Chapter 0633: Surrender

The overwhelming firepower of the German Navy's aircraft needs no further explanation. In just two prior waves of attacks, the German aircraft had cost the Allied fleet ten battleships, leaving them at a significant disadvantage even before the main clash began. And now, the planes returned—posing an undeniable mortal threat to the battlecruiser *Tiger*.

There weren't many aircraft in the sky: four fighters, eight bombers, and eight torpedo bombers. Admiral Reinhard Scheer had directed the carrier-based planes to target the retreating Allied ships, leaving those unable to escape for the main fleet to handle. Thus, the aircraft had been dispatched in waves.

The *Tiger*, one of the most formidable battlecruisers of the Royal Navy, though not comparable to Germany's mightier battlecruisers, was still a force to be reckoned with. Yet now, *Tiger* lay helpless as meat on a butcher's block, awaiting the German planes to descend upon her.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The squadron leader, commanding this operation, fired three signal flares, prompting the planes to dive toward *Tiger* and launch their assault.

The four fighters led the attack, strafing *Tiger*'s deck and anti-aircraft positions with their machine guns.

The battlecruiser *Tiger* boasted an array of anti-aircraft guns and machine guns. For the bombers and torpedo planes to attack recklessly would be to invite a hail of anti-aircraft fire, so the fighters provided cover for their approach.

"Ratatatat!"

The fighters swept over *Tiger* at high speed, and bullets from their machine guns sparked against the battleship's steel plates. Occasionally, a round found its mark in the body of a British sailor, producing a sickening "thud."

Screams filled the air as British sailors were torn to shreds.

As *Tiger*'s anti-aircraft fire focused on the fighters, the bombers and torpedo planes seized the moment to launch their assault. Four bombers began a high-altitude dive, releasing their bombs at a mere 800 meters from *Tiger* before pulling up sharply.

Four bombs arced down toward *Tiger* in parabolic trajectories.

"Evasive maneuvers! Quickly—German bombs incoming!"

*Tiger* immediately initiated a hard turn, trying to evade the falling bombs. Three of the bombs splashed into the sea, but one struck *Tiger* directly.

The 250-kilogram bomb, propelled by immense kinetic energy, had formidable armor-piercing capability. *Tiger*'s deck armor was torn open in an instant. The bomb punched through the plating and detonated below, obliterating several compartments.

As the bombers completed their attack run, the four torpedo bombers launched their own strike, dropping their torpedoes from just 500 meters away. Four 450mm torpedoes sped toward *Tiger*.

"Torpedoes spotted on port side! Emergency evasive maneuvers!"

*Tiger* began another sharp turn, flinging unprepared sailors overboard with centrifugal force. But by now, no one had the luxury of worrying about them.

To avoid the torpedoes, *Tiger* desperately altered course. However, for such a massive battlecruiser, evasive maneuvers required time—time the oncoming torpedoes did not allow.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion rocked *Tiger*'s port side. The mere nine inches of waterline armor proved inadequate against the torpedo's warhead, which tore open a gaping hole in the hull.

Moments later, a second explosion echoed as another torpedo struck *Tiger*'s stern, blowing the rudder to pieces.

Although the remaining two torpedoes missed, *Tiger* was already gravely damaged by the two hits she had sustained.

"Admiral, the rudder's been destroyed—we've lost all ability to steer," reported an officer with a despairing expression to Vice Admiral David Beatty.

"Damn it!" Beatty cursed.

With steering lost, *Tiger* had become a sitting target for the enemy. Above her hovered German aircraft, laden with bombs and torpedoes.

The German Navy's planes, seeing *Tiger* disabled, pressed their advantage. With no way to evade, the battlecruiser was even easier to hit.

In the next wave, four bombers scored three hits, and all four torpedoes from the torpedo bombers found their mark.

*Tiger*'s port side was torn open in multiple places. Damage control teams were helpless as seawater flooded into the stricken vessel.

Vice Admiral Beatty had no choice but to order an evacuation. Soon, *Tiger* capsized and sank beneath the waves.

The French Navy's four battleships and the Italian Navy's two battleships fared no better.

When dozens of German planes closed in on them, Admirals Ramey and Paolo were terrified, having witnessed firsthand how these German aircraft had destroyed their own battleships.

Thus, in an effort to save their own lives, Admirals Ramey and Paolo ordered surrender. White flags were raised, boilers were shut down, and the ships came to a halt.

The French and Italian surrender surprised the German pilots, who circled above the surrendered ships rather than attacking.

Fortunately, Admiral Spee's fleet arrived and took possession of the French and Italian vessels. Though Admirals Ramey and Paolo had escaped on destroyers, capturing six battleships still pleased the German Navy immensely.