nashuaworldcup Chapter 74 Operation Overlord — ． ． ． ． －
Chapter 74 Operation Overlord — ． ． ． ． －
Rich Brother's donation will result in an extra chapter on July 7th.
The rate of fire, range, and power of artillery determine the outcome of a naval battle—the artillery duel. Clearly, Alice's side had an overwhelming advantage. The 122mm and 75mm Dahlgren guns provided devastating firepower. The Church fleet, in its V-formation, suffered a heavy blow from the rifled muzzle-loading cannons of Alice's high-speed motorships. Rifled cannons and Minié shells were no match for the smoothbore cannons and round shells in the Church's possession.
So although the number of cannons was far insufficient, their quality far exceeded that of other cannons. After several rounds of bombardment, Alice lowered her binoculars and saw that what had been the fleet in the distance was now just burning wreckage and sinking warships.
The fleet drew an arc on the sea. In Caro Bay, the Church Fleet was making a last-ditch effort. It was no easy task to trap such a large fleet in the bay, but thanks to its rifled guns, steam engines, and well-equipped logistics fleet, Task Force 1 finally succeeded.
The Glorious Goddess no longer possessed its former glory. Her mast had been broken by a 122mm grenade, and the towering mast, with its torn lines and burnt-out sails, lay sideways beside the ship. Without sails, the entire ship had lost all power.
Sailors continued to jump overboard to escape. A small fire raged on the foredeck. A 75mm armor-piercing shell came from the front. Designed to face the ironclad ship, the shell easily penetrated the thick wooden hull. A crew member was hit directly by the shell. The enormous kinetic energy tore his entire body in two, and blood splattered everywhere. The armor-piercing shell penetrated from the first deck to the second deck and finally stopped at the keel.
"The Glory Goddess can no longer radiate glory," a sailor lamented.
The rudimentary industrial machines kept turning, and powerful weapons forged from cold steel easily broke the statues that embodied faith. The crosses were shattered by cannonballs, and the statues of goddesses were swept away by the shockwaves and flew into the cold ocean.
The Second Task Force joined the battle. Before the designated landing zone, three galleons and four escort ships, with the roar of their steam engines, lowered the landing craft carried by their sides. Naval infantrymen walked from the cabins onto the decks, spending several minutes assembling under the commands of their respective sergeants.
Naval infantry awaited orders to board the ships. Each ship carrying naval infantry was piled high with supplies, rations, ammunition, and medical supplies. Ladders for boarding and disembarking covered the sides of the ships. Combat officers continuously issued orders, and whistles rang out to remind the soldiers of the next command.
"Boat Number One! Go!"
"Boat number two! Go!"
As the vanguard of the landing operation, the Type 037 steam paddlewheel tugboat was the only flat-bottomed, shallow-water powered vessel in the vanguard naval combat order. It carried a Hotchkiss machine gun and a 75mm Dahlgren. The crowded naval infantrymen carried Sharps rifles and experimental equipment, including stamped M35 steel helmets, leather canvas equipment, and backpacks. Most of the soldiers' rifles were wrapped in thick canvas to prevent water from entering the rifles—currently, they were still using paper to wrap the cartridge cases.
Three 037-class ships, powered by steam engines, attracted the attention of the Holy Army. With their muskets and cannons, the Church had successfully captured most of Carlo City, and now they were to become the defenders.
"Supporting fire!"
"Fire!"
"Fire!"
The Type 90 fire support ship of the Second Task Force roared with terrifying force, and Hale rockets soared into the sky before falling like meteors. The deafening explosions swept over the church army visible within sight—the church had modified the uniforms of its troops, retaining the old helmets, with gunpowder and bullets hanging from a belt, and flintlock muskets in their hands.
Seemingly guided by a mastermind, the church army dug trenches and hid themselves under the earthen dikes. The response from the Amerlane navy was simple—shelling!
Carlo is a commercial port city that evolved from a fortified city. Naturally, there are countless high brick walls, and behind the moat are high stone walls. These were once part of the Carlo Fortress, but Brittany has not experienced the ravages of war for a long time.
The dark-colored rowboat followed closely behind 037. The blue sea reflected the dazzling sunlight. The sun had risen, and the church's guards saw the sun for the day, but they didn't know how long they would be able to see it.
"Damn it! Demons!! It's those devils!"
As the naval infantry drew closer, the church soldiers began to notice the horns on their heads. Demons do not have tails, but they grow horns on their heads, and their bodies are generally slightly stronger than humans.
"Orcs! Elves! Demons! Human traitors! They deserve to die!"
A barrage of artillery fire interrupted the church soldiers' voices. The intense explosive charge swept across the entire trench. The men who dug the trenches were oblivious. The entire defensive fortification was linear, and the shockwaves from the falling shells could sweep from one end to the other.
"Charge! Quick! Charge with me!"
The first batch of naval infantrymen landed, their rifles pulled from the canvas. The Sharps and Hall rifles used by the naval infantrymen were equipped with fixed Minié paper cartridges. All military rifles had bayonet lugs, and the new bayonets were short sword-style, also functioning as daggers. The slide bayonet used on the original Minié rifles was no longer seen on the new rifles.
The officers took the lead, and the soldiers under Smedley and Admiral Yug Latt inherited Alice's military spirit: every officer should act as a vanguard, not a coward.
A church soldier who had survived the artillery fire looked up. The demon troops that had landed were not lined up as he had expected, but were scattered and attacking them with rifles raised, with large gaps between them.
But before he could think about it, he heard a loud roar.
"Artillery fire!!!!!"
The Second Task Force continued to strike the church's defensive fortifications within visual range. Naval infantrymen charged forward with their heads down, their gray uniforms and gleaming rifles closing in on the church's defenses.
"Damn it! Counterattack! Everyone! Raise your rifles!!"
The surviving church soldiers and priests rose from the mud, raised their flintlock muskets, and aimed at the demons, even though they were still hundreds of meters apart.
boom!
Before any order was given, someone pulled the trigger, and the resulting herd effect immediately led to a second person firing. The priest then shouted "Fire!" as if he were not giving an order, but merely going through the motions.
"The enemy has opened fire!"
The flintlock musket fire from 100 meters away didn't yield any significant results. One unlucky soldier was hit, but most immediately lay down. The Sharps in their hands had excellent sights. One soldier aimed at a church soldier who was peeking out and loading his flintlock musket.
"boom!"