With the help of the navy, the maritime transportation line from western France to northern Poland was soon completed. Starting from the Le Havre Naval Base in western France, crossing the English Channel, the North Sea, bypassing the Jutland Peninsula, crossing the Strait of Katgart, entering the Baltic Sea, and finally reaching cities such as Gdynia, Gdansk and Elblonge in the Bay of Visva in northern Poland. After calculation, it takes two months to go back and forth. The nearly 300 transport ships mobilized by the Navy can transport about 2 million at one time.

Tons of various materials were sent to northern Poland and then transferred from northern Poland to warehouses or front-line units in various places. In order to ensure the safety of the route, the Navy specially dispatched a fleet of 22 warships from the Strait fleet to escort the transport fleet. Of course, in the entire European waters, no country's navy is an opponent of the French navy, and those pirates active in Nordic Europe are even more unlikely to attack the French transport fleet unless they want to suffer strong revenge from the French navy.

The opening of the French northern maritime transportation line caused panic among Russia. This means that the role of the guerrillas they had spent a lot of energy to form would be greatly reduced. Moreover, as long as the French army solved the problem of material supply, they would definitely prepare for a large-scale attack next, and now Russia cannot resist the large-scale attack of the French army. Therefore, the Russian army must destroy the French army's maritime transportation line.

First, Russia secretly sent special envoys to contact pirates active in the Baltic and North Sea areas, hoping that they could rob the French naval transport fleet. However, when those pirate organizations heard that they were asking them to rob the French transport fleet with a large number of warships escorted by the French army, they immediately rejected Russia's request and believed that Russia was deliberately making things difficult for them. Isn't it seeking death to do the right thing to do with the powerful French navy? Not to mention whether they could successfully rob the French navy under the escort of the French navy. Even after success, the revenge of the French navy is not something they can bear.

In the end, there was no way, Nicholas had to send the Russian Baltic Fleet to actively attack France's northern maritime transportation line. The Baltic Sea is the largest fleet of the Russian Navy. The fleet was built during the period of Peter the Great and has always been the focus of the development of the Russian Navy. After nearly two hundred years of development, the Baltic Fleet formed a fleet of more than 70 warships, including various warships, and the total number of warships reached more than 70, which was the largest fleet along the Baltic Sea coast. However, compared with the French Navy, it seems a bit insignificant. The three major French Navy fleets, any one can be used to transfer them out, and they can completely defeat the Russian Baltic Fleet. The Russian Baltic Fleet is mainly composed of 3 first-class battleships, 7 second-class battleships, 15 third-class battleships, 25 gunboats and 20 three-masted clutches. All are old-fashed warships in the Sail Age.

In order to destroy France's maritime transportation lines, Nicholas sent most of the battleships of the Baltic Fleet, including two first-class battleships, four second-class battleships, 10 third-class battleships, 15 gunboats and 10 three-masted fast ships. Nicholas knew the power of the French Navy, so he did not have the delusion to defeat the French Navy's escort fleet. The orders he issued to the fleet he sent were to do his best to destroy the French transport ships. Only by destroying these transport ships could he completely destroy the French sea transport lines.

At the end of June, the French transport fleet arrived in northern Poland for the first time, while the Russian naval fleet had already been waiting in Visva Bay. The fierce naval battle broke out immediately. The French escort fleet consisted of 1 Former Fearless Class warship, 7 Bonaparte Class warships and 14 Iberian Class warships. In terms of the number of warships, it was at an absolute disadvantage. But in terms of combat effectiveness, the French escort fleet had an absolute advantage. Not to mention that the performance of the French escort fleet is many times higher than that of the Russian Navy, even in terms of the quality of naval soldiers, the Russian Navy was definitely not as good as that of the Russian Navy. The battle-hardened French Navy could not match the Russian Navy that was huddled in the Baltic Sea.

The strategic purpose of the Russian Navy is very clear. The battleships are dragged out of the French Navy, and the gunboats and three-masted clutches are attacking those transport ships without defensive power. However, the Russian army's wishful thinking is obviously wrong. Just three rounds of volleys in the front, the Russian Navy was destroyed by a second-class battleship and three-class battleships. The Russian gunboats and three-masted clutches who were trying to hunt the French transport fleet were stopped by all 10 "Iberia" class warships of the French escort fleet. The "Iberia" class warships powered by steam engines are not slower than those of the three-masted clutches, and their combat effectiveness is far from comparable to those of the three-masted clutches. Except for a few gunboats and three-masted clutches, other warships were stopped. The one-sided killing was quickly unfolded, and the Russian army was not a French at all.

The country escorted the opponent of the fleet. In just half an hour, the Russian fleet lost most of the warships. After solving its opponent, a large number of Iberian-class warships began to chase the Russian warships that had escaped. At this time, one of the French naval transport ships had been sunk and one was injured. Fortunately, the loaded on it was food and clothing, otherwise the losses would be great. Two hours later, except for two three-masted fast ships, the Russian fleet, which had escaped first, all other warships were sent to the seabed. France only paid the price of two transport ships sunk, three transport ships were injured, and two "Iberian" class warships and one "Bonaparte" class warships. For this result, France was still acceptable.

However, Russia was a little in tears. The final hope was shattered. I believe that after these materials arrived at the front, France's large-scale attack would begin soon. Nikolai did not have hope in other aspects, and focused on training the army, hoping to delay the war. You should know that it is almost July now, and as long as the Russian army can hold on until November, when the cold winter comes, Russia will have a chance to win.

While Russia was trying to destroy France's northern maritime transportation lines, the French Mediterranean Fleet also began to assemble in Istanbul. In order to completely destroy the Russian Black Sea Fleet and gain control of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Fleet spent a lot of money this time. The only "Default" class warship, the "Brave" class warship, two "Former Fearless" class warships came, namely the "Grand Duke" and the "Peninsula", six "Bonapart" class warships came, and 15 "Iberia" class warships also gathered. The strength gathered in Istanbul is almost equivalent to more than 60% of the total strength of the Mediterranean Fleet.

What about the Russian Black Sea Fleet? It is just a fleet with more than 40 warships. With such strength, it is okay to bully the weak Turkish Navy. If you face the French Navy, you will die and live.

The news of the French Navy gathering in Istanbul made Russia very panic. They guessed that France must have wanted to get involved in the Black Sea. Therefore, Nikolai urgently ordered the Black Sea Fleet to prepare for combat and remain vigilant at any time. At the same time, he drew a large army to Crimea to set up defenses. However, due to the lack of troops, he had to draw the 24th Army from the Southern Front Army to rush to the Crimean Peninsula.

On June 12, the French fleet set sail from Istanbul, crossed the Bosphorus Strait, and entered the Black Sea. As soon as the French fleet left the port, the news was immediately discovered by Russian spies stationed in Istanbul, and quickly passed the news back. Istanbul is not far from the Crimean Peninsula, about 600 nautical miles, and for the French Navy, only two days of sailing is enough.

Late at night on June 13, General Sergei, commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, received the news that the French Navy had left Istanbul. The general did not dare to delay and immediately sent someone to find the deputy commander of the fleet, chief of staff, and the commander of the 24th Legion to discuss with them how to face the attack of the powerful French fleet.

"Two, I just got the news that the French fleet had left Istanbul on the morning of the 12th. According to time, they will arrive in the Crimean Peninsula before noon tomorrow. Sevastopol, as a naval base, must be the focus of the French fleet's attack." Sergei said with a gloomy face. He knew that his Black Sea fleet would definitely lose if he went to war with the French fleet.

As soon as Sergei finished speaking, the other three were shocked. The commander of the 24th Legion even exclaimed: "It's coming so fast!"

"Do you know how many troops are there?" asked the commander of the 24th Legion. This is what he cares most about. The navy is naturally handed over to the navy to deal with it. His opponent is the French landing force.

"It is said that they did not accompany the landing troops. Maybe they wanted to defeat our fleet and be brought by the landing troops." Sergei said.

Hearing this sentence, the commander of the 24th Legion looked happy, but he did not show it.

"Commander, how powerful is the French Navy? Does our Black Sea Fleet have the power to fight?" asked the deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

Sergei nodded and said, "You can fight against the French fleet, but you will definitely lose."
Chapter completed!