastern continent were chosen as the target for that purpose.
Engaging them in combat and seeing how much capability an aircraft carrier can demonstrate… It’s to verify that.
For that purpose, Samejima led the 1st Air Defense Squadron with Agano as the flagship, along with a squadron of destroyers, and the Hosho departed for battle.
“…Well, let’s go see what this so-called airplane can do, shall we.”
“They may unexpectedly achieve better war results than Captain Samejima… Maybe the old-fashioned sea man should be retired.”
“You idiot, who are you calling out-fashioned? I’m not the one to be defeated by a flying object made of wood and cloth that I don’t understand. Alright, let’s get ready to depart from the port. Don’t be late.”
Full throttle ahead.
Agano with Samejima on board departs from Truk Island.
Their goal is…
“From here to the east, off the coast of the Black Elven Empire. There are more than enough elf pirates in that area to the point of rotting. We won’t have trouble finding prey!”
“Captain, please do not forget your original duty of escorting the aircraft carrier while you are engrossed in hunting pirates.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve said it many times, I’m an exemplary soldier. Faithful to both the mission and superiors, pledging loyalty to the Führer every day.”
Wait for me, Wakabayashi.
You may be riding high on a big ship now, but I’ll overtake you soon.
That is what Samejima solemnly swore in his heart.
……In the meantime.
“Did they set sail? Deputy captain.”
“Yes, Captain. The 1st Air Squadron, led by the aircraft carrier Hosho, departed from Truk Island and headed off the coast of the Black Elven Empire.
“I see… Hm, this tea isn’t bad. What kind of tea is it?”
“It’s from Manchuria.”
The Battlecruiser Ibuki anchors at Truk Island. In that captain’s cabin, Captain Wakabayashi and his deputy, who had come to report, were having a conversation while drinking tea.
At that moment, Wakabayashi suddenly remembered.
“Was Samejima the captain of the cruiser Agano that was tasked with escorting the Hosho?”
……
“Yes, I’m sure it’s Captain Wakabayashi’s friend…”
“He is a man with whom I share an inseparable bond. In all seriousness, I’m quite jealous of him. The next era will be dominated by aircraft carriers. I never thought he would get to see that first real battle… Samejima is always lucky. I would like to be in his place if possible.”
“Captain, I think it would be better not to let Samejima-dono hear those words. He’ll get angry and say, ‘Are you being sarcastic, you son of a bitch?'”
“…Sarcastic? No, I don’t mean to.”
Wakabayashi looks puzzled while sipping his tea.
It seems that he doesn’t understand Samejima’s desire to work hard and win against his rivals.
No, in the first place, Wakabayashi does not think of Samejima as a rival at all, so it’s not surprising… Yep. Samejima is quite a pitiful man.
Even his first love has been taken.
=====
A little supplementary explanation of New Ships of the Empire Edition
Agano-class light cruiser
Displacement: 7,200 tons
Armament:
6 x 12.7 cm dual-mounted cannons
4 x 20mm quadruple-mounted machine guns
6 x 20mm single-mounted machine guns
Speed: 30 knots
Power: approximately 60,000 horsepower
Cruising range: 8000 nautical miles
Crew: 670
Using the Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruisers of the United States as the source of inspiration. “In this world, the only thing that is going to be a threat is a flying monster, right?” So, for that reason, we’re ditching the torpedos and going heavy on the anti-aircraft guns.
Ibuki-class battlecruiser
Displacement: 19,000 tons
Armament:
3 x 31cm twin-mounted cannons
6 x 12.7 cm twin-mount dual-purpose guns
Other small arms
Overall length: 215 meters
Width: 26 meters
Engine output: 92,000 horsepower
Speed: up to 30 knots
Cruising range: 7,200 nautical miles at 16 knots.
Armor thickness: 8-inch gun defense
Crew: 800
A cruiser that is slightly smaller than the British Renown-class battlecruiser. Because of the heavy focus on speed, the armor of the ship is thin and insufficient for a flagship, only slightly better than a heavy cruiser. According to the Navy, “It’s just a large cruiser that is loaded with a main gun that is comparable to a battleship.”
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