Chapter 7: The Horror of Dogger Bank (Part 2)
It's shrunk, less than 7,000 words, the writing state is gone, mistakes everywhere, I'd better rest first, owe it for now, haha...
The Battle of Coronel, which broke out on November 14, 1914, has always been a topic of endless discussion among military enthusiasts around the world. This battle, known as the "climax of battles between armored cruisers", not only featured textbook-like preparations and tactics from the era of big ships and giant guns, but also included elements of psychological warfare, chaotic battles, night battles, close combat, and desperate gambles. Moreover, the young commanders of both fleets were rare naval geniuses in their respective countries, engaging in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with passion and patriotism colliding, amidst a backdrop of tragic beauty that permeated this classic sea battle from start to finish.
On November 7, the Dogger Bank ambush plan of German Navy's strategic genius Heidekamp was finalized in Admiral Ingenohl's office, while at the same time, another Dogger Bank ambush plan devised by "Sea Rider" David Beatty also surfaced.
On 5 November, the meeting of the British Admiralty Board ended without result. On 7 November, the meeting was reconvened. After a closed-door negotiation between Winston Churchill and John Jellicoe, an agreement was reached. The conditions of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill, were met: the battleship Queen Elizabeth and the battlecruiser Inflexible would be transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet; the preliminary work for the Dardanelles Campaign in January 1915 would proceed as scheduled. In return, three Orion-class battleships of the Second Battle Squadron under the command of Admiral Sir David Beatty would gain freedom of action off Dogger Bank for a short period.
It can be said that Beatty's plan for the Dogger Bank ambush was similar to his old friend Heidekamp: Rear Admiral Luard led Invincible, Royal Princess, four light cruisers of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (Birmingham, Nottingham, Melbourne and Dublin), the main force of Harwich Force (Chatham, Melbourne, Aurora, Undaunted and 19 destroyers) into Heligoland Bay to lure Hipper's First Reconnaissance Group into the ambush circle at Dogger Bank before the German High Seas Fleet arrived.
Just as David Beatty was starting his preparations for the Dogger Bank ambush, Franz von Hipper had already stolen a march on him. He led two battlecruisers and an armoured cruiser in a raid on the British port of Harwich, sending in naval troops to land and fight. Three hours later, the bold Hipper repeated the exercise at Lowestoft, causing chaos along the east coast of England.
If there had not been the intelligence from Room 40, Scheer's initial advantage would have led to a crushing defeat for Beatty and the Royal Navy. The Admiralty's excuses or silence would have been of little avail in face of the public outcry that would have followed. The Grand Fleet must be given its chance to inflict a heavy blow on the Germans.
Fortunately, history does not have ifs. The sinking of the U-15 submarine allowed the British to easily grasp the German Navy's cipher, and David Beatty obtained some cryptic telegrams from William R. Hall, the head of British Naval Intelligence, he guessed Heidekamp's plan and seized the only opportunity.
On the morning of November 14, 1914, at 4 o'clock, David Beatty and his First Battlecruiser Squadron suddenly set sail from Rosyth in Scapa Flow, rushing towards Dogger Bank; At 5:44, upon receiving the news, Admiral John Jellicoe ordered the Second Cruiser Squadron at Sunderland and the seven pre-dreadnoughts of the Third Battle Squadron at the southern part of Scapa Flow to join forces with Beatty; By 7:33, the main force of the Grand Fleet had completed replenishment of coal, water, and ammunition, and set sail southwards in response. From then on, the pre-war plans for the Dogger Bank Ambush by both Germany and Britain were completely foiled, and the naval battle slid into an unpredictable direction!
****
November 14, 1914, 12:55, North Sea.
A British fleet, flying the White Ensign and Nelson's Z flag of the Napoleonic era, was steaming south at full speed. The four cruisers of Rear Admiral Ernest Alexander Sinclair's 1st Cruiser Squadron were scouting ahead as an advance guard; Vice-Admiral David Beatty's five battlecruisers Lion, Queen Mary, Princess Royal, Tiger and New Zealand followed as the main body, keeping 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) distance from the advance guard; Rear Admiral Edward Bradford's Third Battle Squadron of seven pre-dreadnoughts King Edward VII, Africa, Britannia, Commonwealth, Hindustan, Dominion and Empress of India were deployed on either wing of the main body as a supporting force.
In the late autumn, the northern sea was always windy and wavy. The strong winds from the North Atlantic and the fierce waves in the northern sea came face to face with the iron bow of the Lion-class war cruiser, only to be shattered instantly by its high-speed advance. The salty sea wind swirled around Betty, and the scalding afternoon tea turned icy in an instant. David-Betty, who had been sleepless for a night, stood on the bridge at the bow of the Lion-class war cruiser, gazing out at the vast and majestic northern sea and the horizon that was forever out of reach. The fatigue in his heart was dispelled, replaced by the excitement of the impending battle and the thrill of a masterful duel!
"In 1900, the encounter in the eight big hutongs of the Far East and the drunken words at the Dongjiaomin Lane tavern; on the eve of the wedding in Kiel's lower district in 1902, the last revelry; in 1914, the affectionate gaze at the grey foreign-style building in Kiel. And then the hasty departure for the Battle of Heligoland Bight on August 23rd. The friendship that had lasted for over a decade could not change the fate-like duel. In late autumn 1914, the horror at Dogger Bank, Sylt, my old friend, are you ready?"
David sipped his English afternoon tea and occasionally raised his head to ask in a low voice.
****
November 14, 1914, 12:59, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin.
A chilly rain pattered against the windows of the study, and the sensitive Emperor was filled with anxiety; the bold words of General von Moltke, the Chief of the Army General Staff before the war, were still vivid in his mind, but the plan for a breakthrough on the coast of Flanders had already failed; the unusual behavior of Admiral Ingenohl, Commander-in-Chief of the High Seas Fleet, made the Emperor feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. Wilhelm realized that his most precious treasure was undergoing some kind of profound transformation, and its master, he himself, could not participate in it.
"Your Majesty, a message from the Naval Intelligence Department..." Adjutant George Philip Tailerman dropped his umbrella and hastily walked into Wilhelm's study with a stack of telegrams. "Around 4 o'clock in the morning, David Beatty and his First Battlecruiser Squadron set sail in an emergency to an unknown destination; around 7:30, the entire main force of the Grand Fleet has sailed out!"
The adjutant's words to Thielmann were spoken as the Iron Cross of the First Class, which he wore on his breast, fluttered in the wind like its owner's mood.
"Where is the Silex's cruiser squadron?" The Emperor swept away the map of the French Marne department on his desk, and immediately spread out a North Sea map, pointing to the 100-mile defense line marked with dotted lines.
"At 7:39, Commodore Heidekamp reported to the High Seas Fleet Command that three British minelayers had been spotted south of the 100-mile defensive line. He would lead his flotilla in pursuit and sink the British ships." The aide-de-camp hesitated for a moment, mumbling: "However, Naval Intelligence has received an unconfirmed report that a German fleet has raided Harwich and Lowestoft..."
The Emperor's left hand, clad in a white glove, involuntarily clenched into a fist. His eyes, which had been gazing off into the distance, suddenly narrowed sharply as he thundered in his usual imperial tone: "And what of the Third Battleship Squadron and the First Reconnaissance Squadron?"
The aide-de-camp had just received a telegram from General Scherff... Aide-de-camp Thieleman tried to keep his tone light, but the few words contained in it were indeed hair-raising: "The Third Squadron and First Reconnaissance Squadron are advancing into the Baltic Sea, and in order to fulfill Your Majesty's original intention of combat training, the fleet has decided to enter the Baltic Sea through the Skagerrak and Kattegat!"
