"Commander, please leave the Suruga immediately. We've been hit again. The stern steering gear has been blown apart and the ship is taking on a massive amount of water. A huge hole has also been blasted near the waterline on the side. Worse still, most of the breaches we had plugged earlier have been shaken open again." The captain reported with despair written all over his face.
During the previous battle, the Suruga had already been hit many times. This had inflicted immense damage on the battleship. Although the damage-control crews had managed to keep the warship fighting, the two shells that had just struck had extinguished their last hope.
Seawater was now pouring into the hull through every breach. It would not be long before the warship sank. This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Island Nation fleet.
"Commander, should we go to the Ōmi instead?" Major General Suzuki Yoshio suggested.
Lieutenant General Takasu Shirō thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Go directly to the Mutsu behind us!"
Lieutenant General Takasu Shirō knew that once the Suruga was sunk, the Ōmi behind it would become the Germans' next target. Given the German fleet's overwhelming firepower, the Ōmi likely would not last long either. Would they have to flee from the Ōmi all over again then? Rather than that, they might as well do it in one step and escape directly to the Mutsu.
Of course, if the Ōmi was sunk as well, the Island Nation Navy would have lost two capital ships in this naval battle. Such losses were already unbearably severe. To preserve their strength, they would likely have no choice but to retreat and abandon this mission. Otherwise, the Island Nation would pay an even greater price.
"Yes, Commander!" Major General Suzuki Yoshio replied.