"Admiral, the *Ramillis* battleship is once again requesting to withdraw!" A staff officer reported to Admiral Jellicoe aboard the flagship *Vengeance*.
Both Admiral Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Beatty had witnessed the dire state of the *Ramillis*. After suffering a brutal onslaught from the German battleship *Sachsen*, the *Ramillis* had been gravely damaged. Of its four twin-mounted 381 mm main guns, only two remained operational. Additionally, the destruction of the funnel rendered the ship unable to expel smoke, severely impacting its speed.
"Damn it, how can this be happening? What are the *Resolution* and *Majesty* doing? Are they merely standing by while the Germans assault the *Ramillis*?" Beatty cursed.
However, it was somewhat unjust to blame Beatty's comrades. During the previous skirmish, the *Resolution* and *Majesty* had exerted themselves fully. Yet, they lacked the prowess of the *Sachsen* to strike their targets with ease.
The officers on the bridge looked expectantly at Admiral Jellicoe, waiting to see what decision he would make in this critical moment.
Jellicoe hesitated internally. "Allow the *Ramillis* to continue the fight. No retreat without orders," he commanded.
"Yes, Admiral. But is this not exceedingly cruel towards the *Ramillis*?" Beatty could not help but ask. After all, in this dire circumstance, Jellicoe's directive appeared to condemn the *Ramillis* to certain destruction, disregarding the lives of the crew aboard.
"Simultaneously, issue orders to the *Resolution* and *Majesty*, instructing them to seize this opportunity and sink the German battleship!" Jellicoe added, issuing a second command.
Everyone quickly grasped Jellicoe's intention. His message was clear: even in death, the *Ramillis* must possess value. Should they manage to sink the German ship, the sacrifice of the *Ramillis* would not be in vain.
However, such an order felt excessively ruthless. Yet, from Jellicoe's perspective, there was little choice. The German Navy's overwhelming performance had left them with few alternatives.
Once Jellicoe's orders were given, the Royal Navy personnel aboard the *Ramillis*, despite their dissatisfaction, could only obey, standing resolutely against the oncoming barrage from the *Sachsen*. Meanwhile, the *Resolution* and *Majesty* were unwilling to squander the opportunity that the *Ramillis* had afforded them, firing at the *Sachsen* with all their might.
Yet, they seemed to forget that the German battleships *Baden* and *Württemberg* could freely target the *Resolution* and *Majesty* without interruption. The situation remained perilous for the Royal Navy.
"Direct all turrets to focus fire. We have severely damaged the British battleship; a few more hits and we can send her to the depths!" Colonel Konigs Reinhardt excitedly commanded from the command tower of the *Sachsen*.
For Colonel Reinhardt and the crew of the *Sachsen*, sinking the *Ramillis* would undoubtedly yield the greatest reward for their risks.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The trio of triple-mounted 380 mm guns on the *Sachsen* roared once more. Nine shells hurtled toward the *Ramillis*.
In this volley, the *Sachsen* struck home again. A 380 mm shell directly hit the command tower of the *Ramillis*. Despite its 330 mm armor, it could not withstand the might of the 380 mm shell, which tore through the defenses.
The shell exploded within the command tower, killing all officers, including the captain. The interior was a scene of carnage, resembling a hellish slaughterhouse.
With the command structure obliterated, the situation aboard the *Ramillis* worsened dramatically. In the ensuing chaos, the *Sachsen* seized the opportunity to intensify its bombardment.
In the subsequent rounds of fire, almost every shell found its target on the *Ramillis*. Even though the *Ramillis* boasted a full load displacement of over 31,000 tons and reasonable defenses, it could not endure such a relentless assault.
The multitude of impacts ignited raging fires throughout the ship. Additionally, the port side was taking on significant water, causing the vessel to list. In an effort to regain balance and prevent capsizing, the acting captain ordered water to be pumped into the starboard side, hoping to stabilize the ship.
Regrettably, this measure did not save the *Ramillis*; it only hastened its descent into the abyss.
As torrents of seawater flooded the hull, the *Ramillis* struggled to remain afloat. Only then did the British Royal Navy crew finally recognize the severity of their plight.
But it was too late; they could no longer avert the ship's sinking.
In a desperate measure, the acting captain issued an order to abandon ship. At that moment, there was no time to consult Admiral Jellicoe.
Even so, hundreds of crew members were unable to evacuate in time, descending with the burning vessel into the frigid waters of the North Sea.
The sinking of the *Ramillis* dealt a grievous blow to the Royal Navy, marking the loss of a critical battleship upon which they relied heavily. This undeniably exacerbated their precarious situation.