Chapter 319： French response (1/2)
On March 26, 1861, the Austrian Navy set out from the port of Venice to begin a global visit. The first stop was the Ottoman Empire.
Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has moved its capital to inland areas, otherwise they can have a good feel of what is stress. Even with the relocation of the capital, the Sudanese government was still shocked.
Seven iron armored ships plus a dozen auxiliary warships constitute the world's most powerful fleet, which is not comparable to sail fleets.
When it comes to visits, it is just visits. This time, Franz did not plan to take root, and after frightening the Sudanese government, he visited the Mediterranean countries and went straight to Asia.
Paris
Excited Napoleon III announced at a government meeting: ”We want to build a larger iron armored fleet and let the world know the power of France.”
Napoleon III had no way to react less fiercely, even if the navy was not as good as the British. He can also comfort himself that the British are a pure sea power country, and France is an amphibious land and sea, which can't bear it compared with the Austrians.
The French navy's advantage over the Austrian navy is only based on tonnage and combat experience.
Unfortunately, these experiences have all stayed in the era of sailing warships, many things have fallen behind in the era of ironclad ships, and tactical concepts have also changed. Even if the tonnage has several times the advantage, the sail warship cannot win the iron armored ship.
There is no way. The sails of the warship are also used to deal with the sails. Suddenly the enemy becomes an armored ship.
Secretary of the Navy Dike replied confidently: ”Your Majesty, please rest assured. We have started to build the Armored Fleet. At present, there are two Armored ships in service, and three Armored ships at the end of the year.
The Admiralty is planning to build ten iron armored ships, which can be completed in a maximum of two years to let the world know our strength. ”
The technical level has passed, and building an armored ship is no longer an issue. This is also the speed of shipbuilding in peaceful times. If you are willing to rush to work, the construction time of a warship only takes a few months.
During this period, the tonnage of ironclad ships has not skyrocketed. The big ones are only eight or nine thousand tons, and the small ones are only two or three thousand tons. The dock does not need to be modified, and basically can meet the needs of shipbuilding.
Napoleon III said with satisfaction, ”OK!”
The world's first navy cannot get the name, the world's second is to say that it can no longer be lost, and the French also want to lose face.
According to the international rankings of military forces, the French army and navy are second, and Austria is closely followed by the army and navy. The military forces on the two countries are very close.
Before the advent of the armored ship era, the strength of the Austrian navy was still six or seven or eight. As a result, when the ironclad landed, he overtook the car and jumped away from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Many people now believe that the Austrian Navy can be compared with the French Navy. This concept is very marketable in the Mediterranean, and Napoleon III did not know it.
In terms of naval tonnage, the Austrian navy is close to 70% of the French navy. Considering the increase in the combat effectiveness of ironclad ships, this statement is very convincing.
Therefore, the French Admiralty announced the long-planned shipbuilding plan. When these warships enter service, the navies of the two countries will be stretched again.
As for Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal, at this time they have fallen behind and are unable to participate in this navy feast.
After a pause, Secretary of the Navy Dike added: ”Your Majesty, our navy has insufficient military expenses. To build so many iron armored ships, the government will need to increase funding.”
Apparently, it was not without purpose that the Navy asked Napoleon III to come and see the Austrian navy fleet in person. On the surface, the French navy has lost face, in fact, it is still for shipbuilding funding.
Without paying attention to the mini-calculations of the Admiralty, Napoleon III asked: ”How much worse?”
Secretary of the Navy Dike replied solemnly: ”At least another 120 million francs must be allocated before we can complete the plan.”
Shipbuilding alone is definitely not worth so much money, but also basic training, staffing, new technology research and development ...
The current appropriation is only an upfront cost. Once the construction is completed, the subsequent maintenance costs of the navy will also increase, in other words, the naval military expenditure will increase.
Without waiting for Napoleon III to answer, Minister of Finance Monier couldn't wait to jump out and say, ”No, you guys are talking big in the lion.
How much is the construction cost of an iron armored ship? How could it be 120 million francs, and the maximum would not exceed 80 million francs. If you save a little, 70 million francs may be enough. ”
Now the French Empire's fiscal revenue has reached 1.72 billion francs (about 68.8 million pounds), the French have the confidence of cattle B, and the British fiscal revenue at the same time is also 70 million pounds.
(Note: the chronology of the statistics looks like it only calculates the local)
However, no matter how high the fiscal revenue, the money will never be enough. The Ministry of Finance still has to save the province, and it must fight decisively against such a lion's big opening.
Secretary of the Navy Dike explained solemnly: ”How can this be saved, Earl? In the age of ironclad ships, we are one step behind the Austrians, mainly because of insufficient military expenditure.
If military expenditures are reduced now, how can we develop new technologies?