World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Scheer walked to the chart table. The staff had already marked the known positions of the British fleet: the main force of the Grand Fleet was in Scapa Flow, the movements of the fast formations were unknown, and the Hood-class destroyers might have already left port…

Time, it's all about time. If the British react quickly enough, their fast fleet might intercept the task force off the coast of Norway. If they react slowly, they might encounter it further north.

But in any case, such an encounter was almost inevitable.

"Notify all ships," Scheer ordered, "to enter Level 3 readiness. Radars operational 24/7, lookouts doubled. Maintain course, increase speed to 18 knots."

"clear!"

The order was relayed. The fleet began to accelerate, and the bow of the Bismarck cleaved through the gray waves, splashing up white foam. The wind grew stronger, and the warship began to sway slightly.

Scheer stood on the bridge, feeling the increasingly intense vibrations beneath his feet. Thirty knots—this giant ship could go thirty knots. At full speed, the sense of power, the feeling of controlling the ocean…

He suddenly recalled the scene twenty years ago when he was still a young officer and first boarded the battleship "Prussia". At that time, the German Navy was only a second-rate force, and could only develop cautiously in the shadow of the British Royal Navy.

And now? Now they possess one of the most powerful warships in the world.

But having something and being able to keep it are two different things.

"General," the radar officer reported again, "the British reconnaissance plane has left and is heading southwest."

"understood."

Scheer looked southwest. That was the direction of Britain, the direction of the Royal Navy, the direction of the opponent in this high-stakes gamble.

"Come on," he murmured to himself. "Let's see who the true master of the North Sea is."

The operations room of the Hood was filled with smoke.

Rear Admiral Wellesley, Colonel Tovey, Colonel Goodnow, along with the three cruiser captains and the destroyer squadron commander of the fast formation, all sat around the chart table. Everyone's expression was grave.

"Confirmed." The intelligence officer pointed to a red dot on the nautical chart. "The report is highly credible. Two large warships, each displacing over 40,000 tons, are heading northwest at a speed of approximately 15 knots. Their characteristics match those of the Bismarck-class."

"Location?" Wellesley asked.

"We were here six hours ago." The intelligence officer pointed to a spot on the nautical chart. "About 100 nautical miles northeast of the Shetland Islands. Judging by the speed, we should be approaching the Norwegian coastline now."

"Purpose?"

"Uncertain. It could be harassing Norwegian shipping lanes, it could be heading north into the North Atlantic, or it could be..." The intelligence officer paused, "...a decoy."

This word made the atmosphere in the operations room even more tense.

Colonel Tovey pointed to the nautical chart: "If the Germans want to use these two new ships as bait, then the main force of the High Seas Fleet must be nearby. Not too far away, probably 100 to 150 nautical miles behind, maintaining radio silence, waiting for us to take the bait."

"But we can't afford not to take the bait," Goodnow said. "If we allow two Bismarck-class destroyers to operate off the coast of Norway, it would pose a huge threat to our shipping lanes. And... political pressure won't allow it."

Wellesley was well aware of the political pressure. The war cabinet needed a victory, any victory would do. Sinking or capturing Germany's newest and most advanced battleship would be the greatest victory since the Battle of Jutland.

"Where is the main force of the fleet located?" he asked.

"Admiral Jellicoe's 24 capital ships are currently on standby west of the Orkney Islands. They are about 200 nautical miles away from us, and it would take them 10 hours to sail at full speed."

Two hundred nautical miles. Wellesley calculated. If they encountered a German task force, engaged in battle, and then waited for main force support... ten hours was enough to complete a naval battle.

"What's the weather like?"

"Severe," the meteorologist reported. "A storm is forming in the central North Sea. In the next 24 hours, waves may reach eight meters high and visibility may be less than five nautical miles. This is very unfavorable for our artillery fire, but advantageous for covertly approaching the enemy."

There are pros and cons, Wellesley thought. Bad weather would increase the risks of sailing, but it would also obscure the fleet's movements, making it harder for the Germans to determine our location and numbers.

"Gentlemen," he said, glancing around at the crowd, "orders have been given: our mission is to intercept and destroy the German task force. If we encounter the main force of the High Seas Fleet, we are to harass and delay them while awaiting support from the main fleet. Any questions?"

A brief silence.

"General," a cruiser captain began, "if the main German fleet is indeed nearby, our fast attack craft may be surrounded. While the Hood and Queen Elizabeth are powerful, they are no match for numerical superiority..."

"Then run," Wellesley said calmly. "Remember, we're in fast formation. Hood and Queen Elizabeth II are over thirty knots fast; no German battleship can catch them. If things go wrong, we disengage and retreat north or west."

"What about the cruisers and destroyers?" another captain asked.

Wellesley looked at him: "Your mission is reconnaissance, cover, and torpedo attacks. If engagements occur, prioritize attacking German capital ships. If necessary..." He paused, "...execute the tactics you deem correct."

In naval terminology, the so-called "correct tactics" often mean sacrificing everything to cover the main force's retreat.

Everyone in the operations room understood. Some lowered their heads, some clenched their fists, but no one objected. This was war, this was the navy, this was their duty.

"Any other questions?" Wellesley asked finally.

Colonel Tovey raised his hand: "General, if we encounter a Bismarck-class battleship, how should we choose the engagement distance? Our 15-inch guns may have limited effectiveness against their armor at long range."

"Close the distance." Wellesley said without hesitation, "Use our numerical advantage, two ships against one, firing from different directions in a crossfire. No matter how thick their armor is, it will eventually be penetrated at close range."

"But what if they run? The Bismarck-class ships are said to be very fast."

"Then let's chase them. As long as we keep them on our heels, they won't be able to escape once the main force of the fleet arrives."

The plan sounds simple, but everyone knows that countless variables can occur in actual combat. Weather, mechanical failure, communication disruptions, misjudgments... any small mistake could lead to disaster.

"What is the current status of each ship?" Wellesley asked.

Tovey replied, "The HMS Hood is ready for battle, with 100% ammunition and 90% fuel. The engine room reports that it can maintain a speed of 30 knots for at least eight hours."

Goodnow: "Similar to the Queen, but the outer starboard propeller is vibrating a bit. The engineers are checking it, and it won't affect combat."

The cruisers and destroyers also reported that they were ready.

"Very good." Wellesley checked his watch. "It's 10:00 AM. Notify all ships: depart in one hour, heading northeast, target: the waters off Norway. Maintain radio silence, keep radars on."

"yes!"