Chapter 1150: An Epoch-making Naval Battle
Pix felt as though he had thrown a powerful punch only to hit thin air.
The French had not occupied Egypt after all. Instead, they had merely taught the Mamluks a lesson and then promptly withdrawn.
In that case, what was his fleet supposed to do in Egypt? Congratulate the Ottoman Sultan?
Beside him, Nelson, the commander of the vanguard squadron, suggested, "Commander, we could proceed to the Port of Alexandria or even the Levant coast to reinforce the presence of the Imperial Navy."
After all, the British had not entered the Mediterranean for a long time. Currently, trade between Europe and the Ottomans was entirely subject to French whims. This voyage was the perfect opportunity to turn the tide.
Nelson licked his lips, appearing quite excited. "If we happen to encounter the French fleet, the strategic situation in the Mediterranean will change completely!"
Since being driven out of the Mediterranean last time, British shipyards had launched a massive number of battleships at a rate nearly double that of their French counterparts.
Currently, the total tonnage of the British fleet exceeded that of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet by more than twenty percent.
Furthermore, they now had steam warships to support them.
Brigadier General Pix could not help but hesitate. After all, his orders were to intercept the rear of the French army landing in Egypt, but the French had already evacuated.
Just as he was wavering, the rapid beat of drums suddenly echoed across the deck.
It was the alarm for an enemy encounter.
Pix exchanged looks with several of his officers and then strode toward the upper command room.
His fleet consisted of eighteen third-rate battleships or higher, along with thirty-eight cruisers and frigates, eighty percent of which were steam-powered.
To dare challenge such a massive fleet, the newcomers could only be the Franco-Spanish combined fleet.
Sure enough, as Pix was still climbing the stairs, an officer rushed over to report:
"Commander, a large number of French and Spanish warships have appeared to the northwest, distance eight nautical miles!"
"Currently, we have confirmed ten battleships and at least twenty steam warships."
In Mediterranean warfare, high-speed and agile steam warships were considered just as vital as battleships.
Pix's expression relaxed slightly. The number of enemy ships did not pose a significant threat, but he still ordered:
"Have the frigates expand their reconnaissance range."
"Yes, Commander."
Rear Admiral Hotham, standing nearby, remarked, "It seems the French intend to delay our progress toward the Port of Alexandria."
Rear Admiral Collingwood shook his head. "If that were the case, they should be waiting to our east. This positioning looks more like an ambush."
Pix let out a cold snort. With the meager forces the Franco-Spanish fleet had brought, initiating an attack would be nothing short of suicide.
Perhaps they thought they still held the advantage in speed? But the situation was completely different now!
He entered the command room and gestured to several high-ranking officers in front of the nautical chart.
"Battleships are to immediately take the weather gage and form a line of battle to engage the enemy."
"The vanguard squadron will turn north. If the enemy fleet dares to engage, strike their center immediately..."
Pix had nearly double the number of battleships compared to the Franco-Spanish fleet. He could easily afford to split his forces for a pincer maneuver.
He continued his instructions:
"The fast fleet is to patrol the perimeter. If the French steamships attempt their 'pecking' tactics, move in immediately to pin them down."
The "fast fleet" he referred to was a squadron composed entirely of steam warships. Because the tactics for steamships were completely different from those of sailing battleships, they could not be integrated into the same formation. Operating independently allowed them to fully exert their power.
The so-called "pecking" tactic was what the French fleet had used in the Mediterranean previously—utilizing their superior speed and turning radius to close in quickly for an attack and then retreat immediately. It was named for its resemblance to the way crows harassed large beasts.
But this time, the British fleet also had steamships. If the French tried to retreat after harassing the British battleships, they would be intercepted by British vessels that were just as swift.
As long as the French steamships hesitated for even a moment, the heavy guns on the British battleships would have the chance to send them to the bottom.
Soon, several high-ranking British officers returned to their respective command ships. The massive British Mediterranean Fleet slowly deployed within the Gulf of Gabes.
Forty minutes later, more than twenty steam warships flying the French fleur-de-lis appeared on the horizon.
The British fast fleet immediately fanned out to the southwest, clearing the way for the imposing battleships behind them.
Then, these ships turned simultaneously, prepared to move east at any moment to carry out an interception.
As long as they could pin down the fragile French steamships, destroying them would not be difficult.
However, what none of the British expected was that the French steamships also turned west, charging straight toward the British fast fleet.
The black smoke billowing from the steamships was as conspicuous as beacons on the sea; the British fast fleet couldn't hide even if they wanted to.
Pix soon received the lookout's report and couldn't help but frown slightly.
The French must have realized his intent to flank them, so they didn't attack the line of battle. But why were they charging the fast fleet?
The British fast fleet was equipped with thirty steamships, while the attacking French force had only about twenty.
Had they all been drinking? Well, if the opposing force were a Russian fleet, perhaps that would be a possibility.
Pix immediately told the adjutant beside him, "Order the fast fleet to take the initiative and engage the enemy!"
Since the French had made a fatal error, he could not afford to miss the opportunity.
As the Victory signaled with a string of flags, the British fast fleet immediately formed into a line of battle. They pushed their boiler pressure to the maximum and charged straight at the French steamships.
When the two sides were about 300 meters apart, the French ships suddenly veered north and fired a provocative broadside, shrouding the sea in white smoke.
A smile played on the lips of James Russell, the commander of the British fast fleet. He turned to his signalman and said, "Follow them. Let them learn their lesson!"
Half a minute later, the thirty British steamships left a trail of white wakes behind them as they made a nearly ninety-degree turn, quickly catching up to the French fleet until they were sailing side-by-side.
Since the British fast fleet had initially held the weather gage, it was foreseeable that if the pursuit continued, they would be within effective firing range in at most an hour. Currently, steam warships still retained sails as auxiliary power, and while the wind in the Mediterranean was weak, it still provided a certain degree of acceleration.
The French steamships, sensing the danger, hurriedly turned east again, as if they had become over-reliant on this maneuver to evade.
Colonel Russell pointed toward the weather gage with disdain. "The Comet, the Gilthead, the Gravel... block the weather gage! The rest of the ships, prepare to fire!"
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