World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"Well done!" Cheers erupted from the bridge.

Scheer put down his binoculars.

"Turn to 140," he said. "Speed ​​30 knots. Maintain distance."

On the bridge of the USS Revenge, Evans Thomas looked at the two damaged warships with a grim expression.

HMS Resolution's speed dropped to 19 knots. HMS Royal Oak's speed dropped to 18 knots and continued to decline. HMS Sovereign, though undamaged, was consuming too much fuel and wouldn't last much longer.

Meanwhile, the Germans were still lurking in the distance, like two lions toying with their prey.

"Commander," Chief of Staff Crowley's voice tightened, "this can't go on. They're wearing us down. Once it gets dark, they can run away or fight whenever they want, and we'll be completely helpless."

Evans Thomas remained silent.

He knew Crowley was right. But what could he do? Retreat the fleet? Then the Germans would catch up and attack from behind. Speed ​​up the fleet? He couldn't; it was already at its limit.

"Have HMS Sovereign, HMS Conqueror, and I continue the pursuit," he finally said. "HMS Resolution and HMS Royal Oak withdraw from the battle line and retreat towards Bombay. Have the destroyers cover them."

Crowley paused for a moment: "Commander, three against two..."

"Three against two, we still have a chance." Evans-Thomas interrupted him. "As long as we can get within 18,000 meters, our 381mm guns can penetrate their armor."

He paused, then said, "Go and relay the order."

The order has been issued.

HMS Resolution and HMS Royal Oak slowly turned northwest and withdrew from the battlefield under the cover of six destroyers.

HMS Sovereign, HMS Conqueror, and HMS Revenge—three British battleships—continued their pursuit southeast at a speed of twenty-one knots.

12:15.

Scheer saw through his binoculars that the two damaged warships were evacuating.

"The British have divided their forces," he said.

The naval officer leaned closer: "General, three ships continue the pursuit, two retreat. What should we do?"

Scher was silent for three seconds.

Three against two, the numerical disadvantage has narrowed. But those three—the Revenge, the Sovereign, and the Conqueror—are all in excellent condition. If they get bogged down...

"Go after those two damaged ships," he said.

The navigator paused, then asked, "General?"

Scheer pointed to the two dotted lines on the nautical chart that were moving northwest:

"HMS Resolution has a speed of nineteen knots, HMS Royal Oak has a speed of eighteen knots. We have thirty knots. We can catch up in an hour. Once we catch up, we'll take them out. As for those three ships—"

He looked up at the three approaching dots on the radar screen:

"Twenty-one knots, they can't catch up with us. We'll deal with these after we take out those two damaged ships."

The order has been issued.

The Bismarck and Tirpitz turned simultaneously, heading 310 at a speed of 30 knots.

Like two lions that suddenly turned around, the two German warships abandoned the three pursuing adversaries and pounced on the two retreating prey.

On the bridge of the HMS Revenge, Evans Thomas watched the Germans' movements, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Damn it!" he roared. "Full speed! Intercept them! They're chasing the Resolution!"

The three British battleships made a frantic turn. But twenty-one knots versus thirty knots was a huge difference.

The distance is increasing. Twenty-five nautical miles, twenty-eight nautical miles, thirty nautical miles.

Twenty minutes later, the German fleet disappeared from sight.

Evans Thomas knew where they went.

They've gone to kill the HMS Resolution and the HMS Royal Oak.

1:05 PM.

The Bismarck caught up with the Royal Oak.

The old battleship was scrambling along at eighteen knots. Smoke was still billowing from its port side, indicating significant flooding. On deck, the damage control team was still working desperately to plug the breach torn open by a 380mm shell.

The moment the lookout spotted the German warship, a distorted gasp of alarm rang out from the bridge of HMS Royal Oak.

"Enemy ships! Due south! Two—Bismarck-class!"

Captain Alfred Browning rushed to the porthole.

Two German warships are approaching at full speed, and the distance is less than 20,000 meters.

"Main guns, prepare!" he roared. "All main guns, aim at the first ship! Fire!"

HMS Royal Oak's four twin-mounted 381mm main guns began firing. But its turrets were too slow to rotate, too slow to aim, and too slow to reload.

The first salvo landed a kilometer in front of the Bismarck.

The second salvo came a little closer, but was still 800 meters away.

The third round—

The Bismarck opened fire.

Eight 380mm shells flew out of the muzzle simultaneously. Forty seconds later, three hit their targets.

One shell landed below the bridge, blowing up the radio room. Another shell landed on the aft deck, detonating spare ammunition. A third shell landed near the waterline, tearing a three-meter-long gash.

HMS Royal Oak shuddered violently. Its speed dropped from eighteen knots to fifteen knots, and from fifteen knots to twelve knots.

The Tirpitz also opened fire.

Eight more shells. Two hit.

The bow of HMS Royal Oak began to sink. Seawater rushed in through the breach, flooding three compartments. The ship began to list—three degrees to port, five degrees, eight degrees—

Colonel Browning stood on the sloping bridge, holding onto the railing to keep his balance.

"Abandon ship," he said.

The first mate was stunned: "Captain—"

"Abandon ship!" Browning roared. "Get everyone to the life rafts! Now!"

Life rafts were lowered one after another. Sailors jumped into the sea and swam with all their might toward the small rafts.

Browning did not leave.

He stood on the bridge, watching the two German warships draw closer. He watched their guns spew fire again. He watched the shells fly towards him.

1:31 PM.

HMS Royal Oak suffered a violent explosion—the ammunition magazine detonated. Flames erupted from the ship's interior, engulfing the entire vessel in a massive fireball. Masts snapped, turrets were blown off, and the ship broke in two during the explosion.

The two sections of the wreckage sank to the bottom of the sea.

It disappeared completely within three minutes.

Scheer did not stop to watch the Royal Oak sink.

"Target, Resolution," he said. "Full speed."

Twenty minutes later, they caught up with the Resolution.

HMS Resolution was in slightly better shape than HMS Royal Oak. Although it had been hit, the damage was not fatal, and it could still run at 19 knots. But at 19 knots against 30 knots, it still had no chance.

The moment Captain Wilhelm Boyle saw the German warships, he knew there was no hope.

But he did not surrender.

"Main guns ready," he said. "Fire. Fire until the last shell."

The Resolution's main guns began to fire. Its gunners went mad, loading, aiming, and firing at top speed, regardless of how low the probability of a hit was.

In the first round, we almost lost.

Second round, cross shot.

The third round—

The Bismarck and Tirpitz opened fire simultaneously.

Sixteen 380mm shells fell simultaneously. Four hit their targets.

The bridge of the HMS Resolution was blown off, and the navigator was killed instantly. The aft main gun turret was penetrated and stuck at a 15-degree elevation angle. Two large holes were torn in the side, and seawater rushed in, reducing the ship's speed to below 10 knots.

But it was still firing.