Chapter 728： Last Strike (3000 votes plus update)

When the armored cruiser "Yakumo" was torn to pieces, all eight armored cruisers of the Japanese navy were sunk in battle, and none remained. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the combined fleet of the island nation's navy.

Although, the armored cruiser, like the former dreadnought, is an obsolete ship type in the navies of the western powers, and is no longer used as a capital ship. However, in the island navy with few warships, armored cruisers are also an indispensable and important combat force. At least, it is still very powerful when dealing with countries with few decent navies around it.

"General, we have killed all the armored cruisers of the islanders. Next is to deal with their capital ships, or the protected cruisers?" Major General Mao Fu asked excitedly.

After eating the armored cruisers of the island navy, the cruisers and destroyers of one's own side can be regarded as safe. In this case, there is no fear of the island navy launching a lightning strike.

Lieutenant General Spee thought for a while, and then said: "Go ahead and kill the cruisers of the island navy. Even if you can't get rid of them all, you have to get rid of most of them. Only in this way will we be truly safe!"

"Yes, General!" Major General Mao Fu nodded.

The battle line of the German expeditionary fleet continues to advance at a high speed. They made a big circle on the sea, aiming at the protective cruisers of the island navy.

Although, when the battle line of the German expeditionary fleet slaughtered the armored cruisers of the island navy, these protective cruisers began to retreat. But unfortunately, these protective cruisers of the island navy are not very fast.

Except for the 'Chikuma-class' protected cruiser, which has a speed of 26 knots, the speed of the rest of the protected cruisers is below 25 knots, generally only 20 knots, 21 knots or 23 knots. This speed is indeed faster than the average battleship. However, compared with the battlecruiser, it is much worse. Especially the battlecruisers of the German Navy have never been slow.

In order to pursue these defensive cruisers of the island navy, the speed of the battlecruiser formation of the German Expeditionary Fleet further soared to 25 knots. Such a speed is nothing to these battlecruisers. You know, even the slowest "Moltke-class" battlecruisers have a maximum speed of 27 knots, and the "Derfflinger-class" battlecruisers have a maximum speed of 27.5 knots. The maximum speed of the "Mackenson-class" battlecruiser has been further increased to 28 knots. With such a speed, except for the destroyers of the island navy, the rest of the warships can only sigh.

Aboard the battlecruiser 'King Kong', the flagship of the combined fleet of the island nation's navy, Admiral Ijuin Goro and Rear Admiral Gentaro Yamashita were already pale. They can be said to have watched those armored cruisers sink one after another in front of them! There was nothing they could do about it, however, but watch them get sunk.

"Your Excellency, all armored cruisers have been sunk!" Major Gentaro Yamashita closed his eyes in pain.

Admiral Ijuin Goro knows that at this time, after the combined fleet of the Japanese navy lost five capital ships and all eight armored cruisers, they have actually suffered a disastrous defeat. It is almost impossible to defeat the German navy. Even if it is to launch a lightning strike, there will not be much possibility of success. After all, the cruisers and destroyers of the German Navy had almost no losses. They can completely stand in front of the battlecruisers and block the way for the destroyers of the island navy to launch lightning strikes.

Reason told General Ijuin Goro that it is time to retreat. Otherwise, their losses will become greater and greater. They will even be sunk by the German expeditionary fleet. By that time, the navy of the island country will be completely finished.

However, General Ijuin Goro knew that he could not give an order to retreat. The order given to him by the cabinet was to fight to the end and defeat the German expeditionary fleet. Since there is no way to defeat the German expeditionary fleet, he has no choice but to fight to the end.

What's more, if the German expeditionary fleet cannot be defeated, then even if they escaped back to Tokyo Bay. The German expeditionary fleet can also continue to attack their coastal cities, forcing them to go to sea to fight, or forcing the island government to accept their conditions. In this case, the island country not only did not get any benefit in this war, but also suffered heavy losses. The typical mutton was not eaten, but it caused a commotion.

"Your Excellency, the German battle line has accelerated again. Their target is our cruisers!" Major General Gentaro Yamashita said in horror.

If those protective cruisers are also dealt with by the German expeditionary fleet, then I am afraid it will be their turn next.

"Damn it, the speed of their battle line has increased to 25 knots. Even our 'King Kong-class' battlecruisers can barely keep up with this speed!" General Ijuin Goro said.

Although, when the "King Kong-class" battlecruiser was first built, its speed was as high as 27.5 knots. However, after returning to the island country from England and serving for so many days, the speed of the battleship will inevitably drop a little.

"Your Excellency, what should we do now?" Major Gentaro Yamashita asked. He is already in a state of confusion and doesn't know what to do.

General Ijiin Goro gritted his teeth and made a choice: "Order the remaining three 'King Kong-class' battlecruisers to speed up and catch up. In addition, the destroyer formation also followed. Look for opportunities to launch lightning strikes! This is our only Here's the chance. If we don't take this opportunity to hit the Germans hard and drive them away, we're doomed!"

Rear Admiral Gentaro Yamashita nodded. He knew what Admiral Ijuin Goro meant. If they did not defeat the German expeditionary fleet this time, the consequences would be unbearable for the island nation's navy and even the island nation's government. In this battle, the navy of the island country may be completely wiped out. After losing the navy, the island country will become a sea with five defenses. The German expeditionary fleet will further attack the coastal cities of the island nation. In this case, the island countries will pay a heavier price.

After Admiral Ijuin Goro's order was issued, the remaining three "King Kong-class" battlecruisers of the Japanese Navy began to accelerate and pursue the German expeditionary fleet. At the same time, the destroyers of the island nation's navy followed the three 'King Kong-class' battlecruisers in pursuit. Although these destroyers are only a few hundred tons, they are still less than a fraction of the battlecruisers of the German Navy. But the torpedoes it carries can also cause fatal damage to these battlecruisers.