The Royal Navy and the Iron Blood soon begin a large-scale battle. Queen Elizabeth's reinforcement and cargo replenish Arthur's fleet to full strength.
Battleships fire barrages against each other. The air fighters fire their AA guns, trying to secure a safe path for their dive and torpedo bombers.
The vanguards from both sides have perhaps the most difficult time in this battle. Besides blocking and dodging the projectiles from opponents' main guns and battleship barrages, they also need to watch the bombs and torpedoes from aircraft.
In Arthur's eyes, the battle seems to be a stalling one. Whoever's resources are exhausted first loses this battle. However, this strategy only best applies in rather specific circumstances. Any commander who Intends to apply this strategy means they aim for more than a victory.
Iron Blood seems to be aiming to drain the Royal Navy's morale down and force them to surrender.
Arthur discusses with Hood his speculation.
"I think that they will attempt to take their Kansen back if she is one of their PR ships. A PR ship is worth more than a fortune in many ways so no one wants their enemies to obtain one."
Hood looks at the current engagement between both sides. Iron Blood's Kansens hold more firepower than the Royal Navy's. Thanks to King George V's experienced commands, the Royal Navy's units usually face one enemy with at least two units or above. The pressure of being outnumbered gives the Iron Blood a hard time.
"This means that their priority target would be this command ship, we need to ensure our security is prepared for enemies' infiltration," suggested Hood. Certainly, Iron Blood can either brute force through the Royal Navy's formation or have U-boats sneak through the defense and take the prisoner away.
"Seems logical, but I need to prepare the orthodox way just in case," said Arthur.
"The orthodox way?"
"Have two armies fight for several days to display the battle can drag on. Next, requesting a negotiation where they will cease their actions and retreat in exchange for releasing the prisoner."
Hood thinks for a few seconds, this method has been practiced in most countries since ancient times. When one desires something precious from the opposite side, the best way would be to create such circumstances and then negotiate to obtain it.
As the result of their discussion, Hood oversees the security of the prisoner's room and submarine detections while Arthur plans the possibilities of the possible negotiation.
Belfast, Sheffield, and Manjuu guards patrol the interior of the command ship. Manjuu guards are uh… well frankly not a match against any Kansen, but they serve the purpose of alerting Hood of the enemy intruders.
Their general plan is to have Manjuu guards buy time until Belfast or Sheffield arrives since both of them are close-combat experts. In case they cannot stop the intruders, Hood will provide support and issue on-site commands. She cannot use her rigging indoors so she uses a rapier borrowed from the Prince of Wales.
On the other hand, Arthur has an Enfield No.2 and an army knife with him as his self-defense method. The revolver does not have much effect against any Kansen but a gunshot can alert nearby friendly units.
After finishing setting the defense, Arthur looks at the current positions of the battle.
"Since I meet you on a battlefield, I will secure a victory for me and my allies," said Arthur. "King George V, can you hear me? I have a plan for you."
"Commander? Please, speak away."
Arthur explained his strategy to King George V.
"You understand you are putting my friends and me in a dangerous position right?" questioned King George V.
"Yes, this entire plan requires a strong sense of position and timing. I heard from Hood that you have a strong bond since you all swear your loyalty to Queen Elizabeth."
"I see. Understood, commander," replied George.
After they finished their radio communication, King George raises her sword while speaking through the radio to her fleet.
"Our victory is right in front of us. Rally to me, my friends and sisters."
Howe, Prince of Wales, and the vanguards gathered in a tight formation.
"We only have one objective: Take down the enemy leader. Charge!"
Following her call, the fleet marches straight toward Iron Blood's main fleet, where Bismarck leads. All barrages and all-out attacks focus only on the forward position.
Seeing the Royal Navy's courageous charge toward Bismarck, Iron Blood vanguards have no choice but to gather in front of Bismarck to prevent them from advancing.
As King George V pushes Iron Blood's center force back, her fleet is currently surrounded by the right and left-wing. If those directions fire simultaneously, then certainly her fleet will not stand for long.
The Royal Navy right-wing fleet.
Ark Royal watches King George V's leading march from above. She is surprised that Arthur ordered an offense strategy instead of a defense one like he did. Since the battle against Tester, the Royal Navy is mentally tired from the consecutive battles. It seems Arthur probably noticed that too so he goes into an offensive strategy to finish the battle faster.
"About time," the Ark Royal watches her personalized watch with the carving of a destroyer. Her job is to stop the Iron Blood fleet in front of her to support their allies in the middle.
Ark Royal sends airstrikes against the leader of the Iron Blood fleet in front of her, Gneisenau.
The same situation goes for the left-wing fleet of the Royal Navy as well.
Illustrious sends her airstrike against the battleship in front of her, Scharnhorst.
The middle of the Iron Blood fleet.
Iron Blood has established multiple defense lines to stop King George V's advance.
Z23 leads, Z25 and Z26 as her vanguard destroyer team. Her team has been moving to different areas to confuse the Royal Navy. However, since King George V made the call, her team must stay in the middle to stop the Royal Navy from advancing.
Behind Z23's team, Konigsberg leads Koln and Karlsruhe as the light cruiser team. They mostly engage enemy aircraft with their AA guns. Unfortunately for them, the Royal Navy's charge team does not have any air carrier. Even if they cannot use their AA guns, they can still somewhat function as vanguards who hold the enemy in the bay.
Finally, Prinz Eugen and Admiral Hipper hold the last line before Bismarck. They have the strongest hulls among vanguards so it will take quite a massive amount of firepower to bring them down.
In addition to such a tough composition of vanguards, Graf Zeppelin provides air support to ensure the Royal Navy fleet will be eliminated.
Breaking through these defense lines will greatly cost King Geroge V's fleet. Nevertheless, they remain on the same route at the same speed.