22 armor-piercing shells, 1 torpedo - that's the extent of the damage inflicted upon the "Seydlitz" over the past dozen hours. It's important to note that it's not a standard battleship but a "battlecruiser with the firepower of a battleship and the maneuverability of a cruiser." The British fleet includes ships like the "Invincible," "Indomitable," and "Mary Queen," all battlecruisers with a displacement of around 20,000 tons, yet they sank after just a few hits. The "Seydlitz" may only outweigh them by a few thousand tons, but its superior armor, excellent design, and effective damage control have allowed it to persist.
Colonel von Laurenz did not refuse Zhang Hainuo's request to stay in the ready room. He even had the ship's surgeon - a far cry from a regular medical attendant - carefully inspect Zhang Hainuo's wounds and replace his bandages. Zhang Hainuo felt that there was something unusual between the Colonel and "Hainuo," perhaps they were relatives, but he didn't dare ask. After taking a painkiller, he sat quietly in the corner of the command room watching the officers busy themselves.
Although the "Seydlitz" was falling behind and Captain Stranta von Graf was severely injured and unconscious, there was no hint of fear or despair in this command room. The calm and composed atmosphere filled Zhang Hainuo with admiration.
What is an excellent officer team? This is a standard excellent officer team!
"The breach at the bow waterline has widened again? Don't panic, I'll have Luke bring a pump from the rear to support!"
"The ammunition cleanup at turret 4 is complete? Excellent! Hans, I'll put you up for a medal! But it's not time to rest yet; your men need to persevere. The repairs in the torpedo bay urgently require manpower!"
"The portside tilt is now at 6 degrees? Don't panic, Löhr, stabilize the situation and report to me immediately for every degree increased! We must strictly control the inflow of water now, understood?"
"Boiler No. 11 must be shut down? Alright, Teuber! But do your best to maintain the remaining boilers; we need to maintain at least this speed; it's our only hope of returning to Kiel!"
Watching Colonel von Laurenz at the command post, Zhang Hainuo was both envious and admiring. If a vice-captain could achieve this level, then the more experienced Vice Admiral Stranta von Graf would be even better! In the early 20th century, the German Navy, led by Count von Tirpitz, was unprecedentedly powerful. They had top-notch ship designers, first-class shipbuilders, and top-of-the-line shipbuilding equipment, while naval training for officers and sailors was equally rigorous. No one denied the numerical advantage of the British Empire's navy, but in terms of officers and sailors, the German Navy of the Second Empire period was obviously superior to them!
At this moment, Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but wonder what kind of person his "predecessor," Hainuo von Fenkenshutin, was. Diligent? Wise? Tenacious? Or the opposite? And what role did he play on this battleship? A probationary officer? Navigation officer? Or another special position?
Unfortunately, Zhang Hainuo did not inherit any thoughts or memories from this Hainuo, and as for whether there would be some form of rejection between the old body and the new mind, he didn't know. But there was good news; after the examination by the military doctor just now, Zhang Hainuo knew that his injuries were basically not serious. As long as there were no serious wound infections or other accidents, he would be completely recovered in three to four months.
As time passed by, the light on the sea gradually changed. The mist that pervaded the sea surface was dissipating, but looking around, there was only the "Seydlitz" slowly moving forward, surrounded by a terrifying silence. Dawn seemed to be approaching, but what would happen after dawn? Would the British discover this German battlecruiser, devoid of combat power and without escort ships? If so, they would easily capture or send the "Seydlitz" to the bottom of the sea.
And what if the "Seydlitz" really couldn't hold on and sank on its own?
Zhang Hainuo saw this worry on the faces of some lower-ranking officers. Although he knew that historically the "Seydlitz" had miraculously returned to Germany and was repaired shortly thereafter, he didn't have full confidence in this right now. Perhaps the historical Hainuo von Fenkenshutin died directly from serious injuries? According to the theory of spacetime, a small change could lead to a branch in history, and where this branch would ultimately lead, no one could predict!
"Colonel! Colonel! The 'Emperor Friedrich' sends a telegram!" A military officer wearing a blue-black short-brimmed cap rushed in from outside, excitedly shouting, "The High Seas Fleet has safely returned to Germany!"
"Hurrah..."
There was an instant jubilation in the ready room on the aft bridge, with every uninjured arm raised, and everyone's face beaming with the smile of victory. They knew that as long as the High Seas Fleet returned safely, the German Navy would still retain the strength and hope to defeat the enemy.
Zhang Hainuo quietly and with a smile watched these simple German officers. In the face of a strong enemy, the complete withdrawal of the German High Seas Fleet could be considered a tactical victory. However, according to the course of history, the British would continue to firmly control the strategic initiative at sea, and for the next two years, the German Navy, ranked second in the world in strength, would remain idle in port until the end of the war, ultimately sinking in the spectacular Rainbow Operation. Several years later, although Nazi Germany's iron grip successfully swept through Western Europe, its navy never truly rose again.
"Everyone!" Colonel von Laurenz waved his hand, signaling the officers present to quiet down.
"If all goes well, we'll see the lighthouse at Wilhelmshaven Harbor in six hours! However, these will be our most critical and difficult six hours. We may encounter the British, or we may encounter troubles with the ship itself. I hope everyone can overcome all difficulties and persevere! Everyone, persevere! Victory!"
Watching the Colonel clench his fist tightly, the officers immediately adopted the same posture and repeated in a low but firm tone:
"Persevere! Victory!"
Outside the porthole, the eastern horizon quickly turned pale.
When Zhang Hainuo first surveyed this famous battleship from the rear bridge, his eyes and his soul were deeply shaken. The majestic and powerful battleship in those yellowed old photos was now devastated. The entire forward bridge had collapsed, leaving only a pile of black ruins from a distance; on the forward deck, the massive main turret remained, but British armor-piercing shells had left a large hole in its thick armor, and the surrounding deck could not withstand the tremendous force of the shell explosions, with holes of various shapes and sizes visible everywhere; the flag at the bow still fluttered in the wind, but it was so close to the sea surface that it was worrying how much longer it could remain there.
The most heart-wrenching part of the battleship was the No. 4 and No. 5 turrets at the stern, the two huge black shadows Zhang Hainuo had seen at night. It wasn't until dawn that he realized these two beautiful main turrets had been damaged during the daytime battle. British armor-piercing shells pierced their base armor and exploded beneath the deck. Although they didn't detonate their ammunition magazines, they left behind visible "scars" on their decks and the decks to their left—where the thick steel plates twisted outward like thin tin foil. While the turrets still looked intact, the four thick straight gun barrels hung lifelessly at different angles.
There were also the two towering smokestacks in the middle of the battleship, still standing defiantly, but with large and small holes visible all over their walls.
Although they ultimately didn't witness the spectacular scene of naval battle, Zhang Hainuo still deeply felt the cruelty of war through the traces left by these battles. It was worth noting that those once passionate but now completely cooled brave sailors, some of whom were even shattered or simply disappeared, and those who were barely alive, missing limbs, disfigured, or physically and mentally wounded, were still enduring the pain brought by the war.
Was this war?
Zhang Hainuo's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"We should be proud of ourselves!" Colonel von Laurenz, for some reason, appeared behind Zhang Hainuo.
"Colonel..." Zhang Hainuo opened his mouth, but he couldn't say any of the things he wanted to say last night.
"We will be proud of this battle in our lifetime, proud of our service on this battleship, truly!" Colonel von Laurenz gazed proudly at the distant sea, his face displaying an indescribable expression.
"Your father and mother in heaven will also be proud of you!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hainuo suddenly felt a strange sadness, not for this young man named Hainuo von Finkenschtadt who lost his parents at such a young age, but for his own parents, siblings, relatives, and friends in another world. The chance of inexplicably crossing back there again was probably close to zero.
"Although we didn't achieve the expected victory this time, just look at our 'Seydlitz,' and you'll see that our warships are far superior to the British. It won't be long before the 'Seydlitz' returns to these seas in a brand-new state. Our High Seas Fleet will surely let the British taste the bitterness of failure in a beautiful naval battle!"
Perhaps Colonel von Laurenz's words would make Zhang Hainuo feel regretful or even laughable, but it was evident from the hopeful expressions of the officers around him that they were moved by these passionate words.
Zhang Hainuo couldn't bear to tell these people the unvarnished truth of history because two years later, their dreams would sink to the bottom of the sea along with Germany's defeat and a signal of "rainbow." When dreams shattered, even the strongest would shed tears.
For some reason, Zhang Hainuo suddenly remembered his dream—joining the military. But in his own time, various factors such as physical conditions made this dream impossible to realize. Now, although his body was weak, he had a very broad space to maneuver. In the end, all he hoped for was to return home, find a decent job, contribute a tiny bit to the country's development, buy a house, a car, get married, have children—reality was a mess!
While everyone around him was filled with hope for the future, Zhang Hainuo felt a strange emptiness.
While repairing the battleship as much as possible and maintaining constant vigilance at sea, all the active officers and sailors on the "Seydlitz" were busy and happy. "Uncle" once again showed his deep concern for Zhang Hainuo, asking the adjutant to bring a pair of well-fitting shoes. However, the ship's mess hall couldn't escape the bombardment, so breakfast had to be made do with compressed biscuits and cold water, and Zhang Hainuo was no exception. After a makeshift meal, Zhang Hainuo volunteered to take on some tasks. Colonel Laurenz pondered for a moment and said, "Go to your torpedo room, tally up the personnel and equipment losses, then report back!"
During the First World War, battleships of all nations were generally equipped with torpedoes and torpedo launch tubes, some installed on the deck, while more were installed underwater like the "Seydlitz," as according to past experience, battleships often engaged in gun duels from long distances until within torpedo range. At that point, torpedoes launched from a battleship could serve as both an offensive weapon and cover for retreat. However, after the Battle of Jutland, it was discovered that battleships equipped with large or super large caliber guns could engage each other effectively from distances of ten thousand yards or more. Thus, the installation of torpedo launchers on battleships lost its original significance, and the torpedoes carried aboard became a liability. After the war, navies gradually removed torpedo launch tubes and torpedo rooms from their battleships.
"Hey! Hainuo, there you are! I've been looking for you for ages. You should be lying in bed honestly. Why did you come out?"
Although the military officer in front of him was unfamiliar in stature, Zhang Hainuo remembered his face; he was the young man who had been by his bedside when he woke up. However, Zhang Hainuo didn't know how to address this guy, or rather how the former Hainuo would address him.
"Um...my health is not much of an issue now, so...I came out for a walk! Oh, by the way, Colonel Laurenz asked me to check the damage to some torpedo rooms and report back to him. Can you..."
"Ah, I knew you went to find your uncle! So, how's it up there?" The young military officer spoke rapidly, and if Zhang Hainuo hadn't lived in Germany for a few years, he probably wouldn't have been easy to understand.
Uncle? Zhang Hainuo suddenly realized, no wonder that colonel was so friendly and caring towards him, it turned out their relationship was quite extraordinary!
"How's it up there? Um...not very optimistic, but not too bad either!"
"Huh? Why do you suddenly sound so serious?" The young officer continued to speak like a machine gun, but then he leaned in mysteriously towards Zhang Hainuo, "Hey, Hainuo, tell me honestly, can we still make it back to Wilhelmshaven this time?"
"Of course! Why do you ask?" Zhang Hainuo looked at him strangely.
"Really?" The other guy also gave him a strange look.
"Of course!" Although Zhang Hainuo himself didn't dare to be 100% certain, he felt that under the current circumstances, he couldn't let the junior officers and sailors lose confidence.
"Oh!" The young officer nodded, his mood still somewhat downcast. "But the British might leave behind some cruisers to clean up the battlefield!"
The expression of the other party made Zhang Hainuo a little angry. Compared to the officers in the command room, this guy was a bit too weak.
He deliberately raised his voice a notch, "What, are you scared?"
Upon hearing this, the young officer almost jumped up, "Scared? Me? How could that be! Men of the Schubart family don't even know what fear is!"
"Well, that's good!" Zhang Hainuo smiled satisfied, and the young officer quickly reacted. If the current situation didn't allow, the two good buddies would surely burst out laughing.
"Hey, Hainuo, are you making fun of me? Forget it, forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with you. Didn't you say your uncle asked you to go to the torpedo room to tally up the damage? Now, I can tell you the situation there with my eyes closed: Torpedo room No.1, standard combat personnel 21, 3 killed, 6 injured, torpedo room completely flooded, equipment mostly damaged, 12 torpedoes retained out of 8, detonators all removed; Torpedo room No.2, standard combat personnel 20, 0 killed, 3 injured, half flooded, equipment mostly intact, 12 torpedoes retained out of 12, detonators removed; Torpedo room No.3, standard combat personnel 20, 0 killed, 2 injured, half flooded, equipment mostly intact, 12 torpedoes retained out of 12, detonators removed; Torpedo room No.4, standard combat personnel 21, 21 killed, all equipment and torpedoes destroyed!"
If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, Zhang Hainuo would not have believed that the officer, who had just seemed a bit cowardly, could recite these data as if he had memorized them beforehand. Besides dedication, professionalism, and diligence, Zhang Hainuo couldn't find any other explanation.
Although these numbers were simple, behind them were scenes of extreme devastation.
Five hours later, the German coastline finally appeared in sight. Devoid of all combat capability, with only half of its boilers still operational, the "Seydlitz" alone made its way through the battlefield back to Germany. However, the influx of seawater prevented it from entering Wilhelmshaven, and it ended up stranded exhaustedly on a shallow bank outside the harbor channel.
Even so, people were pleasantly surprised by the miracle of the "Seydlitz," and Emperor Wilhelm II, who thought he had lost this battleship completely, sent a telegram of praise, commending the courage and fearlessness of all the officers and crew on board and dubbing the Seydlitz the "unsinkable battleship" of Germany!
Subsequently, the fame of the "unsinkable ship" Seydlitz quickly spread throughout Germany, and people felt proud to have such a tenacious battleship for their country. This reignited confidence in winning the war.
However, out of love for their cherished battleship, Emperor William II sternly ordered that the High Seas Fleet should not venture out without permission. The Battle of Jutland became the final glory of the German Navy in the First World War. Yet, for Zhang Hainuo, who had just arrived, everything was just beginning.
While he ultimately didn't witness the grandeur of the Battle of Jutland, he acquired a motto that would guide him for life:
"I come from the Seydlitz, and like the unsinkable Seydlitz, I shall fight relentlessly! Fight!"