Chapter 1281 Air Cover

The "Blücher-class" battlecruisers and "Derfflinger-class" battlecruisers of the German Navy were faster and rushed to the front. But the "King-class" battleship and the "Nassau-class" battleship fell behind. However, these capital ships are protected by cruisers and destroyers, and their anti-aircraft firepower is very powerful. Even if they are attacked by carrier-based aircraft of the German Navy, they may not necessarily be sunk.

"Report sir, dozens of planes have been found in the southeast!" The radar soldier on the battleship 'King' reported.

"That should be the carrier-based aircraft escorting us. I will report to the Commander immediately," the officer said.

At this time, the radar soldiers reported that dozens of fighter planes appeared. After confirmation, it was found that it was a fighter jet that took off from Pohnpei Island.

The previous batch of fighter jets were carrier-based BF-109 fighter jets that took off from the four aircraft carriers of the German Navy’s Pacific Fleet. There were a total of 48 fighter jets in four squadrons. The second batch is the BF-109 fighter jets that took off from Ponapei Island. There are two brigades with a total of 72 fighter jets. The task of these 120 BF-109 fighter jets is to escort the battleship formation of the German Navy so that they can return safely.

In the capital ship battle, the battleship formation of the German Navy won a greater victory. The battleship formation of the Pacific Fleet sank a battleship and a battlecruiser, and suffered heavy damage to one battleship. But they sank four island battleships and severely damaged one island battleship. Such a result is already very good. In addition to the two battleships sunk by the battleship formation of the Indian Ocean Fleet, the capital ship fleet of the island navy suffered heavy losses. If you count the three "Amagi-class" battleships that were sunk by carrier-based aircraft and one "Amagi-class" battlecruiser that was severely damaged, the Japanese navy now has only 5 capital ships that can continue to be used. Even if the battleship "Kaga" and the battlecruiser "Kaohsiung" can continue to fight after being repaired, the navy of the island country is far from being able to confront the German navy in terms of capital ships.

"Report, General. Our escort fighter jet is less than 300 kilometers away from us!" The radar officer reported.

"Very well, keep a close watch on the nearby airspace, and report immediately if you find an islander's plane!" Lieutenant General Theodor Burchardy finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the cover of hundreds of fighter jets, their safety can undoubtedly be guaranteed. In a few hours, they will be able to enter the relative safety of the sea.

Ten minutes later, the air search radar of a heavy cruiser at the end of the fleet discovered a large number of targets approaching from the northwest. They immediately reported to the flagship. Soon, the flagship's radar also spotted the target.

"Your Excellency, General, I can be sure that the attack is a carrier-based aircraft of the navy of an island country. The number is very large, nearly two hundred!" The radar officer reported.

Lieutenant General Theodor Burchardy's expression also became serious: "Tell our fighter jets to intercept them! In addition, all ships have entered the state of air defense combat! Prepare to defend against the attack of the island country's carrier-based aircraft!"

"Yes, General!" The staff officer immediately went to contact the escort fighter.

In just ten minutes, 48 ​​carrier-based BF-109 fighter jets of the German Navy passed over the battleship formation. They have already learned that a fighter plane from the Japanese navy is coming. Therefore, they went straight to the carrier-based aircraft of the island navy, trying to intercept them before the carrier-based aircraft of the island navy flew over their own battleship formation, and deal with them.

Following them were 72 BF-109 fighter jets that took off from Pohnpei Island. In order to increase the range, auxiliary fuel tanks are hung under these fighter jets. However, before the battle begins, they will drop the drop tank.

At this moment, the carrier-based aircraft fleet of the Japanese Navy did not know that the escort fighter jets of the German Navy had already killed them. In view of the heavy losses of the capital ship fleet of the Japanese navy. Therefore, this time, the island navy specially dispatched a large number of carrier-based aircraft, intending to severely damage the battleships of the German Navy, or even kill them all.

A total of 192 carrier-based aircraft took off from the eight aircraft carriers of the two aircraft carrier teams of the island navy, including 72 Type Zero fighters, 80 Type 99 carrier-based bombers and 40 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft. Colonel Yamanaka Ryutaro, captain of the 201st Naval Air Force, is fully responsible for commanding this battle.

Because of relying on the Americans, all the fighter planes of the island nation's navy are also equipped with radio communication devices, so that they do not need to use signal flares to command battles like the island nation's aircraft in another time and space.

"All squadrons pay attention to vigilance. We are not far from the German capital ship. Be ready to deal with the German attack at any time!" Commander Yamanaka Ryutaro ordered.

He is well aware of how advanced the German Navy's fighter jets are. Although their Zero fighters are very good, they are even more powerful in aerial dogfighting. However, in the previous duel with fighter jets of the German Navy, their losses were much greater. What's more, the German Navy's air search radar has a detection range far beyond them. This made Colonel Yamanaka Ryutaro have to deal with it carefully.

"Understood!" The squadron leaders replied one by one.

The distance of 300 kilometers would not take much time for the planes traveling in the opposite direction. Especially when the BF-109 fighter jets of the German Navy have a speed of up to 600 kilometers. In less than twenty minutes, the two sides encountered each other.

"Throw away the auxiliary fuel tank and prepare for battle!" the commander ordered.

The 48 carrier-based BF-109 fighter jets dropped their auxiliary fuel tanks one after another, climbed further, and launched a dive attack after preparing to seize the altitude.

Because the fighter pilots of the German Navy know very well that the Zero fighter is very capable of fighting at low and medium altitudes, but if it rises to high altitudes, it will be a bit difficult. Therefore, they will try to avoid fighting Zero fighters at low and medium altitudes as much as possible. Dive down from a high altitude to attack, no matter whether it succeeds or not, it will immediately climb up, and after climbing to a high altitude, continue to dive and attack. Repeating this, even if you may not be able to shoot down the Zero fighter of the Japanese navy, at least you can ensure your own safety.

"Boom boom boom!"

The attack began, and 48 carrier-based BF-109 fighter jets swooped down from a high altitude and launched an attack on the carrier-based aircraft group of the island navy. Those Type 99 carrier-based bombers and Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft became their priority targets. After all, their mission this time is to escort the capital ship, and those critical strike aircraft and attack aircraft are threatening to the capital ship.