Chapter 45: "The Main Force's Confrontation"

Inside the command tower of the "Coventry," Commodore Smith appeared visibly anxious, especially after receiving the urgent flag signals from Admiral Nelson. "Order all guns to aim accurately! A significant hit or sinking of the French 'Orient' would be a great feat, securing our victory in this naval battle," Commodore Smith commanded.

"Fire!" On the British warships, the flag signals were constantly changing, and the British sailors were actively responding to these commands.

"Boom!" A violent explosion erupted as the French Navy's "Marseille" battleship's bow was engulfed in a massive fireball. A 32-pound cannonball fired from the "Coventry" had struck the deck of the "Marseille." Despite the "Marseille's" deck armor being 50 millimeters thick, it was no match for the heavy cannonball, which tore through it as if it were paper.

The deck armor was easily breached, and the cannonball exploded inside the ship. The tremendous force wreaked havoc in the chambers below the deck and ignited a fierce fire.

"Hurrah! We've hit them!" The crew aboard the "Coventry" cheered. Their shot had struck the French "Marseille," much to their excitement.

However, the captain of the "Coventry" was somewhat dissatisfied. The cannonball had not caused significant casualties or damage to the "Marseille," merely destroying some non-essential chambers. If the hit had been further back, it could have caused severe problems for the "Marseille."

"Order all turrets to redouble their efforts. Next time, we must make the French 'Marseille' pay a heavy price," commanded the captain of the "Coventry."

On the other side, General Brueys, commander of the French naval fleet, felt his heart leap to his throat when he saw the "Marseille" being hit. The "Marseille" was the second-largest ship in the fleet after the "Orient," and its loss would likely mean the end of the battle for the French.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before the "Marseille" sent flag signals to Brueys, informing him that it had only sustained minor damage and was still combat-capable. Relieved, Brueys's heart sank back to its place, easing his earlier fears.

"Commander, the 'Marseille' is still operational and can continue to fight. However, the accuracy of the British gunfire is too high. If this continues, it will increasingly disadvantage us," reported Brueys' aide-de-camp with a relieved sigh after confirming the 'Marseille' had not lost its combat capability. Yet, he immediately raised a concern to Brueys.

"I am aware of that. The British have intentionally controlled the engagement distance, and we simply cannot close in. They are cunning, banking on the fact that our ships and gunnery are not as precise as theirs," Brueys gritted his teeth in frustration. 

The British Navy's strength did not solely stem from their number of ships but also from the elite nature of their sailors. As the old saying goes, "An army is built in ten years; a navy in a hundred." During the age of sail, a well-trained sailor could significantly enhance a warship's combat effectiveness. Britain had dominated the seas for many years, accumulating a formidable force of experienced sailors during this time.

No matter how many ships France built, it seemed impossible to match this British advantage.

"Now, we can only hope that the warriors of the French Navy can perform beyond their usual capabilities. Only then can we possibly hit the British flagship. Otherwise, victory in this battle seems unlikely," Brueys said. Although he was the fleet commander, his confidence in the battle was wavering as the situation developed. However, he could not afford to do anything that might undermine the morale of his fleet. Yet, if the situation continued to deteriorate, the French fleet could easily be overwhelmed.

"The warriors of the French Navy will not be so easily defeated by the British. Signal all ships to counterattack," Brueys declared resolutely. He believed that although the British fleet was numerous and its soldiers elite, the French Navy was also formidable. If they fought desperately against the British, they might intimidate them enough to cause a retreat.

However, ideals are often far from reality.

Even as the French began to fire back at the British ships, their accuracy fell short of the British marksmanship. Out of 100 cannonballs fired, the British could hit the French ships with fifty or sixty, while the French managed only twenty or thirty hits, not even half the British tally.

After nearly an hour of bombardment, the 'Marseille' was badly damaged. It was a primary target for the British, who had hit it with nearly half of their fired cannonballs.

"Boom!" Another volley was fired. Countless cannonballs struck the 'Marseille.'

"Crash!" With a tremendous explosion, the 'Marseille' erupted in intense flames.

The recent British barrage had hit the 'Marseille's' ammunition storage, igniting the ship's munitions and sending flames sky-high as seawater flooded into the vessel. Despite the French sailors' valiant efforts to save their ship, their efforts were in vain against the overwhelming damage.

Eventually, the 'Marseille' sank slowly into the sea amidst thick smoke.