"The arrival of the British main fleet could not have come at a more inopportune moment. Had they delayed just half an hour longer, we might have succeeded in sinking the *Tiger* battlecruiser." A note of regret tinged Admiral Hipper's voice aboard the *Mackensen*.
However, this sentiment could also be interpreted as a self-serving lament. At this stage in the battle, while his six battlecruisers had sustained some damage, it was all relatively minor and did not affect their combat effectiveness. In stark contrast, the British battlecruiser squadron had suffered severe losses; apart from the *Tiger*, all others had been sunk. Even the *Tiger* had taken several hits, with two of its four dual-mounted 343 mm guns destroyed, leaving it with only half its firepower.
"Report to the flagship immediately and prepare to retreat!" Admiral Hipper commanded.
Despite the formidable strength of his six battlecruisers, Hipper was not foolish enough to engage the British Navy's twenty-plus battleships head-on. Moreover, among them were six *Revenge*-class battleships, which, armed with 381 mm guns and boasting enhanced armor at the cost of some speed, were even more formidable than the *Queen Elizabeth*-class. Engaging in a direct confrontation with the *Mackensen* would yield no significant advantage. Hipper, being a clever tactician, would not entertain such folly.
The German 1st Battlecruiser Squadron began its withdrawal. Once the battleships accelerated, the British fleet could not hope to catch up. Most of the Royal Navy's battleships had a cruising speed of only 20 or 21 knots, making it impossible for them to pursue the fleeing German vessels. The smaller cruisers and destroyers might have been able to follow, but such an endeavor would be tantamount to seeking death.
In this situation, the British Royal Navy could only watch helplessly as the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron sailed away with impunity, leaving them with no options.
Soon after, Vice Admiral David Beatty, his expression stormy, boarded a launch bound for the *Revenge*.
"I'm sorry, Sir, I have lost," Beatty confessed, his face flushed with shame.
This marked the third time he had been bested by the Germans in this conflict, a fact that weighed heavily on his proud conscience.
"Alas, Admiral Beatty, this defeat is not solely on your shoulders; the Germans are simply too strong. I now question whether engaging them in this decisive battle was the right choice. Yet, we have no other options but to give our utmost in this fight. May God bless us with victory!" Admiral John Jellicoe sighed deeply.
Beatty nodded. "So, what is our course of action now? The battlecruiser squadron is effectively decimated. The *Tiger* is gravely damaged and cannot continue; it must return to the shipyard for repairs, lest it risk sinking. The situation for the 2nd Battle Squadron is equally grim. The *Barham* has been sunk, and the remaining *Queen Elizabeth* and *Malaya* are under dire threat from the Germans."
"Let the *Tiger* retreat to Scapa Flow. The fleet will continue south to support the 2nd Battle Squadron; we must urge Admiral Benjamin to hold on. I suspect the German main fleet is now aware of our arrival. Therefore, let us prepare for a decisive confrontation with them. God save the British Empire! Even if we cannot vanquish the Germans in this battle, they must pay a steep price," Jellicoe declared.
"It seems we have no other choice!" Beatty replied, his expression one of despondency.
However, the British main fleet failed to reach the 2nd Battle Squadron in time. By the moment they arrived, the German 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron had already made their exit, having sunk the *Malaya* and heavily damaged the *Queen Elizabeth*. Although Admiral von Scheer lamented not having sunk the *Queen Elizabeth*, he was unwilling to risk a full engagement with the British main fleet for the sake of one vessel. After all, the *Queen Elizabeth* was also heavily damaged and would be of little use in the ongoing conflict.
Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty gazed upon the battered *Queen Elizabeth*, reminiscent of a maiden ravaged by a brutish adversary, their hearts heavy with despair.
Without a doubt, the British Navy had performed poorly in the initial stages of this naval showdown. They had already lost five battlecruisers and two battleships, with another battlecruiser and battleship rendered incapable of combat. This amounted to a loss of nearly one-third of their combat power, while their enemy, the German Navy, had sustained minimal damage, underscoring the British Navy's disadvantage in this engagement.
The German 1st Battlecruiser Squadron joined forces with the 2nd, creating a formidable fleet of twelve battleships. Yet, they did not immediately rush to engage the British main fleet; they awaited the arrival of their own reinforcements. Once the German Navy's twenty-four battleships were assembled, they would seize the opportunity to strike and decisively obliterate the British forces.
However, before Admiral Reinhard Scheer could reach the battlefield, he issued the order to attack. The offensive was not to be carried out by the German battleships or battlecruisers, but by an aircraft carrier group stationed over a hundred kilometers from the battlefield.
One hundred kilometers east of the battlefield, two German aircraft carriers sailed at a speed of ten knots. On their decks, aircraft were readied for takeoff.
Field Marshal Heinrich, commander of the German carrier group, stood on the bridge, observing the preparations with satisfaction.
"Marshal, the Commander has ordered us to launch our attack," an officer reported.
"Then let us order the aircraft to take off! Inform our pilots that this is our first taste of actual combat; they must perform admirably and showcase the prowess of our carrier force!" Marshal Heinrich commanded.