Published at 13th of February 2023 07:04:13 AM

"Damn it, the Germans focused their attack on our 'King Kong-class' battlecruiser!" Admiral Ijuin Goro couldn't help cursing.

"Counterattack! Your Excellency, Commander, we must counterattack." Major Gentaro Yamashita said anxiously.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The capital ships of the combined fleet of the island nation's navy immediately launched a counterattack. However, except for the 356mm main guns of the three "King Kong-class" battlecruisers, the 305mm main guns of the remaining capital ships did not pose any threat to the German Navy's battlecruisers at all.

The fierce artillery battle between the two sides started again. It's just that, as before, the German Navy's combined fleet with a small number of capital ships still firmly holds the advantage. The island nation's combined fleet, which has a large number of capital ships, fell into a passive situation.

"Boom!"

A shell fired from the battlecruiser 'Prince Frederick' hit the battlecruiser 'King Kong'. The shell hit the rear deck of the battleship King Kong. The fragile deck armor was easily penetrated by heavy shells. The cannonball exploded inside the battleship. The huge force not only destroyed several cabins, but also broke one of the transmission shafts. This directly caused the speed of the battlecruiser 'King Kong' to begin to drop sharply.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the situation of the King Kong is very bad, please transfer immediately!" Gentaro Yamashita said anxiously to General Ijuin Goro.

General Ijuin Goro nodded, the battlecruiser 'Kong Kong' was damaged and its speed dropped, which meant that the battlecruiser would never return to Tokyo Bay. This is the flagship of the United Fleet! But it is a pity that there is still only the fate of being sunk.

"Yamashita Army, you go to the 'Hiei', I'll go to the 'Hanoi'. The 'Kong Kong' can't escape, but the 'Hiei' and the 'Kirishima' can still escape. Our loss It is already big enough, and there can be no more losses. The 'Hiei' and 'Kirishima' must escape back!" General Ijuin Goro said with a serious face.

"But, General, I..." Major Gentaro Yamashita hesitated to speak. He was afraid that after he fled back, he would end up committing seppuku.

"Hey! I will send a telegram to Yatsushiro-kun. I will bear all the responsibilities. Yamashitkun, you have experienced this naval battle, and you should know the strength of the Germans. I hope that after you go back, you can serve as More important duties, in the future, lead the Imperial Navy to defeat the Germans in one fell swoop! In that case, it can be regarded as revenge for me and the warriors of the island nation who died in this naval battle!" General Ijuin Goro said.

Since General Ijuin Goro has already said this, can Major Gentaro Yamashita say more?

"Your Excellency, Commander, if Hideki survives this time by chance, defeating the German Navy will be his lifelong goal in the future. In Hidejo's lifetime, he will do his best to defeat the German Navy!" Rear Admiral Gentaro Yamashita assured Admiral Ijuin Goro.

General Ijuin Goro nodded in satisfaction: "Yamashitkun, I believe you will succeed!"

General Ijuin Goro and Major General Gentaro Yamashita left the battlecruiser 'King Kong' in a transportation boat. Admiral Ijuin Goro went to the battleship Hanoi, raised the flagship flag there, and continued to command the battle. On the other hand, Major General Gentaro Yamashita went to the battlecruiser "Hiei", trying to take the two ships "Hiei" and "Kirishima" to flee the battlefield and escape back to Tokyo Bay.

'Hiei' and'Kirishima', as the most cutting-edge battlecruisers of the island navy, if the speed is increased to the highest, it is enough to reach 27 knots. In this case, they can quickly escape back to Tokyo Bay. It is not impossible to escape the pursuit of the German expeditionary fleet. As for the other pre-dreadnought ships, of course they will be lost. But if the two "King Kong-class" battlecruisers can be kept, this is already very lucky for the island navy.

The 'Hiei' and 'Kirishima' began to speed up, but bad luck followed.

A 380mm artillery shell fired from the battlecruiser "Luzov" hit the stern of the battleship "Hiei", blowing up the steering gear and a propeller at the same time. This caused the speed of the battlecruiser 'Hiei' to drop sharply. Also lost the ability to turn. In a fierce naval battle, after receiving such trauma, it is naturally impossible to have any good results.

The battlecruiser "Kirishima" was also very unlucky. In this round of salvo fired by the battlecruiser "Sedlitz", two 343mm shells scored hits. A shell broke a chimney of the battlecruiser 'Kirishima', making it impossible for the poisonous smoke to escape. Many sailors in the boiler room were poisoned to death. At the same time, the speed of the battleship was inevitably affected. Another shell penetrated the armor of the conning tower, killing all the officers including the captain. This immediately plunged the command of the battlecruiser 'Kirishima' into chaos.

General Ijuin Goro, who had just boarded the battleship 'Kanoi', and Major General Gentaro Yamashita, who had just boarded the battlecruiser 'Hiei', were immediately dumbfounded.

They wanted to let the 'Hiei' and 'Kirishima' escape just now, but in a blink of an eye the two battlecruisers were severely damaged just like the battlecruiser 'King Kong'. This makes their plan impossible to realize!

"Baga! How could this be? How could we be so unlucky?" General Ijuin Goro was furious, as if he couldn't accept such a thing at all.

"Your Excellency, Commander, General Yamashita asked for instructions, what should I do next?" A communications officer asked.

General Ijuin Goro hesitated for a while, and then said: "Let Yamashitkun take a destroyer and withdraw to Tokyo Bay!"

Since the two battlecruisers 'Hiei' and 'Kirishima' cannot be brought back, let Major General Gentaro Yamashita go back. If the warship is gone, it can be rebuilt or purchased. If the people are gone, it will be an irreparable loss.

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander." The communications officer immediately went to send a telegram.

After receiving the order, Major General Gentaro Yamashita went to a destroyer in a transportation boat without hesitation. He knew that the effect of his survival was far greater than the effect of his death in this naval battle. Therefore, he must obey the orders of General Ijiin Goro and live well!