"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
At 2:25 PM, during the latest round of test firing, a 343 mm shell from the *Moltke* battlecruiser exploded in the waters to the right of the *Lion*, resulting in the first cross shot.
In an instant, silence fell upon the crew of the *Lion*. The proud officers of the Royal Navy seemed utterly unprepared for the fact that the German Navy had managed to achieve a cross shot before them. One must understand that a cross shot signifies that the enemy's ship is now caught within the parameters of one's own fire. Consequently, concentrated fire can commence; when they would finally hit the opposing vessel is left to fate.
"Damn it!" Admiral David Beatty muttered under his breath.
"Order all gun positions to continue firing. The Germans securing a cross shot means nothing. As long as we are not sunk, we still have a chance," Beatty commanded.
Clearly, their morale had taken a significant hit.
"Send a telegram to the *Royal Princess* and *Queen Mary*, urging them to expedite their approach," Beatty ordered, sensing that the situation had taken a turn for the worse. The German Navy seemed far fiercer than he had anticipated! At this rate, they risked being defeated themselves. If they were vanquished, not only would the Royal Navy lose a ship, but his own career would also suffer greatly. Beatty certainly did not wish for such an outcome.
"Yes, sir," a staff officer promptly set off to send the telegram.
Meanwhile, aboard the *Moltke*, the German sailors erupted in cheers. Achieving a cross shot indicated they were one step closer to hitting their target. Moreover, it brought them nearer to victory.
"Order all gun positions to concentrate fire and shoot at full speed. We aim to sink the British battlecruiser within half an hour and bring this battle to a swift conclusion!" Admiral von Spee commanded with excitement. If they could sink a British battlecruiser right at the onset of the battle, it would be a monumental triumph for the German Navy.
"Yes, sir."
The three triple-mounted 343 mm guns of the *Moltke* promptly opened fire with a furious barrage. Each volley was incredibly fierce, with nine heavy armor-piercing shells hurtling toward the *Lion*. The power of these shells was formidable; a single hit would be enough to severely damage the *Lion*.
The tide of battle suddenly shifted in favor of the *Moltke*, as the *Lion* appeared to be suppressed.
However, even in the face of such adversity, the *Lion* continued its bombardment. The quality of the Royal Navy's personnel was, without doubt, unparalleled.
Even the German Navy could not compare. The primary reason for the *Moltke*'s advantage lay in its superior hardware. Beyond its better armor and firepower, its targeting and ranging equipment were also significantly more advanced than those on the *Lion*.
When designing the German Navy's capital ships, Qin Tian deliberately incorporated the term "fire control system." Although this era lacked electronic computers, improvements made to existing ranging and aiming devices, when integrated, could still form a rudimentary fire control system. While such a system could not compare to those of later generations, it was undoubtedly ahead of its time. Otherwise, achieving an advantage against the superior personnel of the Royal Navy would have been exceedingly difficult.
From the battlefield's performance, it was clear that the German fire control system was proving effective.
At 2:30 PM, the British *Lion* finally achieved a cross shot. The quality of the Royal Navy was indeed remarkable.
"Long live! The Royal Navy is the strongest!" Admiral Beatty couldn't help but exclaim.
The other sailors joined in the cheers. In an instant, the earlier gloom seemed to vanish entirely.
"Concentrated fire! Sink the German vessel!" Beatty commanded.
The four double-mounted 343 mm guns of the *Lion* began a synchronized barrage. Eight main guns valiantly hurled shells toward the *Moltke*, intensifying the ferocity of the battle.
"Boom! Boom!"
Three minutes later, luck appeared to be on the side of the British Navy; during this volley, a 343 mm shell struck the *Moltke*'s starboard side. One of its 150 mm secondary guns was blown off, and several sailors were torn to shreds. The explosion also ignited a raging fire.
However, for a colossal warship displacing nearly 30,000 tons, such damage was hardly significant.
Damage control personnel aboard the *Moltke* quickly enacted their protocols. The three main gun turrets also returned fire.
"Well done! Keep it up, and sink the German warship," Beatty declared, his face beaming with a smile. It seemed as though he could already see the goddess of victory lifting her skirts to him.
Yet, Beatty appeared to celebrate too early. Two minutes later, his smile had vanished completely, replaced by a look of frost.
In a subsequent volley, the *Moltke* scored a hit as well. A 343 mm shell struck the number four turret on the aft deck.
The thin 229 mm armor was pitifully inadequate against the heavy 343 mm shell, crumbling like tofu under a sharp knife.
"Boom!"
The shell exploded, sending the entire number four turret flying. Fortunately, the fire door closed at that moment, and there were no shells or propellant in the chamber, preventing a magazine detonation. Had there been, that single shell would have inflicted catastrophic damage on the *Lion*.
Nevertheless, even now, the situation aboard the *Lion* was far from favorable. Compared to the *Moltke*, the *Lion* was already short one main gun. After losing one turret, only six main guns remained, amounting to just two-thirds of the *Moltke*'s firepower. As the battle progressed, conditions would increasingly turn against the *Lion*.