After Julian Luc's fleet arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, it did not rush to attack, but cruised slowly on the sea about 15 kilometers east of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

　　 This is because Luc also saw the small black spot that suddenly appeared in the sky in the distance.

　　 The telescopes of these years still couldn't distinguish a target that was too far away, and Luc naturally didn't know what the black spot was suddenly floating. But there always seems to be a voice in his heart telling him that the little black dot floating in the air does not seem simple.

　　 Luc and his subordinates, who have been serving in the French mainland and Guadeloupe, have never heard of hot air balloons. However, to be on the safe side, he sent a Tier 4 ship to observe.

In the classification of sailing battleships in the eighteenth century, the first and second battleships had three decks. However, the number of such sailing battleships was relatively small, especially the first-class sailing battleship, which is the flagship of the fleet. The Royal Navy's first class sailing battleships are not many.

　　 Class II sailing battleships are mostly the flagship of the squadron, just like the Guadeloupe Fleet of the Royal French Navy. Its flagship is the second class sailing battleship "Glory" that Julian Luc is currently riding. The "Royal Dove" that was sunk by Norfolk's shore defense shelling the previous year was also a second-class sailing battleship.

Although the Tier 3 sailing battleship has only two decks, the Tier 3 ship is currently the main ship type in the navies of the European powers. Although Tier 3 ships only have two decks, this sail battleship, which is generally equipped with 54 to 64 guns, has very strong firepower and is fast. Therefore, it is currently the main combat ship of European powers.

　　 As for Tier 4 ships, they were built according to a compromise plan. This two-deck warship equipped with fifty guns is called a cruiser and is sometimes used in naval battle formations.

　　 But like all warships built according to compromise plans, the status of Tier 4 ships is a bit embarrassing. In terms of firepower, Tier 4 ships are far inferior to Tier 3 ships and therefore cannot play an important role in the fleet, and Tier 4 ships are not flexible enough to serve as cruisers.

　　 In fact, the real cruisers are smaller Tier 5 and Tier 6 warships. They have 24 to 40 guns, and they are often all set on one deck. These warships are lighter and faster than large warships, so they are suitable for attacking merchant ships and are responsible for reconnaissance, search, and guard cover tasks. All classes of ships, including warships and cruisers, belong to three-masted warships in authentic maritime terms.

　　 The inland armed transport ships like those seized by Stone Bear from the French before, are actually equivalent to a weakened version of Tier 6 ships.

　　 However, in the statistics of the European powers on combat ships, the capital ships are counted as Tier 4 ships, and Tier 5 and Tier 6 ships can only be regarded as auxiliary ships.

　　 Julian Luc’s Guadeloupe fleet naturally has Tier 5 and Tier 6 ships, but he did not bring them out this time.

　　He's here for revenge this time, it doesn't help to bring that kind of boat out. Therefore, the fourth-tier ship sent by Luc took on the task of forward investigation.

This fourth-class ship named "Brittany" has fifty guns and two decks. Because the launch time is the latest in the entire Guadeloupe fleet, the construction technology of this ship is also the latest Yes, the speed is the fastest among the battleships above Tier 4 in the entire fleet.

　　During World War I, France once had a famous battleship named Brittany-class battleship. It is estimated that the name of the battleship was based on this sailing battleship.

　　 But now this sailing battleship Brittany is far from being compared with its predecessors. The full-load displacement of the Brittany-class battleship is more than 27,000 tons, which is twenty times that of the Brittany...

　　 But in this era, the Brittany is still very good, at least its ten knots speed is faster than most battleships.

　　 Since Henry Antoine’s fleet was sunk by the indigenous tribe’s shore defense artillery here, it is enough to prove that the indigenous tribe’s shore defense artillery is still very powerful. Although Julian Luc firmly believes that his fleet is very strong, he will not take risks easily. It is very necessary to send the Brittany to investigate.

　　 Under Luc’s gaze, the Brittany moved quickly toward the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at a speed of about ten knots.

　　 About half an hour later, the Brittany had already entered the firing range of the second battalion of the Coastal Defense Artillery Regiment of the Fourth Division.

However, the head of the coastal defense artillery regiment, Shuigouzi, who had personally rushed to the Cape Henry coastal defense base, did not order an attack on the ship, although he was 100% sure to sink the daring ship within a few minutes. But he knows very well that if he shoots now, the big guys behind will definitely be scared away.

　　 And Water Gouzi didn't believe that the French would dare to attack Norfolk with such a ship.

　　 This ship must have been out for investigation.

　　 Sure enough, when the Brittany approached about four kilometers from the mouth of the bay, it began to turn. Soon, the ship drew an arc-shaped trajectory on the sea and completed a U-turn.

　　 When the Brittany finished its turn, the artillery at the stern of the ship fired.

　　 On the four-tier sailing battleship of this era~lightnovelpub.net~ both the bow and the stern will each be equipped with a large caliber mortar. This kind of mortar cannon is very powerful, like Tier 5 and Tier 6 ships with relatively small displacement, as long as one shot is hit, it is almost like a shot sinking rhythm.

　　 Even if it is a battleship, if it is hit by this mortar, the damage will be great.

　　Because the firepower of Tier 4 ships is insufficient, such a large-caliber mortar can be installed on the bow and stern of the ship, in order to make up for the problem of insufficient firepower of Tier 4 ships.

　　 One end of this mortar is fixed, and one end is placed on a slide rail. It can rotate 360 ​​degrees freely, and can fire solid bullets as well as bullets.

　　Especially when the bullet is fired, it is very lethal to enemy personnel. Just like what was played in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" watched by Stone Bear in the previous life, forks, knives, hammers, pliers, and a mess of metal are stuffed into the cannon, and one shot is enough to sweep a large area. But this method is not easy to use, because it has a lot of damage to the gun.

　　 The large-caliber mortar on the stern of the USS Brittany fired, but obviously it was just a test.

　　 Although this type of large-caliber mortar cannon is powerful, its range is really limited, and it is not even as long as that of a deck gun.

　　 Although Shui Gouzi has not experienced a real naval battle, nor has he really shot a target at sea, he is not stupid, he naturally will not start a counterattack just because the enemy fires one or two cannonballs.

　　 He will wait for all the French ships to enter the firing range of the shore defense guns before he will do his best!

　　:. :