"Boom!"
The earth-shattering explosion reverberated, as over a hundred 305mm shells unleashed their formidable power. In the midst of the violent blasts, the entire starboard side of the *Giants* battleship was obliterated, and its upper structures were reduced to rubble. The destruction appeared as though a monstrous beast had taken a savage bite out of it.
A torrent of seawater surged into the *Giants* battleship through the gaping holes, overwhelming it. Such damage was undoubtedly fatal. The damage control personnel's attempts to seal the breaches were utterly futile.
"Well done!" the captain of the *Elector* battleship shouted with excitement.
Upon receiving the report, Admiral Reinhard Scheer beamed with a broad smile. "Excellent. The score is now 12 to 13. The British have only one more battleship than us. Order the *Elector* to assist the *King* in attacking the British *Tiger* battlecruiser. The *Border Governor* should help the *Crown Prince* with attacking the Italian *Andrea Doria*. This is our moment to reverse the odds and expand our gains—let's not waste it!"
"Aye, Admiral!" The communications officer swiftly relayed Admiral Scheer's orders to the *Elector* and *Border Governor*.
Meanwhile, the British *Tiger* and Italian *Andrea Doria* found themselves besieged by four of the German Navy's *King-class* battleships, their situation growing increasingly dire.
On another part of the battlefield, Vice Admiral Hipper's German Second Battleship Division and Vice Admiral Martin's British Second Battleship Division were locked in an equally fierce engagement.
In a desperate bid to sink enemy ships, both sides deliberately closed the distance, reducing the engagement range from an initial 13,000 meters to just 10,000 meters. At this range, the primary guns of both fleets could inflict immense damage.
However, the German ships maintained a defensive advantage. The British *Nevada-class* battleships, acquired from the United States, boasted particularly formidable defenses. Yet, the other British vessels lacked such fortitude. This imbalance placed them at a disadvantage, and the battle only seemed to worsen for them.
On the *Nevada*, Vice Admiral Martin's face was ashen. Despite commanding a formidable fleet, his confidence in achieving victory had waned. This battle was proving disastrous for the United Fleet. Before the engagement, they had enjoyed a numerical advantage in battleships. But the Germans had unleashed a devastating air assault, sinking ten of their ships and tipping the scales in favor of the Germans.
Initially, Martin had hoped the First Battleship Division could turn the tide, but now, with the battle progressing, not only did the United Fleet fail to gain an advantage, but they were suffering further losses. If the German battlecruisers arrived on the scene, their defeat would become inevitable.
"Admiral, the *Indomitable* and *Giants* battleships of the First Battleship Division have been sunk," an officer reported.
"Damn it! What about the Germans? Have they lost any ships?" Vice Admiral Martin inquired.
"Not yet. The German ships are exceptionally well-armored, and our ships can do little against them," the officer sighed.
"The score is now 13 to 12 in their favor. We're about to lose our advantage. When their battlecruisers arrive, defeat is certain!" A flicker of despair crossed Martin's face.
"Boom!"
An explosion rocked the *Nevada*, shaking the entire ship. Martin's expression darkened even further.
"Report the damage!" he gritted his teeth.
"Admiral, the No. 4 turret at the stern was hit. However, the German shells didn't breach the turret's armor. The crew inside was killed by the shockwave," the damage control officer reported.
Vice Admiral Martin let out a sigh of relief. The *Nevada's* formidable defenses had withstood the attack. Had they failed, the ship might have already been sunk.
But his moment of relief was fleeting.
Two minutes later, his Second Battleship Division lost one more ship.
The *North Dakota*, at the rear of the line, was struck by the German *Westphalen* battleship. In this barrage, two 305mm shells struck the *North Dakota*. One shell pierced the *Westphalen's* command tower armor, only 292mm thick. The shell's armor-piercing capabilities, combined with a capped projectile, proved devastating. The explosion inside the command tower wiped out all personnel, leaving only scattered limbs.
The second shell struck the *North Dakota's* waterline armor, only 254mm thick. This was easily torn open, and a large breach below the waterline allowed seawater to flood in at an alarming rate.
Due to confusion in command, damage control failed to act promptly. By the time they responded, the flooding was already overwhelming. They could no longer close the watertight compartments, and the water continued to pour in. Eventually, the *North Dakota* capsized and sank to the depths.
With the loss of the *North Dakota*, only ten battleships remained in the British Second Battleship Division. The United Fleet was now at a numerical disadvantage—a decisive one. With the imminent arrival of the German battlecruisers, their defeat was all but certain, though they still had a little time.
After sinking the *North Dakota*, the *Westphalen* turned its guns towards the British *Delaware*, joining with the *Nassau* to launch an attack, aiming to sink the *Delaware* and further expand their victory.