The battlecruiser *Lion* was the lead ship of the British Royal Navy's Lion-class battlecruisers. Until the commissioning of HMS *Tiger*, it was undoubtedly the most powerful battlecruiser in the British fleet.
In fact, *Tiger* was originally intended to be the fourth ship of the Lion-class, but due to significant modifications, it was classified as a separate class.
Standing by the window on the bridge of HMS *Lion*, Vice Admiral David Beatty gazed at the golden sunset illuminating the vast expanse of the sea.
"What a breathtaking sight—such a pity that this beauty is marred by the Germans' aggression!" Vice Admiral Beatty shook his head in dismay.
"Indeed, sir. If it weren't for the damned Germans, all would be peaceful," Captain Kevin, the commanding officer of HMS *Lion*, standing beside Beatty, nodded in agreement.
"Those wretched Germans, daring to challenge the maritime supremacy of the British Empire. We'll make them pay dearly for their audacity! We'll crush any attempt to defy the Empire into dust!" Beatty declared with unwavering confidence.
This confidence was well-founded, rooted in the centuries of British dominance over the seas and the Royal Navy's unrivaled command of global maritime power. Beatty remained steadfast in his belief that the Royal Navy was still the world's most formidable force.
The Lion-class battlecruiser boasted a displacement of 31,000 tons, armed with four twin-mounted 13.5-inch (343 mm) main guns, and a top speed of 28 knots. On paper, it was an exceptionally powerful vessel, with impressive firepower and speed—key traits consistent with British naval design philosophy, which emphasized firepower and speed over armor.
Although the Lion-class had made some improvements over earlier battlecruisers, it still fell short compared to its German counterparts. The front armor of its turrets, the waterline, and the conning tower were all only 9 inches (229 mm) thick. Even a 280 mm gun could penetrate it, let alone a 305 mm or larger caliber. Against the German battlecruisers, this thin armor was little better than tissue paper.
"Order HMS *Princess Royal* and HMS *Queen Mary* to spread out, maintaining a one- to two-hour gap between us. The Atlantic is vast; hunting down the Germans won't be an easy task," Beatty commanded.
"Yes, sir," Captain Kevin responded promptly.
Following the order, the *Princess Royal* and *Queen Mary* altered their courses, increasing the distance from HMS *Lion*. Escorted by light cruisers and destroyers, they began scouring the Atlantic for any signs of the German battlecruiser squadron.
On August 6, perhaps due to warnings issued by the British government to merchant vessels in the Atlantic, the results of the German raiding fleet were less fruitful, sinking only 23 merchant ships. Yet even this loss was enough to give the British considerable headaches.
By August 7, the German raiding fleet continued its hunt, with six battlecruisers and thirty submarines prowling the Atlantic, preying on British merchant vessels. However, the British ships had grown more cautious, and the Germans' success rate was starting to decline.
Some 200 kilometers northwest of Ireland, the German battlecruiser *Moltke* was sailing southeast.
"Sir, the light cruisers and destroyers have sent a message—no targets found in the vicinity," an aide reported to Vice Admiral Spee.
"Damn it, where have all the British merchants gone? It's becoming harder to find them," Spee cursed in frustration.
"Sir, after sinking so many British merchant ships, they must have taken precautions. We can't expect to catch them off guard as easily as before," another officer remarked.
Spee nodded. "In half an hour, change course eastward. We'll move closer to British waters. I suspect we'll find something there. If we've frightened them into halting their overseas trade, that itself would be a victory!"
With fewer ships to hunt, Spee made the risky decision to steer closer to the British coastline.
"Yes, sir. However, approaching British waters could be dangerous. The British won't just stand by while we attack their shipping lanes. They've likely already dispatched a fleet to pursue us."
"We'll assess the situation. If we encounter British ships, and they're manageable, we'll engage. If not, we'll flee," Spee said nonchalantly.
"Send a signal to *Goeben* and *Seydlitz*, shorten the distance between us. If we run into a British fleet, we might need their support," Spee ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Under Spee's command, *Moltke* altered course, heading toward British waters.
Spee's gamble soon proved correct. Two hours later, they spotted a British merchant ship and sank it. However, before it went down, the ship managed to send out a distress signal.
Upon receiving the report, Vice Admiral Beatty was elated.
"Full speed south! We must catch that German battlecruiser. Order *Princess Royal* and *Queen Mary* to follow us," Beatty commanded with renewed urgency.
To ensure success, he planned to deploy all three Lion-class battlecruisers against the lone German vessel, maximizing their chances of a decisive victory.
Meanwhile, aboard *Moltke*, the crew remained oblivious to the approaching danger.
At 2:00 p.m., *Moltke* sank another British merchant ship and was about to turn south when dark clouds began to gather on the northern horizon.
"Report! British warships spotted to the north!"
"British warships? How many?" Spee inquired sharply.
"Just one!"
"Keep observing—determine whether it's a battleship or a battlecruiser!" Spee ordered. If it was a battleship, *Moltke* would have to retreat. Even though British battleships weren't heavily armored, engaging one with a battlecruiser was always risky. Moreover, the primary mission of the German battlecruisers was to disrupt British trade routes. But if it was a British battlecruiser, Spee was confident they could fight. After all, the armor of British battlecruisers was notoriously thin, and the Germans would hold the advantage in battle.