The American Navy's Montana-class Battleships were indeed exceptionally formidable, fully deserving of the title of the world's most powerful Battleships. Even the Island Nation Navy's Yamato-class Battleships might not necessarily have been stronger than the Montana-class. With extremely thick armor and four triple-mounted 50-caliber 410mm Main Guns, there was scarcely a Capital Ship in service anywhere that could contend with them.
Even the German Navy's many Capital Ships were ultimately old warships that had been in service for more than twenty years. Though they had undergone modernization, they still fell short of the Montana-class Battleships in many respects. Their defensive strength in particular was far inferior. Even 50-caliber 410mm Main Guns found it difficult to penetrate the Montana-class Battleships' main armor, let alone 50-caliber 380mm Main Guns.
Thus, the moment he realized they could not handle the Americans' Montana-class Battleships, Lieutenant General Görcke issued the order for the fleet to withdraw without the slightest hesitation. He knew full well that if they continued to tangle with them, more and more German warships would be hit and forced to withdraw from the battle.
This naval battle had only just begun. The German Navy's Capital Ship formations still had many missions to carry out. Suffering excessive losses in their clash with the American Navy's Capital Ship formation simply was not worth it.
Besides, they had already destroyed three American Navy Iowa-class Battleships. Though they themselves had lost one sunk and had two damaged, they had still come out ahead overall.
Meanwhile, west of Flores Island, the German Atlantic Fleet's Capital Ship formation was still ravaging the American Navy's 3rd Capital Ship Formation. Although the South Dakota-class Battleships were also highly advanced, they did not possess the Montana-class Battleships' monstrous defenses. Under the German fleet's Encirclement Offensive, one South Dakota-class Battleship after another