"Fire! Sink the Germans' flagship!" Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo ordered, his eyes red. He was like a gambler who had already staked his entire fortune. If he failed, he would truly lose everything.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The five twin-mounted 45-caliber 410mm Main Guns aboard the Battleship Kii roared one after another, hurling shell after shell viciously at the German fleet's flagship, the Battleship König. The other three Kii-class Battleships were also firing desperately.
However, all of those shells fell into the sea. Aside from throwing up towering columns of water, they had no other effect.
"Damn it!" Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo cursed at the sight.
"What is the engagement range now?" Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo asked.
"General, the engagement range has closed to eighteen kilometers," Captain Fukudome Shigeru replied.
"Not enough. Close the distance further! Our main guns are larger than the Germans'; the closer we get, the more advantageous it is for us!" Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo said.
Firing from too far away resulted in an extremely low hit rate because nighttime visibility was impaired. Under such circumstances, only by closing the distance as much as possible could the Island Nation fleet improve its accuracy.
"Yes, General!" Captain Fukudome Shigeru nodded. He also knew that they were now fighting the German fleet with their lives on the line. If luck favored them in battle and they could sink German warships while keeping their own side intact, then they would win.
Boom!
A violent explosion rang out, and the Battleship Kii jolted sharply. Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo hurriedly grabbed the railing, or he would have fallen.
"Damn it, report the damage!" Lieutenant General Yoshida Zengo roared.
"General, the After Deck has been hit. Turret No. 5 is jammed and cannot rotate. It is temporarily unable to fire!" a staff officer