177: Chapter 87 High-Speed ​​Battleship

The keel-laying ceremony for the Longxun-class battlecruiser took place on a late autumn morning.

A thin mist drifted over the sea that day, but inside Dock No. 3 of Jiangning Naval Port, it was brightly lit. The beams of searchlights carved bright trajectories through the mist, illuminating the vast dock space as if it were daylight. These beams formed visible cones in the fog, looking like golden blades slicing through the darkness.

Li Ling was dressed in a dark blue military uniform without a cap. His hair was slightly messy from the sea breeze, with a few stray locks plastered against his forehead, but he paid no mind. He stood on the observation deck at the edge of the dock, his hands resting on the cold iron railing, looking down at the skeletal frame of the giant dragon being assembled below.

Behind him stood senior naval officers and a team of top-tier engineers transferred from the Production Base. Everyone wore a solemn expression, and some had even donned brand-new uniforms, as if attending a sacred ceremony.

At the bottom of the dock, the massive keel segments were already in place. Each section was dozens of meters long and several meters high, arranged on the slipway like the vertebrae of a giant, the edges of the steel casting a cold, eerie gleam under the lights.

Welders held their protective masks as the arc light from dozens of welding torches flickered in the darkness, resembling countless fireflies dancing through a steel jungle. The blue-white electric arcs drew fleeting light trails in the mist, illuminating faces that were both focused and weary.

The air was filled with the mixed scent of steel, welding flux, and seawater, carrying the raw, fervent atmosphere unique to the industrial age, with a hint of coal smoke drifting from the boiler room.

In the distance, the cries of a few seagulls rang out, sounding exceptionally clear in the morning mist, like an ancient horn blessing this new ship.

In Li Ling's mind, the System was providing a detailed report on the final design parameters of the Longxun-class.

As he listened, watching the keel that would soon be assembled into shape, an indescribable excitement welled up in him—this was his first true "High-Speed Ship," a symbol of the Tang Country Navy's transition from a "Follower" to a "Leader."

Before this, although his warships were advanced, their design philosophy still followed the traditional Battleship mold—nothing more than larger caliber guns, thicker armor, and faster speeds, all improvements within the same framework.

The Longxun-class, however, completely broke that framework, creating an entirely new ship type, a steel beast born specifically for speed.

[Longxun-class battlecruiser, standard displacement 35,000 tons, full-load displacement 39,600 tons. Total hull length 260 meters, beam 33.6 meters, draft 9.5 meters. The propulsion system utilizes eight ultra-high-pressure heavy oil boilers, driving four-shaft steam turbines, with a maximum output of 240,000 horsepower and a designed top speed of 35 knots—this is the fastest speed of any similar vessel in the world currently, a full two knots faster than the British Royal Navy's latest Invincible-class battlecruiser.]

The System paused, as if to emphasize a point, [What does this speed mean? It means it can easily shake off the pursuit of any Battleship, while simultaneously easily catching up to any Cruiser. In naval warfare, speed is the initiative. The design philosophy of the Longxun-class is: those you cannot beat cannot catch you, and those you can catch cannot beat you.]

[Additionally, it must be noted that to achieve this speed, the hull adopts a brand-new longitudinal structural design, with strength 30% higher than traditional ship types. However, this also places extremely high demands on welding technology; the welding defect rate must be controlled to below 0.03%.]

[To meet this standard, the System has specifically optimized the welder training program and introduced ultrasonic flaw detection equipment. Every weld must pass three inspections to ensure absolute flawlessness.]

The System reeled off a series of data, each number making Li Ling's heart race. He gripped the railing tighter, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"What about the weapons system? That is what I am most concerned about. If a fast ship does not have sufficiently sharp teeth, it is just a fast horse, not a war wolf."

Li Ling asked, his gaze still fixed on the steel jungle being welded below. The welding sparks flickered in his eyes, like reflected stars dancing in the depths of his pupils.

[The main armament consists of six 380mm/45 caliber naval guns, installed in three twin turrets in the classic one-forward, two-aft layout. A single armor-piercing shell weighs 800 kilograms, with a maximum range of 33,000 meters and a muzzle velocity of 780 meters per second. At a distance of 15 kilometers, it can penetrate 300mm thick vertical armor.]

[Secondary armament includes ten 152mm twin rapid-fire guns and eight 120mm dual-purpose guns. Furthermore, the ship is equipped with thirty-six 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns and forty-eight 20mm Oerlikon autocannons, forming a tight short-range anti-aircraft fire net—although there are not many aircraft threats in this era, the System has reserved space for anti-aircraft upgrades in advance, allowing for the installation of more advanced anti-aircraft fire control systems in the future.]

[Additionally, regarding the fire control system, the Longxun-class is equipped with the latest optical rangefinders and mechanical ballistic computers. The base is stable, and the ranging accuracy reaches plus or minus 50 meters. While it cannot compare to the Radar fire control of the domestically used Longhuang-class, it is sufficient to ensure extremely high shooting accuracy in sea conditions with good visibility, with a first-round hit rate that can reach over 5%.]

Li Ling took a deep breath, his fingers involuntarily tightening against the railing in front of him. The cold touch of the metal kept him exceptionally clear-headed.

Thirty-five knots—in an era where most Battleships were still struggling at just over twenty knots, this meant an absolute mobility advantage; it meant he could complete three broadsides before the enemy even finished turning.

The 380mm main guns, while a size smaller than the 460mm of the Longhuang-class, were more than sufficient to deal with any Cruiser and most Battleships; a single armor-piercing shell could tear a lethal hole in an enemy's hull.

More importantly, the rate of fire for these guns was extremely high—two rounds per minute, nearly double that of Battleship main guns of the same caliber, meaning the Longxun-class could deliver double the firepower in the same amount of time.

A high-speed, heavy-firepower, relatively lightly armored "Sea Assassin"—this was the positioning of the Longxun-class. He could almost see the white wake it would carve across the sea, like a sharp blade cutting through blue silk, leaving behind nothing but enemy wreckage and despair.

"What about the armor? With such a fast ship, won't protection be a weak point?" He continued to press, as this was his biggest concern—many high-speed ships sacrificed protection in pursuit of speed, resulting in them becoming "Glass Cannons" in actual combat, where a single shell could render them combat-ineffective. He needed a balance, a perfect middle ground.

[You have hit the nail on the head. The armor protection of the Longxun-class adopts a sloped main armor belt design; the main armor belt is 260mm thick, but the slope angle reaches 20 degrees, resulting in an equivalent protection thickness of over 300mm. The horizontal armor thickness is 130mm, with an additional 50mm armor bulkhead added above the ammunition magazines. The turret face armor is 300mm, and the conning tower armor is 350mm.]

[The System can tell you that while it cannot compare to the "Iron Turtle" level protection of the Longhuang-class, in high-speed engagements, this level of protection is sufficient to be immune to the main guns of most Cruisers—and those Battleships capable of penetrating its armor cannot catch up to its speed.]

[To put it simply, the Longxun-class does not engage in head-on clashes with Battleships; its mission is to utilize its speed advantage to seize favorable positions, complete strikes before the enemy can react, and then disengage. Its tactical positioning is closer to "Naval Cavalry" rather than "Naval Heavy Infantry."]

[In actual combat, it should utilize its speed and range advantage to maintain distance, wearing down the enemy with precise artillery fire, rather than rushing into the enemy's main gun range for a shootout. Additionally, to ensure protection while reducing weight, the Longxun-class adopts a brand-new carburized armor steel process, which increases hardness by 20% compared to traditional armor steel while reducing weight by 8%. This is the latest achievement of the System's metallurgical laboratory.]

Li Ling listened to the parameters and was silent for a moment. He closed his eyes, and a vision of this giant ship galloping across the sea surfaced in his mind—it streaked across the sea like a gray lightning bolt, its main guns roaring from a distance, shells landing precisely on the enemy ship's deck, triggering chain explosions, and then it would turn and vanish beyond the horizon before the enemy could organize a counterattack.

Then he smiled—a heartfelt, self-satisfied smile, the curve of his lips appearing exceptionally confident under the lights.

The naval officers standing behind him had also heard that astonishing set of data. Some gasped, some discussed in low voices the subversive significance of a 35-knot speed to the existing tactical system, and others couldn't help but applaud, the sound of clapping echoing throughout the dock.

Chen Haisheng walked quickly to Li Ling's side, his eyes shining with excitement, his voice trembling slightly from agitation: "Your Majesty, a speed of 35 knots... this means our fleet can appear in positions the enemy never expected overnight, and complete strikes before they can react! This will completely change the rules of naval warfare! Those bases of the British in the Pacific Ocean are no longer unreachable targets for us!"

"Isn't this the 'Sea Assassin' I have dreamed of?" He turned to face the officers behind him, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the morning air, carrying an unquestionable certainty and the composure of one who controls the overall situation. "Running faster than anyone, firepower fiercer than anyone; those you cannot beat cannot catch you, and those you can catch cannot beat you. With this thing, the old-style fleets of the great powers in East Asia are all sitting ducks. I announce that the first ship of the Longxun-class is officially named 'Powang'! May it slice through the waves like a sharp blade and be invincible!"

[The host has finally understood the design essence of this vessel. However, the System must remind you that high-speed vessels have extremely high requirements for hull structural strength and require special alloy steel for construction. Although your current Production Base has a 30x speed bonus, the reserve of special steel may not be enough to support the simultaneous construction of multiple ships. It is recommended that the host plan raw material procurement in advance, especially nickel and chromium alloys; these two metals are key components of carburized armor steel. Currently, domestic reserves are limited and mainly rely on imports. If the supply is cut off, it will affect the entire production plan.]

The System poured a bucket of cold water at the opportune moment, but that cold water could not extinguish the fire in Li Ling's heart.

"Then we shall stockpile in advance." Li Ling waved his hand, turned to the logistics director behind him, and said in a crisp, decisive voice, "Tell the Ministry of Commerce to import another batch of high-quality ore from the German Empire, and simultaneously accelerate the exploration of the iron mines in the Northeast. I intend to build a complete high-speed ship production line within three years. By then, not to mention four Longxun-class ships, I could build forty for you. Furthermore, have the metallurgical laboratory at the Production Base expedite research on new alloy formulas. I do not want something that is just 'good enough'; I want something that leads the era. If we can solve the supply issue of nickel and chromium locally, my shipbuilding costs can be reduced by another thirty percent, and the shipbuilding speed can be increased by another twenty percent."

"Your Majesty, the ceremony can begin." The ceremonial officer beside him reminded in a low voice. His voice seemed somewhat nervous in the silence of the dock, and the copper hammer in his hand trembled slightly; the red silk on the hammerhead was as bright as a flame under the lights.

Li Ling nodded and took the copper hammer tied with red silk from the attendant. The hammerhead glowed with a warm luster under the lights, and the red silk fluttered slightly in his hand.

He walked to the launch platform at the edge of the dock, which was a hydraulically controlled keel-laying machine. The indicator lights on the control panel were flashing rhythmically, the green light blinking on and off like the heartbeat of this giant ship that had not yet awakened.

With the press of a button, the first massive prefabricated keel section would be slowly lowered into position by the crane arm.

He took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs and clearing his mind.

His gaze swept over the workers below, who were waiting in eager anticipation—their faces covered in dust and sweat, reflecting an oily sheen under the lights, yet their eyes were shining; some had even clenched their fists, their lips moving silently as if praying or making a wish.

"I hereby declare that the keel-laying for the first Longxun-class Battlecruiser, 'Powang,' is officially underway!"

His voice echoed throughout the dock, striking the high steel dome and falling back as countless reverberations, like a proclamation spanning across time.

Li Ling brought the copper hammer down heavily; the crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed through the dock, creating layers of reverberations in the vast space, like chimes struck during some ancient ritual.

At the same time, the massive crane arm roared into motion, the pulley system creaking, and the humming of taut steel cables filled the air as it slowly lifted a prefabricated keel section weighing hundreds of tons from the adjacent assembly area and precisely moved it to the designated position.

Welders immediately swarmed in; the light from acetylene flames and electric arcs instantly illuminated the entire bottom of the dock.

Sparks poured down like a waterfall, carving countless bright light trails in the darkness and illuminating faces that were focused and resolute.

Some crouched beside the weld seams for careful inspection, some directed from above, and others transported the next batch of materials; the entire dock was like a precision machine, with every gear turning accurately.

The observing naval generals let out a low murmur of admiration.

Although they had witnessed the construction process of capital ships many times, the slender and smooth hull lines of the Longxun-class still caught their eyes; the curves and proportions possessed an almost artistic beauty.

"Your Majesty," Chief of Staff Lin Yongsheng hurried over and said in a low voice, his gaze still glued to the keel being joined as if held by a magnet, "I just saw that the speed marked on the design blueprints is thirty-five knots. This speed... I recall that the British Empire's latest Invincible-class battlecruiser only reaches thirty-three knots. If this data is accurate, the Longxun-class will become the fastest capital ship in the world. I dare to ask, can this speed really be stably achieved? Will it be compromised under actual combat sea conditions?"

"It is accurate." Li Ling replied concisely, his gaze still fixed on the keel being welded below, where sparks were bursting forth in a new round of welding.

"And I can tell you that this is only the performance metric for the first batch. With technology iteration and process improvements, the speed of subsequent batches can be further increased. By the third batch, my goal is thirty-six or even thirty-seven knots. By then, even the British Empire's new Cruisers won't be able to catch it. As for whether it can be stably achieved—my Production Base has already conducted three simulated sea trials, testing under calm sea conditions, level 5 wind and waves, and level 7 wind and waves respectively, and the results all met the design parameters. Just wait and see its performance; it will undergo its first public sea trial at the end of the year, and I will invite you to board and observe it then."

After the ceremony, Li Ling did not leave the dock immediately.

He climbed up the scaffolding onto the hull being laid, his boots making a crisp echo on the steel plates, and with every step, he could feel the solidity and coldness of the steel beneath his feet.

He walked between the cold steel frames and the unfinished hull; the crisscrossing steel beams formed a labyrinth of steel above his head and beside him, with some places still hanging with unsecured pipelines that swayed gently in the breeze.

He reached out to touch the newly welded armor belt plates; the weld marks still retained residual heat, emitting wisps of white steam in the cold wind, the texture rough and solid.

The fine, fish-scale-like patterns resembled the skin texture of this steel giant.

He crouched down and carefully examined the pattern of a weld seam—it was the craftsmanship of the welders manifested by the system, as smooth as if pressed by a machine, with almost no flaws visible; only under a magnifying glass could one see the uniform metal crystals.

He imagined the ship riding the waves on the sea in the future, imagined the scene of its main guns accurately hitting targets at long range—shells exploding on the enemy ship's armor, flames soaring to the sky, thick smoke rolling, the enemy ship tilting and sinking in despair.

He imagined the despair of those enemy ships upon seeing its silhouette, the feeling of powerlessness rising from the bottom of their hearts, just like seeing the Grim Reaper slowly rising on the horizon.

"System," he said in his mind, his fingers gently tracing the ridge of a weld seam, feeling the coldness and hardness of the steel, his fingertips moving slowly over the tiny protrusions.

"Tell me, when this ship is launched and enters service, what should I use it for? Should I take a cruise around the Pacific Ocean, or go to the Mediterranean to say hello to those old powers? I think the first mission should choose a significant target, such as taking a turn near Singapore, to let the British know that my fleet can already reach their doorstep. That place is their heart in the Far East, and I want to go there to make an appearance."

[The system suggests that the Host first use it as the fleet's mobile vanguard. In future naval battles, the Longxun-class can utilize its speed advantage to seize favorable positions, using its main guns to harass the enemy fleet from a distance, securing better engagement positions for our own Battleships. It can also be deployed in separate formations to execute commerce raiding missions—hunting down enemy transport fleets in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, cutting off the enemy's maritime supply lines, and leaving their fleets paralyzed in port due to a lack of fuel and ammunition. In the more distant future, when the Host's aircraft carrier formations are formed, the Longxun-class can also be used as an escort ship for aircraft carriers, utilizing its high speed to provide flanking cover for the carriers and fend off harassment from enemy Cruisers. Its uses are very extensive; the key lies in how to form synergy with existing ships. However, I must remind the Host that although the Longxun-class has a range of 16,000 nautical miles, it still requires support from supply ships when deployed for long periods in the open ocean. It is recommended that the Host simultaneously develop maritime replenishment capabilities and build specialized oil and water supply ships; otherwise, once the Longxun-class goes to sea, replenishment will be a troublesome matter.]

The system's answer was pragmatic as always, with every suggestion hitting the mark.

"Playing pirate? That's a good idea." Li Ling laughed, his voice echoing in the empty dock, and he clapped the dust off his hands and stood up.

"My fleet can't always just squat at the doorstep waiting for others to attack. It's time to take the initiative and go out. I plan to first form a rapid task force, with the Longxun-class as the core, equipped with several high-speed Cruisers and Destroyers, specifically to execute long-range commerce raiding and reconnaissance missions. The first step's target—the South China Sea. That place is still within the British Empire's sphere of influence, and I want to go and test their bottom line. Let's see exactly how much strength their Singapore base has, how many ships, how many coastal defense guns, and how much troop reserve."

[Where does the Host want to go? The system can provide route planning based on satellite imagery and intelligence data. However, I must remind the Host that there is a detachment of the British Royal Navy stationed in the South China Sea direction. Although there are not many capital ships, their land-based aviation is an unknown factor. Although there are no decent land-based aircraft in this era, the British have already established airports in Singapore and Hong Kong, and they may have deployed a small number of reconnaissance aircraft, which can cover the surrounding sea area of 200 nautical miles. Additionally, the French also have a naval base at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam. If the Host enters the South China Sea, it may simultaneously attract the attention of both the British and French, and you may have to face a joint reaction from both sides at that time.]

The system asked, its voice carrying a sense of rigorous caution.

"To the south." Li Ling's gaze passed through the open roof of the dock, looking toward the southern horizon, where the morning light was surging, dyeing the junction of sea and sky a golden red, as if a fire were burning on the sea surface.

"Although Japan has already surrendered, they still have quite a few interests in the Nanyang. I want to find an opportunity to stretch my legs and let those old powers still acting domineering in the Nanyang know who is in charge of this sea now. As for the British airports... my Longxun-class can launch attacks from outside the range of their land-based aircraft; their reconnaissance planes cannot fly that far. Hit and run, leaving them without even time to react, and they won't even see the shadow of my ships. As for the French—those decrepit Cruisers of theirs aren't even enough for one volley from the Longxun-class. The French naval strength in the Far East was never strong to begin with; their main force is in the Mediterranean, and they only have some old, secondhand goods in the Far East."

He clapped the dust off his hands and turned to walk down the scaffolding, his boots making a crisp echo on the steel steps, each step landing firmly.

The workers who were welding looked up, watching his back, their eyes full of reverence and trust.

The wind poured in from the gap in the dock, carrying the salty, fishy smell of seawater and the crisp, cool breath unique to autumn, blowing the hem of his military uniform, making it flap loudly.

Li Ling stood high above the keel, his figure elongated in the morning sunlight, like a giant measuring the sea.

And beneath his feet, that giant ship, which was about to change the landscape of naval warfare, was quietly taking shape amidst the sound of sparks and steel colliding, like an ancient beast in slumber that was awakening; every joining of steel plates was injecting life into it, and every weld seam was accumulating power for it.

The moment he stepped down from the scaffolding, the sun fully leaped out from the mist, golden light spilling over the entire dock, casting alternating light and shadow among the unfinished steel skeletons, as if holding a silent baptism for this newborn giant ship.