Chapter 432: Jericho's Choice

Both the British Royal Navy Battlecruiser Detachment and the 2nd Battleship Detachment were now in crisis. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 After the loss of three battle cruisers, HMS Invincible, HMS Indomitable and HMS New Zealand, the Info Battlecruiser detachment was left with only HMS Tiger, HMS Mary and HMS Royal Princess. And they were faced with six battle cruisers of the German Navy.

Although in previous battles, six battlecruisers of the German Navy were also hit. However, due to the strong defense and the poor gun elasticity of the warships of the British Royal Navy, they did not inflict fatal damage on the German battlecruisers. Even these battle cruisers still maintained intact combat effectiveness. This also made the British Royal Navy battlecruiser detachment completely suppressed.

On the other side, the three 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battlecruisers of the 2nd Battleship Detachment of the British Navy were also under siege by the 2nd Battlecruiser Detachment of the German Navy. The three 'D-Flinger-class' battlecruisers, which were in no way inferior to the 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battlecruisers, were assisted by three 'Moltke-class' battlecruisers, and completely gained the upper hand. This naval battle became very unfavorable to the British Navy. If no miracle had happened, the fate of the British Navy's battlecruiser detachment and the 2nd battleship detachment would have been almost predictable.

The British Navy was already lagging behind the German Navy in terms of capital ships. If they lost the battlecruiser detachment and the 2nd battleship detachment, it would have caused them to lose nine capital ships again. Well, it was even more impossible for their remaining warships to defeat the German Navy. Even if you want to fight with the German Navy, it will be a luxury.

"How did this fight come to this?" David? Lieutenant General Betty was already on the verge of collapse. The battle cruiser detachment he led now has only three battle cruisers left to support it. However, the sinking of these three battle cruisers under the siege of the German Navy did not seem to be a difficult task. Such a result was definitely not what he expected, and he did not expect it at all.

"General, the 2nd Battleship Detachment is already entangled by the Germans, and even its own safety is not guaranteed. What do we do next? A general asked.

Obviously, now they have reached the most critical moment, and if they don't do it, they will all be wiped out.

David? Lieutenant General Betty, there is nothing good to do at the moment. It can be said that by the time the appearance of the 2nd battle cruiser detachment of the German Navy, it meant that their plans had completely failed. The previous plans are no longer useful.

"Report the situation here to General Jericho, and tell him that we await his orders." David? Lieutenant General Betty said.

In such a situation, he can only kick the ball to John? Admiral Jericho is gone. After all, John? Admiral Jericho was the commander of the British Navy's Grand Fleet. At the most critical juncture, it should be him who makes the final decision.

In the sea area about fifty kilometers from the battlefield, a huge fleet was sailing south at a speed of 12 knots. This fleet is very large, with hundreds of large and small warships. Guarded in the center by a large number of small and medium-sized warships, they were all huge battleships. Among them, the most eye-catching are undoubtedly those 'revenge-class' battleships with a displacement of more than 30,000 tons.

On the battleship 'Revenge', the flagship of the Grand Fleet, John? Admiral Jericho was sipping strong coffee. Coffee without sugar has a very bitter taste. However, it can lift people's spirits. Didn't sleep at all last night, John? Admiral Jericho was tired. This makes him only able to refresh himself in this way.

"Your Excellency, the 5th Battleship Detachment has joined us." A general to John? Admiral Jericho reported.

John? Admiral Jericho nodded, and the three 'Bellerophon-class' battleships and three 'St. Vincent-class' battleships of the 5th Battleship Detachment were the first dreadnoughts built by the British Navy. Although, there are a lot of flaws. The 305-mm gun was also not very powerful. However, the number of up to six ships is undoubtedly a great force for the Royal Navy, which is seriously lacking in capital ships.

"David? Is there any news from General Betty's side? "John? Admiral Jericho asked.

"There's no news yet." The general replied.

John? Admiral Jericho was silent. What is he for David? The battlecruiser detachment and the 2nd battleship detachment, led by Vice Admiral Betty, were of particular interest. If David? If Lieutenant General Betty were able to win the naval battle, it would be very advantageous for them. It may even give them the opportunity to achieve their predetermined strategic goals.

Just, John? Admiral Jericho also knows that it will be very difficult to win. Because their enemies are just too strong. Numerous previous battles have proven that the German Navy is very strong. Every time they think they win nine times out of ten, they end up losing very ugly.

Ten minutes later, a communications officer ran up anxiously.

"General, General Betty's urgent telegram." The officer reported.

John? Admiral Jericho immediately took the telegram and read it quickly. However, before the telegram could be read, his face was already very ugly.

"Damn, how can this be?" John? Admiral Jericho couldn't help but scold.

Once again, the well-prepared plan failed. The battle cruiser detachment had already lost three battle cruisers, although the three weakest battle cruisers, but such losses were also very painful for them. Not to mention, the 2nd Battleship Detachment also fell under siege from the German Navy. It is foreseeable that their losses will increase in the future.

There is no doubt that in the event of a crushing defeat for the battlecruiser detachment and the 2nd battleship detachment, the Royal Navy had already lost this naval battle. Even if, John? Admiral Jericho still had 20 battleships in his hands, but he had no confidence in victory.

The best course of action was undoubtedly to order the fleet to retreat at once and flee back to Scarpa Flow. In this way, it may be possible to keep the main force of the Royal Navy and leave a little hope for future battles.

But, John? Admiral Jericho also knew that the order to retreat could not be given. That is incompatible with their strategic objectives.