The battleship Mutsu was burning, thick smoke billowing straight into the sky. Sailors dragged fire hoses toward the blaze, trying to put it out. But German military fighter planes strafed them with aircraft machine guns, and sailors were constantly being killed.
A torpedo had blasted a huge hole in the ship's side. After working desperately, the damage-control crews discovered there was no way to seal the breach. With no alternative, they could only close the Watertight Compartments to keep too much seawater from flooding in. Even so, the hull had begun to list to one side.
Fortunately, Mutsu's vital compartments had not been damaged. Otherwise, the consequences would have been even more severe.
"Do we still have bombs and torpedoes? Keep attacking—we're about to sink this battleship!" the commander of the German carrier-based aircraft asked.
"I've already dropped all my bombs!"
"I fired my torpedoes earlier!"
The German carrier-based aircraft group had used up all its torpedoes and bombs. Left with no choice, the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft group could only return.
"Return immediately. Once you've reloaded bombs and torpedoes, launch another attack and destroy the Island Nation's warships!" the Commander ordered.
"Yes, boss!"
The German carrier-based aircraft group had no choice but to turn around and head back, preparing to return to the carriers for refueling and rearming.
Only after the Island Nation Navy's Capital Ship Squadron saw the German carrier-based aircraft groups depart did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Commander, the Germans' carrier-based aircraft group has left." Major General Suzuki Yoshio wore the expression of someone who had survived a catastrophe.
In truth, many Island Nation sailors wore the same expression. Under the fierce attacks of the German carrier-based aircraft group, they had nearly been buried beneath these seas. Surviving was undoubtedly an extraordinarily fortunate thing.