The mere distance of several dozen kilometers posed no challenge for the high-speed destroyers. In just a few minutes, the two "Kamikaze-class" destroyers of the Island Nation Navy, with unwavering courage, surged toward the two "G-class" destroyers of the German Navy.
Though the "Kamikaze-class" destroyers were barely half the size of their German counterparts, they were emboldened by the immense strength of their fleet, and thus, showed no fear.
"Close the distance to two thousand meters, then fire! Sink the German destroyers, and avenge the innocent Imperial citizens they slaughtered! Let the Germans regret coming to the Far East!" ordered Captain Parkeda of the destroyer *Isokaze*, his face a mask of determination.
"Aye, Captain!" came the chorus of replies from the officers and sailors.
Captain Matsushita of the destroyer *Ayanami* issued a similar command.
Despite the vast disparity in size, the Island Navy's destroyers held a significant advantage, particularly in the number of guns, which doubled the firepower of the German destroyers. This gave them a considerable edge in close-range combat. However, the two German "G-class" destroyers would not simply grant them that opportunity. At a distance of three kilometers, Captain Mike gave the order to fire.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The three 88mm naval guns of the *G37* roared to life, unleashing a barrage of shells toward the *Isokaze*, the sky raining with explosions.
The German artillery technology was far superior to that of the Island Nation, easily outclassing it by several streets. Their guns not only had a greater range and power but also boasted a much higher rate of fire. The 88mm guns, in particular, were a German classic, capable of reaching a rate of fire exceeding ten rounds per minute.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shells pounded the air around the *Isokaze*, sending towering columns of water skyward as the destroyer weaved and dodged.
"Damn! Wasn't the intelligence we received supposed to indicate the Germans only had three 88mm guns? How can their firepower be so intense?" Captain Parkeda cursed, his face darkening.
The rapid fire rate of the German guns made it feel as if they were under assault by more than ten cannons. Captain Parkeda knew well the reason for this, but it filled him with terror. The German Navy's destroyers effectively compensated for their smaller number of guns with an overwhelming fire rate, giving them a massive advantage. It was clear that a victory for the Island Navy would be far from easy.
Meanwhile, the *G38* had also begun targeting the *Ayanami*. The fierce barrage turned the *Ayanami* into a veritable target for falling shells, giving the crew a taste of what it felt like to be under heavy fire.
Though the distance between them was still considerable, Captain Parkeda and Captain Matsushita had no choice but to order a counterattack.
At this range, their 80mm guns with a 40-caliber barrel could still threaten the German destroyers, but their smaller 80mm guns with a 28-caliber barrel were far less effective.
Aboard the battleship *Kongo*, Admiral Ijuin and Rear Admiral Yamashita exchanged uneasy glances. The two Island Navy destroyers were already being suppressed by the German destroyers as soon as they engaged, highlighting the vast disparity in performance between the ships. If this continued, the Island Navy's destroyers would likely be hit, even sunk, over time.
"Boom!"
An 88mm shell struck the bow of the *Isokaze*, easily blasting a large hole in the ship.
Due to their smaller displacement, destroyers had minimal armor, effectively leaving them unprotected. This made them highly vulnerable to damage. Compared to the German destroyers, which had armor in critical areas, the Island Navy's ships had sacrificed armor to equip more guns in their compact hulls, leaving them far less capable of withstanding blows.
Shortly after, another shell struck the *Isokaze*, hitting its port side. The explosion destroyed one of its 80mm secondary guns and triggered a chain explosion among the nearby ammunition, blowing out a large portion of the side and igniting a fierce fire.
"Damn!" Captain Parkeda's face was as dark as coal. His ship was being pummeled, yet they had failed to land a single hit on the enemy. It was evident that they were at a severe disadvantage in this battle.
The battle between the *Ayanami* and the *G38* was similarly one-sided. The *Ayanami* was thoroughly suppressed, continuously battered by shells.
"Well done! Keep the pressure on, and we'll finish this in five minutes," Captain Mike said, a slight grin tugging at his lips as he visualized the imminent victory.
"Aye, Captain!" came the reply.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The gunners worked at breakneck speed, loading and firing one shell after another, with the three 88mm guns aboard the German destroyers proving devastatingly effective.
Soon, both the *Isokaze* and *Ayanami* were riddled with holes, their superstructures shattered and set ablaze. It seemed only a matter of time before they were both sunk.
"Damn! How can the German destroyers be so powerful? Our ships can't even strike back!" Rear Admiral Yamashita's face turned ashen. He never imagined that the destroyer duel would unfold in such a way. Though he knew the German destroyers were strong, he had no idea they would be this formidable.
Admiral Ijuin's face was similarly grim. While losing the two destroyers wasn't a catastrophic blow for the Island Navy, it would have been a significant morale boost to win the engagement before the main naval clash. But now, it seemed his hopes were dashed. Not only had they failed to win, but there was also a real chance of their ships being sunk. Such an outcome would severely damage the fleet's morale.