Chapter 340: Going to the Ocean (please give me a monthly ticket!)

The weather is very good and the sea is very calm. This is a rare good weather, especially for salvage operations.

Usually, sunlight can shine more than ten meters below the sea surface. The sunlight strongly passes through the water layer, dispelling the colors in the water, so that divers in the sea can clearly distinguish objects within 100 meters.

The water depth outside the sea of ​​Lanshan Mountain is very shallow, but the Yellow Sea is as its name suggests, and the sea water is turbid. The view in the sea mixed with a lot of mud and sand is not as good as the deep sea dozens of meters. After all, the lighting can be seen clearly in the deep sea. However, even if the lighting is used in the navy, the view range is very limited.

Because the Hanoi battleship was sunk offshore, the superstructure of the warship was exposed to the water surface, and equipment such as turrets were lifted directly by the crane on the ship. Otherwise, it would be a big project to lift the turret weighing nearly 700 tons to float. Here, it took only two days to lift the six turrets.

It is also very easy to salvage the connected shells. The divers only need to swim into the ammunition depot from the turret seat and then lift it up. In the past few days, all salvage work has been proceeding in an orderly manner. From the main turret to the side cannon, almost all weapons and equipment that can be removed on the surface have been numbered to reduce the weight of the water salvaged by the warship.

The divers who dived into the water all saw were very blurry. With the slightest light at the bottom of the sea, through the diving lens, the diver could vaguely see the damaged area of ​​the torpedo in the warship's section.

The edge of the damage area with a diameter of nearly meter wide was broken like a sawtooth. When the diver swam in, he carefully avoided being scratched by the fracture. After a while, he hung the blocking part used to block the leak from the water surface. Several divers immediately got busy.

"When the float comes, we can almost be salvaged!!"

Zhang Qiaofu, a diver, looked at the sand sprayed out of the sand pump on the sea boat and said to himself that salvageing this large warship is not easy. The company not only used all the equipment, but also rented two 1,500-ton floats from Hong Kong.

But even so, in terms of the tonnage of the shipwreck, it only barely meets the need for salvage. In order to ensure the smooth floating of the shipwreck, in addition to removing the turrets, shells, and equipment weight reduction, dozens of divers calmly eliminate the coal in the ship day and night, and use sand extraction machines to extract the sand in the cabin.

"If this battleship can be floated, the salvage office can be squeezed into the ranks of world-class salvage facilities!"

Stepping on this somewhat worn iron barge, the barge with an 800-ton gantry crane is the largest salvage ship in the company. Zhang Qiaofu knew that this ship was an old ship eliminated by the British, but even so, the salvage site was about to salvage the largest ship ever to be salvaged.

While Zhang Qiaofu was muttering in his heart, on the sea surface more than ten kilometers away, accompanied by several barges, a huge "u"-shaped ship was slowly sailing towards the shipwreck area. In fact, this was not a ship, but a floating dock.

In 1900, in order to further implement the invasion plan of China and the Far East, the German authorities sent their Far East fleet to Qingdao, and at the same time facilitate the maintenance of fleet ships and the manufacturing of new ships nearby, they took over the repair of the shipyard created by Aosta to the Governor's Office of the Governor's Office of the Governor's Office, and they were called Qingdao Naval Factory, Qingdao Dock Craft Factory, also known as the Governor's Office Factory. In order to build a large shipyard matching the port in Houhai, Qingdao (now Qingdao Dagang site), in Qingdao, in September 1901, the construction ceremony of the port construction site was held at the Dagang construction site at the same time. The new shipyard site was built on the left side of the Dagang Seawall entrance.

At that time, more than 1 million earth and stone were used to reclaim the land, and a 1,100-meter-long deep water berth and large factory building were built. The navy factory gradually moved from Qianhai to Houhai. In 1902, the first steam engine produced by the factory was launched. In 1903, German technicians designed a 16,000-ton floating dock designed by the largest ship sailing along the coast of East Asia at that time was started at the Dagang construction site, and it was completed and put into use on October 12, 1905. The second year after the floating dock was put into production, that is, on April 1, 1907, the relocation of the factory to the Dagang new factory ended. After 6 years of construction, all workshops, warehouses, machinery and equipment were put into production and use. At that time, the place was commonly known as the Manjing Island Dock.

Among this shipyard, the essence of the shipyard is this 16,000-ton floating dock. This large shipyard with a floating ship platform is 125 meters long, 39 meters wide, and 16,000 tonnage. It can accommodate ships of 145 meters and above, and is mainly used for ship construction. During operation, 30 people operate mechanical equipment and can lift 30,000 tons. This floating dock with a total cost of more than 6 million yuan is the number one in Asia at this time. In addition to the steel and mechanical equipment used, it is mainly undertaken by Chinese workers, and Qingdao Shipbuilding Station is also famous all over the world. After Germany returned Jiaoao, the floating dock was also returned to China. In this salvage operation, the floating dock was the main force in salvage, and will be transported to Lianyungang along the ship.

Aosta, the chief engineer of Qingdao Shipbuilding Station, who designed and supervised the floating dock, stood on the deck, looking at the seagulls flying on the sea. He stretched his arms, took out cigars from his pocket, lit them with a windproof lighter, and then said with some concern.

"The length of the warship Hanoi is 160 meters, while the floating dock design can accommodate only 145 meters!"

"But you can always try it. The length may be a little bit short, but the tonnage can lift 30,000 tons!"

Fang Zicheng's lips raised gently. In his opinion, these two sunken ships with repair value must be salvaged in any case, which is related to China's coastal defense.

“This requires a lot of risk!”

Turning his head to look at Fang Zicheng, Aosta continued.

"The Japanese Hanoi-class warships have lagged behind the navies of various countries. If you intend to strengthen the navy, you should redesign and build a new type of warship. Now the main force of the Japanese navy is indeed destroyed in the First World War, but they are still building more powerful warships, relying solely on the Hanoi-class..."

Aosta shook his head. In his opinion, salvage and repair the Hanoi class is not worth it. Although the cost of the two warships exceeds 30 million yuan, the salvage fee alone will be as much as million yuan. After the warship comes out of the water and enters the dock, the boiler and motivation must be checked. If the boiler enters water, it will need to be replaced, repaired, and repaired. At least five or six million yuan will be spent to make it combat effectiveness. If the keel is bent, it may be possible to remove scrap iron.

"Mr. Aosta, China is not Germany. Germany has many warships, but China..."

As he sighed, Fang Zicheng looked towards the sea. Since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the Chinese Navy has ceased to exist, and the few cruisers are simply not enough to defend China's maritime defense.

"The Hanoi level may be backward for other naval powers, but for China, it can enable China to achieve a zero breakthrough!"

Then Fang Zicheng turned his attention to Aosta, a shipbuilding engineering expert who was re-employed as the chief engineer of Qingdao Shipbuilding Institute. He had participated in the construction of the Helgolan-class third ship Thuringian at the Weisel Shipyard in Bremen, Germany. Whether it was Lianyungang or Qingdao, he was one of the few technicians who had built and designed warships. It was precisely because of this that the company pulled him over.

"Maybe, in the future, you can help the Chinese Navy design and build new battleships! Mr. Aosta!"

Aosta shrugged and said very seriously.

"Although I am in China now, I am still a German. If I help you design battleships, wouldn't it be an enemy of Germany?"

After saying that, he held the side of the ship and looked at the wreckage of the wreck that had not yet been salvaged from the sea and said to himself.

"In the newspaper, your Huaihai Strategic enables you to serve as Prime Minister. I hope he can stop you from sending troops to Europe by then!"

Then, he turned around and had a naive smile on his face.

"For the friendship between us!"

When Aosta mentioned friendship, Fang Zicheng just smiled and said nothing. When he looked into the distance, he could see a merchant ship of about 2,000 tons, which was sailing towards the north quickly. Without having to use a telescope, Fang Zicheng could guess which merchant ship was flying the Chinese flag.

When he turned his eyes to the merchant ship, in the bridge of the merchant ship, a young, even a strange young captain was holding a telescope to look at the floating dock that was heading towards the shipwreck area under the guidance of the barge. The young captain's eyes were full of surprise. Perhaps it was the first time he had seen such a huge floating dock.

"When I come back from Vladivostok, maybe the company can have two more merchant ships!"

Meng Fu, who put down his telescope and wore a brand new captain's wool uniform, was full of pride on his young face. Although this "Newport" merchant ship was an old merchant ship built 14 years ago, he was the first captain trained by the Eagle Tour Merchant Ship School, and he was the youngest among them, 17 years old! Not only that, he was also the youngest captain in the world, so that when he was promoted to captain, even foreign newspapers reported it.

Half a year ago, most of the merchant ships sailing along China's coast were British, French, German, American, Italian and other countries. Even the merchant ships of the Merchants and Shipping Bureau were not on the merchant ships of the Merchants and Shipping Bureau. However, this war changed a lot of things. The participating countries successively transferred merchant ships back to their country to meet their transportation needs.

The merchant ships purchased by the company that were idle in the bay area entered the market left by merchant ships from various countries after the evacuation of merchant ships. The old ships purchased from Britain, the United States, France, Germany and other countries before the war can be put into use after some maintenance. However, having a ship does not mean that the problem is solved. The sailing of merchant ships requires sailors and merchant ship officials. The former can be solved with a little training, but merchant ship officials are not a problem that can be solved in the short term.

Lianyungang has a merchant ship school. Yingyou Merchant Ship School is built in an imitation of the American merchant ship school. Compared with the long six-year course of British merchant ship school, Yingyou Merchant Ship School’s initial course was four years, but after half a year of establishment, it was shortened to two years. Students first received 6 months of classroom training, then boarded the ship for internship for 6 months, and then returned to school for another year of education, took exams, and obtained certificates. Even if the school hours were shortened by half, in the opinion of China Ocean Ship Company, the training period was still too long, and the courses are being shortened now.

Meng Fu, a student of the first-year class of the Merchant Shipping School, naturally knew very well. He knew clearly that he could become a captain, and it was precisely because of this that the shortening of the school time resulted in a large number of surprisingly young people becoming the captains of the company, not among which Meng Fu was the youngest.

"The left full rudder, speed six!"

Putting down the telescope, Meng Lue skillfully issued the command. When the first mate conveyed his order, he straightened his chest so that he could look more burly.

For Meng Yu, he was still fantasizing about being able to "drill a big ship" three years ago, but he never expected that he would become a captain three years later. In addition to being proud, he was more cautious.

Looking around at the bridge of the "Xinggang", what entered Meng Huo's sight was a group of equally young faces. The first mate Li Buwei, 19 years old, a second-year student at the Yingyou Shanghe School, and a deck officer of the same age as him, Huo Mingyu, only received three months of training. His classmates were also only 17 years old, and he was the engine officer of the "Xinggang".

All the officials of the "Xinggang" were less than 100 years old. At the Merchants and Shipping Bureau, the age of two merchant ship officials was added to them, which was a "miracle".

"When you arrive in Vladivostok, you will definitely scare those Russians to death!"

Thinking of the surprise of the port officials when they entered the port a few days later, Meng Feng raised his lips and smiled on his face. The laughter just flashed. It was because of his youth that he understood that he had to establish the authority of the captain and not laughing seriously, which should be a character that a qualified captain must maintain.

When the local skyline disappeared from the telescope, Meng Fu knew that the merchant ship had entered the deep sea area, left Jiangsu, and slowly headed towards Russia. When he took a last look at the direction of the land, he was silently praying for himself, and also praying for the "Newport", praying for everything going well.

"Army Navy!"

In the office, after Li Zicheng and Han Wu put down the salvage report, they also mentioned the most important link to the Army Navy Corps - the officer!

Although the Jiangsu Army Navy is named after the army, it is actually a navy. The navy is different from the army. The navy has always been a technical branch. This technical branch cannot be built by just a group of people. If you want to build a navy, in addition to warships, the most important thing is the person, the officer!

"From Zuo Zongtang's establishment of Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau in Mawei, China's modern shipbuilding industry began. The establishment of Mawei Shipbuilding Bureau front and rear schools, the former cultivated shipbuilding talents, and the latter cultivated driving talents. Mawei Shipbuilding Academy is the cradle of the modern Chinese navy and the birthplace of the navy's army in the late Qing Dynasty. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, the national navy was monopolized by the Fujian people, from the chief commander to the soldiers, most of the chores were Fujianese, and the Fujian navy became synonymous with the Chinese navy.

The "Fujian system" can actually be called the "Fujian". Most people are educated before and after school. The Mawei Shipbuilding School adopts the British naval system and recruits 14-year-old teenagers to school. It is recommended by Fujian people in the navy and is given 8 years of naval officer training. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, it has not changed. Fujian people have gradually gathered and gathered. The Fujian navy has deep roots and leaves. They have controlled powers at all levels of the navy..."

When Han Wu was explaining the navy, Li Zicheng was silent. The Fujian Navy was not unfamiliar with this word. In fact, let alone the Republic of China, it was another time and space. In decades, the Republic of China took decades to experience countless movements but failed to completely eliminate the influence of the Fujian Navy.

"The Strategy Commander, we have a good relationship with the navy now. If you want to get officers from the navy, I'm afraid that the last one will be the branch of the Fujian branch, just like the two naval schools in Mawei and Yantai. Although most of the Yantai Naval Schools are from northerners, and Xie Baozhang is fair, the Yanyun Naval School even uses Minnan dialect in class except for the English textbooks."

Holding the Fujian Navy's "nepotism" and Han Wu kept shaking his head. As a soldier, he himself suffered a loss in factions, so he naturally disgusted with factions.

Han Wu shook his head, but Li Zicheng frowned. It is rare for factional views to reach this level in the army, but... he asked after thinking about it.

"If factional views can reach this level, then there will definitely be someone in the navy who is rejected. If we want to build this army naval team, we should use our brains in this regard!"

"In this regard, we have investigated. Now the mainstream figures of the navy are all schools of study in the UK, and Fuzhou accounts for the majority. In the late Qing Dynasty, when Sa Zhenbing proposed to revive the navy, he invited naval officers to study in Japan and study in the navy. As of the beginning of the Republic of China, three consecutive naval cadets were sent to Japan. However, unlike Sa Zhenbing's proposal, the number of study abroad was not decided by the navy, but was recruited nationwide. Students from all provinces were admitted and had to study in the Japanese Navy School. However, except for the very few children from Fujian Province, most of the others were not tolerated by the navy..."

When Han Wu reported, when he was in the capital, he had seen several Japanese students working in the Army Department. Unlike him, they either studied at the Naval School on Etan Island or at the Naval Arts School. But what makes people feel sad is that they not only cannot get on the ship, but even have to put on the army uniform and work in the Army Department.

"For example, the twenty-two people who graduated last year refused to accept them and had to join the Army to serve in a free position. Therefore, I think we can recruit these officers to work in Jiangsu and set up a specialized school at the same time. Only in this way can we ensure that the naval team will not be available in the future!"

"Well! You are responsible for these two things, what you need, just send a report!"

As he said that, Li Zicheng looked at his desk again. The four file baskets on the desk had become six, and the two extras were extra party affairs. The upcoming Congressional by-election was the top priority!

...


Chapter completed!