"General, it has been confirmed that the vessel is a British battlecruiser, likely the latest class of the *Lion* class," the staff officer reported to Vice Admiral Spee.
"The *Lion* class battlecruiser? Order our ships to turn and head straight for the British battlecruiser. Let us see whose battlecruiser is superior!" Vice Admiral Spee immediately commanded.
Although the full-load displacement of the *Lion* class battlecruiser exceeded that of the *Moltke* class by two thousand tons, the former did not utilize this extra weight to bolster its defenses; instead, it was devoted to installing additional boilers to enhance the ship's speed. This allowed the *Lion* class battlecruiser to achieve a maximum speed of 28 knots, while the *Moltke* class could only reach 27 knots.
"Order all units to prepare for battle! Also, instruct *Goben* and *Seydlitz* to accelerate towards us. If we can eliminate a British battlecruiser, it would be an excellent victory!" Spee commanded.
While they had sunk numerous British merchant vessels in this operation, sinking warships provided far greater satisfaction. Spee was confident that, barring a stroke of terrible luck, they could defeat the British Navy's *Lion* class battlecruiser.
Meanwhile, aboard HMS *Lion*, Vice Admiral David Beatty was animatedly issuing commands.
"Damn those Germans; we finally have them in our sights! Order the ship to proceed at full speed; we must not let the Germans escape!" Beatty ordered.
"Signal *Royal Princess* and *Queen Mary* to accelerate and join us. This time, we must sink a German warship!"
"Yes, sir. However, the Germans are not fleeing; they have adjusted their course and are coming straight at us," a staff officer reported.
"What? The Germans not only refuse to run but are also willing to engage us in battle?" Beatty exclaimed, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. However, was this not precisely what he desired?
"Excellent, very good. Since the Germans seek their own demise, let us oblige them!" Beatty appeared utterly confident.
To him, the combat capability of the British Navy was undeniably superior to that of the Germans. Even if their warships were similarly matched in terms of performance, the quality of the sailors on both sides clearly favored the British. The Royal Navy's dominance over the world for centuries was no mere illusion.
As the two battlecruisers closed in on each other at high speed, the distance diminished rapidly.
When the two vessels were still fifteen kilometers apart, both Spee and Beatty independently issued orders to turn. The two ships gradually formed a parallel line, heading northwest.
"The Germans have indeed made remarkable strides in shipbuilding. The Royal Navy has evolved over hundreds of years, yet the Germans have managed to catch up in just a few decades. If we allow them to continue developing unchecked, they may pose a grave threat to the Royal Navy! We must decisively eliminate the German Navy while we still have the upper hand and crush their ambitions—that is the wisest course of action," Beatty declared as he set down his binoculars.
Though Beatty exhibited the inherent pride of British Royal Navy leaders, he could not deny the commendable quality of the German warships. Despite their hulls appearing somewhat flat and lacking the elegance of the Royal Navy's vessels, they were nevertheless quite impressive overall.
"Prepare to open fire and let the Germans know our strength!" Beatty commanded.
At this moment, the distance between the two ships was approximately thirteen thousand meters.
The four twin-mounted 343 mm guns on HMS *Lion* had locked onto the distant *Moltke* battlecruiser. Similarly, the three triple-mounted 343 mm guns on *Moltke* had shed their protective coverings and were primed for action.
Historically, to conceal their specifications, the German Navy's capital ships had routinely been draped in covers during training exercises; the covers were only removed for live-fire drills when it was ensured that no foreign spies were nearby. Thus, the British Navy had been unable to ascertain the caliber of the German Navy's main guns, relying solely on intelligence reports for estimations.
"Damn those Germans; their intelligence operations are formidable. Those bastards in the intelligence department thought the German capital ships were equipped with 305 mm guns. That is utter nonsense! They are clearly armed with 343 mm guns!" Beatty's expression soured. For the first time, he felt a flicker of doubt about defeating the German Navy's equivalent battleships.
Yet, having reached this juncture, retreat was no longer an option. Beatty steeled himself and commanded the entire ship's crew to engage in combat with full force.
"Commence the attack! May God bless the British Empire!"
"God bless the British Empire!"
"Boom! Boom!"
HMS *Lion* initiated its test fire, but only four of its twin-mounted 343 mm guns discharged. Four shells, weighing several hundred kilograms each, screamed through the air towards the *Moltke*, over ten kilometers away.
However, despite the Royal Navy's well-trained sailors, their optical aiming equipment, constrained by technological limitations, could not secure a hit at such a distance. The nearest impact point was still over two hundred meters away.
Of course, such a result was, in fact, quite commendable.
"Return fire!" Spee promptly ordered. The three triple-mounted 343 mm guns on *Moltke* opened fire.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Heavy shells soared toward HMS *Lion*, crashing into the sea and sending towering plumes of water into the air.
In an instant, the surface of the ocean reverberated with the sounds of cannon fire, reminiscent of thunder.
*Molke* and HMS *Lion* collided on the sea like heavily armored knights, their shells soaring through the air like lances in a fierce joust.
The clash of capital ships was undeniably exhilarating. Though this battle between dreadnoughts could not be compared to later aircraft carrier confrontations, this close-quarters combat showcased the essence of masculinity in warfare.