Before the advent of the Dreadnought era, Britain had constructed a large number of pre-Dreadnought battleships. While the German navy had begun to close the gap with the Royal Navy in terms of main fleet vessels, the British still maintained a considerable advantage in the sheer number of pre-Dreadnoughts, with approximately twice as many ships. This fact alone attests to the massive scale of Britain's pre-Dreadnought fleet.
However, when the Royal Navy's *Dreadnought* battleship entered service, it instantly rendered all other pre-Dreadnoughts, both those in construction and those already commissioned, obsolete. Even the Royal Navy's own pre-Dreadnoughts, once formidable, were now outdated. Yet, with their vast resources, the Royal Navy remained unperturbed. They believed that by consistently leading naval development, they would ensure Britain's position at the pinnacle of naval power for all time.
But the unfolding events shattered this illusion. During the Dreadnought era, the German navy had successfully leapfrogged ahead, overtaking the Royal Navy, and with each subsequent naval battle, the once-vaunted British fleet was steadily knocked from its pedestal. This left the Royal Navy in a perilous position. Should they fail to overcome the German navy, it seemed all but inevitable that Britain would lose the war.
Portsmouth naval base, once one of the Royal Navy's most vital ports, had seen its importance diminished since the establishment of the Scapa Flow base. In an effort to prevent the German navy from entering the Atlantic, almost the entirety of the Royal Navy's main fleet had been stationed there. All that remained in Portsmouth were the older, less formidable vessels, including a large number of pre-Dreadnought battleships.
"General, a message from the First Lord of the Admiralty!" A communication officer hurried into the office of the Commander of the Royal Navy's Portsmouth Base.
Vice Admiral Cavison, initially indifferent, took the telegram, expecting it to contain little of consequence. After all, Portsmouth had long been sidelined, neglected in favor of more strategic locations.
However, as he read the contents of the telegram, his demeanor changed completely. As a senior officer of the Royal Navy, he was no stranger to the fires of battle, but circumstances had left him feeling despondent and resigned, just going through the motions. Now, with a new operational order in hand, his spirits were rekindled.
"Alert the base! Sound the alarm! All hands are to return to their ships immediately!" Vice Admiral Cavison commanded.
"Yes, sir," replied a staff officer, who immediately set to issuing the orders.
"Woo—!" The shrill wail of the alarm echoed across the naval base. Sailors immediately abandoned their tasks and rushed toward their ships. Years of training had instilled in them an automatic response, and soon the decks were alive with activity.
"Prepare all eight *Edward VII-class* battleships, the two *Queen Elizabeth-class* battleships, the six *Duncan-class* battleships, and the five *London-class* battleships, along with the *Minotaur-class* armored cruisers, the *Warrior-class* armored cruisers, and the *Devonshire-class* armored cruisers. We will set sail within the hour and prepare for combat!" Vice Admiral Cavison ordered.
"Sir, are we preparing to engage the Germans in battle?" an officer inquired. The scale of the mobilization was undeniable—21 battleships and 13 armored cruisers. Although these vessels were older models, their capabilities were still formidable, making up nearly half of Portsmouth's remaining fleet. Such a significant mobilization could only mean one thing: something major was in the works.
"Engage the Germans in battle? Have you lost your mind? Do you see what kind of ships we have? We'd be sending them to their doom!" Vice Admiral Cavison retorted coldly.
Ten years ago, Vice Admiral Cavison might have felt confident commanding such a formidable fleet to sweep aside the navies of the world. But today, he was well aware that these outdated pre-Dreadnoughts and armored cruisers stood little chance against the new generation of Dreadnoughts.
Even the most modern ships of the Royal Navy had been sunk in the clashes with the German navy, let alone these outdated relics. To engage the German fleet would be nothing short of suicide.
"So, sir, what is the objective of this mission?" another officer asked, unable to hide his confusion. After all, this was no ordinary operation—over 60 ships were being mobilized, a vast fleet by any measure. Clearly, Vice Admiral Cavison had more in mind than just a routine patrol.
"Churchill has given the order. We are to proceed to Le Havre. The Germans are hammering the city, and the Expeditionary Force is on the brink of collapse under their relentless bombardment. Churchill wants us to provide support. Our battleships may not stand a chance against the German fleet, but our heavy guns should be more than a match for their infantry. I want to see what it looks like when those German soldiers are shredded by our shells!" Vice Admiral Cavison said, his face twisting into a grim smile.
The war had been raging for nearly a year, and the once-mighty British Empire was on the brink of collapse. Many Britons blamed Germany for their suffering, seeing them as the primary instigators of the war. This bred a fierce animosity toward the Germans, and for the men of the Royal Navy, the chance to strike back was too enticing to resist.
For Vice Admiral Cavison and his men, shelling the German positions in Le Havre was a relatively simple task. They would merely have to fire upon the coordinates provided by the British Expeditionary Force, their powerful guns obliterating the German infantry with ease.
At 4 p.m. on May 7th, a vast fleet of the Royal Navy departed from Portsmouth. The fleet made its way across the English Channel, heading for Le Havre on the opposite shore.