Chapter 0630: A Cornered Beast Still Struggles

"Commander, our battleships are far too slow. The 'Revenge-class' battleships have a maximum speed of barely over 23 knots. In such circumstances, we cannot possibly escape the pursuit of the Germans. Please, sir, take the 'Tiger' battlecruiser. Although the 'Tiger' has sustained some damage during the battle, the injuries are minor. The ship's speed has not been compromised. Only aboard the 'Tiger' battlecruiser can we hope to evade the Germans." Vice Admiral David Beatty implored.

The 'Tiger' battlecruiser boasts a speed of 27.5 knots, a pace nearly on par with cruisers. Moreover, its formidable firepower ensures its own protection. Thus, sailing aboard the 'Tiger' offers a far greater chance of escaping the German pursuit.

Admiral John Jellicoe shook his head. "Admiral Beatty, we have lost this battle. Someone must bear responsibility. I will remain here, commanding the fleet to continue the fight. You should board the 'Tiger' and report the details of this battle to the Prime Minister and the First Sea Lord."

"Sir, this defeat is not our fault; it is due to the overwhelming strength of the enemy. This is not your responsibility. You need not bear the full weight of blame. I am certain that both the Prime Minister and Mr. Churchill will understand," Admiral Beatty said, trying to reason.

Yet, Admiral Jellicoe persisted in his decision. He had resolved to take responsibility for the defeat, perhaps even to martyr himself for the fall of the Royal Navy. He intended to fight to the bitter end. Furthermore, he could not bear the thought of returning to Britain only to witness the nation's surrender to Germany, or worse, the entire British Isles consumed by war.

Seeing that his words had no effect, Admiral Beatty finally relented. Unlike Jellicoe, Beatty valued his life more. He boarded a launch and set course for the 'Tiger' battlecruiser. The ship's speed quickly rose to 25 knots as it sped toward Britain, its fate now resting in the hands of providence.

The remaining British warships fought desperately to flee, while the German fleet pursued them, intent on leaving no British ships behind.

The German warships, all powered by fuel boilers and steam turbines, held a distinct advantage in speed. Vice Admiral Hipper's Second Battle Line and Vice Admiral Spee's battlecruiser squadron were still engaged in the destruction of Rear Admiral Martin's eight remaining American battleships. Once these ships were dealt with, the Germans would turn their attention to the fleeing British.

Admiral Reinhard Scheer led the First Battle Line, chasing down the remaining six British capital ships. As for the fleeing French and Italians, they were of no concern at the moment. In this battle, the frailty of the French and Italian fleets had been fully exposed. Even if four French battleships and two Italian battleships managed to escape, they posed no threat to the German Navy. The outcome of this battle ensured that neither France nor Italy would have any more illusions about the war. Their surrender seemed inevitable.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Explosions rocked the area around the 'New York' as massive splashes of water shot up from the sea, resembling the spouts of a whale.

The three German 'Mackenzen-class' battlecruisers were relentlessly attacking the 'New York.' Among the remaining American ships, only the 'New York-class' battleships were armed with 356mm guns, making them the primary targets of the Germans. Three 'Mackenzen-class' battlecruisers were closing in on the 'New York,' while three 'Derflinger-class' battleships focused on the 'Texas,' ensuring that both ships would be eliminated.

Other German battleships and battlecruisers launched attacks on the remaining American warships.

"Damn it! How did this happen?" Rear Admiral Martin was still struggling to accept the sudden turn of events. Although the British Navy had already been losing ground, the arrival of the German battlecruiser fleet had completely crushed their ability to resist. The once mighty Combined Fleet had fractured in an instant. The speed of this defeat was overwhelming.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The 'New York's' five twin-barrel 356mm turrets fired back furiously, launching heavy shells at the flagship of the German battlecruisers, the 'Mackenzen.' However, the shells splashed harmlessly into the sea, achieving no result.

"Boom!" Suddenly, the 'New York' was rocked by a violent hit. Rear Admiral Martin's face drained of color.

"Damn, we've been hit!" Martin cursed.

A 380mm shell fired from the German 'Mackenzen' struck the 'New York's' side, hitting just above the waterline. The armor of the 'New York-class' was weaker than that of the 'Nevada-class,' with only 305mm of protection at the waterline. Against a 380mm shell, it was like paper.

The shell tore through the armor and exploded, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the 'New York.'

The only silver lining was that the hole was above the waterline, mere inches from the surface. Had the shell hit any lower, the damage would have been catastrophic.

Despite the disadvantage, the British Navy fought with fierce determination, launching desperate counterattacks, behaving like cornered animals, hoping to take down some of the German warships before they themselves were sunk.