Chapter 643: Something Equally Dangerous
Southern North Sea. The sun slowly rose in the east, but what should have been a golden, radiant dawn was veiled in thick fog, turning the sun into a dull, indistinct red sphere.
A fleet moved like a phantom through the mist, warships gently swaying in rhythm with the waves, their hulls groaning with each impact—like the beating of a heavy heart, steady and ominous.
Leading the formation was a battlecruiser. Its eight 305 mm main guns were already loaded. Gun crews stood by nervously, scanning the fog-shrouded sea, waiting for the order to fire. The long barrels pointed skyward, adjusting slightly every so often, as if ready at any moment to unleash thunder.
It was the SMS Lützow, flagship of Germany's First Scouting Group, a newly commissioned and state-of-the-art battlecruiser—fast, powerful, and one of the best the Imperial Navy had to offer.
(Image: SMS Lützow, commissioned August 8, 1915, second ship of the Derfflinger-class battlecruisers.)
In the captain's cabin, Rear Admiral von Kavis finished his breakfast, then pulled a leather-bound journal from a drawer. Opening to a blank page, he casually scribbled his thoughts in a relaxed, flowing hand:
February 25th.
I don't know how to describe this weather. It's like fog, but also feels like drizzle.
The North Sea is always like this—overcast for 270 days of the year, and half of that shrouded in fog.
But I believe this gives us an advantage. The British reconnaissance planes can't spot us, at least not until the fog lifts.
The same goes for the French.
They're our target for today. We've detected a convoy that will pass nearby, escorted by 15 French destroyers and 2 cruisers.
I just hope they don't spot us early and try to flee.
Especially those destroyers—they're the ones that can detect our submarines…
Just then, a staff officer burst through the door: "Admiral, the fog is clearing!"
Von Kavis responded with a grunt, closed the journal, and muttered, "From here on out, let's write today's log with battle reports."
He stood, composed, and followed the officer outside, quickly ascending to the command bridge.
Despite the ship's swaying, von Kavis moved with unwavering steadiness. He surveyed the sea—the fog was indeed dispersing. Beams of sunlight pierced through the clouds like golden blades, dancing across the waves in shimmering scales.
"Full speed ahead!" he ordered.
He always had the fleet reach top speed before engagement.
"Full speed ahead!"
"Full speed ahead!"
The command echoed across the fleet.
Their smokestacks belched thick, dark plumes, with occasional sparks flashing from deep inside. Signalmen waved semaphore flags, coordinating with ships behind them.
It was a 20-ship formation. Alongside SMS Lützow were SMS Moltke and SMS Seydlitz, both of the Moltke-class battlecruisers—fast and heavy hitters.
They had been grouped into the First Fast Squadron for their ability to strike hard and withdraw quickly. The fleet also included 2 cruisers and 15 destroyers.
Von Kavis believed this force was more than enough to crush the French escort fleet.
If time allowed, he even hoped to capture several merchant ships and tow them back to Germany. Supplies, fuel, consumer goods—Germany desperately needed all of it. Any unusable military gear could be blown up or scuttled on-site.
"Launch seaplanes," von Kavis commanded.
"Launch seaplanes!"
"Launch seaplanes!"
Aircraft would expand their search range and help them pinpoint the enemy's position faster.
But it turned out to be unnecessary.
Ten minutes later, a lookout high on the mast shouted: "Contact—enemy sighted!"
Von Kavis raised his binoculars and peered in the indicated direction. Sure enough, through the thinning mist, a faint silhouette appeared.
"Prepare for combat!" he ordered instantly. "Form a line-ahead battle formation!"
(Note: While traveling, fleets generally use a single-file line formation. In combat, they spread into a line abreast to maximize firepower.)
The formation shifted smoothly. The faster destroyers and cruisers caught up quickly and flanked either side, forming a forward-pushing line spearheaded by the three battlecruisers.
As the enemy neared, von Kavis could make out the ships through his binoculars. The guns were loaded and aimed—just awaiting his command to fire.
But before he could speak, a signalman reported: "Admiral, enemy fleet detected on our flank!"
Von Kavis immediately understood.
The French had used merchant ships as bait. Their main force had used the fog to flank from the side.
"Change formation!" he shouted.
But it was too late.
The first artillery barrage rang out the instant he gave the order.
Whistling shells approached rapidly. Tall water columns exploded around the German ships. Some shells landed squarely on target, bursting into flames and smoke upon impact.
SMS Lützow was hit, but its thick 300 mm side armor absorbed the damage. It shuddered slightly, but remained combat-capable.
Von Kavis glanced at the scorched mark on the ship's side, then gave a cold, confident smirk. This is the difference between us and them.
The reason the experienced Admiral had fallen into this trap was simple—he had never imagined that a fleet made up of just cruisers and destroyers would dare challenge German battlecruisers head-on.
Idiots, he thought. They should have run. Or at least waited for their main fleet to arrive. Now all they've earned is destruction.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
SMS Lützow's main guns opened fire.
Despite the rocking of the ship, von Kavis raised his binoculars to observe. The first salvo straddled the enemy cruiser—a promising start.
(Note: "Straddling" refers to when shells land both in front of and behind a target, indicating firing data is accurate and that direct hits are likely.)
Suddenly, a dark shadow passed overhead.
Von Kavis paid it no mind.
A Caproni bomber, he thought dismissively. Just a recon plane. Let it watch as we sink their fleet one by one.
But the moment it disappeared into the mist, something deep in von Kavis's instincts screamed.
He hadn't seen it clearly.
But something about it felt… dangerous.
(End of Chapter 643)
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