At 4 a.m., it was still dark. But the German expeditionary fleet had timed it, and by the time they arrived at the Uraga waterway, it was almost 5 o'clock in the morning. By this time, the sky was already slightly bright, and I could barely see the waters ahead. Moreover, this time is also the time when the islanders' defense is the most lax.

The first battleship was the battlecruiser "Prince Frederick" of the German Expeditionary Fleet. The rough-skinned and thick-skinned 'Mackensen-class' battle cruisers are estimated not to be too seriously injured even if they are hit by mines. Therefore, it is more suitable as a pioneer. They were followed by the battlecruiser Frederickar, Lützov and Hindenburg. These battle cruisers were also tasked with suppressing the shore fire of the islanders.

The Uraga waterway is less than 10 kilometers wide, and the shore fire forces deployed on both sides of the strait can fire heavily at enemy ships that attempt to forcibly break in, thus ensuring the safety of Tokyo Bay.

It is precisely because of this that the island nation did not withdraw from Tokyo even after the crushing defeat of the Combined Fleet. In their opinion, the defense of the Gulf of Tonkin is something to be trusted. If the German expeditionary fleet wanted to attack the Gulf of Tonkin, it would be almost impossible.

The two 'Mackensen-class' battlecruisers and three 'D-Verblinger-class' battlecruisers of the German Expeditionary Fleet were responsible for suppressing the shore fire of the islanders with powerful naval guns when passing through the Uraga waterway, so as to ensure the safe passage of the fleet. Although, the capital ships of the German expeditionary fleet can not be afraid of these shore fire resistance of the islanders. But those light cruisers and destroyers are different. The islanders' shore fire is strong enough to sink them easily.

Vice Admiral Spee didn't want his fleet to lose any more. What's more, after the fleet enters Tokyo Bay, it has to guard against lightning strikes by destroyers of the islanders. Although there are only a dozen destroyers left in the Navy of the island nation. However, these destroyers were also capable of posing a greater threat to the capital ships of the German expeditionary fleet.

The fleet's flagship, the battlecruiser Mackensen, and two Moltke-class battlecruisers were in charge of the rear. Light cruisers and destroyers, after the successful passage of several battle cruisers in front, passed through the waterway at maximum speed. Only a few kilometers of waterways for these destroyers will not take long at all, at most a few minutes.

Once you're in Tokyo Bay, you'll have to be prepared for a lightning strike from the islanders' destroyers.

On the flagship battlecruiser "Mackensen", Vice Admiral Spee and Rear Admiral Maugfau, staring ahead. As time passed, the night gradually darkened. In the eastern sky, there was also a slight glimmer of light. All this foreshadowed the imminent entry of the German expeditionary fleet into the Uraga waterway.

"How much longer?" Lieutenant General Spee asked.

Even though Lieutenant General Shi Pei has been in battle for a long time, he is still a little nervous about this operation. After all, there is a mine-ridden waterway ahead, and if you are not careful, you may touch the mines, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

"General, there are less than twenty minutes left. By the time Prince Frederick's arrived at the waterways, the time was almost up! Major General Maugf replied.

Lieutenant General Spee nodded and said no more.

By 4:55 a.m., the foremost 'Prince Frederick' had arrived at the entrance to the Uraga waterway.

Lieutenant General Spee did not hesitate and immediately ordered the plan to be launched.

Suddenly, the battlecruiser 'Prince Frederick' sailed into the waterway first. The battlecruiser 'Frederickar' also entered the waterway. The other warships also entered the waterway in turn.

At this time, because the night has not completely dispersed, the visibility is not high. In addition, the army of the island nation* guarding the coastal fortifications is very tired. So they didn't know anything about the actions of the German expeditionary fleet.

For the German expeditionary fleet, the most dangerous thing was not the fire protection of the island countries on both sides of the waterway, but the mines on the sea. The map of the mine distribution that had been detected before was incomplete, so it was impossible to ensure the safety of the shipping lane. If you are not careful, you may touch a mine. This made all the warships that entered the waterway a little apprehensive.

"Order all the warships to be ready, and as soon as the islanders' shore fortifications open fire, we will immediately fire to suppress them!" Lieutenant General Spee ordered.

Of course, the shore fortifications of the islanders may be very strong. However, the 380-mm guns of the German expeditionary fleet were also definitely not vegetarian. The shore fortifications of the islanders are also a great threat.

As the vanguard, the battlecruiser "Prince Frederick" was undoubtedly under the greatest pressure. Not only are they responsible for finding the way, but they also have to keep them as unexposed as possible to avoid being attacked by the shore fire of the islanders.

"God forbid! Hopefully the charts we get are safe! "The captain of the battlecruiser 'Prince Frederick' prayed to God incessantly.

"Turn left!" The navigator gave the order against the chart of the channel.

The huge battleship began to turn slowly.

No one noticed that a mine had deviated from the intended area due to ocean currents and was drifting towards the course.

A few minutes later, the bow of the battlecruiser 'Prince Frederick' made a close encounter with the mines.

The mine was subjected to gravity, the fuse was immediately triggered, and the explosives inside exploded violently!

"Boom!"

A huge explosion sounded, and a column of water rose from the bow of the battlecruiser 'Prince Frederick'.

"Damn, we've hit a mine." The captain scolded.

"Report the loss!"

"Sir, a hole has been blown out of the underwater armor in the bow. However, it's not big, and the damage management staff said that it will be blocked soon! ”

The captain was relieved to hear that this was the case.

"Report to the flagship immediately!" The captain commanded.

Vice Admiral Spee, when he learned about the situation of the battleship 'Prince Frederick', also breathed a sigh of relief. However, it was obviously impossible to set off a mine and try to secretly pass through the Uraga waterway. Next, we will have to face the powerful firepower of the coastal defense forces of the island nation.

"Order the fleet and get ready for battle!" Lieutenant General Spee ordered.

In fact, there was no need for Vice Admiral Shi Pei to give an order, and several battleships in front were already ready. The muzzles of the main guns had been raised high, the heavy shells had been stuffed into the chambers, the propellants had been filled, and the main guns were ready to fire, just waiting for the commander's order.