On May 12th, British Vice Admiral Martin led a fleet of twelve battleships out of the U.S. Navy's Norfolk base, heading into the vast Atlantic Ocean. For secrecy, these warships flew American flags, planning to raise Britain's St. George's Cross only at the moment of engagement.
This maneuver was possible solely because the Americans had facilitated it; otherwise, such a venture would have been impossible. Even with the ships in hand, keeping them hidden from German detection while the crew acclimated was no small feat. The American government, by aiding the British, was taking a considerable risk; if Germany uncovered this, it could drive a serious wedge between the two nations. While a full-scale war was unlikely, postwar repercussions from Germany would be almost certain. Nonetheless, even without this decision, a victorious Germany would still aim to diminish American influence to secure its own position. Thus, to protect its interests, America had no choice but to undermine Germany's war effort as much as possible to relieve future pressure.
As for whether the Allied fleet could deal Germany a decisive blow in this engagement, America held little optimism. Though the Allied fleet boasted impressive strength and numbers, mere quantity didn't ensure superiority. Germany's naval forces, battle-hardened from repeated engagements, had already earned their dominance on the seas.
Yet for the Americans, this was but a spectator event; their only role was to profit from Britain's desperation by selling older, underperforming warships at exorbitant prices, using the windfall to fund construction of new battleships. Furthermore, the acquisition of British colonial assets had extended American influence into the southern Caribbean, solidifying its presence in the region and securing its interests.
Indeed, as the British Royal Navy lay humbled, the American fleet had emerged as the second most formidable naval power, trailing only Germany. Given the increasingly tense relations between the two countries, with hostilities nearly erupting in the Atlantic, German naval forces now closely monitored the movements of the American fleet. German submarines and reconnaissance vessels were stationed along the U.S. eastern seaboard, especially around Norfolk, the home base of the American Atlantic Fleet.
As soon as the British fleet departed Norfolk, a German reconnaissance ship sighted them, tracking their movements and reporting back. However, the British fleet managed to evade pursuit under the cover of night. Though vast, the Atlantic made it exceedingly difficult to locate a fleet within its expansive waters.
In Kiel, within the German High Seas Fleet headquarters, Admiral Reinhard Scheer and Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Hipper scrutinized the report.
"What could the Americans be planning? They declared neutrality; this conflict should no longer concern them. Yet now they dispatch such a formidable fleet into the Atlantic—clearly something's amiss," mused Admiral Scheer, frowning.
A twelve-ship fleet posed little threat to the German navy, which could easily muster an equal or greater force to engage them. However, Germany had no desire to open hostilities with the United States unless absolutely necessary. Despite holding a decisive advantage over the Allies, achieving final victory would still require time, particularly with the planned invasion of Britain demanding extensive resources. To wage war against America now would only prolong the conflict and strain the German economy further.
Troubles within Germany were already surfacing, with shortages of food and supplies. The government was eager to conclude the war within a year to avoid severe economic repercussions. Otherwise, even a victory might cripple the nation financially, necessitating an extended recovery period.
Thus, while many in the German military longed to neutralize the United States and solidify Germany's supremacy, the strain on resources forced them to postpone these ambitions until a future conflict.
"Who knows what they're plotting? Do the Americans hope to replay their last standoff against us? Last time, we damaged one of their battleships—a lesson, it seems, they have yet to learn. Perhaps it's time we teach them a more memorable one," remarked Hipper.
In the previous confrontation, the American fleet had attempted to breach Germany's designated exclusion zone, nearly sparking an open conflict. Pressured by Germany's superior force, the Americans had retreated, damaging their pride but deepening the rift between the two nations.
"Could the Americans be planning a surprise assault?" asked Hipper.
"I doubt it. They're not fools. The Allies are on the verge of defeat; joining now would bring them no chance of victory and only entrap them in the crisis. I don't believe the Americans would be so reckless," replied Admiral Scheer.
"Then what could they be up to?"
This question lingered in Admiral Scheer and Hipper's minds.
"In any case, have our fleet stand ready. Should the Americans attempt a surprise attack, we'll make them pay a price they can't afford," ordered Admiral Scheer.
"Yes, Admiral," Hipper nodded.
With orders from the High Seas Fleet headquarters, Germany's raiding fleet went on high alert, and the main fleet began leaving port, advancing into the Atlantic.