Chapter 255

East Sea, north latitude 31°10', east longitude 122°35', nearby sea area, underwater at a depth of 40 meters.

In stark contrast to the scene above the sea of blazing fire and thunderous gunfire, this is a dark and silent world. Three German-made VIIC-type U-boats, like sharks in the deep sea, lurk silently, only the propellers stirring the water emit a low hum. Their hulls are expertly painted in dark camouflage, perfectly blending into the dark seawater, cleverly avoiding the possible existence of those chaotic Oriental warships on the surface and their extremely primitive Type 93 sonar detection.

In the control room of the lead U-48 submarine, the atmosphere was tense yet orderly. Red emergency lights illuminated the focused faces of the crew. The captain, Erich Hartmann, stared intently through the eyepiece of the Zeiss attack periscope, carefully observing the movements on the sea surface, while the sonar operator continuously reported underwater sound signals.

The radio communications officer took off his headset and reported to the captain: "Captain, we have received the flagship's order! Order our formation to carry out a torpedo attack on the enemy 'Ancient Eagle'-class heavy cruiser at coordinates north latitude 31°12', east longitude 122°38'! The ship has been damaged, its speed reduced to about 12 knots, and it is attempting to flee southeast."

The captain nodded, a flash of cold light in his eyes. He quickly marked the target's position and estimated course on the nautical chart, combining sonar data to calculate the optimal attack position and lead. "Target bearing **045**, distance **3000 meters**. Speed **12 knots**, port angle **70 degrees**."

"'Starboard fifteen, heading 135, speed eight knots!' the captain ordered. 'All boats, take note: target the 'Ancient Eagle'-class heavy cruiser, prepare to execute the 'Four-Link Fan' torpedo attack plan, with a 2-degree interval!'"

"'No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 torpedo tubes, flood!'"

"'Set depth **6 meters**!'"

"'Gyro angle setting complete!'"

"'Target data input complete!'"

As the captain issued a series of orders, the crew skillfully operated the various valves and instruments. The hull made a slight adjustment to its attitude, precisely aligning the bow with the calculated firing parameters.

"'Nos. 1 through 4 torpedo tubes, fire!'"

Accompanied by the powerful 'hiss' of compressed air, four G7a(T1)-type steam-powered torpedoes shot out like arrows from the bow torpedo tubes of the submarine! A white bubble trail quickly formed at the torpedoes' tails, but soon vanished in the deep seawater. These deadly 'underwater cigars', relying on their own gas-steam generators, raced at up to **44 knots**, carving an almost straight, lethal wake through the water as they sped toward the unsuspecting prey—the 'Ancient Eagle'-class heavy cruiser struggling to escape.

About one and a half minutes later, the midsection and stern of the 'Ancient Eagle'-class heavy cruiser, which was struggling to control damage and trying to increase speed to escape, suddenly erupted with two massive, muffled water columns mixed with black smoke!

Boom! Rumble!

The violent explosion could be clearly felt even underwater. Two torpedoes struck the ship below the waterline, near the engine room and magazines! Thick steel plates were torn open like paper, creating huge gaps, and rushing water instantly flooded the interior of the hull.

The 'Ancient Eagle' shuddered violently, the hull shaking violently and the angle of tilt suddenly increasing. The shock and blast from the explosion caused the already damaged structure to collapse completely. Accompanied by the piercing sound of metal tearing and the desperate cries of the crew, this former imperial battleship, under the deadly blow of the torpedoes, likely had its keel broken and was sinking rapidly at a visible speed.

The concealment and devastation of the underwater attack were fully displayed at this moment, putting a final period on the fate of this Oriental heavy cruiser. The other two torpedoes missed due to target evasion or premature detonation, but it no longer mattered to the overall situation.

Just as the 'Ancient Eagle'-class heavy cruiser was hit by torpedoes and let out its death throes, several other Oriental warships struggling to escape or already powerless also met their final doom. The German submarine flotilla did not aim at only a single target; instead, according to the battlefield situation, it launched a coordinated attack on the most valuable or threatening remaining enemy warships.

"'Rumble!' 'Boom——' 'Boom boom!!'"

One after another, explosion sounds rang out in different sea areas, deeper and duller than previous shell hits, yet even more deadly! Columns of water mixed with black smoke, steam, and ship debris rose tens of meters high on the sea surface. This is the mark of the submarine-launched torpedoes accurately hitting their targets.

The port side of a 'Sendai'-class light cruiser staggering along was ripped open by two consecutive torpedoes, a huge gap extending from the waterline down to below the deck, seawater flooding in like a broken dam, instantly inundating the lower compartments. The hull emitted a grating metal-twisting sound, and within just a few minutes it began to break apart amidships.

Another ship, a 'Fubuki'-class destroyer attempting to escape under a smoke screen, was precisely struck in the stern by a torpedo; the violent explosion directly destroyed its propeller and rudder, leaving it completely dead in the water. Immediately afterward, a second torpedo hit its midsection, triggering ammunition detonation, and the entire destroyer, in a tremendous blast, turned into a raging fireball, rapidly breaking apart and sinking.

**On the Oriental warships hit by torpedoes, panic and chaos instantly erupted, far more thorough than during the previous gunfire. **

Although the wounds caused by shellfire are horrifying, one can usually see the specific points of damage, and damage control still offers a glimmer of hope. But the damage from the invisible torpedo attacks coming from underwater is structural and destructive to the ship's hull, and delivers a massive psychological shock to the crew!

"'Torpedo! It's a torpedo!'"

"'Port side hit! Flooding in the boiler room!'"

"'Damage control team! Quickly plug the leaks!'"

"'We're done! The ship is going to sink!'"

Terrified shouts rose and fell. Damage control crew grabbed wooden wedges and leak-stopping blankets, rushing toward the breaches without regard for danger, but facing the water pouring in like a waterfall, their efforts were futile. The vessel's tilt increased ever faster, items on deck slid about, making it hard to stand. Water quickly spread, flooding compartment after compartment, cutting off power, interrupting communications, and trapping more and more people in the dark, cold depths of the ship.

Earlier, some that had only suffered minor injuries or, thanks to better luck, had managed to avoid the dense gunfire of the Oriental warships, had thought they could escape alive, but they never imagined they would still fail to evade the submarines' deadly blow. One after another, under the torpedo strikes they either capsized quickly or broke apart and sank, like a bathtub with its plug pulled, they swiftly vanished from the tumultuous sea surface, leaving only a sheet of rolling foam, oil slicks, and floating wreckage.

The underwater phantom hunters, with their icy 'fangs', completely shattered the last remnants of resistance and hope of escape of the Oriental flotilla. On the sea surface, the burning wreckage grew fewer and fewer, replaced by a dead silence and an ever-expanding area of drifting debris. The presence of the Oriental navy in this sea is being swiftly erased.