Two Hundred and Seventy-Fourth BEACON IX: Naval Revitalization Plan

Hayter was really short of money.

Following his intermittent confession, Lorraine suddenly realized that it was not the first time he had heard his name.

Naval Revitalization Program.

When she went to New Orleans for the first time, Katerina once bought a seemingly insignificant piece of information from old Bart's mouth.

[Jefferson suffered a political defeat in Boston. Because of the active performance of the French Navy in naval battles, the US Navy revitalization plan he supported lost the majority support of the Continental Congress]

[His good friend Edmund Haight fell into an economic crisis because of this, and the production of the two new destroyers under construction at the Haight Dockyard stopped. Jefferson may face charges of wasting tax dollars]

The Jefferson in this information undoubtedly refers to Mr. Thomas Jefferson, the Governor of Virginia.

He is good friends with Haight, who fell into economic crisis because the United States abolished the shipbuilding contract...

It's just that Lorraine couldn't understand why the governor of Virginia insisted on supporting the revitalization of the navy in Massachusetts, and even got into trouble for it.

Do you have stock?

Lorraine, who had just opened his eyes, was extremely relaxed, and asked questions casually without thinking too much.

Hayter looked even more embarrassed.

"I didn't expect you to know so many things..." He murmured, "Actually, Mr. Jefferson is not my good friend. Our friendship ends at the acquaintance. What he really wants to help is General Robert Smith, the democratic leader of the Continental Congress." The core officer is also the admiral of the Navy Charles River formation."

Lorraine thought of the sampan admiral he met yesterday in the Old North Church. He was very young and kind, but he didn't seem to like to talk very much. Except for his polite greetings, Lorraine didn't leave much impression on him.

But not remembering Smith doesn't mean Lorraine can't figure out the twists and turns.

The implementation of the naval revitalization plan can enhance Smith’s discourse power in Boston, just as Adams’ efforts to help Hamilton in Baltimore are all based on political strategies to expand the group’s influence.

The difference is that the Continental Army has an absolute advantage in Baltimore, so federalism has succeeded, but Boston is mixed. No matter who does not want the Smiths to dominate, the revitalization of the navy will die, and democracy will naturally fail.

What should I say? This is politics.

Lorraine just suddenly became interested in the two so-called new destroyers, and wanted to know which ship replaced Liang Jingru and gave the democrats the courage to think that they could unite Boston with just a few ships.

"Mr. Haight, if it doesn't bother me, I hope to visit the destroyers abandoned by the US Navy."

"that……"

"Is there any difficulty? Could it be that even the contract has been revoked, and the United States still regards those two warships as private property?"

"Not for that reason,

It's just..." Heite sighed dejectedly, "Forget it, please follow me to Dock No. 1, and you will understand my feelings when you see the real thing. "

Hite's mood...

Soon, Lorraine was in the huge Dock 1 of Haight Shipyard.

This is probably one of the most advanced construction docks in the world today, including dry docks, wet docks, supporting water warehouses, land warehouses, office areas, processing areas, and new steam engine rooms used to replace manpower.

In my impression, the last time Lorraine saw a shipyard of this level had to go back to his hometown, the Royal Navy Dockyard in Plymouth, England, which is also recognized as the world's top shipyard.

Both sides are similar in size. The length of the dry and wet docks reaches 80 meters, which can accommodate the construction of the top first-class ship. The water tank is larger enough to berth two first-class ships. It can meet the requirements of this type of ship for the height of the mast.

This made Lorraine start to doubt what the Americans said. The so-called "new type of destroyer" wouldn't be the code name of the first-class ship built by the United States, right?

Walking forward, the two soon came to the dry dock.

There is a huge skeleton lying on the shipbuilding platform, including the keel, ribs and part of the hull below the waterline and the bilge deck. It is like walking into a giant’s tomb. Under the erosion of time, only the majesty of the past remains.

Scattered around the skeleton were formed ship materials, piles were sorted one by one, the only problem was that there was no one, not a single worker in the entire dock.

Lorraine's eyes widened.

"This is……"

"This is the new type of ship originally ordered by the Navy."

"How long is she?"

"62.2 meters long, 13.6 meters wide, aspect ratio 4.5, design draft 6.8 meters, drainage 2200 tons."

"A first-class ship? Or a second-class ship?"

Haight shook his head reminiscently: "It is neither a first-class ship nor a second-class ship. We are just a private shipyard. Even if we spend a lot of money to renovate the top shipyard, we are not confident in building more than two layers of heavy artillery bays."

"Her designed ship has only 44 guns, 28 24-pounder main guns, 10 12-pounder secondary guns, plus two bow guns and four stern guns, the firepower is slightly higher than the current mainstream A frigate, barely reaching the top in Tier 4 and below."

Lorraine frowned: "Don't you think it's a waste of such a big body?"

Hite laughed, desolate, proud, confident, and seemed to have some other indescribable emotions.

"Although her firepower is disappointing, it is because the United States can only make 24-pound guns. What's more, in our design, her speed is close to 13 knots. As long as she runs, there is no warship in the whole world can catch up with her."

"Speed ​​type...Could it be, Dao sign?"

"As a warship, many of the detailed designs explored by the Daobiao were eventually rejected, but the few traces left behind, such as the Bermuda-style sail, the Baltimore-style ship, the addition of wing sails, and the extension of the bowsprit, etc., can still be used. Make her the fastest warship in the world! A real pocket battleship!"

Pocket...Battleship...

Looking at Heite's fanatical face, a dangerous idea began to sprout in Lorraine's heart.

Pocket...Battleship!

...

"I'm going to buy Haight Shipyard."

After bidding farewell to Haight and returning to the water warehouse, Lorraine summoned all the seamen non-stop, and urgently convened the temporary board of directors of the General Chamber of Commerce.

The sailors were not surprised by the call.

After all, they suffered a big loss last night, the Jackdaw was crushed on the berth, but they didn't even know who their opponent was.

With Lorraine's temperament, this incident will definitely come back.

Even if he was about to swallow this breath for some reason, Drake's pampered core sailors were ready to persuade him, because the dignity of the pirate flag cannot be desecrated!

They waited and waited, anger lingered in their hearts, and humiliation fermented in their souls.

Then, they finally waited for Lorraine's call, but...

Excuseme?

Did the chairman go to investigate investment projects?

Is the project promising? Is the annual rate of return high? Will shareholders be satisfied? Are you out of your mind?

Without further ado, Yacharin slammed his palm on the table hard: "Captain, shouldn't our current topic be something else?"

"Other?" Lorraine tilted her head innocently.

"Like last night!"

It was only then that Lorraine suddenly realized, and asked strangely: "Find it out, kill it, and pay for it with blood. Is there any other way to deal with what happened last night?"

"Well……"

There was silence.

It was only then that the sailors realized that the doomed answer did not require discussion, only action was enough.

Lorraine waved his hands dumbfounded, and let Yacharin sit back in his original position.

"Since you are all concerned about what happened last night, let's just say a few words."

"One, mentality, the planner did a great job last night, we should be convinced."

"Second, emotions and anger can't solve any problems, but will affect judgment. That's why I needed to vent last night."

"Third, take action, the enemy is in the dark and we are in the clear. Talking about the so-called plan is useless."

"Fourth, first, we are outsiders in Boston. If we want to act, we must first attach to a certain force, the least likely to be associated with that force."

"Fifth, retreat, the day when the action will have results, before that, we should first consider the retreat, that is, the issue of the ship."

"Six, in the end, Boston is unstable and may fall at any time, and our identity is very sensitive. So before we act, we have to make ourselves safe."

"The above six items..." Lorraine looked around the audience, "Are there any questions?"

shake your head...

"In this case, let's start today's board meeting. I am going to buy the Boston Haight Shipyard..."

Reborn as a Pirate