Jagged Germany: Chapter 444 no escape
Aboard the battleship 'Revenge', the flagship of the British Navy's Grand Fleet, Admiral John Jellicoe and Lieutenant Admiral David Beatty were silent for a long time, and their faces were very ugly. After the loss of three "Bellelophon-class" battleships and three "St. Vincent-class" battleships, this is undoubtedly worse for the British Navy. Including the previous losses, there are only 14 warships left that they can continue to fight.
"Your Excellency, why don't we retreat immediately before the main force of the Germans arrives?" Lieutenant General David Betty said.
Now, it can be said that he has no confidence in winning at all.
Although, the remaining 14 battleships of the Royal Navy, including six 'Revenge class' battleships, one 'King George V' battleship, three 'Orion class' battleships, 'Agincourt' battleship, 'Ireland' The battleship HMS Canada, the battleship 'Canada' and the battleship 'Hercules' are all considered capital battleships. However, compared with the main battleships of the German Navy, the gap is still too large.
Before the battle began, Admiral John Jellicoe and Lieutenant General David Beatty both believed that they could sink at least fifteen capital ships of the German Navy. But now, they only have 14 battleships left, and they have to face more than twice the siege of the capital ships of the German Navy. Under such circumstances, how could it be possible to sink so many battleships of the German Navy?
It can be said that from this time on, their plan has completely failed. Even if the Royal Navy fleet fights until the entire army is wiped out, the damage caused to the German navy will be very limited.
Churchill's plan to severely damage the German Navy by sacrificing the Royal Navy's large fleet and create favorable opportunities for subsequent operations proved to be simply unworkable.
The German navy relied on its strong strength and advanced tactics, enabling them to defeat the Royal Navy at a very small cost. After the German Navy won this battle, they will become the well-deserved maritime supremacy. It will be very difficult for other countries to challenge Germany's hegemony. Of course, countries may not have the courage at all.
As for the remaining huge pre-dreadnought ships in the UK, if they are sent to the battlefield, there is no doubt that there is only one dead end. In front of the cutting-edge battleships of the German Navy, even though there were a large number of those former dreadnoughts, they were all sunk in the end.
However, it might be impossible to retreat now. Admiral John Jellicoe thought that since the German navy had already planned this series of tactics, how could it be possible for them to escape again?
"General Betty, escaping is simply not feasible. Don't forget, not far from us, there are still 12 German battlecruisers watching. Even with our current strength, even those 12 battlecruisers , may not be able to beat it." Admiral John Jellicoe said dejectedly.
Indeed, among the 12 battlecruisers of the German Navy, six are equipped with 380mm main guns, and their combat effectiveness is no worse than their "Revenge Class". The other six ships are also cutting-edge warships. Although the Royal Navy still has 14 battleships, it is almost impossible to win the battlecruiser formation of the German Navy.
David? Betty Lieutenant General was immediately speechless. He had to admit that if the battlecruiser formation of the German Navy launched an attack, relying on 14 battleships, they might not necessarily be able to win. After all, the capital ships of the German Navy are too powerful, whether they are battlecruisers or battleships, their performance is very powerful. This point, the Royal Navy, which has suffered heavy losses under the attack of the German Navy, should be very clear.
"Your Excellency, we still have so many cruisers and destroyers. Lightning strikes alone are enough to break through the German interception." Lieutenant General David Beatty said.
Admiral John Jellicoe still shook his head: "I know, you don't want to see the elite of the Royal Navy buried here. But now we can't escape. Don't forget, the German main fleet has not Appeared. We have been spotted by them for such a long time, the main German fleet, there is no way that it has not arrived. If I did not guess, the British main fleet of the Germans went around to our north. So , our retreat has been blocked. If we want to break out from other places, the German battlecruiser formation will definitely entangle us. At that time, we will be attacked by the Germans on both sides, and soon will be completely defeated by them."
David? Beatty will be reluctant to nodded, he knew John? Jellicoe Admiral said is right. Now they should have fallen into the trap of the Germans. The Germans orchestrated this decisive battle. From sending warships to bombard Edinburgh, forcing the main force of the Royal Navy to go to sea for a decisive battle, and then targeting their battlecruiser units, and then dispatching planes to weaken the strength of the Royal Navy's main fleet. In the end, it was time for all the main fleet of the German Navy to be dispatched, and all the main fleet of the Royal Navy should be eliminated in one fell swoop.
Now, the German Navy has completed the first few steps, and the last step is left to encircle and wipe out the remaining warships of the British Navy's main fleet. How could the German Navy give up this step and let them go? This is simply impossible.
"Now, we have to keep fighting. Hope, God can bless us, and sink as many German warships as possible! This is the only thing we can do for the British Empire." John Jellicoe entered will say.
Lieutenant General David Betty sadly discovered that they really seemed to have only this way to choose.
Admiral John Jellicoe did not guess that the main force of the High Seas Fleet led by Admiral Reinhard Scheer had already circled to the north of the main British Navy fleet. If the British Navy goes north, it will meet them just in time. At that time, the German navy will undoubtedly be able to wait for work, defeat the British navy in one fell swoop, and destroy all their remaining warships.
However, no matter how John Jellicoe chooses. The current main fleet of the Royal Navy seems to have no other options. Facing the German navy, which already had an absolute advantage in Germany, their fate in this naval battle seems to have been decided, that is, to be defeated, and most likely to be wiped out. Except for the battlecruiser 'Tiger' and the battleship 'Queen Elizabeth' that had withdrawn from the battlefield before, the rest of the battleships probably would not be able to escape.