At the tail end of the battle line, the German Navy's battlecruiser *Seydlitz* was valiantly holding its ground against three adversaries. Astonishingly, it had driven the three battleships of the island nation's navy into disarray, leaving them barely able to retaliate.
This disparity arose not from tactical superiority alone but due to the sheer inferiority of the enemy ships.
The *Fuji*, the first pre-dreadnought battleship in the island nation's fleet, was purchased from Britain. With a displacement of over 12,000 tons, it was armed with two twin-mounted 305mm main guns of 40 calibers, ten 152mm secondary guns of the same caliber, and 24 47mm guns. For its era, such firepower was considered formidable. Its armor was equally robust: 457mm-thick side plating, a 102mm deck, 356mm on the conning tower, and 356mm on the turrets. On paper, this was an impressively fortified vessel.
However, the armor was of an antiquated design. Even at 457mm thickness, it offered less protection than modern plating half its size. Against the *Seydlitz*, the *Fuji* was akin to a lamb led to slaughter.
As for the *Sagami* and *Suwo* battleships, they were scarcely worth mentioning. Even if the *Seydlitz* refrained from counterattacking, their 254mm main guns, despite being of 45 calibers, posed no substantial threat. At most, they might pockmark the superstructure of the *Seydlitz*, but the idea of sinking it was utterly implausible.
Freed from serious threats, the *Seydlitz* focused all its firepower on the *Fuji*, determined to sink it before dealing with the *Sagami* and *Suwo*.
A deafening roar heralded a direct hit. A 343mm shell struck the *Fuji's* conning tower, piercing its 356mm-thick outdated armor with ease. The shell detonated within, instantly killing a dozen officers, including Captain Aranami Kyotaro. With its command incapacitated, the *Fuji* was left rudderless.
Less than two minutes later, another 343mm shell struck the *Fuji's* stern. It penetrated the deck plating and exploded internally, leaving the stern in ruins and severing a propeller shaft. The already sluggish *Fuji* slowed even further, becoming an even easier target.
In the following five minutes, the *Fuji* endured four more devastating hits. The shells inflicted catastrophic damage, even fracturing the ship's keel. Amid violent explosions, the battleship broke apart, its bow and stern sinking separately. All 700-plus sailors aboard perished.
After dispatching the *Fuji*, the *Seydlitz* turned its guns on the *Sagami*. Although classified as a first-class battleship due to its 13,500-ton displacement, its armament—a pair of 254mm main guns—was woefully inadequate for its class.
During the engagement, the *Sagami* and *Suwo* managed to land several hits on the *Seydlitz*. However, their efforts inflicted negligible damage, failing even to threaten the German battlecruiser. Conversely, the *Seydlitz's* 343mm main guns inflicted severe damage with each hit, capable of crippling or outright sinking these outdated battleships.
Under the relentless barrage, the *Sagami* succumbed within eight minutes. The *Suwo* held out slightly longer but sank after 13 minutes.
With the *Suwo* gone, the *Seydlitz* shifted its focus to the island nation's flagship, the *Mikasa*.
By this point, the island nation's navy had lost four capital ships, significantly eroding their numerical advantage against the German expeditionary fleet. Initially enjoying a twofold superiority, they now found it slipping away. The balance of power was inexorably tilting in favor of the Germans.
"Baka! Admiral, we've already lost four battleships! If this continues, what are we supposed to do?" Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō's face was ashen. His earlier confidence had evaporated, replaced by deep anxiety about the unfolding battle.
Admiral Ijūin Gorō nodded grimly. He, too, understood the situation. While the fighting raged on, the German fleet, despite being outnumbered, dominated the engagement. Soon, more of their battleships would be sunk, while the German ships remained largely unscathed. At most, the Germans suffered superficial damage, far from critical, let alone catastrophic.
Suddenly, an earth-shaking explosion echoed across the battlefield. The bow of the *Haruna* battlecruiser erupted in flames and smoke, violently torn apart.
When the smoke cleared, the bow was gone. A 380mm shell fired by the *Prinz Friedrich* had struck the *Haruna's* No. 1 turret on the foredeck. With only 230mm of armor, the turret was no match for such a powerful projectile. The shell penetrated the turret and detonated within the magazine, igniting over 100 shells stored inside.
The resulting explosion was catastrophic. The *Haruna* began sinking rapidly, its damage beyond repair. As the ship slipped beneath the waves, so too did Admiral Ijūin's last shreds of hope. He knew now that victory was no longer possible.