Germany's decisive advantage in this war is closely tied to its navy's repeated victories over the British fleet. If the German navy had not achieved supremacy—or even victory—the British could have used their powerful navy to blockade Germany's coastline, exhausting it by relying on the resources of their vast overseas colonies.
In another time and space, the British did precisely this, forcing the once-mighty Germany into defeat through sheer attrition. But in this reality, everything has changed. Not only has the British navy failed to gain any advantage against Germany's navy, but it has suffered defeat after defeat, and now scarcely has any remaining capital ships. As a result, Germany's overseas trade continues unabated, while Britain itself has been forced into a dire position, both domestically and abroad.
Thus, the German navy has become an essential force in securing victory in this maritime struggle. This explains why, upon learning that the British navy has not yet abandoned hope, the German navy is on high alert. Despite Germany's clear superiority, no one dares to be complacent, as luck often plays a large role in naval warfare. A stroke of good fortune for the enemy could turn the tides of battle against Germany.
For the Imperial Army, however, the inability of the High Seas Fleet to deploy is unwelcome news. After all, the First and Eighth Armies at Le Havre cannot be expected to press forward under the relentless bombardment of the British fleet's artillery; to do so would be akin to suicide.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we may have to temporarily halt our assault on Le Havre," said Field Marshal von Falkenhayn. "Otherwise, if we press on, our losses could be unacceptably high."
Qin Tian furrowed his brows. Halting the attack was hardly his desire, yet the catastrophic losses that a forced assault would entail were equally unacceptable.
"Your Majesty, since the British have deployed pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers, might we not respond in kind? The core of the High Seas Fleet consists of dreadnoughts and super-dreadnoughts, while our pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers are currently relegated to coastal defense. We could deploy these older ships, just as the British have done," suggested General von Waldersee.
Field Marshal von Falkenhayn's eyes lit up at the suggestion.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. Our navy still possesses a substantial number of pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers. We could send them to counter the British and resolve the Le Havre situation," he said.
At the start of its naval buildup, Germany had initially constructed a fleet of pre-dreadnoughts to catch up with Britain. In total, Germany had built five classes of 24 pre-dreadnoughts, including the Brandenburg, Kaiser Friedrich III, Wittelsbach, Braunschweig, and Deutschland classes. Though these ships were outdated even before completion due to the advent of Britain's Dreadnought, Germany's rapid development of dreadnoughts ultimately enabled it to surpass the British navy, dethroning it from its long-held position as the supreme maritime power.
These 24 pre-dreadnoughts had thus far seen little action. They were originally intended for supporting amphibious operations on British soil, their value relegated to providing artillery support for the army.
Qin Tian frowned. "You're suggesting we send the navy's pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers to engage in a pre-dreadnought battle with the British? Such a match-up seems rather unfavorable for the Imperial Navy."
Von Falkenhayn and von Waldersee both paused, then nodded. It was indeed true that deploying Germany's outdated vessels in such a confrontation would negate the advantages the navy had secured, forcing it into a brutal and costly engagement.
Somewhat embarrassed, both officers exchanged a glance. They had initially overlooked this factor, but upon further thought, the proposal did seem unwise.
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should delay the assault on Le Havre until the navy has dealt with the present crisis. It would be the safer course," von Waldersee suggested.
Qin Tian shook his head. "That would take too long. By then, the British may well have managed to evacuate their 300,000-strong army from Le Havre, which would make any future invasion of Britain far more challenging."
Von Falkenhayn and von Waldersee were left speechless; the problem seemed unsolvable.
However, Qin Tian's serious expression had already softened.
"Your Majesty, you must have thought of a solution," von Falkenhayn ventured.
Qin Tian nodded. "Indeed. The High Seas Fleet's main battleships cannot be deployed, and sending the pre-dreadnoughts into battle, to avoid needless losses, is also inadvisable. Therefore, we must consider alternative methods. Fortunately, we are not entirely powerless against the British pre-dreadnoughts."
"Although the primary force of our navy remains the battleships and battlecruisers, our two aircraft carriers demonstrated formidable offensive power in the decisive battles against the British. This time, we can utilize our carrier-based aircraft to engage the British pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers," Qin Tian explained.
"Carrier-based aircraft? Wonderful! This means the Le Havre issue can soon be resolved," Field Marshal von Falkenhayn said with a smile.
It mattered little to him how the British naval threat was neutralized, so long as it was dealt with.
"Have the First and Eighth Armies rest for now. Secure the airfields around Le Havre. I will order the navy to dispatch carrier-based aircraft to target the British fleet at Le Havre," Qin Tian instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty," von Falkenhayn and von Waldersee replied, now noticeably relieved.