The first targets of the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft were not the warships on the sea's surface, but rather the British seaplanes. Upon detecting the German planes' approach, these reconnaissance seaplanes bravely surged forward to confront the enemy.
Although their numbers were few—barely twenty—and their performance vastly inferior to the German aircraft, their courage was nothing short of admirable.
A yellow signal flare arced into the sky, commanding the fighters to disperse the British planes and clear the way for bombers and torpedo planes.
The 24 escort fighters swiftly dove from altitude, engaging the British seaplanes with a ferocity that left no doubt of their superiority.
The aerial machine guns rattled, tearing through the fragile bodies of the British seaplanes, splintering their wooden frames. One by one, the seaplanes fell. Against the German fighters, they seemed cumbersome and vulnerable.
This air battle quickly became a one-sided slaughter. The British seaplanes were decimated, with half of them lost within moments. As the skirmish continued, the British aircraft proved no match for their opponents.
Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty watched the scene unfold, their faces drawn and grim.
"They're all brave young men," Jellicoe murmured. "If only we had planes capable of rivaling the Germans, the outcome wouldn't have been so dire."
"Yes, indeed, Commander," Beatty sighed. "The Germans are leagues ahead of us in aviation technology."
There was no doubt; they mourned these courageous pilots who, despite knowing their limitations, had dared to confront the German planes. If not for their inferior equipment, perhaps the battle might have taken a different turn.
But in this world, there is no place for "if" or "perhaps." Germany's foresight and investment in aviation had given it global superiority in this arena, enabling it to dominate in aerial warfare.
The skies soon cleared; every British seaplane was shot down, leaving none to tell the tale. The entire dogfight had lasted under ten minutes, a testament to how helpless the British planes appeared against their adversaries.
Then, three flares rose, signaling the onset of an attack on the warships below.
The fighters, having downed the British seaplanes, initiated the assault, strafing the decks and anti-air positions to pave the way for the incoming bombers and torpedo planes.
"Fire! Fire!" the anti-aircraft commander aboard the British flagship *Revenge* bellowed as 1-pound and 2-pound guns—hastily refitted for anti-air defense—opened fire.
Anti-aircraft guns joined the frenzy, forming a dense barrage in the sky. To avoid being utterly defenseless, these battleships had bolstered their anti-aircraft arsenal over the past two months during repairs. However, lacking combat experience, the anti-aircraft layout was haphazard, with guns placed wherever space allowed. Thus, while many anti-aircraft guns were added, they failed to create an effective defensive network.
A German fighter skimmed over *Revenge*, its machine guns blazing, bullets sparking off the deck in a fiery spray.
"Thud!" Bullets struck bodies with chilling force, screams resounding in a grim chorus.
The machine guns were devastatingly effective; a hit often meant a brutal end.
The anti-aircraft batteries desperately tried to target the German fighters, but their sluggish response left them ineffective, creating gaps in the defenses.
Four bombers swooped down upon *Revenge*, releasing bombs from an altitude of barely six hundred meters. Four 250-kilogram bombs arced down toward the battleship.
"Bombs incoming! Take cover!"
"Boom! Boom!" Explosions erupted, three of the bombs plunging into the sea, sending plumes of water skyward. But one bomb struck *Revenge*. Its thin deck armor, powerless against the bomb's momentum, was pierced easily.
The bomb exploded within the ship, igniting an intense blaze.
Regrettably, it missed any critical sections, sparing *Revenge* severe damage.
While the bombers struck, the torpedo planes were not idle. Seizing the opportunity as *Revenge* was distracted, four torpedo bombers closed in, releasing their deadly cargo just five hundred meters from the ship's side.
The torpedoes hit the water, submerged, then surfaced again, homing in on *Revenge*.
"Torpedoes on the port side! Emergency evasive maneuvers!" came the desperate cry.
*Revenge* immediately maneuvered, attempting to face the oncoming torpedoes head-on to minimize the hit area.
By a stroke of luck, two torpedoes missed, one passed harmlessly beneath, and another struck but failed to detonate, sparing *Revenge* from disaster.
"Commander, we're safe! One torpedo passed under us, and another hit without exploding!" Beatty reported with relief.
"God's mercy!" muttered Jellicoe, though his eyes still held concern.
German aircraft continued their assault. The British battleships retaliated but with little effect.
"It seems that aircraft carriers are indeed the future of naval warfare," Jellicoe remarked, unable to hold back his awe.