Chapter 427 Prince Hermann
After arranging for the army to go, Ernst’s first stop in Trieste was the Royal Shipyard, where Ernst met Archduke Ferdinand.
"Ernst! Why did you suddenly arrive in Trieste?" Archduke Ferdinand was still a little surprised by Ernst's arrival.
"Father-in-law, aren't I preparing for the wedding in advance! Of course, I will stop by Europe to buy factories and machinery before the wedding."
"Haha!", Archduke Ferdinand sneered. Dao, the second half of the sentence is the truth. As for preparing for the marriage, it doesn’t matter if we come back to it in a few months.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. You just happen to be here, and you can also take a look at the ships we built."
As Ernst predicted a few months ago, because of the Great Depression, As a result, many orders have defaulted, leaving vacancies.
“The ironclad ship under construction in the dock in front of me was carefully selected by me from many plans. It has not yet been named. It has a displacement of more than 6,990 tons. However, I did not choose it according to your requirements. Build 7,000 tons and upwards."
This made Ernst dumbfounded. He was talking about two ships with a displacement of 5,000 tons and upwards, and did not consider the displacement of 7,000 tons and upwards. Ferdinand really did. They just pressed the line and built a warship with a displacement of more than 6,990 tons.
“Actually, if you can build a warship of seven thousand tons or more at the same price, I personally have no objection as long as it does not exceed the budget. But if this ship is seen by other countries, , maybe it could trigger a naval race," Ernst said.
The displacement of this ship is almost the same as that of the 7,000-ton class. Together with the Archduke Ferdinand that is being tested, they are two top-notch warships. Unreasonable people may suspect that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has a conspiracy in the Mediterranean!
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? If so, this budget can really barely build an ironclad ship with a displacement of 7,000 tons. Now the shipbuilding price has dropped a lot compared to before. The loss is this warship. If the civilian ship is cheaper," Ernst said directly: "In fact, this ship is not much different from the seven thousand tons. If it is equipped with some weapons, will it exceed it directly? "
< br>"Almost, almost," Archduke Ferdinand said perfunctorily: "The design of this ship is based on the latest British ironclad HMS Rampage, but the displacement of the ironclad HMS Rampage is more than 13,000 tons. Our ship The displacement of the ironclad is only about half that. Alas, the British are really wealthy."
The ironclad is the first fully steam-powered ironclad in Britain. Other current ironclads have several towering masts. A huge sail was hung on it, and densely packed broadside forward-loading guns were arranged inside the deck. However, the Devastation had only two chimneys, like the Archduke Ferdinand, which had sails and steam power.
So Ernst asked: "This ironclad is also fully steam-powered like the British Ravage?"
Archduke Ferdinand replied: "Of course it is impossible. We have no research on steam engines. The British are so advanced, so for the sake of safety, they still use the traditional dual-power. "
The British are really good in this regard. Not to mention the Ravage, even the main battleship Archduke Ferdinand in East Africa is better than other British ships currently in service. The ironclad ship is one to two thousand tons less.
"Ernst, don't forget that it is still powered by traditional power. It can actually be faster than the British Ravager in terms of speed, and it is also technically less difficult." Archduke Ferdinand said.
“Well, it doesn’t even have a shadow in the dock now. In other words, how to determine the speed?”
"This is of course a reference to the 7,200-ton ironclad ship that Austria just completed. It is also a traditional dual-power one. The speed test was conducted half a month ago, which also provided parameters for our ironclad ship. Both are used. They are all the same type of steam boiler. "
"Oh! I see, you are talking about the ironclad Archduke Ferdinand, which was indeed launched last month," Ernst said meaningfully.
This sentence is a bit harsh to Archduke Ferdinand. What is the title of Archduke Ferdinand? Isn’t it my own name? Of course, there are not many Archduke Ferdinands in Austrian history. It is possible that he is just commemorating the person with the same name.
But thinking about it this way, Archduke Ferdinand felt something was wrong. How did Ernst know the name of the ship of the Austrian Navy?
“Are you talking about the ironclad ship of the Austrian Navy?”
Seeing Archduke Ferdinand who still didn't understand, Ernst smiled a little unkindly. He said to his father-in-law: "Of course it is the Archduke Ferdinand, the first ironclad ship of our East African Kingdom Navy. It was built just last month. Launched at the Royal Shipyard of Trieste ”
What a surprise! No, frightened is more appropriate. At this time, Archduke Ferdinand's brain was spinning rapidly, time was flashing back, and then he suddenly realized that he had been tricked?
A few months ago, Ernst hinted, or inadvertently mentioned, that one month ago, when the so-called "Archduke Ferdinand" was launched, At that time, I, the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy, also went on the Archduke Ferdinand to observe.
Archduke Ferdinand was surprised at the time when the Austrian Navy’s new ship was launched. Except for Tegetthoff, the commander-in-chief of the Austrian Navy, there were no big names present, and why the ironclad ship had no name. After all, it was The most advanced "Austrian" warship, which surpassed the Lisa in terms of tonnage, recalled the strange look on Tegetthoff's face when he looked at him.
"Okay? I am the only one who is a clown!"
Hahaha...
"What are you laughing at?"
Ernst held back and said: "Huh, uh huh ....Father-in-law, there is nothing strange about this matter. The main reason is that you are our East African after all! He is the soul of the navy, so he must not be shabby!”
Archduke Ferdinand: “That’s not a secret from me. To be honest, I was very surprised to learn that the ironclad ship was our own. , I would be happier if you could tell me in advance.”
"No, I'm still a little unwilling. When the 'Archid Duke Ferdinand' comes back, I must experience it again. This time I have to experience it as the protagonist." Archduke Ferdinand said somewhat unwillingly.
Last month, Archduke Ferdinand was quite envious of the ironclad Archduke Ferdinand. Looking back now, it turns out that he was envious of himself.
Ernst said on the side: "Yes, only a top-notch warship like the Archduke Ferdinand can be worthy of your status as Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy."
"Okay, now The Archduke Ferdinand hasn't returned to port yet, and I don't even think about getting on board. Let's continue talking about what to name this armored ship under construction!" Ferdinand interrupted.
Ernst thought for a moment and said, "Let's name it after a famous person from the German region!"
"Whose name do you think is best?"
Ernst said: "Prince Hermann."
"Your grandfather?"
"Yes, After all, in the Second Battle of Bassano, my great-grandfather defeated Napoleon under the command of Marshal Alvinzi.”
In fact, in the Second Battle of Bassano, both the French and the Austrian armies were defeated. , all suffered serious losses. This battle took place just two months after the more famous First Battle of Bassano, and it is worth mentioning that this was also the first battle defeat suffered by Napoleon's army in his life.
Ernst's grandfather, Prince Hermann Hohenzollern-Hechingen, was actually one of the former Austrian military commanders and served as Field Marshal of the Austrian Army.
Further back, Prince Joseph Friedrich Wilhelm Hohenzollern-Hechingen was Ernst’s grandfather’s uncle (the title was inherited by his nephew) and he was also a field marshal during the Holy Roman Empire.
Generally speaking, the royal family of Hechingen once served the Habsburgs, but this tradition ended after the annexation to Prussia.
(End of this chapter)