บท 47: Chapter 47: A Devastating Defeat
Seeing the situation, Brueys hurriedly ordered the damage control team to take action, but the breach caused by the explosion was too large. By the time the team arrived, two compartments had already been flooded. With no other option, the French sailors were forced to close the watertight doors, isolating these compartments. However, the massive influx of seawater caused the 'Orient' to start listing, significantly impairing its combat capabilities.
The French navy's flagship had been hit repeatedly and sustained serious damage, which severely disadvantaged the French fleet in this naval battle. Victory, which they had hoped to secure, was now slipping further and further away.
"Damn it, how could this happen!" Brueys realized that the situation was increasingly turning against them. Not only were they unlikely to achieve victory in this naval battle, but they were also facing a potential defeat. Such a defeat would spell disaster not just for the French naval fleet but also for Napoleon's entire Egyptian campaign. If that happened, not only would Napoleon not forgive them, but the French people would also regard him as a culprit.
But by now, the outcome of the battle was decided, and no amount of resistance from Brueys could change the result.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
At that moment, three massive explosions resounded from the 'Orient'. The first explosion was caused by a cannonball from the British 'Victory', which struck the forward deck's gun port of the 'Orient'. The cannonball tore through the armor and exploded inside, killing everyone operating the cannons.
The second explosion was even more devastating, as it ignited the 'Orient's' ammunition store. The British had previously analyzed the layout of the 'Marseille', which shared the same class with the 'Orient', and figured out the ammunition store's location. The British gunners targeted the 'Orient's' ammunition store directly, easily breaching it. The cannonball penetrated the ammunition store and detonated the munitions inside, instantly igniting a fierce fire, followed by a massive explosion that tore the front half of the 'Orient' to pieces.
Upon witnessing this, Brueys felt darkness before his eyes, realizing that the French fleet was truly doomed.
"Where's the damage control? Plug the leak! Where is everyone? Are they all dead?" Brueys' aide-de-camp screamed frantically on the bridge of the 'Orient'.
"Colonel, the ship has been critically damaged, and we can't contain the breaches. We should give the order to abandon ship now, or it will be too late," a disheveled officer reported to Brueys, his face covered in soot.
The forward half of the ship was severely compromised, allowing vast amounts of seawater to flood in. The battleship was beyond saving, and within minutes, it was likely to sink.
"Damned fool! How dare you demoralize the troops? I'll have you shot for this!" the aide-de-camp shouted furiously, pulling out his pistol and pointing it at the officer. However, as the ship suddenly listed further, the aide-de-camp lost his balance and fell heavily onto the deck.
"Order all ships to keep firing! The French formation is broken. Let's take this opportunity to destroy them," commanded Nelson from the 'Victory's command tower, relentless in his pursuit. He was not one to show mercy, intent on sending the French ships to the bottom of the sea while they were in disarray.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
British warships continuously bombarded the French flagship 'Orient', sending volley after volley towards it, igniting massive flames. From afar, the 'Orient' appeared as a colossal pyre against the night sky.
With the sun fully set, the blazing 'Orient' stood out starkly on the dark sea.
"Crash!" With a final earth-shattering explosion, the French flagship 'Orient' caught fire and blew up, killing General Brueys instantly.
With their commander and flagship lost, the French fleet descended into complete chaos. The British fleet pressed their advantage ruthlessly.
After an afternoon of relentless combat, only two fast gunboats and a few dispatch vessels remained of the French fleet in Alexandria harbor, a mere shadow of its former might.
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