Combined Fleet (Monthly Votes Please)

"Admiral Ijūin, may you win a victory the moment your banner is raised!" At the Yokosuka naval port's pier, Admiral Yashiro Rokuro said to Admiral Ijūin Gorō, Commander of the Combined Fleet.

"Admiral Ijūin, Amaterasu Omikami will bless you. We will certainly defeat the Germans!" Admiral Shimamura Hayao, Chief of Naval Operations, said as well.

Admiral Ijūin Gorō nodded. "I will do everything in my power to defeat the Germans! Otherwise, we will fight until every last one of us is shattered like jade!"

Both Admiral Yashiro Rokuro and Admiral Shimamura Hayao knew that this time, unless Admiral Ijūin Gorō could defeat the Germans, he would certainly die. Either he would fall on the battlefield, or, after suffering defeat, commit seppuku. But defeating Germany's powerful fleet was no ordinary difficulty for the Island Nation Navy!

"While I lead the fleet into a decisive battle against the Germans, do not forget to continue searching for their transport convoys. If we can wipe out the German transport fleet, then even if we fail, the Germans will have no choice but to retreat. We may even have a sliver of a chance at victory. That would give the Empire a long period to recuperate and gather strength," Admiral Ijūin Gorō said. His words sounded as though he were making his final arrangements.

"Very well, we will do our utmost!" Admiral Yashiro Rokuro said.

Admiral Ijūin Gorō smiled in relief, gave the two men a solemn salute, then turned and boarded the Combined Fleet's flagship, the battlecruiser Kongo.

The Island Nation Navy's Combined Fleet had undoubtedly assembled the elite of the entire Island Nation Navy. All its battleships had been gathered here. Apart from the four newest Kongo-class battlecruisers, there were also two Kawachi-class battleships, two Sagami-class battleships, two Katori-class battleships, the battleship Iwami,