"Order the fleet to prepare for battle. The honor of the Royal Navy of the British Empire rests upon this engagement!" Admiral John Jellicoe issued the command with unwavering resolve.
Vice Admiral David Beatty remained silent, his countenance grave. He understood that this might be the final naval battle of his life.
Despite the formidable enemy before them, the officers and sailors of the Royal Navy displayed an indomitable fighting spirit. The legacy of Nelson's era continued to inspire and motivate them.
Under Admiral Jellicoe's orders, the Royal Navy had readied itself for a last stand. Fourteen battleships formed an elongated battle line. Leading the charge were five *Revenge*-class battleships, followed by the *King George V*, three *Orion*-class battleships, and then the *Agincourt*, *Ireland*, and *Canada*, culminating with the *Hercules*.
Upon witnessing the Royal Navy's extensive battle line stretching several kilometers, Admiral Reinhard Scheer promptly made his own tactical decisions.
"Form the first battle line with the *Bavaria*, *Caesar*, and *Nassau*-class battleships. The second battle line will consist of *King*-class battleships, *Helgoland*-class battleships, and three *Mackensen*-class battlecruisers drawn from the battlecruiser division, alongside the *Lützow* from the *Derfflinger*-class. We shall launch a pincer attack on the British!" commanded Admiral Scheer.
With the inclusion of battlecruisers, the German Navy's main force significantly outnumbered that of the Royal Navy, allowing them to establish two battle lines against their adversaries. While battlecruisers may not seem ideal for a decisive engagement in line formation, previous naval encounters had proven that the German battlecruisers could withstand British battleships in defensive capability, enabling them to exchange fire effectively. Given this context, the German Navy appeared poised for victory.
The remaining eight battlecruisers would be commanded by Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee, tasked with countering the British Navy's lighter vessels, including armored cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers. The British fleet boasted over a hundred of these smaller vessels, which posed a significant threat to the German main fleet if they launched torpedo attacks without regard for losses.
Upon realizing that the German Navy had formed two battle lines intent on encircling them, both Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty's expressions darkened. It was evident that the Germans were employing overwhelming numbers to exploit their vulnerabilities.
"Those shameless Germans! Are they too cowardly to face us in honorable combat? Resorting to such despicable tactics!" Vice Admiral Beatty erupted in frustration.
While Admiral Jellicoe did not voice his indignation as openly, he too felt a deep sense of resentment.
"Target the German flagship first, then focus on the other battle line. This time, we must fight with all our might!" Admiral Jellicoe commanded through gritted teeth.
"Yes, sir," came the immediate reply as the order was disseminated. The Royal Navy's crew, ignited with righteous fury, prepared for a decisive showdown with the German fleet.
At precisely 12:34, the battle commenced.
The first battle line of the German High Seas Fleet initiated the assault. The second battle line required time to maneuver to the opposite side of the British fleet. In response, the Royal Navy sought to increase speed, hoping to evade encirclement. However, they were at a distinct disadvantage in terms of velocity, rendering any hope of escaping the impending pincer attack illusory; they could only buy themselves a little more time.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The flagship of the German High Seas Fleet, the *Bavaria*, was the first to open fire. Its three triple-mounted 380mm guns roared to life, sending shells weighing over a ton hurtling toward the Royal Navy's flagship, the *Revenge*.
The *Bavaria*-class battleship and the *Revenge*-class battleship represented the pinnacle of naval power for their respective nations, and now they were set to engage in their final confrontation.
"Fire!"
The Royal Navy promptly retaliated. Though the distance exceeded 15 kilometers, this fell within the effective range for their large-caliber naval guns. However, achieving accuracy at such a range proved challenging.
Despite both sides only conducting trial shots, the cacophony of cannon fire echoed across the sea, creating an atmosphere of intensity.
As the most powerful battleship class in the German fleet, the *Bavaria* boasted comparable key statistics to the *King*-class. Yet, it surpassed the *King*-class in terms of operational advantages, with state-of-the-art targeting equipment and fire control systems. Additionally, the *Bavaria* was equipped with semi-automatic loading mechanisms, significantly reducing its firing time. While the *King*-class required a minute and a half for a full broadside, the *Bavaria* could achieve this in just one minute.
Prior to the advent of precision-guided munitions, maximizing fire output was crucial for hitting targets. The more shells fired, the higher the probability of hitting a target. Coupled with enhanced targeting accuracy, the likelihood of striking the enemy dramatically increased.
From the very outset of the battle, both Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty discerned this disparity. How could the German fleet's massive ships maintain such rapid firing rates?
"My God! The Germans' *Bavaria*-class battleship achieves a rate of fire of one round per minute! How is that possible?" Vice Admiral Beatty exclaimed in astonishment. Their own *Revenge*-class required a minute and a half, if not two, to achieve a full broadside.
Admiral Jellicoe felt his heart sink, recognizing the increasingly daunting disadvantage faced by the Royal Navy.