Chapter 1374: Lightning Strike

"I hope the Germans can be fooled! If we can use torpedoes to sink the German battleships, then we will win!" Major General Suzuki Yoshio looked expectant.

The 610mm caliber spear torpedo is very powerful. As long as a torpedo hits a battlecruiser of the German Navy, it can be severely damaged. If a vulnerable part is hit, it is even more likely to sink it.

What's more, there are secret weapons such as heavy mine-equipped cruisers, which will greatly increase the possibility of their lightning strikes succeeding.

"Command the fleet, turn around!" Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro ordered.

He is also not sure whether the German fleet will launch a pursuit. If the German fleet closes as soon as it is good and does not pursue it, then their losses will not be recovered. The loss of two capital ships is undoubtedly another heavy blow to the current island navy. Even with the addition of the two battleships still under repair, there are only five battleships left in the Japanese navy. Compared with the 16 capital ships at the beginning of the war, the loss has been too much.

Therefore, Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro undoubtedly hoped that the German fleet would launch a pursuit. In this case, they may have a chance to sink the German fleet in one fell swoop and reverse the situation.

"Hi, Your Excellency Commander!" Major General Suzuki Yoshio replied.

Under the command of Lieutenant Admiral Takasu Shiro, the island fleet immediately began to turn, trying to break away from contact with the German fleet, and turned to sail north to escape the battlefield.

The movement of the island nation's fleet was clearly discovered by the German fleet through radar.

"General, the islanders are going to flee? Are we going to pursue them? If we pursue them, at the speed of our battlecruisers, they won't be able to escape!" Major General Abraham said excitedly.

The maximum speed of the three "Blücher-class" battlecruisers is above thirty knots. The two "Derfflinger-class" battlecruisers can also run a maximum speed of 27 knots. At such a speed, it is almost impossible for the battleships of the island navy to escape.

Lieutenant General Otto Schneewent was a little hesitant. Being able to sink two battleships of the island navy is undoubtedly a great victory for the German navy. If you give up the pursuit now, it will already be an impeccable victory. However, Lieutenant Admiral Otto Schneewendt was also a little unwilling. He wanted to sink the remaining two capital ships of the island nation's fleet. In that case, they would have won a big victory. Moreover, the five battlecruisers of the German fleet, except for the "Blücher" which was hit by a few shells, were considered unscathed. Even the 'Blücher' did not suffer much loss in combat effectiveness.

But at the same time, Lieutenant General Otto Schneewent was also worried that it would be a trap. After all, the torpedoes of the Japanese navy are very terrifying. Once it is attacked by intensive torpedoes from the island fleet, the consequences will be unimaginable. If it is not done well, the fleet will pay a big price for it. The victory at your fingertips will also fly away.

"General, are you worried about the lightning strikes from the islanders?" Major General Abraham asked.

Lieutenant General Otto Schneewent nodded: "The 610mm torpedoes of the islanders are too terrifying, we have to guard against them! Once our battlecruisers are hit by the torpedoes of the islanders, they will not die. It will also be seriously injured."

"General, we also have quite a few destroyers and cruisers. With their protection, there shouldn't be any problem." Major General Abraham said. After all, the torpedoes of the island nation's navy are powerful, but they can only show their powerful power after hitting a hit. If there is no hit, then naturally there is no threat. Even with the ease of the night battle, it is not so easy to use lightning strikes to deal with capital ships. Especially when these capital ships are still sailing at high speed.

Lieutenant General Otto Schneewent thought about it, and it was indeed the case.

It's just that neither Lieutenant General Otto Schnewendt nor Major General Abraham knew that there were crazy lightning strike ships such as heavy mine-equipped cruisers in the navy of the island country.

"Order the fleet and start the pursuit. This time, we must make persistent efforts to kill the remaining two capital ships of the islanders!" Lieutenant General Otto Schneewendt ordered.

"Yes, General." Major General Abraham replied excitedly. In his opinion, they seem to be only one step away from the final victory. Soon, they will be able to eliminate all the capital ships of the island navy.

"Let the cruiser formation and the destroyer formation be struck by the main islanders!" Lieutenant General Otto Schneewent was still worried about this. So he wants the fleet to be ready for lightning strikes. In this case, even if the island nation's fleet launched a lightning strike, they might be able to withstand it. At least, the fleet will not suffer too much loss.

"Yes, General." Major General Abraham nodded.

Under the order of Lieutenant General Otto Schneewendt, the German fleet accelerated and began to pursue the fleeing island fleet. The three 'Blücher-class' battlecruisers and the two 'Derfflinger-class' battlecruisers all began to speed up continuously. For these battlecruisers whose speed already has an advantage, catching up with the warships of the island nation's fleet does not seem to be a big problem at all.

The German fleet began to pursue, and the battlecruisers began to speed up one after another. The heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers escorted these battlecruisers to provide them with protection. Once they are really struck by lightning from the island nation's fleet, and it is really impossible to avoid them, these cruisers and destroyers will even choose to stand in front of the battlecruisers, sacrifice themselves, and keep these precious capital ships. After all, those capital ships are more valuable and more expensive to build than cruisers and destroyers. The loss of each ship is a huge loss for the German Navy.

"Your Excellency, the Germans are catching up!" Major General Yoshio Suzuki smiled happily.

The German fleet launched a pursuit, which meant that they did not have to worry that the German fleet would not be fooled. Their powerful lightning strike formation also seems to be ready to use.

"Very well, let our lightning strike formation get ready! Ten minutes later, turn around and launch a lightning strike. This time, we will make the Germans pay the price." Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro ordered. The original decadence on his face seemed to be much less.

"Hi, Your Excellency Commander!" Major General Suzuki Yoshio replied.

The light cruisers 'Kitakami' and 'Oi' of the Japanese fleet, leading more than a dozen destroyers, made an emergency turn and rushed towards the German fleet. Inside the torpedo tube, a 610 mm caliber spear torpedo has been filled.