Chapter 1383 Launching an Attack

Time passed little by little, and the night gradually faded under the passage of time.

At six o'clock in the morning, it was dawn in the southern part of the South China Sea.

On the "Aries" aircraft carrier and the "Taurus" aircraft carrier of the German Navy, a carrier-based aircraft that has been filled with fuel and loaded with ammunition is taking off in an orderly manner.

The carrier-based BF-109 fighter took off first, followed by carrier-based dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft.

In view of the fact that the number of carrier-based aircraft of the two aircraft carriers is seriously less than the four aircraft carriers of the island navy. Therefore, the carrier-based aircraft dispatched by the German Navy this time almost did their best. Except for the backup aircraft, the rest of the carrier aircraft will depart in two waves. As for the air defense of the fleet, it is handed over to the fleet's own air defense firepower and the fighter force of the 5th Aviation Group.

Of the three fighter wings under the 5th Aviation Group, one wing is equipped with FW-190 fighter jets. Now, there are two FW-190 fighter jets deployed to the airport in western Borneo. After carrying the auxiliary fuel tank, these FW-190 fighter jets can stay over the fleet for a long time. Once attacked by the enemy's carrier-based aircraft, these FW-190 fighter jets can definitely make the incoming enemy pay a heavy price. After all, the air combat capability of the FW-190 fighter is stronger than that of the carrier-based BF-109 fighter.

Two aircraft carriers, the first wave took off 36 carrier-based BF-109 fighter jets, 36 dive bombers and 24 torpedo attack aircraft. A total of ninety-six carrier-based aircraft rushed towards the capital ship fleet of the retreating island nation navy.

At the same time, the light cruisers and destroyers of the German Navy are still searching for the aircraft carrier team of the island navy. Once the aircraft carrier fleet of the navy of the island country is discovered, these carrier-based aircraft can be notified of changing the combat order as soon as possible through radio equipment. At that time, they will change their attack targets and give priority to attacking the aircraft carriers of the island nation's fleet. After all, the German Navy paid more attention to those aircraft carriers than those capital ships.

After the first wave of carrier-based aircraft takes off, the second wave of carrier-based aircraft will also be transported from the hangar to the deck, and then continue to take off. It's just that this is at least an hour later than the first wave of carrier-based aircraft.

"General, the island nation's capital ship formation is about 350 kilometers away from us. After the carrier-based aircraft takes off, it can launch an attack in an hour." Major General Berger reported.

Lieutenant General William Canaris nodded: "I hope to find the aircraft carrier formation of the islanders before launching an attack on the capital ship formation of the islanders! If we can solve the aircraft carrier of the islanders in one go, then we will We can seize the initiative in the Pacific Ocean.”

"It depends on luck!" Major General Berger said.

Indeed, in such a naval battle, luck undoubtedly played a large factor. In addition to sending light cruisers and destroyers to search for the location of the aircraft carrier fleet of the island navy, the German fleet also took off seaplanes to focus on searching the northern waters. Under such a high-density search, the aircraft carrier team of the island navy obviously cannot hide. However, everything takes time.

"Where are the fighter jets of the Air Force? When will they appear?" Lieutenant General William Canaris asked.

After deciding to release all the carrier-based aircraft, the fleet's air defense force was very weak. At this time, the support of the air force is particularly important.

"General, the air force fighters will arrive in half an hour. A group of 36 FW-190 fighters. Another group of 36 FW-190 fighters will come to replace the fighters of the previous group before they run out of fuel. ’” Major General Berger said.

Hearing this news, Lieutenant General William Canaris felt relieved.

At the same time, the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the Japanese Navy is also taking off carrier-based aircraft. In order to find the location of the German fleet, they also released a lot of seaplanes. However, in order to increase the search range, the island nation also took off some Zero fighters for the first aircraft carrier team for reconnaissance. These Zero fighters, after carrying auxiliary fuel tanks, can reach a range of 3350 kilometers, which is very suitable for use as a reconnaissance aircraft.

It's just that there are not many Zero fighters on the four aircraft carriers of the Japanese Navy's 1st Aircraft Carrier Team. So not many take off. They also bear the air defense needs of the aircraft carrier team itself, as well as escort the carrier-based aircraft. Even the air defense of the battleship fleet is done by requesting the Army Aviation.

The four aircraft carriers of the Japan Navy's 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, the 'Ibuki' aircraft carrier and the 'Hodaka' aircraft carrier, carried a total of 91 carrier-based aircraft, including 16 Zero fighters and 24 Nine-Nine carrier-based aircraft. Explosive strike aircraft and 51 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft. The 'Kurama' aircraft carrier and the 'Togakushi' aircraft carrier carried 90 carrier-based aircraft, including 24 Type Zero fighters, 33 Type 99 carrier-based bombers and 33 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft. machine.

It can be seen that the combat concept of the aircraft carrier of the navy of the island country is to attach importance to attack and despise defense. But in fact, if the number of fighters is too small, once the carrier-based fighters are lost, the bombers and attack aircraft will only become the targets of massacres by the enemy's carrier-based fighters. Therefore, on the aircraft carriers of the German Navy, there are relatively more fighter jets.

Of course, this is the different concept of the application of aircraft carriers by the navies of the two countries, and it is almost impossible to change them in a short period of time. Only after passing the test on the battlefield can we prove who is right and who is wrong.

At this moment, over the capital ship formation of the navy of the island country, a fighter jet of the Army Air Force that took off from the Philippine Islands is escorting them. Although, there are as many as 36 of those one-type fighters. But Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro and others who were protected did not feel at ease at all. They doubted that once they encountered an attack from the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft, would these Type 1 fighters really be able to withstand it? If they can't resist it, they have to rely on their own anti-aircraft firepower.

On the battleship 'Mutsu', Lieutenant Admiral Takasu Shiro was trying his best. Unless the fleet was truly safe, otherwise, he had no intention of resting at all.

At this time, the radar officer reported that a large number of aircraft groups were found.

"Notify the Army Aviation Corps that the German carrier-based aircraft is coming, ready to fight!" Lieutenant General Takasushiro shouted.

Because the air detection radar of the navy of the island country has a detection range of only 200 kilometers. For the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft fleet, it only takes half an hour. However, the island army aviation still has time to prepare.