Chapter 1492 Full of Confidence

"Your Excellency, Commander, our capital ship formation will definitely be able to complete this task!" Admiral Hasben Kimmel said confidently.

He believes that the 15 capital ships he leads are definitely the most advanced capital ships in the world. Even if they encounter all 23 capital ships of the three major fleets of the German Navy, they can deal with it. Even if the main fleet of the German Navy cannot be defeated, it is not a problem to injure it severely and then retreat completely.

As long as it is fighting at night, it will not be besieged by shore-based and carrier-based aircraft of the German Navy. Admiral Hasben Kimmel is undoubtedly very sure. After all, the reason why they chose to attack the German naval base on the Azores at night instead of during the day was to avoid being besieged by German naval aircraft.

Once under siege by shore-based aircraft and carrier-based aircraft of the German Navy, Admiral Hasben Kimmel has no confidence in being able to escape safely. After all, no matter how powerful the anti-aircraft firepower of the capital ship is, it cannot withstand the overwhelming aircraft.

Admiral Nimitz nodded. He was equally confident in his capital ship formation.

"However, Your Excellency Commander. I hope that when we withdraw from the battle, we can get the air defense cover of fighter jets once dawn. If we succeed, the Germans will definitely send a large number of carrier-based planes to chase us after dawn. said General Husband Kimmel.

"General Kimmel, please rest assured. After dawn, the first aircraft carrier formation will take off F4U fighter jets to provide air defense cover for the capital ship formation!" Admiral Nimitz said.

General Husband Kimmel breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the F4U fighter is already the best carrier-based fighter of the US Navy. Moreover, at present, only the four aircraft carriers of the 1st aircraft carrier formation are equipped with F4U fighter jets. Other aircraft carriers are currently only equipped with F4F fighter jets.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I request that we depart now! In this way, we can arrive in the early hours of the morning, destroy the German bases on Corvo Island and Flores Island, and then evacuate. By dawn, we have already We are far away from the Azores. Even if the Germans dispatch carrier-based planes to attack us, they may not be able to catch up." Admiral Hasben Kimmel said.

Among the 15 capital ships of the US Navy's third tier, the "South Dakota-class" battleship has a slower speed, only 27.8 knots. The maximum speed of the "Montana-class" battleship is only 28 knots, but the speed of the "Iowa-class" battleship is very terrifying, reaching 33 knots. Therefore, once Admiral Hasben Kimmel leads the fleet to attack, the overall speed of the fleet can reach more than 25 knots. This is undoubtedly a very fast speed. Many capital ships of the German Navy, especially those old capital ships that have been in service for 30 years, cannot be compared with them in terms of speed.

"Well, Admiral Kimmel, I wish you victory!" Admiral Nimitz nodded.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I will definitely win!" Admiral Hasben Kimmel seemed confident.

Half an hour later, Admiral Hasben Kimmel led the three battleship formations of the US fleet to leave. Also leaving at the same time are the 1st Heavy Cruiser Formation, the 2nd Heavy Cruiser Formation, the 1st Light Cruiser Formation, the 2nd Light Cruiser Formation and the 1st Destroyer Formation, the 2nd Destroyer Formation and the 3rd Destroyer Formation.

Heavy cruisers are equipped with 203mm main guns, and light cruisers are also equipped with 152mm main guns. The ground strike capabilities of these heavy cruisers and light cruisers are also very amazing. They could also take part in the bombardment of German naval bases. In addition, these heavy cruisers and light cruisers are also equipped with a large number of air defense weapons, which can provide air defense protection for capital ships. Once they are besieged by shore-based aircraft and carrier-based aircraft of the German Navy, they can also rely on powerful anti-aircraft firepower to resist.

In this time and space, the United States prepared for war much earlier than in another time and space. Therefore, the warships that were built at the end of another time-space war or even after the war, in this time-space, the U.S. Navy has already been built and equipped in advance. Therefore, the strength of the U.S. Navy is much stronger than that of another time and space.

The 1st and 2nd heavy cruiser formations of the US fleet are each equipped with six "Baltimore-class" heavy cruisers. This heavy cruiser has a displacement of up to 17,000 tons, and is equipped with three triple-mounted 55-caliber 203mm main guns, six double-mounted 127mm naval guns, 48 ​​40mm anti-aircraft guns, and 24 20mm anti-aircraft guns. Quite a few 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns. Both the main gun firepower and the anti-aircraft firepower are very powerful.

The 1st light cruiser formation and the 2nd light cruiser formation are each equipped with six "Cleveland class" light cruisers. This is the largest mass-produced light cruiser in the United States, and the U.S. Congress approved the construction of 39 light cruisers of this class. However, nine of the ships were converted into aircraft carriers, namely the "Independence-class" light cruisers. The remaining 30 ships have all been completed. This class of light cruiser, with a full load displacement of up to 14,000 tons, is equipped with four triple-mounted 47-caliber 152mm main guns, six double-mounted 38-caliber 127mm secondary guns, 12 40mm anti-aircraft guns and 20 20mm guns. Anti-aircraft guns. Whether it is the sea strike capability or the air defense capability, they are very powerful.

The first destroyer formation and the second destroyer formation are each equipped with 12 "Fletcher-class" destroyers. This is the destroyer led by Lieutenant General Fletcher, so this class of destroyer is named after him. It is also a mass-produced destroyer for the U.S. Navy. Before the outbreak of the war, the U.S. Navy had completed the construction of up to 175 "Fletcher-class" destroyers. This class of destroyers has a displacement of 2,500 tons. Equipped with 5 single-mounted 38-caliber 127mm main guns, 10 40mm anti-aircraft guns and 12 20mm anti-aircraft guns. The sea strike firepower and air defense firepower are also very powerful.

All levels of warships of the U.S. Navy, whether they are capital ships, cruisers, or destroyers, pay special attention to air defense. This point is even more important than the US Navy in another time and space. The main reason is that the German Navy's achievements on aircraft carriers have made the U.S. Navy extra vigilant. After all, the German Navy began to use aircraft carriers in the last world war. For more than 20 years after the war, more attention was paid to the development of aircraft carriers. This also makes the U.S. Navy pay more attention to the fleet's air defense firepower when vigorously developing aircraft carriers.