World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

The four torpedo tubes roared simultaneously. The four Type 93 torpedoes, each weighing 2.7 tons, slid into the water, their oxygen engines igniting instantly. Trailing almost invisible contrails, they hurtled towards the distant giant ship at a speed of 48 knots.

Immediately afterwards, the Aoba, Kinugasa, and Myoko also launched torpedoes. Sixteen torpedoes formed a deadly fan-shaped barrage underwater, covering all possible directions of maneuver for the Bismarck formation.

After the launch, the four heavy cruisers immediately began to turn and attempt to retreat. But it was too late.

On the bridge of the Yangtze, Major General Zhang Zhen stared at the sixteen rapidly approaching underwater targets on the radar screen, his face grave.

"Torpedo speed 48 knots, distance 17,000 knots, arrival time... 11 minutes and 40 seconds," the fire control officer reported.

"A workaround?"

"Calculation in progress... The enemy has adopted a fan-shaped dispersion pattern with a wide coverage angle. If our entire formation turns to the left in unison, we can avoid most of them, but the outermost Pearl River might enter the edge minefield."

Zhang Zhen looked at the nautical chart. The four Bismarck-class ships were lined up in a single column, with the Yangtze River at the head and the Pearl River at the rear. If they all turned left simultaneously and sailed at 30 knots for twelve minutes, they could escape the range of most torpedoes. But the Pearl River…

"Order: Full rudder to port for the entire formation, change course to 080, and increase speed to 32 knots. Pearl River, be aware of the minefield on the right; may maneuver independently if necessary."

"yes!"

The order was given. The four giant ships simultaneously began sharp turns, drawing four enormous white arcs across the sea. But it would take time for the 320,000 tons of steel to change direction, while torpedoes were approaching at 25 meters per second.

On the bridge of the Pearl River, Captain Zhou Weiguo stared at the sonar screen. Sixteen points of light, like sixteen arrows of death, were rapidly approaching from the right front.

"The nearest one is 12,000 units away, with an estimated arrival time of eight minutes." The soprano's voice was calm, but his forehead was covered in sweat.

"Our course?"

"080, speed 32 knots. At this course, we will enter the edge of the minefield in seven minutes."

Zhou Weiguo calculated quickly. The Pearl River now had two options: first, continue following the formation and pray that the torpedoes would not hit; second, turn alone, break away from the formation, and find a safe gap.

However, turning alone also carries significant risks. Once separated from the formation, the Pearl River would become a prime target for the remaining Japanese firepower. Moreover, no one knew whether there were other torpedoes underwater.

"Captain..." the first mate whispered.

Zhou Weiguo raised his hand to stop him. He looked at the nautical chart, at the red arrows representing torpedoes, his mind racing.

The torpedoes are spread out in a fan shape, covering a fan-shaped area. If the Pearl River turns right now and goes around the outside of the fan shape, although it will increase the distance from the formation, it can completely avoid the torpedo zone.

The problem was that after turning right, the Pearl River would be exposed to the fire of the Japanese heavy cruisers. While the heavy cruisers' 203mm main guns posed little threat to the Bismarck-class battleships, what if…

"Hard to right," Zhou Weiguo suddenly said.

"What?" The vice-captain thought he had misheard.

"Hard right rudder, heading 150, maintain speed 32 knots," Zhou Weiguo repeated. "We need to go around the outside of the minefield."

"But Captain, that would mean we..."

"I know we'll be exposed," Zhou Weiguo interrupted him, "but it's better than being hit by a torpedo. Execute the order!"

"yes!"

The Pearl River began to turn independently. The 41,000-ton behemoth drew an arc on the sea surface opposite to that of the formation, heading towards the right edge of the minefield.

On the Chikuma, Shimazu witnessed this scene through his telescope.

"One has turned!" he roared excitedly. "Aim at the one turning alone! Fire all main guns!"

The Chikuma's six 203mm main guns began to aim. Although the probability of a hit at this distance was extremely low, as long as a strafing attack could be achieved, it would disrupt the enemy ship's evasive maneuvers.

However, Shimadzu never got to see the results of the shooting.

Because at the same time that the Chikuma opened fire, the main guns of the Changjiang completed re-aiming.

"Target: Japanese heavy cruiser leader, 19,500 yards away." Zhang Zhen calmly ordered, "All ships fire simultaneously."

Eight 380mm main guns roared simultaneously. Thirty seconds later, the shells fell.

The first near miss landed fifty meters to the port side of the Chikuma.

The second shot was even closer, at thirty meters.

The third shot...

It hit directly.

A 380mm armor-piercing shell weighing 800 kg penetrated the main armor belt at the front of the Chikuma and exploded inside the forward ammunition magazine.

The forward half of the Chikuma was blown into the air with a deafening roar. The fireball from the explosion reached a height of three hundred meters, clearly visible even tens of kilometers away.

In the final moments of his life, Colonel Shimazu saw that dazzling flame. He felt no fear, only relief.

"At least... torpedoes..." he murmured, before being engulfed by flames.

The Chikuma sank in just three minutes. And the four torpedoes it fired continued to propel it toward Bismarck's formation.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

Faced with advanced fire control radar and high-speed maneuverability, the probability of a hit from such a long-range torpedo salvo was pitifully low. Of the sixteen torpedoes, fourteen passed harmlessly from behind the formation, while the other two were easily evaded by the Pearl River.

At 7:42 a.m., the Japanese heavy cruiser Chikuma sank.

At 7:45, the Aoba was sunk by the Huanghe.

At 7:48, Kinugasa was sunk by Huaihe.

At 7:52, while attempting to evacuate, the Myoko was hit by the last two main guns of the Fuxing, which were still capable of firing, causing the ammunition magazine to explode and sink.

The desperate charge of the remaining Japanese fleet ended in total annihilation.

As for the Bismarck formation, apart from the Pearl River being hit in the superstructure by a 203mm shell while dodging a torpedo (minor damage), the other three ships were unharmed.

The outcome of this naval battle has been completely decided.

On the bridge of the Yangtze, Zhang Zhen put down his binoculars and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Report the results," he said.

The operations staff immediately replied: "Confirmed sunk: four Kongo-class battleships, four heavy cruisers, and thirteen destroyers. Our losses: Fuxing was heavily damaged but not sunk, Zhujiang was lightly damaged, and there were no other losses."

"What's the status of the Fuxing bullet train?"

"Rescue efforts are underway. The ship is listing 18 degrees to starboard, and several compartments are flooded, but the main structure remains intact. Captain Lin is still alive and is organizing damage control."

Zhang Zhen nodded. He looked at the giant ship still burning but afloat on the distant sea, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes.

They held out for forty minutes despite being at a significant disadvantage, buying crucial time for reinforcements. The officers and men of the Fuxing (Revival) ship truly deserve the title of the Lanfang Navy.

"Order: Huaihe and Zhujiang, advance to provide cover for Fuxing. Huanghe and I, clear the battlefield and rescue those who have fallen into the water."

"Sir, should we rescue the Japanese soldiers who have fallen into the water?"

Zhang Zhen remained silent for a few seconds. According to the conventions of naval warfare, the victor is obligated to rescue enemy personnel who have fallen into the water. However, today's battle was far too fierce; with four Kongo-class ships and more than a dozen other vessels, the number of people who had fallen into the water may have exceeded three thousand.

"Save them," he finally said. "Save them with rifles!"

"yes!"

The order was relayed. The two Bismarck-class ships began to slow down and lower their lifeboats. Sailors, rifles in hand, began to fight and rescue those in the water!

On the starboard side of the Yangtze, a young medic threw a 7.62mm round at a Japanese sailor. The sailor looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, covered in oil, and his face was full of terror.