Chapter 208: Saving People with a Rifle

Four torpedo tubes roared simultaneously. Four Type 93 torpedoes, each weighing 2.7 tons, slipped into the water; their oxygen engines ignited instantly, dragging barely visible wakes as they surged at 48 knots toward the distant battleship.

Immediately afterward, the Aoba, Kikugawa, and Myoko also launched torpedoes. Sixteen torpedoes formed a lethal fan‑shaped barrage underwater, covering every direction the Bismarck Class fleet might maneuver.

After firing, the four heavy cruisers immediately began to turn, attempting to withdraw. But it was already too late.

On the bridge of the Yangtze, Major General Zhang Zhen stared at the sixteen rapidly approaching underwater contacts on the radar screen, his expression grim.

"Torpedo speed 48 knots, Distance 17,000, time to impact… eleven minutes forty seconds," the fire control officer reported.

"Evasion plan?"

"Calculating… the enemy employed a fan dispersion, covering a wide angle. If our entire fleet turns uniformly to port, we can evade most, but the outermost Pearl River may enter the fringe torpedo zone."

Zhang Zhen looked at the chart. The four Bismarck Class ships formed a single line ahead formation, Yangtze leading and Pearl River at the rear. If we all turn left and steam at 30 knots for twelve minutes, we can escape most of the torpedo coverage. But Pearl River…

"Order: all fleet hard‑to‑port, course change to 080, speed increase to 32 knots. Pearl River, watch the starboard torpedo zone; if necessary, you may maneuver independently."

"Yes!"

The order was given. The four capital ships simultaneously executed sharp turns, carving four massive white arcs on the sea surface. Yet the 320,000‑ton steel hulls required time to change course, while the torpedoes closed in at 25 meters per second.

On the bridge of Pearl River, Captain Colonel Zhou Weiguo stared at the sonar screen. Sixteen dots, like sixteen arrows of the grim reaper, were rapidly approaching from the right‑forward quadrant.

"The nearest one, Distance 12,000, estimated time to impact eight minutes," the sonar officer said calmly, though his forehead was slick with sweat.

"Our course?"

"080, speed 32 knots. At this heading, we will enter the fringe torpedo zone in seven minutes."

Zhou Weiguo calculated quickly. Pearl River now had two options: first, continue with the fleet and pray the torpedoes would miss; second, turn alone, break from the formation, and seek a safe gap.

But turning alone was also very risky. Once separated from the fleet, Pearl River would become a concentrated target for the remaining Japanese firepower. Moreover, no one knew whether other torpedoes lay hidden underwater.

"Captain…" the deputy captain whispered.

Zhou Weiguo raised his hand to stop him. He stared at the chart, at the red arrows representing torpedoes, his mind racing.

The torpedoes were fan‑dispersed, covering a sector‑shaped area. If Pearl River now turned to starboard and passed around the outer edge of the fan, it would increase its distance from the formation but could completely avoid the torpedo zone.

The problem was that after a starboard turn, Pearl River would be exposed to the Japanese heavy cruisers' gunfire. Although the 203 mm Main Gun of a heavy cruiser posed little threat to a Bismarck Class ship, still…

"Hard‑to‑starboard," Zhou Weiguo said suddenly.

"What?" the deputy captain thought he had misheard.

"Hard‑to‑starboard, course change to 150, speed maintain 32 knots," Zhou Weiguo repeated. "We will skirt the outer side of the torpedo zone."

"But Captain, that way we will…"

"We will be exposed, I know," Zhou Weiguo cut him off, "but it's better than being hit by a torpedo. Execute the order!"

"Yes!"

Pearl River began to turn alone. The 41,000‑ton giant carved a curve opposite the fleet's on the sea surface, steering toward the starboard edge of the torpedo zone.

On the Chikuma, Shima looked through the telescope and saw the scene.

"One ship has turned!" he shouted excitedly, "Target that lone‑turning ship! All Main Guns fire!"

Chikuma's six 203 mm Main Guns began to aim. Although the hit probability at this range was extremely low, a cross‑fire could still disrupt the enemy ships' evasive maneuvers.

However, Shima would not get to see the result of the firing.

Because at the moment Chikuma opened fire, Yangtze's Main Gun completed a re‑aim.

"Target, Japanese heavy cruiser flagship, Distance 19,500 yards," Zhang Zhen ordered calmly, "All ships fire simultaneously."

Eight 380 mm Main Guns roared together. Thirty seconds later, the shells fell.

The first shot was a near miss, landing fifty meters off Chikuma's port side.

The second was closer, thirty meters.

The third…

Direct hit.

An 800‑kilogram 380 mm armor‑piercing shell pierced Chikuma's forward Armour Belt and detonated in the forward magazine.

The forward half of Chikuma was blown skyward in a deafening blast. The fireball rose three hundred meters, visible clearly even dozens of kilometers away.

Colonel Shima, in his final moments, saw that dazzling blaze. He felt no fear, only release.

"At least… the torpedoes…" he murmured, then was engulfed by the flames.

Chikuma sank in just three minutes. Its four launched torpedoes continued sailing toward the Bismarck fleet.

But it no longer mattered.

Against advanced fire‑control radar and high‑speed maneuvering, this long‑range torpedo salvo had a pitifully low hit probability. Of the sixteen torpedoes, fourteen passed harmlessly behind the formation, and two were easily evaded by Pearl River.

At 07:42 a. m., the Japanese heavy cruiser Chikuma sank.

At 07:45, Aoba was sunk by Yellow River.

At 07:48, Kikugawa was sunk by Huai River.

At 07:52, Myoko, while attempting to withdraw, was hit by the last two operational Main Guns of Fuxing, causing its magazine to explode and the ship to sink.

The Japanese remnants' desperate charge ended in total annihilation.

The Bismarck fleet, aside from Pearl River sustaining a light injury when a 203 mm shell struck its superstructure while evading torpedoes, saw the other three ships emerge unscathed.

This naval battle had lost all suspense.

On Yangtze's bridge, Zhang Zhen lowered his telescope and let out a long sigh.

"Report the results," he said.

The operations staff replied immediately: "Confirmed sunk: four Kongō‑class battleships, four heavy cruisers, thirteen destroyers. Our losses: Fuxing heavily damaged but not sunk, Pearl River lightly injured, no other losses."

"What is the status of Fuxing?"

"Rescue underway. Heeled 18 degrees to starboard, several compartments flooded, but the main structure remains intact. Captain Lin is still alive, organizing damage control."

Zhang Zhen nodded. He looked toward the distant sea, at the still‑burning yet floating giant, a flash of respect in his eyes.

Having held out for forty minutes under absolute disadvantage, they bought the reinforcements the crucial time. The crew of Fuxing proved worthy of the Lanfang Navy's name.

Order: Huai River and Pearl River go ahead, covering Revival. Yellow River and I will clear the battlefield and rescue the drowning.

Officer, should we rescue the Japanese who fell into the water?

Zhang Zhen fell silent for a few seconds. According to naval combat custom, the victor is obligated to rescue enemy personnel who have fallen into the water. But today's battle was too fierce; four Vajra class ships plus a dozen other vessels, the number of drowning may exceed three thousand.

"Rescue," he finally said, "use rifles to rescue!"

"Yes!"

The order was passed down. Two Bismarck Class ships began to slow, lowering rescue boats. The sailors hoisted rifles and started rescuing the drowning!!!

On the starboard side of the Yangtze, a young medic tossed a 7.62 toward a Japanese sailor. That sailor looked only sixteen or seventeen, covered in oil, his face full of terror.