Bathed in the first morning light on the sea, the Ming fleet continued to sail westward, constantly distancing itself from the Japanese fleet. According to the reconnaissance of the light ships behind it, the Japanese fleet was more than 20 nautical miles away and was also sailing westward. It seemed that it was
I want to catch up and continue the naval battle.
However, the overall speed of the Japanese fleet was no longer fast. It was several knots slower than the Ming fleet, and the distance was getting wider and wider. The Japanese army was obviously afraid that the Ming army would retreat when they saw a good situation, and return to Hong Kong. So the Japanese navy's disastrous defeat was certain.
Now the Japanese army is desperately chasing, looking for opportunities to get back. Although the Ming army's large-caliber main guns are more advantageous during the day, the submarines are easily discovered. The Japanese army summarized that after this night's battle, the Japanese army suffered almost all major losses
, all thanks to submarines. Now, as long as the factor of submarines can be removed during the day, the Japanese army may not lose to the Ming army even if its caliber suffers in an upright naval battle.
The Ming fleet obviously saw through the opponent's thoughts, and increased its speed and distance. After a night of fierce fighting, the officers and soldiers were sleepy, tired and hungry. Now taking advantage of this opportunity to get away from the battlefield, the Ming fleet took up non-important positions.
All the officers and soldiers were arranged to eat and rest.
But there was a tense scene on the two aircraft carriers. One after another, aircraft were lifted out of the hangar, and ground crews used trolleys to push bombs and torpedoes to attach to the bombers. Mechanics hung long ropes around their necks.
The heavy bullet chains were installed in the wings of the fighter jets. Below the deck, the first batch of pilots had already put on their flight suits and were having breakfast in the restaurant. The brown and fragrant pot sticker dumplings were fried sizzlingly in the pot.
There are dozens of drawers of steamed dumplings blowing hot air on the stove... In addition, there are more than ten kinds of traditional Chinese snacks provided in the restaurant for the pilots to take as they please. The food for HNA pilots can be regarded as the best in the entire navy.
The best yet.
…
At around 6:30, the visibility was good enough for aircraft to fly. The entire Ming fleet turned around and sailed against the wind. The two aircraft carriers began to release the first batch of aircraft. Most of the first batch of aircraft were bombers, one dive bomber, one torpedo bomber and one fighter each.
Fighters account for only one-third of the squadron. The mission is to air attack the Japanese fleet behind them and attract the Japanese aircraft carriers out.
At this moment, the Japanese aircraft carrier formation does not yet know where it is, so even if the Ming army faces the sumptuous meal behind them, they do not dare to feast on it. Instead, they honestly keep the main fleet of aircraft and wait for the decisive aerial battle with the Japanese aircraft fleet.
The Japanese battle fleet behind them is of course also a tempting target, but the main target of the Ming army this time is the two Japanese aircraft carriers. Once the two aircraft carriers are successfully annihilated, then the control of the entire Western Pacific will almost belong to the Ming army.
.
Just an hour before dawn, the Japanese aircraft carrier formation, which was 80 nautical miles away to the east, was also making intensive preparations. Although the Japanese army did not know that the Ming aircraft carrier was in the fleet at the moment, they knew that it was definitely there.
Not far away, but I didn't expect it to be so close. The general flagship Hyuga had already sent an order to the flagship Akagi of the aircraft carrier squadron to let the carrier-based aircraft fly at first light to participate in the pursuit of the Ming army's battle fleet.
At this moment, the two Japanese aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga were also launching the first batch of aircraft.
However, the Ming army's aircraft carrier was only 25 nautical miles away from the Japanese battle fleet, while the Japanese aircraft carrier was 80 nautical miles away. Fifteen minutes later, when the Ming army's bomber group flew over the Japanese fleet, the Japanese carrier-based aircraft group to the east was still at least 20 nautical miles away.
minutes flight.
The sudden appearance of the Ming army's aircraft fleet surprised the main Japanese fleet. The Japanese fleet did not expect that the Ming army's aircraft carriers were so close and could fly overhead just after dawn. The Japanese fleet was originally chasing the Ming army's fleet, and the platoon
They were all in a straight formation that was conducive to spreading firepower. Now the flagship immediately ordered that everyone quickly change their positions and form a circular anti-aircraft formation. For a time, countless white marks on the sea below were twisting and twisting, as if dozens of
The worms were crawling around in a chaotic formation.
The Ming army's bomber group seized the opportunity and selected two targets - the Hyuga and the Kongo. They divided into two groups and attacked them one after another.
Artillery fire flew across the sky, and large and small black smoke clouds exploded. However, the Japanese army's horizontal formation was too wide. In order not to miss the Ming army's movements, the Japanese warships were 1,500 meters apart, and more than thirty warships were lined up.
A large net with a width of 20 nautical miles was formed. It was very effective against the enemy battle fleets that were also in horizontal formation, but against the aircraft groups coming from the air, the firepower was too scattered.
Now, the five battleships are in the middle of this long line, and the Hyuga and Kongo are lined up right next to each other. 32 Ming army bombers concentrated their firepower on the two giant ships. In addition to the artillery fire of the Hyuga and Kongo themselves,
, that is, the artillery fire of the Haruna and Kirishima on both sides is relatively sufficient. No matter how far away the warship is, the artillery effect is already very poor.
The raid by the Ming army's carrier-based aircraft had a very good effect. Within 15 minutes, the Hyuga was hit by three bombs and two torpedoes, and the Kongo was hit by two bombs and one torpedo. Now, the Hyuga has been hit by a total of 15 bombs and one torpedo.
It was hit by 12 battleship main gun shells, 3 aerial bombs, 2 heavy torpedoes, and 2 aerial torpedoes. It was already seriously injured and dying. The King Kong also hit a total of 12 battleship main gun shells and 1 aerial torpedo. As for the armor, it was not
For a battleship of this level that is too powerful, this is considered a serious injury.
However, just when the Ming army's carrier-based aircraft group was happily killing people and forgetting everything, the Japanese army's carrier-based aircraft group appeared in the distant eastern sky.
…
Like the Ming army, the Japanese army did not figure out the location of the Ming army's aircraft carriers. The first wave of carrier-based aircraft also did not dare to fly too much, and they mainly focused on armed reconnaissance. The strength of the bombers that came this time was equivalent to that of the Ming army, and they were all the same
A dive bomber squadron and a torpedo bomber squadron. But the Japanese army sent two squadrons of fighters. Fighters and bombers formed an escort ratio of 1:1. The Japanese army was not like the Ming army, which knew that its target was more than 20 nautical miles away.
, is so close that if the situation goes wrong, reinforcements will be available immediately. The Japanese army has no idea and dare not not bring more fighter jets.
The Japanese fleet received an emergency order from the Akagi midway, saying that the main fleet was under air attack, and ordered them to speed up and go to the rescue. The Japanese bomber squadron slowed down and stayed behind to ensure that they did not break into the battlefield. The two fighter squadrons immediately
It got rid of the bomber and accelerated to the west.
Since the Japanese fighter jets came from the east, they followed the rising sun and were perfectly hidden in the dazzling sun. It was not until they were flying very close that they were discovered by the alert Ming fighter jets. The Ming fighter jets were caught off guard.
, was suddenly killed by the Japanese fleet. The Ming army only had one fighter squadron, and half of them flew to low altitudes to participate in dive and strafing. A dive bomber squadron and a torpedo bomber squadron below paid even more attention to
He was all focused on the fat warship on the water. He didn't expect that he would suddenly change from a hunter to a prey.
The Ming army's aircraft fleet suffered heavy damage. Within a few minutes, bombers and fighter jets fell into the sea like dumplings.