Chapter 0620: The Boiling Sea

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

The German battleship *Bavaria* fired the first salvo. Three triple-barreled 380mm main guns, with a caliber of 50 times, hurled one-ton shells with brutal force at the flagship of the Combined Fleet, *Revenge*. 

Other German ships quickly followed suit. 

In an instant, the sea was alive with the thunderous sound of artillery. Shell after shell, propelled by immense kinetic energy, struck the enemy vessels. Each impact sent enormous columns of water into the air, the sound of the splashing water akin to the crackling of fire, as though the entire ocean was boiling. 

On another front, the German Second Battle Line engaged the Combined Fleet's own Second Battle Line. Eleven German battleships clashed with the eleven British battleships, purchased from America. The *Arkansas* had been sunk by German naval aircraft, leaving only eleven ships. 

Though the numbers were equal, the performance of the German battleships undeniably gave them the upper hand. The two British *Nevada-class* and two *New York-class* battleships were equipped with 356mm main guns, while the rest carried 305mm guns. In contrast, the German *Kaiser-class* and *Helgoland-class* battleships carried 343mm guns, with only four *Nassau-class* ships mounting 305mm guns. The German 50-caliber 343mm guns were every bit as powerful as the U.S. Navy's 45-caliber 356mm guns, with superior armor-piercing capability. 

Among the remaining British battleships, only the *Wyoming-class* was equipped with 50-caliber 305mm guns, while the others used 45-caliber 305mm guns. The four German *Nassau-class* battleships all carried 50-caliber 305mm guns. 

In terms of defense, the *Nevada-class* battleships were indeed formidable. However, the German ships' armor was by no means weak, though, apart from the *Nevada-class*, the other British ships offered little in terms of defense. 

Considering all factors, the German fleet clearly had the advantage. Their superiority in naval power would give them a greater edge in the battle. 

Of course, this did not guarantee a German victory, as numerous factors influenced the outcome of a naval battle. Performance alone was but one of them. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

At a distance of 13,000 meters, both fleets fired with intensity. Shells howled through the air, smashing into enemy ships. The sound of gunfire reverberated like rolling thunder. 

The German battlecruiser fleet, however, had yet to engage, taking a longer route. Eleven battlecruisers formed an extended line, their speed now at 25 knots. 

"General, the main fleet has engaged the British. The Commander has ordered us to assist the Second Battle Line and focus on eliminating the British battleships purchased from America!" reported a staff officer. 

Vice Admiral Spee nodded. "The British have not retreated and dare to fight. Clearly, they believe they can defeat our main force before we arrive. I wonder where Admiral Jellicoe gets his confidence." 

"How long until we reach the battlefield?" Spee inquired. 

"At this speed, General, we should arrive in about an hour, positioning ourselves in front of the British Second Battle Line. If the timing is right, we could even catch them in a T-crossing," the officer replied. 

"Excellent. In one hour, we will join Admiral Hipper in eliminating those American battleships. Then, we will turn our attention to assisting the Commander in wiping out the remaining British, French, and Italian fleets. This battle must ensure that no British capital ship escapes. They must all be sunk!" Spee commanded. 

If they could sink the entire Combined Fleet's capital ships, it would resolve all their problems once and for all. The German Navy would truly dominate the seas, and no other nation's fleet would be able to challenge them. The might of the German Navy would far surpass the British Royal Navy's past supremacy. 

Of course, Vice Admiral Spee was confident in victory. The German Navy not only had superior numbers of capital ships but also had the technological edge in ship performance. Moreover, with aircraft carriers supporting their efforts, their naval airstrikes would soon deliver a devastating blow to the Combined Fleet. 

In Spee's view, the Combined Fleet's offensive was suicidal. To gamble so many lives on a slim chance of victory was nothing short of foolish. 

The battle had been intense from the start. Both sides, eager to seize the rare opportunity, were pushing themselves to the limit in their efforts to achieve victory. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Around the *King Albert* battleship, towering columns of water rose as it came under heavy fire from the French Navy's three *Normandy-class* battleships. While the *Normandy-class* battleships, equipped with four triple-barreled 45-caliber 340mm guns, had more guns than the German 50-caliber 343mm guns, their overall firepower was inferior. The French fleet's thirty-six 340mm guns—compared to the *King Albert's* nine—gave them a numerical advantage, but they lacked the same piercing power. 

The *Louis Leopold Regent* faced less pressure, with the *Brittany-class* battleship's five twin-barrel 45-caliber 305mm guns and the *Solo* battleship's six 45-caliber 305mm guns (though only five could target the same side). Despite their smaller caliber, the French 45-caliber 305mm guns struggled to penetrate the *Louis Leopold Regent's* armor, while the German 50-caliber 343mm guns could tear through the French ships' defenses with ease. 

Though both the *King Albert* and *Louis Leopold Regent* were at a disadvantage due to being surrounded, they still posed a deadly threat to the enemy.