After the armored cruiser Yakumo was obliterated, all eight armored cruisers of the island nation's navy had met their fate beneath the waves—none remained afloat. This devastating blow was a grievous wound for the Combined Fleet of the island nation.
Although, like pre-dreadnoughts, armored cruisers had long been rendered obsolete among the Western naval powers and were no longer employed as mainline combat vessels, they remained a vital component of the island nation's navy. For a navy already short on warships, these armored cruisers were indispensable assets. At the very least, they maintained overwhelming dominance against neighboring countries with no substantial naval forces.
"General, we've destroyed all of their armored cruisers. Shall we now engage their capital ships or their protected cruisers?" Rear Admiral Mauve asked excitedly.
Having dispatched the armored cruisers of the island nation, the German expedition fleet's cruisers and destroyers were now considerably safer. The threat of torpedo attacks from the enemy navy had been largely mitigated.
Vice Admiral Spee pondered for a moment before giving his orders. "Advance. Destroy their cruisers. Even if we cannot annihilate them entirely, we must cripple the majority. Only then will we truly be secure."
"Yes, Admiral!" Rear Admiral Mauve replied with a nod.
The battle line of the German Expeditionary Fleet resumed its high-speed advance. Cutting a wide arc across the ocean, their course now turned directly toward the island nation's protected cruisers.
While the island nation's protected cruisers had already begun retreating during the slaughter of their armored counterparts, their speed proved woefully insufficient. Apart from the Chikuma-class cruisers, capable of reaching speeds of 26 knots, the rest lagged behind, with maximum speeds ranging from 20 to 23 knots. Though this was faster than typical battleships, it paled in comparison to the swifter German battlecruisers, renowned for their speed.
To overtake these retreating ships, the German expedition fleet's battlecruiser squadron increased its speed to 25 knots—a pace well within their capabilities. Even the slowest Moltke-class battlecruisers boasted a top speed of 27 knots, while the Derfflinger-class could reach 27.5 knots, and the newest Mackensen-class battlecruisers pushed this limit further to 28 knots. These speeds left all but the island nation's destroyers hopelessly outpaced.
Aboard the flagship Kongō of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Goro Ijuin and Rear Admiral Gentaro Yamashita were ashen-faced. They had watched helplessly as their armored cruisers were sunk one after another before their eyes. Yet, powerless to intervene, they could only bear witness to the annihilation.
"Commander, all of our armored cruisers have been destroyed," Rear Admiral Yamashita reported, his voice trembling as he closed his eyes in despair.
Admiral Ijuin knew that the battle had reached a dire juncture. With the loss of five capital ships and all eight armored cruisers, the Combined Fleet was already suffering a catastrophic defeat. The prospect of victory against the German Navy now seemed unattainable. Even the last-ditch option of a torpedo offensive offered little hope of success, as the German cruisers and destroyers had sustained minimal losses and could shield their battlecruisers from torpedo attacks.
Logic dictated that retreat was the only viable course. To persist would only exacerbate their losses, potentially leading to the complete annihilation of the fleet. At that point, the island nation's navy would cease to exist.
Yet, retreat was not an option Ijuin could command. The orders from the Cabinet were clear: fight to the death and defeat the German expedition fleet. If victory was unattainable, they were to stand their ground to the bitter end.
Moreover, failure to defeat the German fleet would leave Tokyo Bay vulnerable to further attacks. The Germans could bombard coastal cities at will, forcing the navy back out to sea or coercing the government into accepting humiliating terms. In such a scenario, the island nation would gain nothing from the war and suffer immense losses—a calamity of unparalleled proportions.
"Commander, the Germans have accelerated their battle line again. Their target appears to be our cruisers!" Rear Admiral Yamashita exclaimed in alarm.
"If their protected cruisers are destroyed, we will undoubtedly be next," Yamashita added.
"Damn it! Their battle line is now moving at 25 knots. Even our Kongō-class battlecruisers are hard-pressed to keep pace!" Admiral Ijuin growled. Though the Kongō class had been capable of 27.5 knots when newly commissioned, years of service and wear had inevitably diminished their speed.
"What are your orders, Commander?" Yamashita asked, his voice wavering with uncertainty.
Clenching his teeth, Admiral Ijuin made his decision. "Order the remaining three Kongō-class battlecruisers to accelerate and intercept the Germans. Deploy the destroyer flotilla as well. Prepare for a torpedo offensive—this is our only chance. If we cannot deal a heavy blow to the Germans and force them to retreat, we are doomed!"
Rear Admiral Yamashita nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. Defeat in this engagement would spell disaster for the island nation's navy and government alike. Without its navy, the island nation would be left defenseless, a vulnerable prey to the German onslaught. The expedition fleet would only intensify its attacks on coastal cities, inflicting even greater losses.
With Admiral Ijuin's orders, the remaining three Kongō-class battlecruisers surged forward in pursuit of the German fleet. The destroyers followed closely behind, their torpedoes representing the only hope of inflicting significant damage on the enemy. Though diminutive in size compared to the towering battlecruisers, their payloads could still deliver a devastating blow.