World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Tirpitz listened in silence. The plan was audacious to the point of being insane, but... it wasn't without its feasibility.

"Would the British take the bait so easily?" he asked.

"They have to take the bait," Scheer sneered. "The army's defeat at the Somme has put immense pressure on Britain. The navy desperately needs a victory to boost morale. If two of Germany's newest battleships are 'showing off' off the coast of Norway, the British won't stand idly by. They'll think: 'We only have two ships, so let's concentrate our superior forces and wipe them out.' And that's exactly what we want."

"What about the risks?"

"Very high," Scheer readily admitted. "If the British uncover our plan, if their main fleet arrives too quickly, if the weather is unfavorable to us... the task force could be surrounded. But conversely, if we succeed, we can change the balance of power in the North Sea in one fell swoop."

Tirpitz walked back to the railing and looked down at the Bismarck. On board, the sailors were making final preparations for departure. Elevators were moving ammunition from the depots to the turrets, cranes were hoisting supplies, and officers were inspecting the deck. Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Most of these young people were under twenty-five. Did they know what this voyage might mean?

"Has His Majesty the Emperor approved it?" Tirpitz asked finally.

"It was approved this afternoon," Scheer said. "His Majesty's exact words were: 'Germany needs a victory that the world will remember. By sea or by land, it will do.'"

Tirpitz closed his eyes. He recalled the Emperor's speech in 1897 when he reviewed the fleet in Kiel: "Our future lies at sea!" At that time, Germany had only a small navy, but now they possessed what were perhaps the two most powerful warships in the world.

But strength often means greater responsibility and greater risk.

"When do we set sail?" He opened his eyes.

"Tomorrow night," Scheer said. "The dark night will be ideal for a covert departure. The task force will consist of the Bismarck, the Tirpitz, three light cruisers, and six destroyers. The main force of the High Seas Fleet will depart in twelve hours, maintaining a distance of one hundred nautical miles."

"Who is the commander?"

"I personally command the task force," Scheer said. "The main fleet is under the command of Admiral Hipper."

Tirpitz turned sharply: "You're going yourself? That's too dangerous!"

"It is precisely because I go in person that the British will be more convinced that this is a 'show of force' rather than a trap." Scheer smiled, a smile with an almost tragic determination. "Marshal, I am fifty-three years old this year and have served in the navy for thirty-five years. If this is my last battle, I hope it will be on the bridge, facing the most powerful enemy."

Tirpitz was speechless. He looked at his old friend, the soul of the High Seas Fleet, and suddenly realized: this gamble was not just about two warships, but about the future of the entire German Navy and all the country's ambitions at sea.

"May God bless Germany," he finally said.

"God help us," Scheer repeated, but his tone was more like saying: We can only rely on ourselves now.

The two stood side by side on the observation deck, gazing at the colossal ship below. The dock lights cast long shadows of them against the steel walls, making them look like two giants about to step into history.

Departure, November 1st

Dawn comes late in Beihai.

At five in the morning, on the bridge of the battleship Bismarck, Admiral Scheer held a cup of coffee, gazing at the dark sea outside the harbor. The coffee was strong and bitter, but it was invigorating. He hadn't slept all night, reviewing the battle plan one last time and checking the fleet's status one last time.

"Report!" The communications officer's voice broke the silence. "All ships are ready and can depart at any time."

Scheer put down his coffee cup: "Notify all ships: depart at 5:30 sharp according to the planned sequence. Maintain radio silence and light control. After departure, sail northwest at 12 knots, target: the waters off Norway."

"yes!"

The orders were relayed throughout the task force via light signals and flags. In the darkness, the engines of the ships began to hum, and wisps of white smoke billowed from their funnels. The mooring lines on the dock were untied, and tugboats, spewing water jets, carefully pushed the giant ships away from their berths.

The Bismarck was the first to move.

The 45,000-ton behemoth carved a broad wake into the calm harbor. On the bridge, Scheer could feel the subtle vibrations beneath his feet—the four steam turbines whirring at low speeds, unleashing a tremendous power of 100,000 horsepower. But he knew that once that power was fully unleashed, the ship could cut through the waves at 30 knots, charging forward like a knight of the sea.

"Heading, 270 degrees. Speed, 8 knots."

The helmsman repeated the order. The warship slowly turned and headed towards the port exit. On the breakwaters on both sides, a few early-rising sailors stood watching and saluted the departing fleet. Scheer saw them, but did not respond. His entire attention was ahead, on the sea that would soon determine the fate of Germany.

The Tirpitz followed behind, about 500 yards behind. The silhouettes of the sister ship were faintly visible in the morning mist, like a beast following its alpha wolf. Behind them were three light cruisers and six destroyers, forming a tight escort formation.

As the fleet sailed out of the main channel of Wilhelmshaven and into the open North Sea, dawn began to break. A pale white hue appeared on the eastern horizon, but was quickly swallowed by low-hanging dark clouds. The weather forecast was correct—today would bring strong winds, waves of four to six meters, and poor visibility.

This is advantageous for covert operations, Scheer thought. But it's also disadvantageous for navigation and combat.

"Report!" the radar officer's voice rang out. "Aerial target detected, bearing 030, distance 15 nautical miles, altitude 2,000 meters. Identified as a British reconnaissance aircraft."

Scheer frowned. The British were watching very closely.

"Notify all ships to maintain their course and speed, and not to exhibit any unusual behavior," he ordered. "If the other side approaches, use anti-aircraft guns to warn and drive it away."

"clear!"

A minute later, a dark dot appeared beneath the clouds to the northeast. It was a British seaplane, slowly circling above the fleet, clearly taking pictures and observing. The anti-aircraft guns on the German warships rotated slowly, but did not fire.

Scheer raised his binoculars. He could make out the Royal Air Force insignia under the plane's wing, and even the pilot's silhouette in the cockpit. That British pilot must be sending a telegram, reporting the departure of Germany's newest battleship.

Very good. Scheer put down his binoculars. The first step of the plan had been successful.

The British now know: the Germans' new warships have set sail, heading northwest, possibly to Norway, or perhaps to harass the east coast of Britain.

They will definitely react.

"General," the chief of staff approached, lowering his voice, "we just received a coded telegram from Berlin. Lanfang has confirmed that the second batch of fifty tanks has been loaded onto ships and is expected to arrive in Hamburg in two weeks. In addition, the first batch of 'volunteers' from Japan—50,000 men—has arrived in Basra and is being transferred via the Ottoman Railway."

Scheer nodded without speaking. He left matters on land to the army. His battlefield was at sea.

"Furthermore," the chief of staff hesitated for a moment, "intelligence indicates that the two British Hood-class battlecruisers left Scapa Flow yesterday and are heading northeast. Their purpose is unknown, but the timing... is quite coincidental."

Scherr's eyes narrowed. The Hood-class destroyers have been deployed? So quickly?

"Are you sure?"

"The U-38 submarine spotted a suspected target near the Shetland Islands three hours ago, but was unable to get close enough to confirm it."