Chapter 0628: Fleeing

As the *Nevada* battleship began to sink, Admiral Spee decisively issued the command to redirect the attack. The target was shifted from the *Nevada* to the *Oklahoma*.

After all, the *Nevada* was already sinking, and continuing to bombard it would only waste valuable shells. Each shell from the heavy caliber guns was expensive, and any ammunition saved could be used elsewhere. Moreover, there were still numerous enemy battleships left afloat. Should they run out of shells, the consequences would be dire.

The fleet of 11 battlecruisers now focused their fire on the *Oklahoma*. The once stalwart battleship now found itself in the same perilous situation as the *Nevada* had moments earlier. The relentless barrage of large-caliber shells rained down upon the *Oklahoma*, turning it into a fragile vessel tossed about in a violent storm, with the constant threat of capsizing. Though the *Oklahoma* was of the same class as the *Nevada*, with formidable armor, it could not survive under such a concentrated assault.

"Boom!" A 380mm shell struck the *Oklahoma*'s starboard side, hitting the waterline. The thick armor proved no match for the mighty shell, which tore through it and exploded, leaving a gaping wound at the waterline.

Damage control personnel fought desperately to seal the breach, but as soon as they made progress, another shell struck. The violent tremor from the explosion reopened the patched-up wound, and seawater began to flood in rapidly.

"Boom! Boom!" Shell after shell struck the *Oklahoma*, inflicting more and more damage.

A 343mm shell hit the command tower, but due to the angle, it failed to penetrate the armor. However, it sent the officers inside into a dazed stupor, throwing the ship's command into chaos.

A 305mm shell struck the *Oklahoma*'s smokestack. The tall smokestack was obliterated in an instant, and the falling section smashed into the upper structure of the ship, causing significant damage.

"My God! The *Oklahoma* is beyond saving. With the Germans' relentless firepower, it stands no chance of survival," Admiral Martin muttered as he climbed aboard the *New York* and surveyed the scene of destruction.

Indeed, under the concentrated fire from the 11 German battlecruisers, the *Oklahoma* had no hope of survival. The large-caliber shells continued to fall around the ship, each one adding to its growing list of wounds.

The most devastating blow came from the *Frederick Carl* battleship. A 380mm shell struck the *Oklahoma*'s aft deck, hitting the base of the 4th main gun turret—a triple-barreled 356mm turret with thick armor. The angle of the shot was perfect, striking where the turret mount met the deck. The shell pierced the armor, descending at an angle, and exploded after also breaching the ammunition storage below.

In an instant, over a hundred 356mm shells in the magazine detonated.

A thunderous explosion shook the ship, and the *Oklahoma*'s stern was engulfed in flames and smoke. When the smoke cleared, the ship's aft had vanished, as if devoured by some monstrous creature.

Seawater rushed in from the stern, flooding the ship. The damage control crew, unable to contain the catastrophic breach, could only helplessly watch as more and more water poured into the ship.

In this dire situation, the *Oklahoma*'s captain issued the order to retreat. Admiral Martin, though silent, knew that in a battle where the ship's fate was sealed, the priority was saving as many lives as possible.

"My God! What now?" Admiral Martin's voice trembled with uncertainty. Having already lost two of the fleet's most powerful battleships, the blow to their strength was incalculable. Worse still, only eight battleships remained to face 11 German battleships and 11 battlecruisers. Victory was now an impossibility.

Although Admiral Martin's fleet had managed to turn, their situation had not improved. His battle line was now trapped between the second German battle line and the battlecruiser fleet, caught in a deadly pincer.

With the Germans holding absolute superiority, it was only a matter of time before Martin's fleet was destroyed.

The arrival of the German battlecruisers had shaken the entire Joint Fleet. The loss of the *Nevada* and *Oklahoma* was a devastating blow, signaling that the fleet was now at a severe disadvantage.

"Damn it, how could the Germans' battlecruisers arrive so quickly? Now, General Martin is left with only nine battleships, most of them inferior. With 11 German battleships and 11 battlecruisers closing in, survival is impossible. The Germans have overwhelming dominance. The situation is looking bleak for us!" Admiral Jellicoe remarked.

Vice Admiral David Beatty nodded gravely. With only 20 capital ships left to face 34 German capital ships, and no advantage in terms of performance, victory seemed all but impossible.

"General, the French and Italians have sent a message. They've withdrawn from the battle line and begun retreating!" an officer reported.

"What? The French and Italians are retreating? Damn it, how dare they leave without our orders? This is pure cowardice!" Admiral Jellicoe exclaimed in fury.

The French and Italian retreat only worsened the already dire situation for the fleet.