As the British and German navies engaged in a fierce battle, British merchant ships sailed southward. For these large, slow, and fragile vessels, being caught in the midst of naval warfare would spell certain doom. The colossal battleships could dispatch them with a single shot.
Thus, with the outbreak of war, the merchant ships had fulfilled their role as decoys. Their next priority was to devise a strategy for safely returning to British shores. The cargo aboard these vessels comprised vital war supplies urgently needed by Britain. Preserving these resources would be of utmost importance. With the war machine now in full swing, the daily consumption of materials had reached astronomical levels. The resources available within Britain itself were far from sufficient to sustain such rapid mobilization, necessitating the extraction of various supplies from the colonies.
To ensure the safety of these merchant ships, the British Navy had dispatched six destroyers for their protection. However, this safeguard was largely superficial. If the German battlecruisers pursued them, even a united front of these destroyers would stand no chance. While their torpedoes could pose a lethal threat to the German vessels, they would first need to find their mark.
The six destroyers in service were of the **Laforey class**, newly constructed before the war, displacing one thousand tons, with a maximum speed of twenty-nine knots. They were armed with three 102 mm naval guns and equipped with two twin-mounted 533 mm torpedo tubes. Additionally, to counter submarines, these destroyers were outfitted with depth charges, a standard inclusion following the German U-boats' forays in the Atlantic.
The **HMS Laforey** served as the flagship of this small fleet, commanded by Lieutenant Edward.
"Commander, I have confirmed that the Germans have not dispatched any warships in pursuit," reported Lieutenant Martin from **HMS Laforey**.
"That is reassuring. The Germans are fixated on the Royal Navy's main fleet and are unlikely to turn their attention toward us—unless they manage to defeat the Royal Navy, they will not come after us," Lieutenant Edward sighed in relief.
He understood that with only six destroyers at his disposal, encountering the German main fleet would lead to certain doom. These one-thousand-ton destroyers were hardly enough to be more than a minor annoyance to the formidable battleships.
"Sir, do you think the Germans can defeat us?" Lieutenant Martin inquired, full of youthful confidence in the Royal Navy's prowess.
"Of course, we will not be vanquished. This time, the Royal Navy has set a clever trap for the Germans, and they foolishly walked right into it. Though their ships may be formidable, they are bound to perish when confronted by the Royal Navy's main fleet," Lieutenant Edward replied with a smile.
Lieutenant Martin seemed to relax slightly.
However, they would soon discover that they had been overly optimistic. The Royal Navy, having assembled its main forces, would suffer devastating losses, striking at the very heart of its strength.
For these young officers, such matters were far beyond their purview.
"Enough of that, Lieutenant Martin. Our mission now is to escort these merchant ships safely back to Britain. The supplies they carry—arms, rifles, artillery, even warships—are crucial for teaching those damned Germans a lesson," Lieutenant Edward stated.
"Yes, sir," Lieutenant Martin nodded in agreement.
Less than twenty kilometers away from the British convoy, a periscope rose from the sea. After confirming that the area was clear, a submarine soon surfaced, resembling a large fish floating on the ocean's surface.
The hatch opened, and Captain Donitz, clad in a black submarine uniform, emerged, followed by several crew members.
They busied themselves starting the diesel engine to recharge the submarine's batteries. In the meantime, they took the opportunity to smoke and relax, as the cramped and stuffy interior of the submarine prohibited smoking.
"Sir, where are we now? Are we far from the battlefield?" one of the crew members asked.
"We should be nearing the battlefield. However, whether we can arrive in time depends on the will of Providence," Donitz replied.
Originally, Donitz and his U-039 submarine had been hunting British merchant vessels in the western waters of Britain. However, upon receiving orders, he and over ten other submarines ventured into the vast Atlantic. Their mission was to locate the British fleet and, if possible, launch an attack to sink the capital ships.
This plan was a contingency prepared by the German Navy. Should the battlecruisers fail to vanquish the British Navy, these submarines might deliver a critical blow. Of course, this was a strategy reserved for the direst of circumstances.
"Perhaps those battlecruisers have already dealt with the British, and we won't need to trouble ourselves with such a long journey," one officer remarked.
"Let us hope! If those battlecruisers can leave us a morsel, that would suffice," Donitz's eyes gleamed. While he had sunk numerous British merchant vessels, he had never managed to claim a capital ship, a regret he longed to rectify.
Half an hour later, the diesel engine had fully recharged the submarine's batteries. Donitz finished his last cigarette and prepared to reenter the submarine when he suddenly noticed numerous masts on the northern horizon.
"Something's up! Dive immediately!" Donitz commanded.
The U-039 swiftly submerged, plunging to a depth of fifty meters in just two minutes.
Before long, they heard the sound of numerous vessels passing overhead.
"Merchant ships, not large warships; perhaps a few destroyers as well," a crew member observed.
"Hmm! It seems we have not encountered the British main fleet but have instead come across their merchant convoy," a smile crossed Donitz's face. Although he felt a twinge of disappointment at missing the Royal Navy's main fleet, the prospect of sinking British merchant ships was still quite appealing.