Chapter 351: Awakening in the World
The most difficult thing about this is actually Nicholas, and George doesn’t want to put Nicholas on the fire.
But no, as long as George gives in, even a small step, the group of grand dukes in St. Petersburg will pounce on him like a pack of wolves and carve up all the interests along the China-Eastern Railway.
It’s hard to say whether George can keep Amul by then.
This is really not alarmist. If George cannot protect the interests of the Far East, the group of great guilds in St. Petersburg will laugh at George as a coward while eating hot pot and singing songs.
Why does Vladimir only dare to go to the Winter Palace to take pictures of tables, but not to Yuriev Palace to take pictures of tables?
Because Vladimir knew that George would not spoil him.
Nicola's attitude towards this group of people is also changing.
Otherwise Nicholas would not be so vague, but would directly ask George to transfer his interests.
Compared with the China Eastern Railway, George is more concerned about the progress of the Sixty-Sixth Fleet.
As the Qing Empire's reparations were gradually in place, Japan's pace became larger and larger.
At the beginning of 1897, the keels of two 15,000-ton battleships and two 10,000-ton heavy cruisers ordered by Japan from the UK were laid down one after another.
George has all the information on Japanese battleships and heavy cruisers.
The two battleships that have just been built in Japan have two twin-mounted 40-caliber 305 main guns, and 14 152mm rapid-fire guns as secondary guns, with a maximum speed of 18 knots.
The heavy cruiser is a twin-mounted 45-caliber 203, also supplemented by 14 152mm rapid-fire guns, with a maximum speed of 21 knots.
The heavy cruiser built by the Vladivostok Shipyard for the Siberian Fleet has a displacement of 9,100 tons. The main gun system uses two twin-mounted 45x caliber 254s. The secondary battery is 12 152mm rapid-fire guns, with a maximum speed of 23 knots.
Compared with the Japanese heavy cruiser, the Vladivostok heavy cruiser not only uses new armor, but the 152mm rapid-fire cannon is also twin-mounted. This makes the overall performance of the Vladivostok heavy cruiser better than that of the heavy cruiser started two years ago. The battleship "Rostislav" has improved again.
Although the "Rostislav" is nominally a battleship, it has a displacement of only 8,880 tons and a power of only 8,700 horsepower. This results in the "Rostislav"'s maximum speed being a pitiful 15.6 knots.
The armament system of the "Rostislav" is two twin-mounted 254mm main guns and four twin-mounted 152mm rapid-fire cannons.
If you only look at the data, the performance of the "Rostislav" is not even as good as the "Dingyuan" and "Zhenyuan" that were in service ten years ago.
Just such a battleship that requires firepower but no firepower, and power but no power, the Imperial Navy is actually planning to build 5 more.
Fortunately, there is no free dock in St. Petersburg, and the other four ships have not yet had time to lay their keels.
After the Vladivostok heavy patrol plan was reported to the Navy Ministry, the subsequent construction of the "Rostislav" was directly canceled.
Alexeyev has been in pain and happiness recently.
In early June, the heavy cruiser "Russia" with a displacement of 13,675 tons arrived in the Far East.
This is another standard Russian naval wonder.
"Russia" is currently the largest displacement warship in the Russian Navy. Looking around the world, there are not many warships that exceed the displacement of "Russia".
The armament system of the "Russia" is 4 single-tube 203, and 16 single-tube 152.
Like the "Yuryev", the biggest problem of the "Russia" is still The artillery layout was poor and only two could be used against the same target.
Although the "Russian" uses Harvey armor, which improves its protection capabilities.
The power system is also good, with a maximum speed of 20 knots.
But this weak firepower is not worthy of its displacement of 13,675 tons.
George also didn’t know if the Navy was at the wine table when it reviewed the "Russia" plan.
If I hadn’t drunk too much, this plan would never have passed.
Give George 13,000 tons, and George can at least build 6 doors of 305.
In this way, after joining the Siberian Fleet, the "Russia" immediately replaced the "Yuryev" and became the flagship of the Siberian Fleet.
Okay.
In any case, the "Russia" is currently the warship with the highest displacement in East Asia, and its size can indeed intimidate people.
Let’s put aside the terrible "Russia". In mid-June, good news came from Vladivostok. After nearly 8 months of intensive work, the heavy patrol of the Vladivostok Shipyard was officially launched, and it will be launched in September next year at the latest. , this heavy cruiser, which can be said to be invincible within 10,000 tons, is about to join the Siberian Fleet.
Alexeyev was so happy that he took the initiative to bring a lot of souvenirs to Yuriev Palace to express his gratitude to George.
By the way, I discussed with George the subsequent heavy patrol and the preparations for the battleship.
In Alexeyev's view, the more Vladivostok heavy patrols, the better, even if they don't need battleships.
George reluctantly told Alexeyev that there was only one heavy patrol.
“Why?”
Alexeyev found it difficult to accept.
"Because St. Petersburg only paid for one ship, the subsequent construction work will be undertaken by the St. Petersburg Shipyard and the Black Sea Shipyard."
There is nothing George can do, other shipyards also have to eat.
“Sukabule!”
Alexeyev blurted out the curse, and George suddenly changed his color.
If Alexeev scolds the St. Petersburg Shipyard and the Black Sea Shipyard, George can scold it together with Alexeev.
It would not be okay if Alexeyev scolded Alexey.
Sukabule is the kind of scolding that is used to greet the whole family. The general idea is that the Caucasian dog was raised by his mother. Alexey and George have the same father. Isn’t this all a mess?
“I want to send a telegram to the Grand Duke. I want to kill these dogs raised by mothers. I want their whole family to ascend to heaven——”
Alexeyev really didn’t scold Ali. He still had to count on Alexei to protect him.
“Don’t worry, at least the power system and weapon system, as well as the armor, will be produced in Vladivostok.”
It was not a big deal for George to watch the excitement. Since St. Petersburg was not too troublesome, George had nothing to say. If possible, St. Petersburg does not want to use materials produced in Vladivostok.
But it doesn’t work. The main and secondary guns of the Vladivostok Heavy Cruiser are all powered by electricity, which the Three Greats and Obukhov cannot build at all.
Wireless telegraphy is currently only produced in Vladivostok in the world.
Parsons can also produce steam turbine units, but they can leave the Vladivostok steam turbine unit unused and go to the UK to purchase it. If anyone dares to mention this matter, Nicholas will never spare him.
The only new armor that can be produced in St. Petersburg is not available due to production reasons, so it still has to be purchased from Vladivostok.
To produce new armor in St. Petersburg, it has to pay relevant costs to the Vladivostok Steel Plant.
After learning the specific situation, Alexeyev didn’t want to say a word and just wanted to get drunk.
The armament system is produced in Vladivostok, the power system is produced in Vladivostok, and even the armor is produced in Vladivostok.
The St. Petersburg Shipyard is just assembly.
Could it be that the docks at the St. Petersburg Shipyard were suddenly sufficient?
If it is not enough, the St. Petersburg Shipyard will have to start work again, at least until April next year.
So after the heavy cruiser was launched at the Vladivostok Shipyard, the keel of the light cruiser was laid in the dock.
What gives Alexeyev some comfort is that these light cruisers were also built for the Siberian Fleet.
What Alexeev didn’t know was that St. Petersburg was already in turmoil because of this incident.
St. Petersburg could argue for a year about the trivial matter of whether to remove buttons from army uniforms and use iron hooks instead.
How long should battleships, the most important weapon of the country, be noisy?
No one has the answer.
The naval guns produced in Vladivostok, whether 305 or 203, are all driven by electricity.
Forget about the battleships that have already been launched.
The subsequent battleships to be built by the St. Petersburg Shipyard will still use original mechanical systems.
Should we keep pace with the times?
There are many benefits to using an electric system. Not only can the artillery aim faster, but the ammunition supply system is also electrically driven, which is more efficient than traditional mechanical methods and can effectively increase the rate of fire of the artillery.
Nikola definitely wants to use the most advanced one.
Alexey had to consider the food and clothing of millions of boat workers.
Although George did not want to conflict with others, the rise of Vladivostok affected not one person's cake, but everyone in the entire chain of interests that depended on the development of the navy.
The shipyards in St. Petersburg and the Black Sea, the three major empires, Obukhov, and even the design department, procurement department, logistics and transportation supply, etc., these institutions all have the interests of the royal family involved.
When Vladimir left office, why did the Navy suddenly have a fire?
Even Vladimir, that reckless man, didn’t dare to lift the lid, and neither did Alexei.
"Nicky, I know George's stuff is very advanced, but we also have to consider the cost to deal with the Japanese threat. Our existing weapons and equipment are enough."
Alexei was relatively tactful.
"If those things are as good as someone boasted, why don't his river fleet use them?"
Vladimir didn't want to mention George's name at all.
“Is it necessary for the river fleet to be equipped with battleships?”
Nicholas is not stupid either. Russia’s European river fleet does not even have destroyers, only shallow-water gunboats converted from torpedo boats.
"Amur clearly has the most advanced steam engines, the most advanced artillery, and the best armor, but someone does not allow the empire to use it. What does it mean?"
Vladimir wanted George to die.
“This shows that someone wants to rebel!”
“Volodia, stop talking nonsense!”
Sergei really couldn’t bear to hear it, George himself is a member of the royal family, Whose rebellion?
"I believe George, he will never do that."
Nicola's trust in George is unshakable.
"Oh, great! Do you all think so?"
Vladimir's main theme is "Everyone is drunk but I am alone."
Sergey kept a straight face and didn't say a word.
Alexey lowered his head and flipped through the information, not knowing what he was looking for.
Cousin and brother-in-law Alexander held his chin as if thinking, most likely out of his mind.
The emperor's brother Mikhail, who had just grown up and was thrust into the imperial meeting by the empress dowager, looked eager to try.
But looking at Nikolai who looked angry, Mikhail just moved his butt and changed his posture.
“You have all been deceived by that liar. Do you want to see Romanov’s badge replaced by Yuriev’s? A bunch of cowards!”
Vladimir walked away, completely sober.
(End of this chapter)