The first wave of air strikes only destroyed three enemy destroyers. This result made Mahan quite dissatisfied. So he decided to change the type of ammunition carried in the next attack and use dropped torpedoes. method. The strike capability of a torpedo of the same weight is far more intense than that of a bomb.
After the change, the second wave of strikes was indeed effective. The fighter-bomber formation using torpedoes sank three enemy ships and seriously damaged two. With such results, Mahan smiled from the bottom of his heart. After he thought about it, This is the real, powerful strike power of air power!
But even under such favorable conditions, the Tai-1 fighter-bomber bomber group led by Mahan still suffered some damage. Although it was not too serious, it still cost one fighter-bomber serious damage and two fighter-bombers minor injuries. serious consequences of injury.
Fortunately, these three fighter-bombers finally returned safely to the Tai-1 aircraft carrier. However, for safety reasons, they were all rushed to the ship's hangar for necessary maintenance and repairs to the fighter-bombers. For the formation, the loss of fighter-bombers is not terrible, but the most terrible thing is the loss of pilots.
Because Emperor Zhou Yu has repeatedly emphasized, 'The safety of the lives of the Imperial soldiers is above all else!'
Subsequently, the carrier-based fighter-bomber formations of the Taipei 2 and Taipei 3 aircraft carriers also joined the battle group one after another, and in two consecutive waves of strikes, the enemy lost another 8 destroyers. But at this rhythm, Dewey's bold move finally paid off, because Dewey's fleet appeared on the left flank of the Yanbingtai 1 fleet.
"Report to Commander! The first forward group of the enemy fleet is approaching our left center wing at full speed. It is only 15 kilometers away from our fleet. Please give instructions, Commander!" In the command room of the Tai 1 aircraft carrier, the aircraft carrier intelligence officer reported to Yan Bing what happened to the Dewey fleet. Intelligence. This is the latest intelligence on the enemy ship group after four consecutive rounds of air strikes.
"How many enemy ships are there? What type of ships are they? What is the angle and course?" Yan Bing frowned and asked after hearing this.
"Report...The first enemy fleet group is a group of more than 30 pure frigates, with an angle of 10 degrees and a heading of 11 o'clock!"
Yan Bing rubbed Yintang with his hands and thought to himself, 'The enemy has no effective reconnaissance methods and their heading angles are normal, but they use a high-speed frigate group to sail straight at a small angle. Could it be that Dewey wants to rely on the high speed and flexibility of the frigate group? Force a breakthrough? But in this case, what kind of escort will the enemy's main fleet use?'
"Where is the enemy's main fleet? What formation does the enemy use to sail?" Yan Bing put down his big hand that was frowning and asked again.
"Report to Commander! The enemy adopts a cone array. Dewey's main fleet consists of more than 30 battleships. It is moving at 20 knots at 5 o'clock on the left side of our fleet, 17 kilometers away from our left tail wing; the enemy's third fleet The cluster is a mixed fleet of nearly 30 ships, 18 kilometers away from our left and middle road, with a speed of 16 knots."
The intelligence officer's answer made Yan Bing realize that Dewey had estimated the sea area and direction of his fleet. Dewey was preparing to give his Tai 1 fleet a try!? This is not difficult to understand, because Dewey can destroy and destroy the enemy according to Mahan These can be roughly calculated based on the round trip time of the aircraft formation and the flight direction.
After figuring out the key issues, Yan Bing ordered: "Order, the fleet adopts a three-by-three formation to fight against the Dewey fleet; order the aircraft carrier to slow down and move forward, and the entire fleet cancels the T-position array, with a low speed of 16 knots, a heading of 5 o'clock, and faces the opponent. , enter a state of war!"
"It's the commander!" the intelligence officer replied.
On the command ship tower of Dewey's mixed fleet flagship, "Report General! The forward fleet called and found the main mixed fleet in the Pacific. The opponent's speed is 16 knots and the heading is 5 o'clock. It is moving towards us. It is expected that in 15 minutes, the guard ships of both sides will enter the range.
, the vanguard fleet asks the general for instructions on how to respond!?"
The adjutant's report made Dewey excited. Based on various signs of the Mahan fighter-bomber formation, he had already guessed the area where the main Pacific fleet would be ambushed. Now that his idea was verified to be correct, how could he not be unhappy?
What? You must know the feeling of being pressed and beaten, it is not a good feeling!…
Moreover, according to intelligence, his vanguard fleet just appeared on the left wing of the main Pacific fleet, which made him even more excited.
After hearing this, Dewey asked his adjutant happily: "Where are the main aircraft carriers in the Pacific? What is the configuration of the fleet's ships?"
"Report to your Excellency, General! The main force of the Pacific Fleet is evenly distributed. The Tai D1 aircraft carrier is on the left wing. The main fleet has more than 20 battleships, and the rest are auxiliary services!" the adjutant answered Dewey truthfully.
"Order the vanguard fleet to cut in from the left wing of the Pacific Fleet, cutting off the connection between the left wing and the main force in the center; order our main fleet to increase speed again, target the left wing tail of the Pacific Fleet, attack the D1 aircraft carrier with all our strength, and destroy the Taipei at all costs
D1 aircraft carrier, paving the way for our fleet to encircle and annihilate its main fleet!"
"It's Your Majesty the General!"
The cunning Dewey actually dispatched a formation of more than 30 cruisers to forcibly rush into the middle of the Tai 1 fleet. He wanted to rely on the cruisers' powerful anti-ship attack output and their flexible and high-speed hull to push the Tai 1 left flank fleet.
Completely cut off the connection with the central part. Then use your own main fleet to encircle and destroy the D1 aircraft carrier!
Pacific Fleet D1 aircraft carrier command room, "Report to Commander! The enemy's vanguard fleet has entered the firing circle of our fleet. Please give instructions from the Commander on the left wing!"
"Order the left wing formation to follow the original plan and use the military formation and shooting advantage to let the enemy's vanguard fleet enter the 10,000-meter firepower range. After releasing tracer bullets, fire from all angles. There is no need to reserve strength, but the three-by-three system must be adhered to when facing the enemy formation!
Yan Bing ordered without hesitation.
In the empire's left wing formation, apart from aircraft carriers and logistics supply ships, there are only 9 capital ships, but Yan Bing has enough confidence to make the opponent unable to come back. This is Yan Bing's own tactics, and the empire's advanced military technology, and
Confirmation of the combat effectiveness of the left wing formation.
He wants the left wing fleet to use tracer bombs against the enemy, which has certain requirements. Because it is past noon at this time, the sun's rays are equal to both sides. However, when the tracer bombs are released, it can cause a light deficit between the two sides for a period of time.
Create a halo effect on the opponent.
In actual combat, no one would think of this strategy. After all, it is broad daylight. In the minds of ordinary people, using tracer bullets is simply stupid! Because using this strategy during the day is no different from not using it.
However, this has completely different meanings for the main Pacific Fleet, which has advanced guidance equipment, and the Dewey Pioneer Fleet, which relies entirely on naked-eye observation.