Amstutz (An Azur Lane Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Prologue

It is now the year 1956 in the world of Helios. 

Almost two generations ago, the first Dreadnought, Vanguard, was launched by the world's foremost naval power. Aurelia. This event sparked a global arms race, with many nations scrambling to build their own steel behemoths, the likes of which had never been seen before. These dreadnoughts quickly became the symbols of national power and pride, culminating in the mass proliferation of warships that ruled the high seas. 

By 1912, the world plunged into a global conflict that forever changed the course of history. Dreadnoughts, the spearheads of naval power, clashed in pivotal battles between great empires. These behemoths of steel and iron roared as their massive guns thundered across oceans, reshaping naval warfare. Nations poured vast resources into building larger and faster dreadnoughts, believing naval supremacy would secure ultimate victory. However, as the world entered the 1920s, a period of economic hardship and political instability saw many navies struggle to maintain their dreadnought fleets. Some nations, crippled by the costs of war, could no longer afford the upkeep of these enormous vessels. Disarmament treaties were signed in hopes of curbing the proliferation of battleships, but technological advancements in naval engineering pushed forward.

The war's end brought not only a shift in political borders but also economic devastation. The 1920s saw an era of disarmament as nations crippled by debt and the cost of maintaining such massive fleets signed treaties to limit naval build-ups. Despite these agreements, technological advancements continued, propelling naval engineering forward. By the time another world war erupted in late 1938, dreadnoughts—now known as battleships—still held a place of honor in the fleets of the world's great naval powers. Yet, as the war progressed, it became increasingly clear that airpower, particularly naval aviation, was rendering them obsolete. The sinking of several dreadnoughts by air strikes only cemented this reality. By the end of the war, the battleship's role as the ultimate arbiter of naval power had diminished, overtaken by the age of the aircraft carrier and the rise of submarines.

However, some dreadnoughts refused to fade into obscurity. In certain navies, they were repurposed as training vessels or ceremonial flagships, a nod to their illustrious past. One nation, in particular, clung to its first and last remaining dreadnought as a symbol of national pride. The battleship, named Adrian Constantin von Amstutz after the famed admiral and statesman, was a relic of an earlier age but served as the navy's de facto flagship until the commissioning of a modern aircraft carrier in the post-war years.

The von Amstutz had a storied history, having seen action in 14 major conflicts, including decisive naval battles. It racked up an impressive combat record, earning the reputation of being one of the deadliest warships ever launched. For decades, it served as both protector and symbol of Vittolian naval power, a steel colossus that had outlasted many of its contemporaries and even bested newer warships of rival powers in one-on-one engagements at sea.

As the years passed, however, even this mighty dreadnought could not escape the passage of time. After the Second Great War, Vittolia's economy struggled, and resources became scarce. The von Amstutz was sent to dock for extensive refitting in 1947, but during the refit, a catastrophic fire broke out at the port. Despite desperate efforts to save the warship, the fire reached the magazines, triggering an explosion that tore the ship apart. The financial toll on the nation made repairing the vessel impossible. The von Amstutz was declared a total loss after several surveys were conducted within the time span of three years, marking the end of an era for the Vittolian Navy.