Recaps

The German Navy’s battlecruisers overwhelmed the Island Nation Navy’s armored cruisers, sinking several ships while maneuvering to concentrate their fire. The chapter ended with the German fleet destroying Kasuga, Nisshin, Iwate, Azuma, and Yagumo.

• Moltke’s shells destroyed Asama’s forward turret, killed Captain Yoshioka Hansaku and the officers in its conning tower, and sank the cruiser.
• Lützow and Seydlitz subjected Tokiwa to concentrated fire, sinking it with only a handful of its more than five hundred sailors escaping.
• Kongo hit Mackensen and damaged Kongo, prompting Vice Admiral Spee to order the German fleet to accelerate and outmaneuver the Island Nation battle line.
• The faster German battlecruisers pulled away from the Island Nation fleet, circled ahead of its armored cruisers, and seized Crossing the T.
• German ships struck Kasuga more than ten times in two minutes and sank it, then destroyed Nisshin, Iwate, Azuma, and Yagumo.

After the Island Nation Navy lost all eight armored cruisers, Vice Admiral Spee ordered the German Expeditionary Fleet to pursue its Protected Cruisers. Admiral Ijūin Gorō, unable to retreat under the Cabinet’s orders, sent the remaining Kongo-class Battlecruisers and destroyers after the Germans for a last torpedo attack.

• Rear Admiral Mauff asked whether the Germans should target the Island Nation Navy’s Capital Ships or Protected Cruisers, and Vice Admiral Spee ordered them to pursue the cruisers.
• The German battle line accelerated to 25 knots and turned toward the retreating Protected Cruisers.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō recognized that the Island Nation Navy had suffered a disastrous defeat but refused to order a retreat.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the remaining three Kongo-class Battlecruisers and the destroyer formation to pursue the Germans and seek a chance to launch a torpedo attack.

The German Expeditionary Fleet's battlecruisers devastated the Island Nation Navy's protected cruisers, sinking nine and leaving only four. Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the remaining cruisers toward the flagship and sent more than thirty destroyers into a torpedo attack, leaving the battle's outcome uncertain.

• German battlecruisers sank or crippled several Island Nation Navy protected cruisers, including Tsushima, Kasagi, Akashi, Otowa, Chikuma, Yahagi, and Hirado.
• Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō warned Admiral Ijūin Gorō that the protected cruisers would be destroyed if the attacks continued.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the remaining protected cruisers to close in on the flagship to draw the Germans closer and enable a torpedo attack.
• German battlecruisers sank Soya and Suma as the remaining protected cruisers turned toward the flagship, leaving four afloat.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the destroyer squadron to attack, and more than thirty destroyers charged toward the German Battlecruiser Squadron.

Vice Admiral Spee’s Expeditionary Fleet tried to stop the Island Nation Navy’s destroyers from launching a torpedo attack on its capital ships. The destroyers pressed on through heavy gunfire, and the chapter left Kamikaze, Yayoi, and Kisaragi still charging forward.

• Vice Admiral Spee ordered the German ships to defend against the Island Nation destroyers’ torpedo attack.
• The German battlecruisers and their escorts opened fire on the charging destroyers.
• A 150mm shell crippled Hatsushimo, but Captain Masaki Yabu ordered the attack to continue.
• A 380mm shell destroyed Hatsushimo and killed Captain Masaki Yabu before he could launch his torpedoes.
• A 150mm shell struck Kamikaze’s conning tower and killed Captain Yoshihiro Hayashi, but the destroyer kept charging.

The Island Nation Navy's destroyers charged the German battlecruisers under heavy fire, suffering severe losses while trying to launch torpedo attacks. The Chikaze struck the Derfflinger with a torpedo that failed to penetrate its armor, then was destroyed by German gunfire.

• The Kamikaze was disabled by a hit to its engine room and sank, while the Yayoi and Kisaragi were sunk before reaching torpedo range.
• The German battlecruisers concentrated their fire on the attacking destroyers, and the Derfflinger fought off an encirclement by four Kamikaze-class destroyers.
• Captain Danshita Hironao led the Chikaze to within 1,500 meters of the Derfflinger and launched two torpedoes.
• The Derfflinger evaded one torpedo, while the other hit its stern but failed to damage its 380mm waterline armor.
• As the Chikaze turned to reload, German shells set it ablaze and opened a hole below the waterline.
• Further German fire tore the Chikaze apart, killing all seventy sailors aboard.

The Island Nation destroyer Mikazuki torpedoed the German battlecruiser Moltke, forcing it to withdraw from the battle. Admiral Ijūin Gorō recognized that the destroyer force had suffered devastating losses and that the Island Nation fleet could no longer win.

• Captain Hasegawa Kiyoshi drove Mikazuki through German fire and launched two torpedoes at Moltke from close range.
• One torpedo missed, but the other tore into Moltke’s stern, damaging the hull and reducing its speed.
• Vice Admiral Spee ordered Moltke to withdraw, and it left under escort despite its captain’s protest.
• Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō celebrated the hit, but Admiral Ijūin Gorō warned that the Island Nation had lost too many destroyers for the damage inflicted.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō concluded that the surviving destroyers would struggle to attack again and that the Island Nation fleet had no chance of victory.

Admiral Ijūin Gorō halted the Island Nation Navy’s doomed torpedo attacks and ordered the Combined Fleet to retreat after the German fleet destroyed most of its destroyers. He accepted responsibility for the defeat and prepared to face the consequences upon returning to Tokyo Bay.

• The German fleet’s concentrated fire sank twenty-five of the thirty-seven Island Nation destroyers that launched the torpedo attack, leaving only twelve survivors.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the remaining destroyers to cease their attacks, rejecting Yamashita Gentarō’s reluctance to give up.
• Ijūin ordered the Combined Fleet to retreat at maximum speed and promised Yamashita that he would explain the defeat to the Cabinet.
• Ijūin told Yamashita that the Island Nation might grow strong enough to defeat Germany in the future, though he would not live to see it.
• Ijūin blamed the Army for occupying Southeast Asia and forcing the Navy to confront the Germans.

The German Expeditionary Fleet pursued the retreating Island Nation Navy after repelling its torpedo attack, with Vice Admiral Spee ordering the Kongo-class battlecruisers targeted first. Admiral Ijūin Gorō and Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō faced the prospect of a desperate fight as German shells began falling around their fleet.

• Rear Admiral Mauff reported that the Island Nation destroyers had withdrawn after losing more than twenty ships, while the German battlecruiser Moltke had suffered only light damage.
• After spotting the Island Nation fleet retreating, Vice Admiral Spee ordered the German ships to pursue and prioritize destroying the three Kongo-class battlecruisers.
• The German battlecruisers accelerated to twenty-five knots and began catching the slower Island Nation fleet.
• Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō offered to stay behind and cover the retreat, but Admiral Ijūin Gorō refused and warned that Yamashita might still face death if he fled.
• German battlecruisers opened fire and concentrated on Kongo, Hiei, and Kirishima, surrounding each with multiple ships.

The Island Nation fleet’s battlecruisers suffered devastating hits from the German fleet, forcing Admiral Ijūin Gorō to abandon plans to save them. He ordered Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō to escape by destroyer while he remained to direct the battle aboard Hanoi.

• German gunfire crippled Kongo, and Ijūin Gorō and Yamashita Gentarō left the flagship to transfer to other ships.
• Ijūin Gorō went to Hanoi to continue directing the battle, while Yamashita boarded Hiei to lead Hiei and Kirishima to safety.
• German shells disabled Hiei and heavily damaged Kirishima, killing its captain and throwing its command into chaos.
• Ijūin Gorō ordered Yamashita to return to Tokyo Bay aboard a destroyer, and Yamashita obeyed.

The German Expeditionary Fleet overwhelmed the Island Nation Navy, sinking Kongo and Kirishima and leaving Hiei mortally damaged. After learning that all three Kongo-class battlecruisers were lost or doomed, Admiral Ijūin Gorō ordered the remaining ships to fight to the death.

• Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō escaped the battlefield aboard Swift Wind as the German fleet focused on destroying the Island Nation Navy.
• Vice Admiral Spee ordered Rear Admiral Mauff to seize the chance to sink the three Kongo-class battlecruisers.
• German shells devastated Kongo, disabled half her main guns, and caused flooding until her captain ordered the crew to abandon ship; Kongo sank with most of her crew.
• Kirishima's stern magazine exploded after a shell pierced it, and the ship sank within two minutes with nearly all aboard.
• German battlecruisers struck Hiei with more than fifteen 380mm shells, inflicting fatal damage.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō learned that Kongo, Hiei, and Kirishima had been sunk or crippled and ordered every remaining ship to fight to the death.

The German Expeditionary Fleet destroyed the Island Nation Combined Fleet’s remaining battleships and drove its smaller ships into flight. Admiral Ijūin Gorō sent a telegram to the Naval Ministry and committed seppuku aboard the Katori.

• Vice Admiral Spee ordered the German fleet to prepare for a final assault on the Island Nation Combined Fleet.
• The battlecruisers opened fire on the battleship Kawachi, whose return shots failed to damage Mackensen.
• Mackensen crippled and sank Kawachi, then sank its sister ship Sesshu.
• The German battlecruisers sank the Island Nation fleet’s remaining capital ships, while most destroyers escaped toward Tokyo Bay.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō sent a telegram to the Naval Ministry and committed seppuku aboard the Katori.

After defeating the Island Nation Navy's Combined Fleet, Vice Admiral Spee prepared to continue pressuring the Island Nation government, expecting it to resist surrender. A report of an attack on the German transport fleet briefly alarmed him, but the staff officer clarified that the escort had repelled the attackers, and Spee ordered the Moltke to strengthen its protection.

• Rear Admiral Mauff celebrated the destruction of the Island Nation Navy's Combined Fleet, while Vice Admiral Spee warned that the Island Nation people might continue fighting and that Germany should prepare to attack coastal cities.
• Vice Admiral Spee learned that Island Nation sailors in the water refused rescue and chose to drown rather than board German ships.
• A staff officer reported that the transport fleet had been attacked, alarming Vice Admiral Spee and Rear Admiral Mauff because the fleet depended on its supplies.
• The staff officer explained that six Island Nation destroyers had attacked the transport fleet but were driven off by its escorts, with two sunk and the others damaged.
• Vice Admiral Spee ordered the Moltke and its escorting warships to join the transport fleet's protection.

Yashiro Rokuro and Admiral Shimamura Hayao received Admiral Ijūin Gorō’s farewell telegram confirming the Combined Fleet’s near-total destruction by the German Expeditionary Fleet. They agreed to protect Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō and place responsibility for the defeat on Ijūin, leaving the Cabinet and army to face the consequences of the German fleet’s continued strength.

• Yashiro Rokuro and Admiral Shimamura Hayao worried that the Combined Fleet could not defeat the German Expeditionary Fleet and discussed the Island Nation Navy’s weakness.
• A Communications Officer delivered Admiral Ijūin Gorō’s telegram reporting that nearly all the Combined Fleet’s warships were lost after sinking one German Light Cruiser and heavily damaging one Battlecruiser.
• Admiral Ijūin Gorō accepted responsibility for the defeat and asked Yashiro Rokuro and Admiral Shimamura Hayao to protect Rear Admiral Yamashita Gentarō.
• Yashiro Rokuro and Admiral Shimamura Hayao agreed to safeguard Yamashita and prevent blame for the defeat from spreading through the navy.
• Admiral Shimamura Hayao asked how they would address the Cabinet and the threat posed by the surviving German fleet, while Yashiro Rokuro said the Cabinet and army must deal with the consequences.

Admiral Yashiro Rokuro reported that the Combined Fleet had been almost completely destroyed by the German Expeditionary Fleet, leaving the Island Nation’s leaders to confront the threat to their occupation of Southeast Asia. The Cabinet ended its discussion with Oka Ichinosuke insisting that they could not abandon the region.

• Admiral Yashiro Rokuro told Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu that the Germans had sunk nearly the entire Combined Fleet, including all four Kongo-class Battlecruisers.
• Yashiro reported that the Island Nation had sunk only one German Light Cruiser and heavily damaged one German Battlecruiser, prompting Oka Ichinosuke to condemn the fleet’s performance.
• Yashiro revealed that Ijūin Gorō had committed seppuku, and Yamagata Aritomo declared that they would end the matter there.
• Kato Takaaki and Wakatsuki Reijiro warned that the German Expeditionary Fleet could force the Island Nation out of Southeast Asia and inflict further damage on its coastal cities.
• Oka Ichinosuke argued that the Island Nation had to hold Southeast Asia because its resources were essential to the Empire’s rise.

Oscar ordered Germany to attack Britain in one week and set a three-month deadline, while the Imperial Council received news of a decisive German naval victory over the Island Nation. He demanded the Island Nation return German colonies and pay compensation, threatening further attacks if it refused.

• Oscar learned that Germany’s preparations to invade Britain were complete and ordered the attack to begin in one week, aiming to end the war within three months.
• Tirpitz reported that the German Expeditionary Fleet had destroyed the Island Nation Navy’s main force, sinking nineteen capital ships and suffering only minor losses.
• Oscar warned the ministers not to underestimate the Island Nation and ordered diplomatic contact, demanding the return of German and Southeast Asian colonies and compensation.
• Oscar threatened to have the Expeditionary Fleet bombard the Island Nation’s coastal cities if its leaders rejected Germany’s terms.

Germany demanded that the Island Nation return its Pacific colonies and withdraw from Southeast Asia, threatening further attacks if it refused. The Island Nation’s leaders considered the ultimatum, but Yamagata Aritomo and the Army opposed giving up Southeast Asia.

• Jacob told Uchida Kosai that Germany demanded the return of its Pacific colonies and the withdrawal of Island Nation troops from Southeast Asia.
• Uchida Kosai challenged Germany over its attacks on civilians, but Jacob dismissed his objections and warned that refusing would bring greater losses.
• Uchida Kosai reported Germany’s demands, and Kato Takaaki informed Okuma Shigenobu that the attacks might continue.
• Okuma Shigenobu and Kato Takaaki visited Yamagata Aritomo, where Oka Ichinosuke insisted that the Island Nation must not withdraw from Southeast Asia.
• Yamagata Aritomo agreed that Southeast Asia was vital and said the Island Nation should do everything possible to keep control of it.

Japan’s leaders debated whether to accept Germany’s demands or risk further attacks, while trying to preserve its hold on Southeast Asia and plunder resources in case of retreat. They decided to seek support from the United States and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Japan began evacuating coastal residents and mobilizing its diplomats.

• Kato Takaaki warned that rejecting Germany’s terms could bring more destruction, while Oka Ichinosuke argued that Japan should endure losses to secure Southeast Asia’s resources.
• Okuma Shigenobu and Kato Takaaki acknowledged the danger to Japan’s cities, and Oka Ichinosuke proposed evacuations and secretly shipping plundered wealth home.
• Yamagata Aritomo suggested bargaining with Germany or surrendering some Pacific colonies, but Kato Takaaki said Germany had left no room for negotiation.
• Yamagata Aritomo urged Japan to seek foreign support, and Kato Takaaki identified the United States and the Austro-Hungarian Empire as possible allies.
• Japan ordered coastal residents to evacuate, while its ambassador in the United States and envoy in Switzerland began seeking support.

The United States assessed the shifting wars and considered how to use Island Nation against Germany while advancing its own military buildup. President Woodrow Wilson agreed to support Island Nation if America could keep it under control.

• The United States expanded its military and pursued secret cooperation with Britain to develop advanced military technology and stimulate its economy.
• The US government viewed a break between Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire as advantageous, while it doubted Island Nation after Germany destroyed its navy.
• The Island Nation Ambassador met secretly with Secretary of State Bryan and asked the United States to condemn Germany and provide support.
• Bryan told President Woodrow Wilson that Island Nation could supply soldiers, challenge Germany, and offer a valuable market.
• Woodrow Wilson agreed that the United States should raise Island Nation like a dog to fight Germany, and Bryan said American strength would keep it obedient.

President Woodrow Wilson persuaded his Cabinet to support Island Nation against Germany and arrange a loan to help rebuild its civilian life and military. The chapter ended with the United States secretly offering Island Nation a $200 million loan at 11 percent interest, paid over two years.

• President Woodrow Wilson argued that the United States should oppose Germany's attacks on Island Nation, despite objections from Secretary of the Navy Daniels and Secretary of War Garrison.
• Wilson convinced Daniels and Garrison that Germany was too stretched to retaliate and that Island Nation was now a potential ally against Germany.
• Wilson proposed lending Island Nation money to rebuild, and Secretary of State Bryan suggested using the government's credit to secure loans from American financial groups.
• The Cabinet approved the plan, seeing it as a way to profit and help create another enemy for Germany.
• The US government secretly offered Island Nation a $200 million loan, paid in installments over two years at 11 percent interest.

Kato Takaaki told Okuma Shigenobu that the United States would condemn Germany and lend the Island Nation 200 million dollars, provided it opened its domestic market to American goods. The Cabinet debated the condition, and the military leaders backed taking the loan to rebuild the fleet and strengthen the army.

• Kato Takaaki informed Okuma Shigenobu that the United States would condemn Germany and provide a 200-million-dollar loan at eleven percent interest.
• Okuma Shigenobu welcomed the loan, while Kato Takaaki warned that the Americans likely had their own motives.
• Kato Takaaki told Okuma Shigenobu that the United States required the Island Nation to open its domestic market in exchange for the loan and possible future support.
• Okuma Shigenobu brought the American offer and its condition before the Cabinet for discussion.
• Oura Kanetake opposed opening the market, but Yashiro Rokuro and Oka Ichinosuke supported accepting the loan to rebuild the navy and strengthen the army.

The Island Nation accepted an American loan, and Navy leaders planned to use much of it to rebuild the fleet and prepare for future wars against Germany. Yamamoto Gonnohyōe and the admirals left the meeting determined to accelerate battleship construction and develop ships with 410mm guns.

• Okuma Shigenobu accepted the American loan terms after the Cabinet Ministers raised no objections.
• Yashiro Rokuro told Yamamoto Gonnohyōe that the Navy could claim a substantial share of the loan and rebuild its strength.
• Yamamoto Gonnohyōe, Tōgō Heihachirō, and Shimamura Hayao discussed allocating 150 million dollars to the Navy and accelerating battleship construction.
• Yamamoto Gonnohyōe ordered the Navy to speed up construction of Fusō-class Battleships, and Yashiro Rokuro and Shimamura Hayao agreed to press the shipyards.
• Yashiro Rokuro proposed building Ise-class Battleships and a new class armed with 410mm Main Guns, totaling twelve powerful Battleships with the existing classes.

Oka Ichinosuke sought to direct the American loan toward expanding the Army, while Yamamoto Gonnohyōe and Tōgō Heihachirō pressed the Army’s leaders to fund the Navy’s rebuilding. Yamagata Aritomo agreed to support the Navy’s shipbuilding demands in exchange for its backing of the Empire’s expansion toward the South Seas, Australia, and India.

• Oka Ichinosuke urged Yamagata Aritomo and Oyama Iwao to use the loan to expand the Army to thirty divisions.
• Yamagata Aritomo and Oyama Iwao acknowledged that the Navy needed rebuilding despite tensions between the services.
• Yamamoto Gonnohyōe and Tōgō Heihachirō asked the Army’s leaders to fund new battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.
• Yamamoto Gonnohyōe promised the Navy’s support for expansion toward the South Seas, Australia, and India if its demands were met.
• Yamagata Aritomo agreed to meet the Navy’s demands, clearing the way for its large-scale shipbuilding plan once the American loan arrived.

After the Island Nation refused to yield despite losing its Combined Fleet, Vice Admiral Spee led the German Expeditionary Fleet to Osaka Bay to continue the attacks. The fleet began bombarding Osaka, leaving the city's civilians caught in the assault.

• Vice Admiral Spee ordered the fleet to resume attacks after a telegram from home confirmed that the Island Nation had not surrendered.
• Vice Admiral Spee chose to target Osaka and Kobe first, postponing a risky attempt to enter Tokyo Bay.
• On August 15, the German Expeditionary Fleet entered Osaka Bay through Kii Channel and destroyed the Island Nation's coastal artillery batteries.
• Residents of Osaka and Kobe rushed to flee, clogging the roads as the German fleet approached Osaka.
• Vice Admiral Spee ordered the eight battlecruisers to fire on Osaka's urban district.

The German Expeditionary Fleet bombarded Osaka, Kobe, and other Island Nation cities, causing heavy civilian casualties and industrial destruction. Okuma Shigenobu could only watch as the attacks continued, while Island Nation faced mounting displacement and food shortages.

• Rear Admiral Mauff and Vice Admiral Spee watched the German fleet’s shells devastate Osaka.
• The German Expeditionary Fleet destroyed Osaka and Kobe, then sailed south after joining its supply convoy.
• Okuma Shigenobu learned that the bombardments had killed at least thirty thousand people in Osaka and thousands more in Kobe.
• The fleet bombarded Kumamoto on August 16, then destroyed Fukuoka and Kitakyushu on August 17.
• Island Nation civilians fled inland, worsening fears of food shortages as the bombardments damaged cities and factories.

Island Nation’s Cabinet debated whether to abandon its effort to hold Southeast Asia as German bombardments devastated its cities and threatened its industrial base. Oka Ichinosuke and Yashiro Rokuro refused to give up, leaving the other ministers worried and powerless against the united military.

• Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu warned the Cabinet that German attacks had destroyed eight cities, displaced millions, and threatened the Island Nation with famine and ruin.
• Kato Takaaki and Oura Kanetake urged an end to the war, while Oka Ichinosuke and Yashiro Rokuro defended the occupation of Southeast Asia.
• Okuma argued that continued German attacks could destroy the homeland’s industrial foundation, but Oka and Yashiro insisted on waiting for the United States to condemn Germany.
• After Oka and Yashiro left, Oura and the other ministers lamented that the army and navy’s alliance had left the Cabinet unable to oppose them.
• Okuma, Kato, and Wakatsuki Reijiro voiced fears that the military’s stubbornness would bring disaster to the Island Nation.