On the flagship of the British Grand Fleet, the HMS *Revenge*, Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty sat in a prolonged silence, their expressions grim. The loss of three *Bellerophon*-class battleships and three *St. Vincent*-class battleships had compounded their woes, leaving only fourteen vessels capable of continuing the fight.
"Your Excellency, shall we not take this opportunity to withdraw while the German main force has yet to arrive?" Beatty proposed, his confidence in victory utterly depleted.
Despite the remaining fourteen battleships, which included six *Revenge*-class, one HMS *King George V*, three *Orion*-class, and several others, the disparity in power compared to the German fleet was stark.
Before the battle commenced, both Jellicoe and Beatty had believed they could sink at least fifteen German capital ships. Yet now, with only fourteen left to confront an adversary more than twice their number, the prospect of inflicting significant damage seemed increasingly bleak.
From this moment onward, their plans lay in tatters. Even if the Grand Fleet fought to the last ship, the toll on the German Navy would be minimal.
Winston Churchill's ambition to severely cripple the German fleet by sacrificing the Royal Navy proved utterly unfeasible. The German Navy, with its formidable strength and advanced tactics, had managed to rout the British with astonishing efficiency. Following this victory, they would undeniably claim dominion over the seas, rendering any challenge to their supremacy a daunting prospect for other nations, who likely lacked the audacity to attempt it.
As for the remaining pre-dreadnought battleships, should they be thrust into battle, they would undoubtedly meet a grim fate against the newer German vessels. Even in great numbers, these aging ships would be no match for the might of the German fleet.
Yet, retreat now seemed all but impossible. Jellicoe believed that the Germans, having meticulously orchestrated their strategies, would not allow their adversaries to escape.
"General Beatty, fleeing is not an option. Let us not forget that nearby lurks a formidable squadron of twelve German battlecruisers, ever watchful. With our current strength, we might not even stand a chance against them," Jellicoe lamented.
Indeed, of the twelve German battlecruisers, six were armed with 380mm guns, rivaling the firepower of their own *Revenge*-class vessels. The other six were similarly formidable. Despite the Royal Navy's remaining fourteen battleships, the prospect of besting the German battlecruiser fleet seemed almost insurmountable.
Beatty fell silent, reluctantly acknowledging the truth in Jellicoe's words. He realized that if the German battlecruisers launched an attack, their fourteen ships might not prevail. The might of the German capital ships—both battlecruisers and battleships—had been starkly demonstrated, and the Royal Navy was acutely aware of their devastating capabilities.
"Your Excellency, we still possess a number of cruisers and destroyers. Relying solely on torpedo strikes could suffice to break through the German blockade," Beatty suggested.
Jellicoe shook his head. "I understand your desire to see the Royal Navy's finest spared from destruction. However, we cannot escape our fate. Do not forget, the main German fleet has yet to make its appearance. We have been detected for quite some time now; the German main force cannot be far off. If I am not mistaken, they have likely maneuvered to our north. Our retreat is thus blocked. Should we attempt to break through elsewhere, the German battlecruisers will surely ensnare us. We would soon find ourselves trapped, subjected to a devastating two-pronged assault."
Reluctantly, Beatty nodded, conceding that Jellicoe was correct. They had fallen into a trap meticulously set by the Germans. The plan had been clear: to bait the Royal Navy into a decisive engagement by shelling Edinburgh, thereby luring them out to battle, before attacking their battlecruiser squadron and employing aircraft to diminish the Royal Navy's strength. Finally, the entire German main fleet would strike, annihilating the British forces.
Now, with the initial phases of their plan completed, the Germans sought only to finish the job by obliterating the remaining British warships. There was no possibility that they would allow this opportunity to slip away.
"Now, we must continue the fight. May God grant us the strength to sink as many German ships as possible! This is all we can do for the Empire," Jellicoe declared.
Beatty sorrowfully acknowledged that they appeared to have no other options.
Unbeknownst to Jellicoe, the main fleet under Admiral Reinhardt Scheer had already maneuvered to the north of the British forces. Should the Royal Navy attempt to move in that direction, they would inevitably encounter the German fleet, which would strike with overwhelming force, obliterating the remnants of the British Navy.
Regardless of Jellicoe's choices, the Royal Navy's fate seemed sealed. Against the now overwhelmingly dominant German forces, their prospects in this naval engagement appeared grim: defeat, or even total annihilation. Aside from the previously withdrawn HMS *Tiger* and HMS *Queen Elizabeth*, the remaining vessels would likely find no escape.