The short whistle and buzzer alarm sounded heart-wrenchingly on the sea surface. At the top of the bridge of the "Grand Duke of Franz", Captain Sa Shijun was learning to be on duty, and he could overlook the entire battleship from here. ++++ When the alarm sounded, the officers and soldiers who were resting began to run to the battle position in panic. Looking from above, the deck was in chaos. Major Simmic ran up from under the bridge along the gangway.

Lieutenant Kasich, an adjutant on duty, reported to the gun commander: "The command's order is to strengthen the search for the northeastern direction."

Major Sinmich nodded, sat on the highest-ranking gun captain seat, pressed his eyes on the eyepiece of the 7.5-meter optical rangefinder, checked the condition of the rangefinder, and asked, "Can you see the enemy?" The gun command tower slowly turned to the left, and three of the six large telescopes set up like small cannon barrels pointed to the possible direction of the target. An observant soldier with a bearded face said loudly: "You can see nothing, sir!"

A thin layer of light fog on the sea limits the visual range to about 20,000 meters, and there is no trace of the enemy on the sea.

At the same time, Betty also ordered the fleet to turn south, but the flagship signaling hand forgot to send light signals to the battleship fleet 5 nautical miles behind him. Although Major General Thomas, the commander of the "Balham", received a telegram from Betty to order the fleet to turn, according to the operating specifications, the steering or speed change command of the entire fleet must be conveyed again with the light signal.

Major General Thomas "understands" Betty's orders according to his own judgment: "He asked us to continue to go north and encircle both ends to prevent the enemy from escaping!"

It was not until 10 minutes later that the British discovered this mistake and issued another order. Thomas hurriedly ordered the fleet to turn, but had already distanced more than ten nautical miles from Betty's battlecruiser fleet. Four "Queen Elizabeth-class battleships rushed to the highest speed of 25 knots behind Betty, but the anxious Betty accelerated his fleet's speed to the highest 27 knots, and the distance between him and the battleship fleet became larger and larger.

Hippel ordered the cruiser to retreat. Now that he had arrived at the battlefield, the flagship "Luzzo" raised the "z" flag, and the turrets of each ship were turning, aiming at the western sea antenna. There, nothing could be seen.

At 3:20 pm, the lookout hand on the Seedlitz located in the middle and rear of the fleet first discovered a large column of smoke on the western sea. The battle sirens resounded through the sea again. In the artillery control room at the top of the bridge, under the command of the commanders, the rangefinder and telescope aimed at the sea antenna to the west.

As the focal length was adjusted, the figures of the British fleet appeared clearly on the sea level, and six tall battle cruisers were lined up in two columns, driving from the sea at high speed.

"Distance 20,000, position 97!" The gun commander quickly reported the target data, which means that the gun officer had locked the position of the enemy ship on the rangefinder, and the enemy had entered the range of the warship.

Strangely, the British were equipped with 13.5-inch main guns, which were farther than the "Sedlitz" range, and there has been no movement yet.

Hippel stood on the bridge and took a deep breath, staring at the Lion who was heading straight in the distance. Now he has the advantage of his strength, but he can't figure out the locations of the four "Queen"-class fast battleships of the British, which is what worries him.

The deck of the "Luzzo" was full of busy steps. The gunner with a gas mask on his neck jumped over the cramped crutches and debris piled up on the side of the ship like a juggling, and drilled into the bulky turret. The 10 330 muzzles were also pointed to the direction where the enemy appeared. "It has been confirmed that it is Betty's fast fleet, and the specific data of the main gun shooting platform has not yet come out..." At this time, the staff officer reported to him.

The high-power telescope lens flashed through the glimpse of the British main battleship. On the flat sea, six British-style battlecruisers have now changed into long single columns and penetrated directly into the rear of Hippel's fleet. Betty wanted to rush forward desperately and cut off Hippel's retreat.

"Three Lion-class, Tiger, and the last are two "tired" ships!" With the familiarity of old friend Betty's fleet, Hippel could tell the opponent's ship type and possible reactions without comparing the ship album. He knew Betty's personality very well. In the Battle of Helgolan in August last year, the British once led his battle cruiser into the minefield to chase German cruisers. Now the same is true, no matter whether there is a trap or not, he will jump in.

"Let's head to the southwest!" So Hippel calmly issued a order to turn. Although he had the advantage of his strength, he also acted as if he was about to escape backwards.

The distance between the two sides was getting closer, and Hippel turned under Betty's nose, but the British artillery still had no sound. The light fog and reflection on the sea hindered the sight of the artillery commander on the British ship, and it was impossible to capture the specific data of the German warship. However, the figure of the British warship in the west clearly appeared on the sea level.

"Azip 123, distance 19,000, one armor-piercing bomb!"

"I understand! One armor-piercing projectile!"

In the turret of the "Lu Zuo", the turret commander hung the small trumpet-shaped receiver back to the simple but durable phone embedded on the steel plate wall, and still shouted at the old soundtrack again. The loading order was issued. The small rangefinder installed above the turret can't catch the enemy yet. He turned around and shouted in the same voice to the soldiers waiting in the turret, "One round of armor-piercing bombs, start loading!"

A harsh metal chain friction sound was heard on the elevator, and the warheads weighing 560 kilograms were lifted into the turret with a thickness of 260 mm on the front, and the gunners above filled them into the barrel in turn! Then, the medicine bag was fired, and with a bang, the bolt was closed and twisted to death.

"Reloading is complete!" the turret commander reported upwards.

"Origin 121, distance 18,500!" The gun commander issued a target instruction, and four huge turrets began to rotate one after another, and the thick and cold gun barrels also made slight adjustments. Finally, all 10 muzzles were pointed to the port side and headed 27 degrees northwest of the warship. The officers and soldiers in the turret could not see where their target was. Through some gaps and observation ports between the turrets, they could only see the deck or the nearby sea surface.

In the three-story bridge combat command tower, the officers basically had a pair of telescopes to closely monitor the sea at the far side of the port, but at this time they could only vaguely see the figure of the enemy ship.

At 3:48, "The target distance is 15,000, and the orientation is 117!" When the shooting command room reported the latest measurement data, Hippel decisively issued an order: "Fire!"

A few seconds later, a thunder sounded across the sea, breaking the silence. The banner of "hitting the enemy on the port side" also rose on the ships. As the sound of the flagship guns sounded, the ships following it also began to fire one after another. The sea surface was suddenly shrouded in a large ball of black smoke, and balls of orange flames emerged from it from time to time.

About half a minute later, the "Lion" led by the British fleet also began to fight back. The shells shattered the mist on the sea and stirred up water columns up to 100 meters high.

The two fleets went south at a distance of 14,000 meters, and found the opponents corresponding to their positions to fight each other. The only exception was the German fleet at the end of the "Von der Tann". Since the British warship was missing one, it could only find the last "Undevour" and work together with the "Moltch" to attack it.
Chapter completed!