On the evening of March 13, at the German Navy Ministry, Crown Prince QinTian and Admiral Tirpitz remained there, eagerly awaiting news from U-037.
"Your Highness, considering the time, Lieutenant Commander Dönitz and his crew must have already arrived at Scapa Flow. However, can they successfully infiltrate the heavily fortified harbor?" Admiral Tirpitz expressed his lingering doubts. He believed the operation was fraught with peril.
"Indeed, the timing is critical. Whether they succeed in penetrating Scapa Flow depends on Lieutenant Commander Dönitz's performance and the will of God. This mission is undoubtedly risky, but if they prevail, it would herald a significant victory for us," QinTian replied. A submarine armed with torpedoes launching an attack on the battleships moored at the docks would almost guarantee success. Even if they couldn't sink the British battleships outright, inflicting substantial damage seemed plausible. Such an outcome would provide the German Navy with a considerable advantage in the forthcoming confrontation.
As for whether Dönitz would succeed, QinTian was uncertain. He recalled that in the early days of World War II, a German submarine had accomplished a similar feat. Dönitz's abilities were unquestionable. The performance of U-200 was unlikely to fall short of its WWII counterparts. Furthermore, the British underwater defenses at Scapa Flow were not expected to be more formidable than those of the previous conflict. This led QinTian to believe that the chances of U-037 succeeding were quite favorable.
Additionally, in another timeline, Dönitz was a prominent figure, having commanded the submarine fleet of the Third Reich and later ascending to the rank of Admiral, becoming the head of the Reich's navy. His personal capabilities were indeed exceptional. Thus, QinTian had faith that he would not meet a premature demise in Scapa Flow.
"Your Highness, let us hope for their success. If they can infiltrate Scapa Flow and severely damage one or two of the Royal Navy's capital ships, it would be a monumental victory," Admiral Tirpitz said with a smile.
"Admiral, if they succeed, I believe their achievements will far exceed those expectations. After all, the accuracy of submarines attacking moored battleships is almost guaranteed," QinTian replied, grinning.
As QinTian and Admiral Tirpitz conversed, time passed slowly. Dawn broke, yet no news had arrived, increasing their anxiety.
"Your Highness, our intelligence agency is fully mobilized; we should receive news soon," Tirpitz assured him.
"Perhaps Dönitz and his crew are still evading British pursuit, which explains the delay in communication. This could be a positive sign. Only if the British suffer significant losses would they frantically chase after Dönitz," QinTian speculated.
QinTian's conjecture proved correct. Lieutenant Commander Dönitz and U-037 were indeed evading British destroyers. Upon their departure from Scapa Flow, the submarine's batteries were nearly depleted, forcing them to surface and recharge their diesel engines.
However, before they could fully recharge, they encountered a British destroyer, compelling U-037 to dive urgently.
Tragically, the destroyer seemed to have detected U-037 and, upon closing in, commenced dropping depth charges. U-037 had no choice but to dive deeper to avoid the explosives.
After a prolonged assault by the British destroyer, it eventually departed, allowing U-037 to escape. Had the destroyer continued its relentless attack, they might well have faced destruction.
After surfacing, U-037 began its return journey. However, to evade the British destroyers, they had strayed quite far. The submarine's radio was also damaged, preventing them from reporting their status and forcing them to find their way back home. This was why the Navy Ministry and QinTian had not received timely news.
Starting from March 14, German intelligence worked diligently to gather information about Scapa Flow. The prior night, the harbor was ablaze with explosions, a spectacle impossible to conceal from nearby residents. As the main base for the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet, Scapa Flow was naturally a focal point for German intelligence.
That afternoon, the German intelligence agency confirmed significant developments: Dönitz's submarine had successfully attacked Scapa Flow, severely damaging five British battleships, including the illustrious HMS Warspite and HMS Vanguard.
"Your Highness, Lieutenant Commander Dönitz has succeeded! He has heavily damaged five British battleships, including some of their finest. Our prospects in the upcoming naval engagements look exceptionally bright," Admiral Tirpitz beamed.
"While we may not have sunk their capital ships, inflicting such damage is commendable. At the very least, the five affected battleships will be unable to participate in the forthcoming confrontation, further enhancing our advantage. Our chances of victory in the ensuing battle are significantly bolstered!" QinTian responded, equally elated.
"However, do we have any news regarding Dönitz?" QinTian inquired.
"Your Highness, not yet. Nevertheless, I am confident they will return safely," Admiral Tirpitz reassured him.
QinTian nodded, refraining from further comment. As long as Dönitz and U-037 remained undestroyed, he held firm belief in their safe return.
It wasn't until the evening of March 16 that Dönitz and U-037 returned to Wilhelmshaven. As their submarine entered the port, all the ships sounded their horns in welcome. Upon receiving the news, QinTian, Admiral Tirpitz, and the Commander of the High Seas Fleet, Admiral Reinhard Scheer, along with Chief of Staff Franz von Hipper, rushed to the dock to greet them.
Without a doubt, Lieutenant Commander Dönitz, who had ventured alone into Scapa Flow and dealt a crushing blow to the Royal Navy's five battleships, along with the crew of U-037, had now become heroes throughout Germany.
Lieutenant Commander Dönitz was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain.