Any war machine has its destiny. In summary, there are three main destinies: resting on the battlefield, being scrapped and dismantled, or becoming a collectible.
The British battleship "Nelson," with a cost price of £3 million (50% more expensive than the Queen Elizabeth), has completed its war journey. Its massive wreckage lies quietly near the shore, 37.5 nautical miles north of the entrance to the Wash Bay. The pockmarked waterline armor is no longer visible on the exterior, and much of the ship's deck is submerged in the deep blue sea. Only the broken turrets and riddled bridge bear witness to the ferocity of the battle.
Perhaps it will be preserved here as a war relic forever, or perhaps it will be dismantled for recycling in a few years. However, it can never return to its former glory as a mighty battleship. The experience of the "Nelson" once again reminds people: there is no unsinkable ship in this world!
Just 8 hours after this British battleship was destroyed due to an explosion in the ammunition depot, a German battleship "Gneisenau," similar in size and displacement, sailed through nearby waters with a group of smaller ships. German sailors gathered on the starboard side of the battleship to witness the downfall of their former adversary.
Facing this scene, there were feelings of joy, regret, and anticipation for their own future.
The late summer sun shone on the deck, still giving off the remnants of the scorching heat.
"With our 11-inch naval guns, there's no way we can penetrate its armor. How frustrating!" German naval commanders in neat dark blue uniforms expressed their sentiments on the clean bridge. Due to the significant disparity in armor and firepower, the Schanhorst class had to detour far away when encountering the Nelson class, which was a microcosm of the overall strength gap between the German Navy and the British Navy.
"Without defeating the British Royal Air Force, such a victory for us is simply a dream... Maybe, after the Bismarck becomes combat-ready, it can challenge these thick-skinned monsters one-on-one!" said a sun-tanned naval captain.
"I heard that the more Hermann Göring sleeps, the more favorable the situation is for us!" The tall and thin naval commander said mockingly. Of course, such words could only be spoken on the ship.
The naval captain sneered, "Yes! The Air Force intended to allocate two bomber squadrons to us, but everything went awry when that guy woke up! To be honest, I still prefer that Kesselring. Well, Richthofen is not bad either!"
"Hey, once we occupy the British mainland, we won't urgently need long-range bombers anymore! Besides... aren't there 5 George V-class battleships and a bunch of cruisers and destroyers under construction in British shipyards?" The naval colonel standing beside them looked older, maybe even participating in the thrilling Battle of Jutland in 1916!
The naval captain shook his head. "But those 5 battleships were all launched last year and this year! Even if the war progresses smoothly, it will be several months after we occupy the British mainland! By then, they may have been towed to North America!"
The thin-faced naval commander chuckled, "Hey, boss, they say Hans Langsdorff is a tactical genius. How about we contact the chief of staff next time and see if there's a way to capture those British warships! Even if it's just the hulls and power systems, it will save us a lot of time and resources compared to building from scratch!"
"Even the most ingenious strategy, if it only stays at the tactical level, is doomed to be short-lived. Only by gradually influencing the strategic situation do we have a chance to win the final victory!" Suddenly, the naval captain uttered a seemingly philosophical remark.
The fleet continued to advance towards the entrance of the Wash Bay. Soon, a squadron of medium bombers, He-111s, flew overhead from the direction of Norway.
"The minesweepers have completed their clearance work at the bay entrance. It seems that the British didn't have time to lay more mines last night!" the communications officer reported.
"Tell everyone to return to their gun positions!" The naval captain clenched his fists. "Attacking British heavy battleships is impossible, but attacking British coastal targets should not be a problem!"
The tactical executors often did not fully understand the impact of their actions on the enemy. In fact, when news of another German fleet bombardment of the Wash Bay coastline reached the British command headquarters, senior officers were still arguing over that critical yet tangled issue.
"No, we cannot launch another attack before nightfall! Our infantry is being mowed down in front of the German positions like wheat. Gentlemen, in just 10 hours, we've lost 8,200 men in three attacks. Without artillery and tank support, our offensive capabilities are even lagging behind those of 1914!" A British Army officer wearing the uniform of a general lamented, "Anyone who doubts our hesitation in launching an attack should go to the front and see for themselves. My brave soldiers are still lying in front of the German positions! Our field hospitals are filled with groaning wounded, and someone is dying in despair every minute!"
"General, I understand your feelings very well, but now there are still about 6 hours before nightfall. You should know that the Germans have built the 6th pontoon bridge at Le Pétat and are operating at full capacity in Coxs and East Coxs. Before nightfall, the German troops can completely break through with 10,000 men. Think about those dreadful Tiger tanks and Sturmgeschütz III assault guns. In that case, what can we do to break through their defenses at night?" The Chief of Staff of the Joint Operations Command urged.
It was obvious that this "all-out effort" had a pointed meaning, and Air Marshal Dowding understood it. He stood up angrily and said, "According to the deployment of the Joint Command, we have transferred the last 211 fighters and 131 bombers that can be put into combat from northern Scotland to Birmingham and Northampton, ready to launch an attack at any time. But we must remind everyone that if the attack is launched during daylight, we are very likely to lose most of them. In that case, German long-range bombers will directly threaten the ports in northern Scotland, which are our last retreat!"
"To talk about retreat before the decisive battle has even begun is too pessimistic!" The First Lord of the Admiralty, Duff Cooper, in his usual tone, reassured both sides. But everyone in the military knew that the "Ark Plan" to evacuate the royal family and government to Canada was being prepared by him. However, to avoid affecting morale and public opinion, it was announced externally that the royal family and government were temporarily retreating to Glasgow in Scotland to avoid German bombing!
"As long as the Air Force provides air cover and the Navy provides artillery support, we will launch a full-scale attack! There will be no hesitation!" Ockley, the commander of the Southern Command, returned to his original position.
So, the Third Sea Lord of the Admiralty and the Deputy Commander of the Home Fleet, Fraser, said methodically, "The Germans have laid mines outside the Solent Strait. From the encounter of our task force, it seems that the Germans have deployed a large number of dive bombers along the French coast. It would be best for the fleet to enter the strait at night!"
"Why didn't you think of this issue last night?" Ockley shouted unceremoniously, "Then let's wait for nightfall to attack!"
General John Dill's face was certainly not pretty after being scolded by his superior. It was at this moment that a staff officer brought a report of the Wash Bay coastline being bombarded by the German fleet again.
"Are the Germans planning to open a second landing site in the Wash Bay?" General John Dill exclaimed in shock.
Upon learning the contents of the report, Fraser speculated, "Although they suffered losses last night, I believe they still have the capability to continue the landing. With half a night and a morning, it's enough for their soldiers to board the ships! As for the scale... several regiments should be no problem!"
"Well, we must divide our already limited forces!" Army Commander Brooke sighed helplessly.
"Gentlemen, sometimes we need to look at things from a different perspective!" The wartime Prime Minister, who had been sitting quietly for over half an hour, finally spoke up.
"Do you mean..." General John Dill asked hesitantly.
"Letting the Germans stand firm is a terrible thing, but don't be intimidated by their attacks! I believe their attack on the Wash Bay is still just a cover action! They are doing this to make our main fleet hesitate! Their deployment of a large number of Stukas along the French coast and mining in the Solent Strait precisely shows their fear of the Royal Navy entering the strait!"
Every word of Churchill brought a fresh breath to the oppressive command room.
"Last night, our fleet suffered painful losses, and the process of the battle fully demonstrated the formidable combat power of the German Air Force in naval attacks. So, our fleet is still waiting for the best opportunity—either no battle, or a battle that shows the strength and resilience of the Royal Navy, forcing them to step back from Britain due to massive losses!"
Churchill's words were as inspiring as ever, successfully making every soldier here stand tall.
"Since the Germans are so afraid of our Navy..." General John Dill hurriedly said, "we must make full use of this advantage! Gentlemen, the more the Germans think we dare not attack during the day, the more we should surprise them!"
"Entering the strait during the day means suffering from the German Air Force's indiscriminate bombing, but given the fleet's position... we can reach the Isle of Wight at night, shell into the late night, and then smoothly withdraw from the strait!" Fraser's change in attitude undoubtedly gave great support to General John Dill.
"The Air Force will spare no effort!" Sir Dowding obviously belonged to the kind who had no choice.
"Gentlemen, for Britain, for victory, let's fight!" Churchill, with a cigar in his mouth, waved his chubby fist in the air, unaware that he had already succumbed to the temptation of the devil by swallowing the "forbidden fruit". If the Home Fleet was lost, would Britain still have hope?