Chapter 0615: Sinking

"Captain, the holes are too large to seal. However, if we close the watertight compartments, excessive water will flood in, causing the battleship to list," reported the officer in charge of damage control to the captain of the *Jean Bart*.

"What should we do then?" The captain, equally at a loss, responded.

"Captain, we can flood the port side. This may barely maintain the ship's balance. However, should we face another attack, the ship will likely sink," the officer continued.

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry and seal the watertight compartments, then flood the port side!" the captain shouted.

Massive quantities of seawater surged into the *Jean Bart*, causing the ship's hull to tilt. To preserve its balance, they were forced to flood the starboard side. Yet, this only exacerbated the flooding, ultimately surpassing the ship's buoyancy reserves.

It was only when the officers aboard the *Jean Bart* saw the ship continue to sink that they realized the severity of the situation.

"Dammit! We can't flood any more, the ship is sinking! Immediately use the pumps to remove the water!" an officer shouted.

But at this point, the command structure aboard the *Jean Bart* had descended into chaos. As the ship neared its end, all thoughts turned to survival, with no one following orders. Particularly after the captain himself led the escape, it became clear that the *Jean Bart* was doomed.

Soon, the ship's deck vanished beneath the waves. Just minutes later, the 20,000-ton battleship sank into the sea, becoming the first battleship lost by the Combined Fleet in this naval engagement.

Over 1,100 French naval officers and crew perished with the ship, with only a few survivors.

"General, the *Jean Bart* has sunk!" the aide-de-camp reported to Admiral Lamet.

"Damned hell!" Admiral Lamet cursed under his breath. The real battle hadn't even begun, and they had already lost a battleship. The upcoming combat would surely be even more disastrous for them.

The German naval air force's attacks continued. Not only were French battleships being targeted, but Italian warships were also under assault.

The *Dante*, with a displacement of less than 22,000 tons, was heavily armed with four triple-mounted 305mm guns. Yet, it had no chance to showcase its formidable firepower in this fierce battle. Now, it was under siege by German aircraft.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Bombs exploded on the sea surface, sending towering columns of water into the air. Some bombs struck directly on the battleship. The ship's weak deck armor could not withstand the aerial bombardment and was pierced through.

Flames spread across the vessel as damage control teams, wearing gas masks, rushed to combat the fire with hoses.

The Italian army had performed poorly, but their navy held up reasonably well. Unfortunately, the disparity in strength was too great. Before the battleships could even clash, they were being sunk.

"Torpedoes! Torpedoes spotted! Evasive maneuvers!" 

The *Dante*, with a maximum speed of 22 knots, began an urgent turn. However, it was unable to avoid the torpedoes. Two struck the battleship: one hit the stern, detonating and sending the propellers flying, leaving the ship immobile. The other tore a massive gash just below the waterline at the bow. Seawater poured in relentlessly.

Severely damaged, the *Dante* drifted like a dying fish on the surface, an easy target for the German aircraft.

Four torpedo bombers launched a final attack as the *Dante* slowed to almost a standstill. All four torpedoes struck their mark, and the ship's 254mm thick waterline armor was torn open by the 450mm torpedoes as if it were paper.

This devastating blow was fatal for the relatively small battleship.

Within five minutes, the *Dante* sank beneath the waves.

This was the second battleship sunk by German naval aircraft.

Worse still, the battle was far from over. German aircraft continued to strike French and Italian warships with impunity, treating their fleets like soft fruit, easily crushed at will.

"My God! Why are we involved in this war? Why did we betray the Allies?" General Paolo lamented in regret.

Once, the Kingdom of Italy had been part of the Allies, but its king and prime minister, bewitched by misguided ambition, had chosen to betray them and side with the Entente. Now, instead of victory, they faced ruin.

Unfortunately, reflecting on past mistakes was pointless now. Having boarded the Entente's ship of betrayal, there was no turning back. Both Germany and Austria-Hungary would never forgive Italy. They would defeat Italy and carve it apart.

As an officer of the Kingdom of Italy, General Paolo's only choice was to lead his fleet in a desperate fight. Perhaps, through sacrifice, they might gain a slim chance of survival. However, with the German air force's overwhelming superiority, this possibility seemed all but impossible. The German aircraft had already inflicted heavy losses before the main fleets had even engaged.

Under the relentless assault of the German air force, the French and Italian navies faced peril at every turn. Warships were constantly struck by torpedoes or bombs. Although only two battleships had been sunk so far, no one knew how many more would be lost in the ensuing battle.

"Dammit, the Germans are ruthlessly attacking the French and Italians. They've already sunk two battleships. Compared to the German Navy, we don't even have the advantage; we're at a disadvantage!" Admiral John Jellicoe fretted.