The North Sea, a vast expanse between Britain and the European continent, serves as Germany's primary route into the Atlantic. To curb Germany's naval access, the British had established a major naval base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. Whenever tensions escalated, the Royal Navy's main fleet would deploy there, making it nearly impossible for the German Navy to break into the Atlantic.
The British fleet stationed at Scapa Flow acted like a chain, tightly strangling Germany's access to the oceans. For a nation as resource-poor as Germany, losing overseas trade was nothing short of catastrophic. Despite stockpiling large amounts of war supplies under QinTian's leadership before the conflict, Germany's resources would inevitably deplete as the war dragged on. Eventually, those reserves would be exhausted.
If Germany found itself locked in a prolonged war of attrition, their chances of victory would be slim. Britain, with its vast colonial empire to exploit, could drag Germany down by sheer force of endurance, something Germany was painfully aware of. This was why Germany had devoted such immense effort to expanding its navy, hoping to defeat the Royal Navy and alter this unfavorable situation. But challenging the might of the British fleet, which had dominated the world's oceans for centuries, was no simple feat.
QinTian's strategy of building a formidable fleet of battlecruisers and submarines for the German Navy was meant to counter the British, tit for tat. If Britain aimed to blockade Germany, then the German Navy, with its battlecruisers and submarines, could likewise blockade Britain. For a nation so heavily dependent on sea transport for essential raw materials, industrial goods, and even food, the disruption of its maritime supply lines would be devastating—possibly even more so than the blockade of Germany.
QinTian was confident that with its powerful battlecruiser and submarine fleets, the German Navy would be able to successfully enforce a blockade of Britain. Once Britain's sea lanes were cut off, its war potential would be severely diminished, and the threat to Germany would decrease, improving Germany's chances of winning the war.
In August, the North Sea was stormy and rough. The Atlantic was notoriously temperamental, unlike the calm Pacific. A colossal warship was navigating the northwestern waters of the North Sea, its massive hull like a mountain floating on the surface, evoking a sense of awe and dread.
On the bridge, a middle-aged officer in his fifties gazed through binoculars at the horizon. This was Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee of the German Navy. He had previously commanded Germany's Pacific Squadron. However, after Germany decided to abandon the Pacific, the squadron was withdrawn to the homeland and integrated into the High Seas Fleet. All German personnel on the Pacific island were repatriated, and the island was handed over to the Eastern Empire.
While Germany's decision had cost it a colony, it had also frustrated one of the Eastern powers. They had been eagerly waiting for the war to break out, planning to seize the island from Germany. Now that Germany had voluntarily relinquished it, their schemes had been foiled. With war looming, Japan's government found itself in disarray, uncertain whether to continue their participation or not.
"Admiral, a message from Admiral Hipper. The First Battlecruiser Squadron has entered the Atlantic and is heading south," reported a staff officer.
"Relay to Admiral Hipper that the Second Battlecruiser Squadron will operate as planned in the western waters of Scotland," replied Vice Admiral von Spee.
For von Spee, the withdrawal from the Pacific had been a bitter pill to swallow. However, the opportunity to engage in a showdown with the British Navy filled him with excitement.
Just then, a communications officer entered with a telegram in hand. "Admiral, the Empire has declared war on Belgium. The Commander has ordered us to be ready for combat. It's expected the British will declare war on us soon."
"Good. Keep me informed of any updates from home. As soon as we're at war with Britain, let me know immediately!" von Spee ordered.
"Yes, Admiral."
All the German officers understood that the moment war broke out, they would be free to attack. While their targets were British merchant ships and transports, less thrilling than combatting warships, they were willing to do whatever it took to help Germany win.
On the morning of August 4th, taking advantage of the fog, von Spee led the Second Battlecruiser Squadron into the Atlantic. Perhaps because war had not yet officially been declared, the British blockade was lax, allowing the German fleet to slip through unnoticed. It was unlikely the British Navy had anticipated that the Germans would be bold enough to launch an attack.
That afternoon, both von Spee and Admiral Hipper received word from home—Britain and Germany were now officially at war. Their hunting operations could begin.
"Send a message to the *Goeben* and *Seydlitz*: commence unrestricted hunting! If they encounter any British warships, contact us immediately. Also, have the light cruisers and destroyers fan out," ordered von Spee.
The Second Battlecruiser Squadron, composed of three *Moltke*-class battlecruisers, was flanked by three light cruisers and three destroyers. These smaller ships acted as the squadron's eyes and ears, providing reconnaissance and attacking any merchant ships they might encounter.
The three *Moltke*-class battlecruisers fanned out, each maintaining a distance of several kilometers from one another, heading southwest. The light cruisers and destroyers formed the outer screen.
In the absence of radar, they had to rely solely on the human eye to spot their targets.
Meanwhile, Admiral Hipper's squadron of three *Blücher*-class battlecruisers was also scouring the seas for British merchant and transport ships.
As for the submarine fleet, it was still en route due to its slower speed. Thus, this campaign of unrestricted hunting against British merchant ships would be initiated by Germany's battlecruisers.