"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The heavy shells crashed violently against the surface of the sea, sending towering plumes of water skyward, reminiscent of a whale spouting. Occasionally, the lifeless bodies of fish, victims of the explosion, broke the surface. The war between humans ensnared these innocent marine creatures in its chaos.
The German and British navies engaged in a life-and-death struggle in these tumultuous waters, unsettling an already restless ocean.
Initially, both sides merely conducted test firings to conserve ammunition, transitioning to concentrated fire only when a cross shot or direct hit was achieved. However, the German *Bavaria*-class battleships, equipped with modern targeting systems and fire control technology, had a distinct advantage in this regard.
A shell exploded on the port side of the *Ramilis*, sending a geyser of water soaring over ten meters high. Although the blast occurred over a hundred meters from the battleship, causing no damage, the effect on the more than nine hundred Royal Navy personnel aboard was profound; their faces paled in alarm.
This shell signified that the German *Saxony* battleship had established a cross shot on them. The only reason for the lack of a hit was sheer bad luck. Should the *Saxony* now unleash a concentrated barrage, it would likely achieve a hit soon enough.
"Damn it! How is this possible? The battle has only begun for ten minutes, and the Germans have already established a cross shot?" exclaimed Vice Admiral David Beatty, bewildered. Though they believed the Royal Navy's personnel to be the finest in the world, their performance thus far was less than exemplary, let alone that of the Germans. In the eyes of proud leaders like Beatty, the German navy was merely a group of upstarts, hardly a formidable opponent.
Admiral John Jellicoe, though more composed than Beatty, felt a rising tide of unease. The old adage that it takes a century to build a great navy resonated in his mind; the German navy had risen to prominence in a mere two decades. To see them perform better than the Royal Navy in battle was astonishing.
Yet, Jellicoe understood that this was primarily due to technological advancements. Scientific progress had simplified many tasks that once required extensive experience, enabling the German navy to challenge the British in such a short time frame.
"Excellent! Order the *Saxony* to sink the British vessels in the shortest possible time!" Admiral Reinhardt Scheer declared with evident delight, relishing the sight of the German navy gaining the upper hand in this maritime confrontation.
The German sailors aboard the *Saxony* were equally exhilarated. Captain Konigs Rohnhardt had issued the order for concentrated fire. The three triple-mounted main guns unleashed a maximum rate of fire, with each salvo hurling nine shells weighing over a ton toward the *Ramilis*.
Explosions erupted around the *Ramilis*, sending geysers of water skyward. This barrage was a severe blow to the morale of the Royal Navy personnel aboard; the prospect of being struck could mean death. Such a fear would breed terror, inevitably affecting their combat effectiveness.
The *Saxony*'s initial volley sparked a fire within the other German ships, their gunners striving to establish cross shots before transitioning to concentrated fire.
Despite the Royal Navy's fervent attempts to retaliate, fate seemed to have abandoned them; their luck had soured. Numerous test shots had failed to establish a cross shot.
Within five minutes, the German *Württemberg* battleship successfully achieved a cross shot on the British *Majesty* battleship and initiated concentrated fire. Soon, other German vessels followed suit, forming cross shots and commencing their own salvos. On the British side, only a handful of battleships managed to establish cross shots.
The battlefield now clearly favored the Germans, but this was merely the first line of their attack. The true peril for the Royal Navy would arise when the second line arrived to execute a pincer movement.
"Damn it! Why can't we achieve a hit?" As the situation grew increasingly dire for the Royal Navy, Admiral Jellicoe appeared to lose his patience.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The *Revenge* once more unleashed a test volley, four 381mm shells hurtling toward the German flagship, the *Bavaria*.
In a twist of fate, it seemed the heavens had heard the prayers of the Royal Navy; one shell soared past the *Bavaria*, detonating on its port side.
"Hurrah! We've established a cross shot!" The crew aboard the *Revenge* erupted in cheers.
A smile finally graced Admiral Jellicoe's lips. Although the Germans had secured a cross shot first, they had failed to score a hit, placing both sides once again on equal footing. If fortune smiled upon them in the ensuing battle, achieving a hit first was still within reach.
However, Jellicoe's hopes were quickly dashed.
At 12:54, the German *Saxony* battleship, in its latest salvo, delivered a promising hit, marking the first successful strike by a German battleship in this naval engagement.