"General, Radar has detected a large number of warships approaching. Initial estimates suggest they are all German warships. There are even capital ships among them—fifteen in all!" a staff officer reported to Lieutenant General Ingersoll, commander of the American Navy's 2nd Capital Ship Formation.
"Fifteen capital ships? The Germans certainly think highly of us, gathering the capital ship formations of two fleets just to deal with us!" Lieutenant General Ingersoll's expression turned exceptionally grim.
In the German Navy's earlier sneak attack by torpedo boats and submarines, none of the 2nd Capital Ship Formation's six Iowa-class battleships had been sunk. However, three had suffered light damage, two had sustained moderate damage, and one had been heavily damaged. Although the Iowa-class battleships were also massive vessels with a full-load displacement of fifty-eight thousand tons, there was still a gap between them and the Montana-class battleships in terms of protection. As a result, they had paid a considerable price under the German Navy's surprise assault by high-speed torpedo boats and submarines.
Now, the German Navy had dispatched a large number of capital ships to deal with them. Clearly, they intended to wipe them out in one stroke.
"Order the fleet to turn northwest. We'll leave the coastal waters first. Also, have every ship prepare for battle. Get ready to fight the Germans to the death!" Lieutenant General Ingersoll swiftly made his decision.
"General, the Germans are overwhelmingly strong. Shouldn't we withdraw?" an officer suggested.
After all, the German Navy had deployed fifteen capital ships against them, while the American Navy's 2nd Capital Ship Formation had only six. Moreover, every one of them was damaged. This would undoubtedly place them in an extremely unfavorable position in the coming battle.
"Withdraw? Can we still get away? If all six of our Iowa-class battleships were intact,