Under the ferocious bombardment from the German expedition fleet, the island nation's navy was not entirely defenseless. From a greater distance, three Kongō-class battlecruisers of the island navy seized the opportunity to unleash a barrage, attempting to sink the German battlecruisers.
Even the destroyers joined the fray, firing their 80mm naval guns in retaliation. Although such calibers posed no threat to the German capital ships, they proved effective against the gunners manning secondary and rapid-fire artillery. Weakening the firepower of the German fleet, even marginally, was a welcome relief for the island navy, giving them a better chance to close in on the main German vessels.
A deafening explosion erupted as an 80mm shell struck one of the secondary gun emplacements aboard the Mackensen battlecruiser. Though the gun itself remained intact, several crew members were torn to shreds, their mangled remains scattered across the blood-soaked deck. Amid the chaos, no one had the luxury to mourn; survival demanded their focus in this brutal battlefield awash with carnage.
Meanwhile, the Kamikaze destroyer was repeatedly hit by enemy shells. Its superstructure, riddled with holes, had burst into flames. Despite these grievous damages, the ship's vital components remained functional, allowing it to press forward.
A 150mm shell then slammed into the bow of the Kamikaze, obliterating one of its 80mm guns. Moments later, a salvo of 88mm shells raked the destroyer, their deadly fragments mowing down sailors exposed on the deck. Yet, even in the face of such devastation, the Kamikaze charged on.
But its luck was short-lived. Another 150mm shell struck the engine room, crippling the destroyer's propulsion. Reduced to a drifting wreck, the Kamikaze became an easy target. A relentless barrage followed, sending the ship to its watery grave.
The destroyers Mutsuki and Kisaragi fared no better. Attempting to navigate through the torrent of enemy fire, both vessels were engulfed in flames long before they could approach torpedo range. At a distance of over 3,000 meters, they were annihilated, unable to unleash a single torpedo.
Relief washed over the German sailors aboard the Mackensen. Even Vice Admiral von Spee and Rear Admiral Mauve shared a momentary sense of reprieve. As the Mackensen battled its immediate threats, the remaining eight German battlecruisers concentrated on neutralizing the destroyer menace. For the Germans, eliminating the enemy destroyers, with their deadly torpedoes, was paramount. Victory demanded survival, and the destroyers posed the most immediate danger.
The Derfflinger battlecruiser faced an assault by four Kamikaze-class destroyers. To ensure its safety, the Derfflinger unleashed a relentless barrage, blanketing the sea with towering columns of water. With the support of two destroyers and a light cruiser providing cover, the Derfflinger remained relatively secure—though fate had a way of defying expectations.
The Hayate destroyer, living up to its name ("Gale"), seemed unnaturally fortunate in this chaotic melee. Enemy shells appeared to steer clear, allowing it to close within 1,500 meters of the Derfflinger.
"Fire the torpedoes!" Captain Hiroo Dan, commanding the Hayate, bellowed.
Two 450mm torpedoes sped toward the Derfflinger at 30 knots. The German captain, unwilling to gamble on the ship's robust waterline armor, promptly ordered evasive maneuvers. The massive battlecruiser began to turn, presenting its bow to the incoming torpedoes to minimize the likelihood of a hit.
Despite their efforts, luck was not on their side. One torpedo missed, but the other struck the Derfflinger near its aft waterline.
The explosion was powerful, yet the 380mm armor held firm, leaving the battlecruiser unscathed.
"Damn it! Hard to port! Reload the torpedoes!" Captain Dan barked in frustration.
The Hayate began to turn, but for a destroyer at high speed, such a maneuver required a wide arc. This delay brought it dangerously close to the Derfflinger and its escorting vessels, exposing its broadside to enemy guns—a fatal mistake.
A storm of shells descended upon the Hayate. Fires erupted across its deck as a 150mm shell struck below the waterline, tearing a gaping hole in the hull. Seawater poured in, causing the ship to list and its speed to plummet.
More shells found their mark, shredding the Hayate to pieces. Of its 70 sailors, none survived.
Torpedo attacks by destroyers were akin to a knife fight at close quarters, requiring unparalleled courage and precision. But such engagements came at a steep cost, with devastating casualties that underscored the savage brutality of naval warfare.