I Am the Crown Prince in France - Chapter 777

Chapter 773 Goodbye Toulon

“The Ministry of the Navy decided to allocate two more battleships, the Conqueror and the Spartan Guard, and eight other fourth- and fifth-level battleships to the Mediterranean Fleet…

“Please make sure you have complete control over the Mediterranean…”

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Lord Hood took a deep breath and closed the document.

In more than a month, 11 merchant ships have been destroyed or captured by the French fleet.

It was clear that the French Mediterranean Fleet was blocked by him in the Port of Toulon, with only some frigates harassing the Mediterranean, but his own escort fleet was completely unable to stop their killings.

He picked up the report on the side again.

That was the detailed process of the recent attack on British merchant ships, which was reported by the escorting warship.

Obviously, the French are equipped with a new type of very fast frigate, which poses a huge challenge to his escort missions in the Mediterranean.

Fortunately, the Navy Department allocated another batch of warships to him.

After these ships are in place, the Mediterranean Fleet will have 33 main battleships of level three or above, 40 level four and level five ships, and nearly 70 frigates.

The French fleet in the Port of Marseille only has 18 main battleships and 21 fourth- and fifth-class ships. Even if the Spanish Mediterranean Fleet’s 9 main battleships and 12 fourth- and fifth-level ships are added, the overall scale is far less than that of our own side.

In fact, in history, the number of warships in the French and Spanish combined fleets at this time was the same as that of the United Kingdom, or even slightly exceeded.

However, Joseph has been controlling the number of new large warships built by the French Navy in recent years, resulting in France having many fewer sailing warships than in history.

Of course, the French Navy has also been compensated, with 23 “Light of the Mediterranean” class steam frigates and 7 latest “Tunisia-class” 32-gun steam cruisers.

It is these steam battleships that have recently turned the Mediterranean waters upside down.

There were footsteps outside the cabin door. Lord Hood put the Admiralty documents into his pocket and said to the guard at the door: “Let them in.”

“Yes, General.”

Immediately, six or seven senior officers of the British Mediterranean Fleet filed in. Seeing that the Commander-in-Chief had arrived first, they all had a bad feeling in their hearts.

Lord Hood motioned for several people to sit down and said straight to the point: “Merchant ships have been attacked frequently recently, and the Admiralty attaches great importance to it. It seems that we need to adjust our combat strategy.”

Major General Collingwood said: “General, most of these French frigates use the Port of Bizerte in Tunisia as their home port. We can send marines to attack there. Or block the French warships in the port.”

Major General Horatio Nelson immediately shook his head: “I don’t think this is the best strategy.

“Judging from the intelligence we have received, those French frigates are very fast. They can transfer to other ports, such as Tripoli or Ajaccio, before we arrive in Bizerte.”

“These light warships are indeed difficult to track, so we should focus on providing effective escort.” Rear Admiral Hotham looked at Lord Hood, “General, in fact, we don’t need to deploy so many warships near Toulon. They can be allocated. Some third-class ships cooperated with a large number of cruisers to form a powerful squadron to perform escort missions, so that French light warships did not dare to approach at will. “

The firepower and protection of the third-level ship are very powerful. Even if it is placed there for the frigate to attack, the latter’s artillery will have difficulty penetrating its hull. It is the core combat force in naval battles.

Hood nodded slightly. The Navy Ministry has just allocated him 2 main battleships and 8 fourth- and fifth-level ships. He has sufficient financial resources to build a squadron.

Only in this way, the British merchant ships would have to leave the port in a concentrated manner so that the squadron could provide effective cover.

Just as he was hesitating, an officer knocked on the door and handed him a battle report: “General, our ship was attacked in the Barbary waters three days ago.”

Hood unfolded the battle report, and his expression suddenly changed: “The ‘Golden Elm’ was sunk?!”

What was written on it was exactly what happened when Hicks’ escort formation was attacked. Not only were three merchant ships lost, but most importantly, the Royal Navy’s fifth-class cruiser was sunk.

The first warship sunk since the war started turned out to be British. And it’s a fifth-level ship!

Hood continued to read the report. Since there were no witnesses, no one knew how the “Golden Elm” was sunk. They only said that three high-speed frigates were attacking merchant ships before.

When the other British officers finished reading the battle report, they all frowned.

Rear Admiral Hotham said: “Perhaps a French battleship slipped out, or maybe it was the Spanish fleet that did it?”

Lord Hood said solemnly: “No matter what, we will fight back.”

Rear Admiral Nelson thought: “General, only by swimming in the Mediterranean can the main force of our fleet better defend against enemy sneak attacks and even choose the opportunity to annihilate their attacking fleet.”

Hood frowned: “What about the French fleet in Toulon Port?”

Nelson smiled: “Perhaps, by letting them come out of the anchorage, we can find a chance.”

Major General Collingwood subconsciously said: “What opportunity are you referring to?”

“A chance to annihilate the French main fleet!”

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…

Southeastern border of France, Toulon.

Napoleon handed the latest war report from the General Staff to Major Victor beside him and sighed: “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince defeated the Austrians in Wavre.”

He looked at the Catibona Pass, which was invisible from here, and said sadly: “It has been half a month here, and Beaulieu still hasn’t crossed the Alps.”

After he realized that Beaulieu was planning to attack Toulon, he withdrew his troops and prepared to launch a fierce attack on the Austrian army after it passed the Alps.

But the Austrians’ logistics were too slow, and they have not been able to enter France until now.

Victor smiled and said, “If we had attacked Nizza directly, we might have reached Albenga by now.”

Napoleon shook his head: “Then we would have to fight a decisive battle in Sardinia and Beaulieu’s main force, and the logistics supply line would cross the Catibona Pass.”

“Yes, so we have to continue to be patient…”

As Victor was talking, a Corsican cavalryman suddenly galloped over and saluted Napoleon, saying, “Commander, an Austrian corps appeared on the west side of the pass, with about 4,000 people.”

Napoleon’s eyes lit up immediately: “Finally here. Order the Moulin Corps to attack as planned.”

“Yes, Commander!”

Victor was a little surprised and said, “You said before that you would let the Austrians enter Toulon before a decisive battle. Wouldn’t it make them alert if you attack now?”

Napoleon smiled slightly: “No, so that Beaulieu can attack Toulon with confidence.”