Chapter 406: Dengnitz

The three Main Gun turrets of the "Feng·De·Tanen" roared simultaneously. A 1,200‑kilogram Shell left the barrel at 800 m per second, and the recoil made the 19,000‑ton hull shudder violently. Karl, in the engine room, felt the deck beneath his feet suddenly drop, the steam pipe leak surged, and scalding water droplets splashed out.

"Pressure! Watch the pressure!" Major Hansen shouted.

On the "Maoqi", the situation was worse. Damage left by Riderlan had not been fully repaired, and at high speed the hull emitted an ominous screech. A Yingguo Shell struck her bow, blowing the anchor chain compartment apart and flooding it.

"Damage control team! Seal the breach!"

The artillery duel lasted twenty minutes. The Deguo Fleet fired while withdrawing, trying to break out toward Norwegian territorial waters—once they entered neutral waters, the Yingguo Fleet would have to cease fire. But the British were faster, and the encirclement was tightening.

At 10:31 a. m., the rear Main Gun turret of the "Sedlitz" was hit directly by a Shell. Although the armor stopped penetration, the massive impact shattered the turret's rotation mechanism. Now she has only two Main Guns left that can fire.

"General, we're surrounded!" Colonel Muller pointed at the chart, "Ahead are battlecruisers, and there are battleships on both the port and starboard sides. They're trying to force us to turn into the main fleet's range!"

Heipel stared at the chart, his mind calculating at speed. Turning would mean a head‑on clash with Yingguo battleships—a suicide; pressing forward would let the battlecruisers encircle them, and when the main fleet arrived it would be a dead end as well.

"Release smoke!" he ordered, "All destroyers, move forward and lay a smoke screen! The entire fleet, turn right 30 degrees and slip through their gap!"

"But sir, that direction is a minefield…"

"I know there's a minefield there! But I also know the British won't dare pursue! Execute the order!"

In the conning tower of submarine U-68, Lieutenant Karl Dengnitz of the navy was observing the spectacular scene on the surface through the periscope.

This 600‑ton ocean‑going submarine was supposed to end its six‑week combat patrol and return to Wilhelm Port. Yesterday afternoon they had sunk a grain freighter coming from Canada, using two torpedoes. According to plan, they should now make a full‑speed return, avoiding any unnecessary contact.

But the intercepted transmission in the radio room changed everything.

"…Encountered Yingguo main force… Requesting any friendly support…"

That was a distress signal from the Deguo Fleet. Dengnitz looked at the navigation chart: U-68 was about fifteen nautical miles southwest of the combat zone, right behind the Yingguo Fleet.

"Sir," First Officer Otto·Kreichmer, a Lieutenant, said hesitantly, "We have only six torpedoes left, and… according to regulations, after completing the mission we should return directly."

Dengnitz did not answer immediately. The twenty‑seven‑year‑old submarine commander had a composure beyond his years, his deep‑set eyes like two pools. He recalled his instructor's words during training: "A submarine is not a warship; it is an assassin. An assassin waits for the moment and strikes lethally."

The moment had arrived. The Yingguo Fleet was fully engaged in chasing Deguo surface vessels, and no one would notice a submarine that "should have already returned" surfacing underwater.

"Change course," Dengnitz finally spoke, "Course 045, full speed ahead. Torpedo room, prepare; re‑inspect all six torpedoes."

"Sir, what you're—"

"We're going to give the Yingguo a surprise." Dengnitz's mouth twitched slightly—not a smile, more like a hunter watching prey step into a trap, "Send a telegram to the 'Feng·De·Tanen': U-68 is approaching the combat zone, six torpedoes remaining, does it need to engage?"

The telegram was sent. The entire crew held their breath. If Heipel refused, they would have to watch their comrades be besieged; if he agreed, U-68 would charge alone into the heart of the Yingguo Fleet.

Three minutes later, a reply arrived, only four words:

"Engage."

Dengnitz nodded and turned to the sound operator, "Listen for the propeller noises of large vessels. I need to know where the nearest Yingguo battleship is."

At 11:07 a. m., U-68 dove to periscope depth.

Dengnitz raised the periscope again. In the view, the surface scene was breathtaking: the Deguo Fleet flickered in the smoke, surrounded by at least twenty Yingguo warships, the muzzle flashes like lightning in a summer thunderstorm. The nearest Yingguo battleship was less than three thousand meters away—that was the "Tie Gongjue", one of Jelliko's flagships, with a standard displacement of 25,000 tons and equipped with ten 13.5‑inch Main Guns.

"Target, starboard 30 degrees, large battleship." Dengnitz's voice was as calm as a classroom lecture, "Distance 2,800 meters, speed 18 knots, course 120. Compute torpedo parameters."

The torpedo officer quickly used the calculation slide rule: "Set depth 6 meters, speed 44 knots, lead angle… 15 degrees. Sir, this distance is too great; Hit Rate will be low."

"Then get closer." Dengnitz ordered, "Dive to 20 meters, full speed ahead. I want to fire at a distance of 1,500 meters."

"Sir, at that depth full‑speed travel will make noise the Yingguo hear!"

"They're busy with the artillery duel; they won't hear it. Execute the order."

The submarine moved like a steel shark, silently cutting into the combat zone. Through the hydrophones, the thunderous cannon fire, explosions, and the roar of large‑vessel propellers churning the water could be heard overhead. Each time a Shell hit the water, the shockwave made the hull shudder violently.

"Distance 2,000 meters… 1,900 meters… 1,800 meters…" the sound operator reported every thirty seconds.

In the torpedo room, six G7‑type torpedoes had completed their final inspection. Each torpedo was 7 meters long, weighed 1.5 tons, and carried 200 kg of warhead. In theory, a single hit could severely damage or even sink a battleship.

"Sir, destroyer sighted on starboard!" the lookout shouted suddenly, "It's heading toward us!"

Dengnitz swiftly swung the periscope. Indeed, a Yingguo V-class destroyer had broken away from the main formation, its bow cutting through the spray, charging straight toward U-68's bearing. Had it spotted them, or was it coincidence?

"Dive! Emergency dive! Depth 40 meters!" Dengnitz roared.

The submarine's bow tilted downward as the ballast tanks flooded rapidly. All crew clutched anything that could hold them in place, listening to the hull's groan under pressure.

Above, the destroyer's propeller grew nearer and louder. Then came the sound of deep‑water bombs hitting the sea—plop, plop, plop…

"Hard right rudder! Full speed!" Dengnitz shouted into the speaking tube.

The submarine executed an emergency turn. Seconds later, the first deep‑water bomb exploded not far off the port side. The shockwave struck the hull like a giant's fist, shattering light bulbs, leaking pipes, and hurling several unsecured sailors against the wall.