While the battlecruisers of both the British and German navies engaged in a desperate struggle, the clash between the German *Derfflinger* class battlecruisers and the British *Iron Duke* class battleships had already commenced.
Despite the engagement distance being fifteen thousand meters, both the 380mm main guns and the 343mm main guns were capable of reaching their targets. Particularly, the German 380mm guns boasted not only formidable firepower but also an impressive range that far exceeded that of the British 343mm guns. Naturally, in terms of power, the two sides were not even in the same league.
"Boom! Boom!" The three German battlecruisers unleashed their fire, the roar of the 380mm guns resonating like thunder. Fiery orange flashes erupted from the muzzles, sending shells weighing over a ton hurtling toward the distant British battleships.
Although the British fleet fielded four *Iron Duke* class battleships to the Germans' three *Derfflinger* class cruisers, it seemed as if the British were being overwhelmed in the exchange.
"Damn it, the Germans are targeting us! Have the *Marlborough* seize the opportunity and ensure we hit their ships!" ordered Rear Admiral Robertson.
At that moment, no German vessels were firing upon the *Marlborough*, allowing them to engage the *Derfflinger* without distraction. However, this placed tremendous pressure on the captain of the *Marlborough* and his crew, as it felt as if the hopes of victory rested squarely upon their shoulders. Often, the greater the pressure, the more it can hinder performance rather than motivate it, sometimes even leading to catastrophic failures under strain.
Despite multiple attempts, the *Marlborough* had failed to achieve a crossfire, let alone shift to concentrated fire.
While the British naval efforts faltered, the Germans executed their tactics flawlessly.
"Boom! Boom!" In just fifteen minutes after the battle commenced, the *Lützow* successfully achieved a crossfire and transitioned to concentrated fire. Three triple-mounted 380mm guns unleashed their fury at maximum rate.
This instantaneously sent chills down the spines of the crew aboard the British *Benbow*. With the *Lützow* entering concentrated fire, a hit seemed only a matter of time. Many began to pray fervently, hoping that the shells would not strike them so swiftly. Although the true power of the German 380mm guns was still uncertain, no one wished to volunteer for a firsthand experience.
Soon after, the *Hindenburg* also achieved a crossfire against the *Indian Emperor* battleship and commenced concentrated fire.
The tide of battle turned increasingly unfavorable for Rear Admiral Robertson. He could almost foresee that if a hit were scored, the British battleship would sustain severe damage, making it even more challenging for the remaining British ships to contend with the German fleet.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Both fleets unleashed their artillery with fervor, hurling shells at each other as geysers of water erupted from the ocean's surface. The sea churned as if boiling.
Although the naval forces engaged were fewer in number than those on land, it did not imply that the sea battle was any less intense; in fact, it might well be even more so.
The confrontation between the lined-up ships resembled heavily armored knights clashing in brutal combat. Every hit would claim countless lives.
In this era, the battleship engagements undoubtedly represented the pinnacle of industrial and technological prowess.
"Boom!" A fireball erupted from the *Derfflinger*, precisely at the location of the command tower.
"Hurrah! God save us!" Upon witnessing this, Rear Admiral Robertson erupted in cheers, and the British sailors joined in jubilant exclamations. If they could incapacitate the enemy's flagship command tower with a single shot, it would not only sow chaos in the opposing command but also severely diminish their morale! Perhaps they could turn the tide of battle.
"Wonderful! If I can lead our fleet to defeat the formidable German navy, I will surely earn accolades. Perhaps I might even secure a promotion upon returning to Britain," thought Rear Admiral Robertson to himself.
However, this fleeting hope dissipated swiftly.
When the smoke cleared, it was revealed that the German *Derfflinger* remained unscathed. The command tower had not been breached; the shell had merely exploded externally.
"My God! How is this possible?" Rear Admiral Robertson could hardly believe his eyes. Their shells had struck, yet the enemy remained unharmed.
"How could the Germans' armor be so thick? This is inconceivable! The defenses of a battlecruiser shouldn't be this formidable!" he muttered in disbelief.
In his recollection, battlecruisers typically featured relatively weaker defenses. Yet the German vessels had overturned that assumption entirely.
In reality, although the 343mm shell had failed to penetrate the command tower's armor of the *Derfflinger*, the explosion's impact was nonetheless significant, killing several sailors on deck and leaving other officers within the command tower reeling, some even knocked unconscious by the blast.
Fortunately, Admiral Reinhardt Scheer was situated far enough from the explosion to escape with merely a stumble and no serious injuries.
The *Derfflinger* resumed firing shortly after a brief interruption.
Although the British navy had scored the initial hit, it bore little significance in securing victory in this battle.
Soon after, the German battlecruisers also registered hits.
"Boom!" The *Hindenburg* successfully struck the British *Indian Emperor* during this round of concentrated fire. The shell hit the *Indian Emperor*'s second turret. The turret's armor, merely 280mm thick, offered no resistance to the 380mm shell, which easily penetrated.
The explosion obliterated the entire second turret and severely damaged the first turret in front, resulting in the *Indian Emperor* losing a staggering forty percent of its firepower.