Chapter 162: Annihilate The Lusha Cruiser Fleet, With A Counter-espionage Ploy On The Side
“Boom!”
A 430-kilogram 305mm armor-piercing shell slammed directly onto the main armor belt of the Bayan armored cruiser.
Just 20 minutes after the battle began, as the Lusha Fleet desperately fled southwest while the Germania Fleet relentlessly pursued, continuously adjusting fire and bombarding. The shell impacts grew closer and closer to the Lusha armored cruiser group, finally achieving the first direct hit.
The Bayan’s 203mm-thick main armor belt could completely shrug off the main guns of any light cruiser.
But unfortunately, today it faced the 305mm main gun of a Germania battleship, an overwhelming foe it was never meant to withstand.
The 203mm main armor belt was torn open like paper, the shell burrowing into the inner compartments and ripping through the vertical armor of the engine room.
The armor-piercing shell, having punched through two layers of thick steel plate, still had momentum left as it plunged straight into the 8250-horsepower triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine powering the warship’s starboard shaft, exploding only then.
Dozens of kilograms of explosives detonating directly inside the engine—an ultimate experience in violent aesthetics.
Although the Bayan’s smokestack wasn’t directly hit, it suddenly belched out a massive cloud of thick black smoke mixed with flames and fragments of metal parts.
Just like a dart master from the Fuwei Dart Bureau taking a solid hit from Yu Canghai’s “Heart-Shattering Palm,” his heart shattered into pieces while the external wounds seemed unremarkable, only a sudden gush of foul blood mixed with lung fragments from his mouth.
Some ships hadn’t sunk yet, but it was already a drifting corpse.
Vice Admiral Barylev, aboard the nearby Luryik armored cruiser, saw the gruesome fate of his comrade and couldn’t help but feel a chill of fear.
The Bayan-class was an armored cruiser specifically designed for Baltic Sea conditions and the terrain of Riga Bay.
Its prototype imitated the Frankish Guydon-class armored cruiser design, but with reduced tonnage and firepower to decrease draft from the Frankish original’s 7.8 meters to the Lusha version’s 6.7 meters.
In other words, this warship sacrificed some firepower and speed in exchange for just barely being able to pass through the Hiiumaa Strait into and out of Riga Bay.
Such warship design philosophies were common throughout Lusha history. They knew their fleet couldn’t venture into the open ocean, where it would be blockaded by the enemy.
Warships designed under this mindset were often extreme; it didn’t matter if they performed like scrap iron outside the Baltic or Black Sea—as long as they could win a battle at home with favorable weather, terrain, and conditions.
The Bayan-class was designed with the idea: “Once we mine and blockade the Irbe Strait, any enemy ships that can enter Riga Bay we can beat, and any that can beat us can’t enter Riga Bay.”
Then it could rule Riga Bay invincible.
But unfortunately, what they faced today were the big boys entering Riga Bay via the Irbe Strait.
The fundamental premise of all Lushan assumptions—”just mine and blockade the Irbe Strait”—hadn’t been achieved at all.
Their minefield had been cracked by the “vicious” Colonel Lelouch von Ritter Hunt.
……
The death of the Bayan finally made Vice Admiral Barylev face reality, thoroughly waking him from denial.
He now realized that blindly fleeing, hoping the cruisers’ speed advantage over battleships would shake off the enemy, was impossible.
In those 20 minutes, he had turned full speed to run, yet the enemy closed in closer and their gunnery grew more accurate.
The only chance now was to use the light ships still carrying torpedoes to turn and launch a desperate torpedo charge to block the enemy.
“All ships with remaining torpedoes, prepare to launch a torpedo charge against the enemy battleships! Fire all torpedoes at maximum attack range, then immediately turn away and disengage—do not linger!”
At Vice Admiral Barylev’s order, over a dozen light cruisers and destroyers with torpedoes available turned resolutely toward the enemy battleships.
Many of these destroyers had fired their torpedoes last night; destroyers of this era couldn’t reload torpedoes at sea—there was no such technology. Even returning to port took hours.
But with many ports along Riga Bay still under Lusha Army control, after dark last night Barylev had the destroyers dock to reload torpedoes, then use their speed to catch up, allowing them to rejoin the fight after dawn.
Watching the tragic scene, Vice Admiral Barylev inwardly prayed and cursed, his emotions complex.
“Damn Germanias! They underreported their warship speeds! Wasn’t it agreed the Helgoland-class rated speed is 22 knots, Caesar-class 21 knots? Those Helgoland-class just now hit at least 24 knots! Even the armored cruisers can’t outrun them! Lying thousand-cutter bastards!”
Germanias often understated their battleship propulsion levels publicly, reporting only normal rated speeds. But in reality, their warship boilers could “overload.”
By sacrificing some boiler and piping lifespan, boosting steam pressure 15-20% beyond the rated maximum, Germania metallurgy and sealing tech could handle it. The warship could then go two knots faster.
Of course, such overloads were time-limited, usually allowing a dozen hours continuous. 48 hours straight could cause boiler explosions—suicide.
It was this “understatement” that gave Vice Admiral Barylev the initial illusion he could escape, leading to half an hour of one-sided pursuit without harming the enemy, until now learning that “even a cornered rabbit bites.”
……
“The Lushan torpedo boat swarm is jumping the wall in desperation. No rush—ships turn to present broadsides, fire at will, prioritize approaching targets. Ignore those distant armored cruisers; they can’t escape.”
In the Helgoland battleship’s command tower, Vice Admiral Scheer calmly ordered ships to abandon pursuit and intercept upon seeing the Lushans turn for a torpedo charge.
He knew the enemy couldn’t escape; it was close the door and beat the dog. Even fleeing west to the Irbe Strait entrance, they couldn’t leave Riga Bay—two more battleships were waiting there.
So safety first; no need to rush speed.
Poor Lusha light cruisers and destroyers thought their charge would buy time for the main force to escape. But they couldn’t even achieve that minor contribution.
Helgoland and Ostfriesland quickly turned broadside, their single broadside of 10 150mm casemate guns and 12 88mm twin AA dual-purpose guns spitting fierce flames at the incoming enemy ships.
This world’s Helgoland-class used a superimposed fore-and-aft main turret layout, eliminating wing main guns, so broadside secondary positions were strengthened. Each broadside had 3 more 150mm and 5 more 88mm guns than Earth’s Helgoland-class.
Shells poured like rain onto the Lusha light cruisers and destroyers; at around 12 kilometers, the Germania 150mm guns began scoring hits.
But for Lushans to fire torpedoes, they had to close another 5-6 kilometers under this fire.
To hope for any torpedo accuracy, they needed 7-8 kilometers closer.
And the Helgoland-class weren’t alone; several light cruisers nearby could also pour dense shellfire.
This was an impossible task.
As the Lusha light cruiser group closed to 11 kilometers from the Helgoland-class battleships, with a thunderous roar, the 6700-ton Avrora cruiser was directly struck by a 305mm main gun shell from Helgoland.
A battleship main gun hitting a light cruiser—predictable end. The Avrora was pierced bow-on through the bridge by the armor-piercing shell, smashing through five or six bulkheads before exploding inside, detonating the forward ammunition depot. The cruiser broke in two and sank in three minutes.
Sister ship Diana was hit by seven 150mm secondary shells in minutes, each penetrating, ultimately exploding and sinking.
Five more destroyers were also stopped by the fire net at least 8 kilometers out, detonated one by one; none broke the dead line.
The Helgoland-class was like an absolute defense barrier 8 kilometers ahead; the enemy’s little boats died before touching it.
Finally, the surviving few enemy ships saw it was pointless suicide, morale collapsed, and captains ordered scatter.
Ultimately, only 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers escaped the pursuit.
……
Vice Admiral Barylev used the light cruisers and destroyers’ delay to barely pull distance from those 2 Helgoland-class battleships, then fled west.
He knew there was one last escape route: a narrow, safe channel in the Irbe Strait to flee west.
At battle’s start, the Lusha Fleet had mined the Irbe Strait, the main channel in and out of Riga Bay.
But mining couldn’t be absolutely dense; for emergencies, the Baltic Fleet left a very narrow safe passage, but only high-ranking generals with the detailed mine deployment map could navigate it safely.
In the Baltic Fleet, ordinary main warship captains weren’t cleared for such secrets; at least squadron commanders or fleet chief of staff. Only generals could use these channels—
Of course, Lushans didn’t just give Riga Bay special treatment with such backdoors.
In fact, Bay of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland had similar exception channels, reserved for high-ranking generals.
Today was such a time.
Vice Admiral Barylev led his 3 armored cruisers still barely maintaining speed, fleeing southwest, arriving at the Irbe Strait—Riga Bay’s west exit—about two hours later.
It was around 11 a.m. then.
But upon arrival, he spotted trouble from afar.
“Bad! Battleships here too! The enemy battleships sneaked into Riga Bay via our reserved backdoor safe channel!”
In daylight, Barylev saw the enemy ships’ towering lookout masts from 15 nautical miles, plus the massive rangefinder unique to battleship conning towers.
Without even seeing the hulls over the horizon, just the superstructures told him they were two more Helgoland-class battleships!
“Run! Run fast! Ignore everything—remaining 3 armored cruisers scatter and flee independently! Save one if we can, turn back to the northern Hiiumaa Strait! Maybe the enemy battleships are dizzy and cleared the path!”
In desperation, Vice Admiral Barylev issued this order, knowing it was absurd with high odds of death anyway.
But trying offered a one-in-ten chance; not trying and charging head-on was certain death.
His turn was too late; the Helgoland-class behind pursued, those ahead intercepted.
A hail of 305mm shells rained down; Gromoboy armored cruiser was quickly focused and shredded, the other armored cruiser not escaping the kill.
Finally, only Vice Admiral Barylev’s own flagship, the Baltic cruiser squadron’s Luryik, with 22 knots, dragging its 4 254mm main guns, 8 203mm guns, 20 120mm guns, used the delay from her two sunk comrades to barely escape.
During breakout, Luryik was hit by 2 305mm shells. But the Luryik-class’s 203mm armor and 17,000-ton displacement—over half again heavier than others—
The Germania shelling destroyed her aft 254mm main turret and 2 twin 203mm turrets, nearly zeroing rear firepower.
But propulsion system undamaged, waterline main armor belt unbreached; under half firepower, she barely escaped.
Oldenburg, the 4th Helgoland-class, was directly pursuing Luryik.
Oldenburg’s captain intended pursuit to the end but halfway received a telegram from squadron commander Vice Admiral Scheer: more important target found, rejoin main force immediately.
Oldenburg’s captain was baffled—what in Riga Bay now was more valuable than Luryik?
But Germania officer discipline prevented disobeying; he followed the vice admiral’s orders without chasing glory.
Ultimately, the 4 Helgoland-class rendezvoused smoothly; Vice Admiral Scheer tallied results briefly.
Confirmed: enemy fleet had only 1 half-crippled Luryik, 2 Aurora-class-like light cruisers, 2-3 destroyers escape. Escaped ships no more than 6.
The Lusha armored cruiser already mine-damaged last night with reduced speed was later found and sunk.
Enemy sortie force annihilated at least 70%, aggressively 70-80%.
“Good, letting Barylev himself return will sow panic, making them know the Irbe Strait minefield secret path leaked to us… Gotta say, Lelouch’s stratagem is vicious but damn effective!”
Vice Admiral Scheer mused inwardly; all per plan.
Barylev was a vice admiral, “loyal” exemplar fighting to the end; with his 6 surviving bloodied ships, he brought back vital info: “Our side may have a traitor leaking mine deployment intel to enemy.”
If the Tsar didn’t rescue him, the navy was pointless.
Other Baltic Fleet warships—if coming to save Barylev—saved more than a few armored and light cruisers.
Not just “Hiiumaa Strait north has only a few Nassau-class; Baltic Fleet main force all-in could win.”
But to prove they weren’t the leaking traitor.
Three reasons stacked to force sortie.
“Commander, enemy still escaped—what now?”
With naval battle paused, Scheer’s staff asked next plans.
Vice Admiral Scheer coldly eyed the unimaginative, conspiracy-blind mediocre staff, sighing.
“Take all 4 Helgoland-class battleships south to bombard Port of Riga. Don’t get too close—20-plus km, maximum elevation main gun fire. Let Riga defenders barely make out we’re Helgoland-class, authentic ones.
Shore-side Marshal Mackensen will coordinate with ground assault on Riga port periphery. Yes, especially heavily bombard Chern yakava 20-plus km east of Port of Riga—that small city is Marshal Mackensen’s chosen infiltration encirclement key breakthrough for Riga.
Now with naval gun group fire support, Marshal Mackensen should take it in one push, cutting Riga garrison’s land link to eastern enemy forces.”
“Yes! Commander!”
The battleship squadron’s 4 battleships and auxiliary ships immediately maneuvered per Vice Admiral Scheer’s orders.
Later that day, the massive battleships appeared off Port of Riga,
Putting the city’s hundreds of thousands of civilians and the 3 armies of Lusha Northwestern Front Army’s 12th Army Group guarding Riga on high alert.
Massive high-explosive shells blasted the port area, warehouses, barracks, inflicting huge losses on Lushans.
After Port of Riga, huge high-explosive shells also fell on Chern yakava, Saulkrasti, and Garkalne east of Riga.
Ground frontally, Marshal Mackensen’s 11th Army Group had already fought Lusha Northwestern Front Army for days, closing on Riga.
Now, battleship backstab bombardment shook Lusha defenders badly.
Key: Germania battleships appearing where Lushans thought impossible—existence itself crushed Lusha Army morale and cohesion.
Ultimately, Chern yakava and Garkalne fell to Marshal Mackensen’s prepared ground assault in one day.
Marshal Mackensen’s troops captured masses of morale-broken Lusha routed soldiers.
Guards spread rumors among Lusha roués,
“Without a traitor in Lushan Baltic Fleet selling the safe channel into Riga Bay and detailed mine deployment map to General Scheer, he couldn’t appear suddenly inside Riga Bay behind the enemy.”
“This was too satisfying—followed Marshal Mackensen a year, never seen enemy collapse so fast and total. Battleship bombardment that powerful?”
“Idiot! Not the high-explosive shells—key was enemy seeing our battleships off their port! That impact huge; now all know sea supply from Riga Bay cut, that severed support expectation collapsed their morale! That’s the real value!”
Among Lusha POWs, some understood German; overhearing, they grasped how they lost.
That evening, Germania POW guards seemed lax; many, victory-high and drunk, let many German-comprehending POWs escape back to Riga.
Then, Riga’s Lusha Northwestern Front commander General Nicholas Ruzsky, and his 12th Army Group commander, soon heard these rumors—
Of course, General Nicholas Ruzsky absolutely wouldn’t see them as mere rumors!
His army collapsed in a day because enemy cut Riga Bay channel? Key: troops saw enemy battleships so close, proclaiming absolute sea control— that’s what broke morale!
Now, General Nicholas Ruzsky desperately needed a scapegoat to prove Riga periphery land defeats weren’t his fault!
Friendly forces too incompetent, dragging down his morale!
Thus, a telegram: “Germania Fleet bribed our Baltic Fleet top traitor, safely sneaked Irbe Strait minefield, enabling enemy battleship bombardment of Riga Bay coast, letting our Front soldiers know sea supply line enemy-strangled, morale crashed repeatedly routed”—
Sent by Northwestern Front commander General Nicholas Ruzsky to Tsar Nicholas II for personal review in Saint Petersburg.
“What? Germania battleships entered Riga Bay, bombarded Riga? Over 100,000 defenders, hundreds of thousands civilians in Riga eyewitnessed enemy battleships blockading doorstep firing?”
“Navy has traitor? I should have known—those navy bookworms overthink, collude with rebels!”
Nicholas II was furious, itching to force Baltic Fleet rescue op to expose true patriots daring rescue comrades vs. traitor-colluding enemy spies.
Refusers were rebels—to be shot at opportunity!
Nicholas II’s resolve to force navy decisive battle exceeded Li Longji forcing Geshu Han out Tong Pass vs. An Lushan.
