Chapter 160: Lure The Enemy Into The Trap
The order from Baltic Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nicholas Ottoevich von Essen quickly reached Helsinki Harbor,
and was passed down to the desk of Vice Admiral Mikhail Koronovich Barylev, commander of the Baltic Cruiser Detachment.
Vice Admiral Barylev looked at the commander-in-chief’s order, his expression grave for a moment as he puffed on his cigar, unable to make up his mind. Finally, before formally deciding to sortie, he couldn’t help but muster his courage and make a phone call:
“Please connect me to the commander-in-chief. This is Barylev of the cruiser detachment.”
Soon, the voice of Vice Admiral von Essen in Petersburg came through on the other end of the line:
“Port of Riga is in dire peril. If the 12th Army Group’s supplies can’t get in, it will cause major harm to the overall situation of the Northwestern Front! We must reopen the Riga Bay supply route!
Do you have any more concerns? Intelligence already shows that only 5~8 Germanian light cruisers sneaked into Riga Bay under cover of night. Your fleet can close the door and beat the dog, enough to annihilate them.”
Vice Admiral Barylev took a deep breath, organized his words, and then reminded: “Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, of course I’m not worried that my fleet can’t beat those Germanians’ cruisers… But as you just mentioned, we can close the door and beat the dog to block the Germanian cruisers. Can’t their battleships do the same to us in return?
Hiiumaa Strait is very narrow, only 8 kilometers wide. If my fleet enters Riga Bay from the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait, what if the enemy’s battleships arrive at the north entrance of the strait right after to block us?”
Vice Admiral von Essen: “Then you stay inside Riga Bay and wait in ambush! Your situation is different from the Germanian one. Not only can you block the entrance, your ships also have shallow drafts and can directly enter the strait and the bay!
The Germanian ships can beat yours, but their drafts are deeper than yours. Even if they block, they’ll just stay at the north entrance of the strait and wear you down, unable to pass through the strait to pursue you! Then you just wear them down too! Your cruiser fleet can hold down the enemy’s battleship fleet—this is no loss!”
Hearing the commander-in-chief say this, Vice Admiral Barylev could accept the result of “cruiser fleet being tied down long-term.” What reason did he have to shrink from battle?
Any more argument would be defying military orders.
So after hasty preparations, the cruiser detachment sortied.
Before sortieing, Vice Admiral Barylev also gave a simple but absolutely necessary mobilization speech.
He repeatedly emphasized to the officers and men that this battle was certain victory, that it was entering Riga Bay via Hiiumaa Strait—where the enemy’s main force couldn’t enter—to specifically target the enemy’s soft spots.
The Baltic Fleet’s morale was already very low, but this pep talk was extremely effective. The cruiser fleet’s officers and men finally mustered their courage, united as one to launch the attack.
The massive fast fleet—consisting of 2 “Rurik-class” armored cruisers, 3 Bayan-class armored cruisers, 5 “Pallada-class” protected cruisers, and 16 “Novik-class” destroyers—with absolute numerical superiority, charged majestically toward Riga Bay.
In terms of force scale, this fleet was at least 2~3 times the size of the Germania Fleet already inside Riga Bay. Even if Germanian ships of the same class had slightly superior combat effectiveness and technical specs to Lusha warships, under 2~3 times numerical superiority, it was enough to crush the opponent.
……
The north side exit of Hiiumaa Strait in northern Riga Bay was only 70 nautical miles from Tallinn and 90 nautical miles from Helsinki. Even from Saint Petersburg, it was a mere 240 nautical miles.
So this place was already a critical choke point, controlling not only Riga Bay to the south but also the south bank of Gulf of Finland to the north.
After the Lusha cruiser detachment sortied from Helsinki, it carefully traversed the preset Gulf of Finland entrance minefield according to its own mine-laying chart, and just 6 hours later, arrived at the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait.
The fleet had traveled the whole way at only 16 knots specifically to avoid the danger of high speed through the minefield.
After reaching the north entrance of the strait, they continued south at 16 knots for two and a half hours, covering 40 nautical miles, left the narrow strait channel, and entered the relatively wide waters of Riga Bay.
“According to the latest news before, the enemy ships sank our 60,000-ton transport fleet yesterday afternoon, that is, 20 hours ago. Then after nightfall yesterday, they bombarded Port of Riga and withdrew within two hours… Where exactly are they now?”
After entering the wide waters of Riga Bay, Vice Admiral Barylev was still worried about search and detection.
He glanced at his watch; it was now 10 a.m. The enemy fleet attacked the Lusha transport fleet yesterday afternoon at 3~4 p.m.
Relying solely on the fleet for a dragnet search was still somewhat inefficient for Riga Bay, which was over 120 kilometers east-west and over 180 kilometers north-south, so Vice Admiral Barylev ordered the radio to send a telegram requesting air reconnaissance from shore-based reconnaissance aircraft.
After the telegram was sent, just 20 minutes later, the shore-based air squadron replied that reconnaissance aircraft had already taken off.
Airplanes in 1915 had seen considerable speed improvements over a year ago; war always drives rapid development in aviation industry and technology.
Last year, many airplanes had top speeds of only about 150 kilometers per hour; in the second half of this year, airplanes in various countries generally broke 200 kilometers per hour.
Germanians and Britannians had more advanced engine technology, their airplanes reaching 260~280 kilometers per hour, while Lushans generally lingered at 210~220 kilometers per hour.
With 220 kph reconnaissance aircraft providing aerial search, just 1 hour later, the Germania Fleet’s position was exposed—although the reconnaissance aircraft that went out didn’t get any benefits either. After intercepting the telegram about Lusha reconnaissance aircraft taking off, Germanian shore-based aircraft south of Riga also sent fighters to intercept over Riga Bay, encountering several waves of them.
In the end, 6 Lusha reconnaissance aircraft were shot down, along with 12 pilots（these were all two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, with radiomen and radios in the rear seat; even if they couldn’t return alive, as long as the telegram was sent, the intelligence was successfully delivered）, in exchange for detecting the important intelligence on the Germania Cruiser Fleet’s position.
By the time the telegram was relayed, translated, and reached Vice Admiral Barylev’s hands, it was already noon that day.
“Enemy fleet 60 nautical miles southwest-south? Even if they stay there waiting for us, at full speed it would take us over two and a half hours to catch up, let alone if the enemy tries to flee… But where would they run? They can’t just go directly in the opposite direction from us; that way they’d hit the coast after at most 30~40 nautical miles. So, would they choose to flee laterally? Circle with us? That’s possible…”
Vice Admiral Barylev used a compass on the nautical chart for a bit, discussed with his staff officers nearby, and finally figured out several possible ways the enemy might maneuver. He decided to adapt accordingly and use a dragnet encirclement.
Although this dragnet encirclement might disperse his own forces, it at least ensured the enemy couldn’t escape.
And even if forces were somewhat dispersed, considering his nearly 3-to-1 overall numerical advantage, even dispersed the enemy wouldn’t have the strength to defeat them in detail. As long as one detachment held the enemy, the rest of the warships could rush over at full speed, ensuring the battle ended within two or three hours!
……
Germanians’ aviation technology and pilot skill had always absolutely crushed the Lushans’.
So when Lusha reconnaissance aircraft discovered the Germania Cruiser Fleet’s position, of course Germanian reconnaissance aircraft also discovered the Lusha Cruiser Fleet’s position.
When the intelligence reached Memel Harbor（present-day Klaipėda, Lithuania, still Germania homeland territory during World War I）, Vice Admirals Hipper and Scheer both gathered excitedly yet gravely around the nautical chart, debating whether to sortie immediately.
“The enemy’s cruiser fleet has taken the bait! Let’s send high-speed battlecruisers to cut off their rear and intercept them all?”
Vice Admiral Hipper, eager for glory, instinctively proposed this.
After saying it, he realized it was somewhat improper; he seemed a bit greedy, not conducive to maximizing overall battle results.
Sure enough, right after Hipper spoke, Scheer unhappily retorted: “How is this different from what we agreed? This interception task can be left to my battleships. It’s not a chase battle, just a blocking battle—speed isn’t important! With strong enough firepower and protection, we can take out the enemy one by one!”
Hipper didn’t argue immediately but glanced at Lelouch beside him. Seeing Lelouch secretly nodding at him, Hipper conceded and smoothly followed up:
“Then given the current situation, let my battlecruisers block the north entrance of the strait. If you have any fish that slip the net, any that you don’t catch and escape into the south entrance of Hiiumaa Strait, I’ll block the north entrance to ensure we wipe them out completely, leaving no one alive!”
However, even with Hipper adopting a stance of “first proposing to lift the roof but rejected, then stepping back to demand opening the window,” Scheer was still not satisfied.
Scheer felt that with his 8 battleships—though the two oldest dreadnought types—they were more than enough to pursue these ships. Both the task of pursuing into Riga Bay and blocking the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait, he could handle both himself.
So he said again: “How about splitting the four Helgoland-class battleships and four Nassau-class battleships to execute the tasks separately? The enemy’s forces aren’t many; I have the strength to handle both ends. Vice Admiral Hipper, your fleet can serve as a mobile reserve detachment. If the enemy reinforces, you can adapt as needed then.”
The implication was, if the enemy had no more reinforcements, you won’t get a drop today. The battleship fleet digging in for a static battle already had enough strength to completely surround the enemy.
Hearing this, Hipper wanted to flare up on the spot. Although specific task assignments indeed had to be finalized right before battle based on enemy changes, Scheer’s on-the-spot demand clearly looked a bit greedy.
However, just as Hipper wanted to argue his case, Lelouch, who rarely had the chance to attend this meeting, held him back.
Seeing this, Hipper calmed down a bit.
Meanwhile, Scheer across from them showed a surprised look.
He knew Lelouch and Hipper were on very good terms, but he hadn’t expected Lelouch to help him and block Hipper’s bid for glory.
What was going on? Was this Lelouch trying to play both sides? Was this guy really just an opportunist who liked selling favors everywhere?
After stopping Hipper, Lelouch was silent for a few seconds, waiting for both sides to calm a bit, then mediated for them:
“I think General Scheer’s proposal has merit, but this arrangement clearly disadvantages General Hipper.
However, everything is negotiable. If General Scheer is willing to heed some small suggestions from General Hipper on tactical details and force allocations, I think General Hipper might be willing to yield on the strategic deployment level.”
Lelouch hadn’t detailed it yet, but out of trust in him, Hipper generously spoke up: “No problem on my end—Lelouch’s opinion is my opinion! Scheer, what do you say?”
Scheer certainly couldn’t agree so readily. He hesitated for a few seconds, then said: “Then I need to hear it first—what exactly are these so-called tactical and force allocation suggestions? I can decide only after hearing them.”
Lelouch then said in a leading tone: “I suggest that if both the pursuit task into Riga Bay and the blocking task at the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait are to be handled by the battleship fleet,
then we hope General Scheer assigns the 4 Helgoland-class battleships to the Riga Bay pursuit task, and the 4 Nassau-class battleships to the blocking task at the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait.
At the same time, of the 4 Helgoland-class entering Riga Bay, 2 should head straight for the enemy cruiser fleet’s coordinates to execute the actual pursuit.
The other 2 should serve as alert ships and not advance further after passing Irbe Strait, instead circling on patrol near the west entrance of Irbe Strait to prevent the Lusha cruiser fleet from slipping around in a circle and escaping via the route we took into Riga Bay.”
What Lelouch said was easy to understand.
It was like those TikTok mini-game ads modern viewers have all seen—”officers catching bandits.” If the officers push too aggressively, sometimes it gives the bandits a chance to escape via the officers’ approach route.
Scheer instantly understood this logic, but he didn’t get why Lelouch was micromanaging so much and using this as a trade—this was turning into micromanagement?
No general likes being micromanaged by a colleague.
“Why do it this way? Even without you saying, I wouldn’t let the enemy’s cruisers escape via Irbe Strait!” Scheer was unconvinced.
Lelouch smiled: “Don’t be hasty, General Scheer. Of course I know you won’t make low-level mistakes. I just want to give the enemy a reason to believe that leaving all 4 Helgoland-class battleships on the Riga Bay side makes sense—it’s to ensure total annihilation of their cruiser fleet without fail!
Because the enemy is just some armored cruisers; running into any 2 of our 4 Helgoland-class battleships would be enough to annihilate them all! No need for all 4 to be there. We send 4 and use them divided, letting the enemy’s reconnaissance aircraft spot it—doesn’t that make us look like we’re going all-out even against rabbits?
This way, the enemy will relax vigilance in other directions. I have no intention of directing your tactics on a micro level; I’m just ensuring intelligence deception against the enemy!”
Lelouch’s explanation made Scheer feel better. If it wasn’t for micromanaging but for intelligence deception needs, that was understandable.
He nodded and pursued another doubt: “Then why insist on interfering with me using Helgoland-class battleships to pursue the enemy’s cruiser fleet, but letting Nassau-class block the north entrance of Hiiumaa Strait?
You should know, if the enemy’s cruisers ultimately flee into Hiiumaa Strait, and our 4 battleships are blocking the north entrance, the enemy’s battleship fleet might sortie to support and try to scatter our warships at the north entrance.
Helgoland-class has the same broadside main gun count as Nassau-class—both 8 guns—but Helgoland-class has advantages in speed and main gun caliber. If we really encounter enemy battleships, Helgoland-class combat power is clearly stronger, and for pursuing armored cruisers, either Helgoland or Nassau is sufficient!”
Lelouch: “No! I don’t think Helgoland and Nassau have the same effect in pursuing cruisers! Nassau-class is the Empire’s earliest dreadnought; because the epoch-making propulsion system innovation wasn’t complete then, Nassau-class still used triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines, while Helgoland-class already uses steam turbines, much faster!”
（Note: As mentioned in Chapter 22, due to planar harmony’s butterfly effect, this timeline’s Helgoland-class already avoided the pit—only 4 main turrets, but still single-side 8-gun salvo firepower. That is, Helgoland-class no longer has the hexagonal turret layout like Nassau, but a centerline fore-and-aft staggered layout.
At the same time, the tonnage and length saved by reducing 2 main turrets allowed this plane’s Helgoland-class to adopt the same first-generation steam turbines as the next Caesar-class, rather than triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines. It can be seen as a warship like Caesar-class but with 1 fewer centerline main turret and main armor belt thinnest at 50mm less, otherwise similar. Main armor thickest: Nassau and Helgoland both 300mm, Caesar at 350mm.
Additionally, per my shipbuilding simulator calc, if Helgoland-class puts the tonnage saved from 2 fewer main turrets all into propulsion without thickening armor, speed is actually a bit faster than Caesar-class. I set paper 22 knots overload 24 knots, since Caesar is paper 21 knots overload 23 knots.）
At this point, Lelouch took a sip of water, then continued: “Forcibly sending Helgoland-class to pursue the enemy cruiser fleet has a solid reason: paper 22 knots, overload 24 knots battleships pursuing armored cruisers ensures we absolutely catch up.
While leaving the 19-knot Nassau-class at the north strait entrance sells a flaw to the enemy, making them think there’s an opportunity—if I were Baltic Fleet commander-in-chief, with solid intel confirming all Helgoland-class wasted in Riga Bay and unable to pass north through Hiiumaa Strait to the Gulf of Finland side, what would I think?
I might muster some courage to send Saint Petersburg’s 4 Gangut-class out against 4 Nassau-class! I’d think Gangut-class paper strength is superior to Nassau-class!”
With the argument at this point, Scheer naturally fully understood.
In short, it was deliberately pretending “to ensure 100% success in the Riga Bay pursuit, going all-out even against rabbits, then selling a flaw at Hiiumaa Strait north entrance to lure them out.”
But Vice Admiral Scheer soon realized another issue: “So you think General Hipper’s 3 battlecruisers—the enemy doesn’t even know they exist? They won’t guard against ‘if both sides’ battleships fight to mutual exhaustion, German battlecruisers suddenly arrive to clean up’?”
Lelouch couldn’t answer this directly, because he knew the enemy already knew of Hipper’s existence. Hipper’s sortie had been reported to Naval Ministry using already compromised ciphers.
But Scheer wasn’t one of their own yet and didn’t trust Lelouch; Lelouch hadn’t told him “our radio ciphers have leaked.” So on whether their own operations could remain secret, Lelouch could only laugh it off.
This battle against Lushans didn’t need radio deception anyway; with Germanian absolute strength advantage, they could play open cards and still win.
So Lelouch thought briefly, then sidestepped from the root: “Whether the enemy knows where General Hipper’s battlecruisers are, I’m not the enemy—how would I know?
But I can be sure, if 4 Nassau-class are squatting at Hiiumaa Strait north entrance, the chance of luring the enemy out greatly increases! Because Nassau-class max speed is only 19 knots! If enemy’s 4 Gangut-class come out and fight 4 Nassau-class to mutual damage, even if Gangut-class gains upper hand and sinks some of our individual Nassau-class.
At that point, once enemy recon planes spot Derfflinger-class high-speed battlecruisers approaching, the enemy can choose to have all Gangut-class immediately turn and flee!
Derfflinger-class’s 27 knots is indeed fast enough to catch 24-knot Gangut-class, but 19-knot Nassau-class can’t catch 24-knot Gangut-class—that’s simple elementary school math.
As long as enemy’s Gangut-class flee, they can pull us apart, leaving Nassau-class unable to reach the battlefield, turning 4 vs 7 back to 4 vs 3—paper advantage still theirs!
Whereas if we use Helgoland-class with similar overload max speed of 24 knots to block Hiiumaa Strait north entrance from the start, would enemy’s Gangut-class dare come out?
In that case, once Derfflinger-class is spotted, if Gangut-class want to flee, they’ll find Derfflinger-class can easily catch them, and the Helgoland-class originally engaging them also at 24 knots—they can’t open distance.
Once Derfflinger-class closes the gap, it’s forever 7 vs 4! Even elementary school math shows this, so using Helgoland-class to block means enemy absolutely won’t dare come out!”
Vice Admiral Scheer was finally convinced by this chain of meticulous logic.
He began to waver.
His initial disdain for this colonel staff officer, seeing him as just a broker who liked building connections everywhere, seemed a mistake…
Scheer fully sorted his thoughts, pondered, and finally confirmed: “So, you’re actually gambling on whether we can lure out the Lusha main force.
At the same time, gambling extra on ‘before Derfflinger-class arrives, can Nassau-class mutual maul Gangut-class to heavy damage—ideally so heavy that even if Gangut-class flees in the end, the injured Gangut-class—even 4 vs 3—can’t beat 3 pristine Derfflinger-class’?”
Lelouch: “That’s exactly my meaning.”
Scheer fiercely scratched his small triangular mustache a few times: “Deal!”
