"Task Force 30 reports that the first strike wave they sent is on its way back.
At present, the definite record is the sinking of 1 aircraft carrier of the German light fleet, the sinking of 1 light cruiser, and the heavy damage of 3 aircraft carriers of the German large fleet" "The long-range reconnaissance aircraft of the Bermuda Princess reported the discovery of a German fleet of more than 50 nautical miles due east of Bermuda, with large surface ships, which is currently advancing westward at a speed of more than 20 knots."
After listening to the staff officer's report, Admiral Halsey glanced at the chief of staff, Major General Callaghan, with surprise on his face, and he found that his chief of staff, like him, had won the jackpot with an expression on his face.
God bless America I really caught a big fish this time "Sir, the newly discovered German fleet must be going to the rescue of the German aircraft carrier formation that has just been defeated by us."
Rear Admiral Callahan immediately made a judgment, "And the size of this fleet is not particularly large, it is estimated that there will be 68 battleships or battle cruisers, plus a few Kesselring-class aircraft carriers will definitely not be our opponents" Rear Admiral Callaghan's analysis certainly makes sense, and now the US Task Force 30 and Task Force 31 are concentrated on 9 of the most powerful battleships and 9 large fleet carriers.
This is almost the strongest lineup that the U.S.
Navy can currently deploy If it can't win the battle against a few German aircraft carriers that have already been heavily damaged and a few battleships that are inferior in firepower and defense to the Iowa class, then the United States of America may really have to pay 500 billion European marks in reparations to buy peace.
"How much time is left to meet," Halsey asked.
"Seven hours at most," Callahan replied, "will be able to rendezvous with Task Force 30 tonight, and then be able to pursue it at a speed of about 25 knots."
An hour can shorten the distance by up to 15 nautical miles, and if we're lucky, we'll be able to catch up after 24 hours. ” "A few more rounds of air strikes before dark" Halsey was obviously still a little uneasy about the fleet artillery battle, and if it could be solved with air strikes, it would obviously be the most ideal outcome.
"Task Force 30 has at least two more strike waves, the second of which has already departed," Callahan said, "but the airfields in Bermuda are badly damaged and it is difficult for the F7F to take off with full fuel." ” The airport in Bermuda was bombed by more than 100 FW190 that penetrated at low altitude in the early morning of this morning, and almost 200 250-kilogram aerial bombs were hit, and the runway was blown up into potholes, although after some emergency repairs, it was barely able to land for F7F, after all, it was developed as a carrier-based aircraft, and the length of the runway was not required, but when this twin-engine heavy fighter was filled with fuel and bombs, if there was no catapult available, a certain length of runway was still needed.
At present, airports in Bermuda can only take off F7Fs with a small amount of fuel.
As a result, the more than 150 F7Fs that arrived in Bermuda had to fly back to Norfolk before they could be refueled with fuel and bombs.
However, this process is more time-consuming, and it is difficult to say whether you can play another round before dark.
"Have you counted the final losses of Task Force 30's first attack wave?"
Halsey then asked about the loss of Task Force 30's carrier-based aircraft.
"Not yet."
When Major General Callahan replied, his brow was already twisted.
At present, the 9 aircraft carriers of Task Force 30 are still recovering the aircraft of the first attack wave, so the final statistics have not yet been released.
However, the preliminary statistics have been obtained, and the losses are quite staggering, including SBD dive bombers, TBF torpedo bombers, F4U fighters and F6F fighters, no less than 100 aircraft were lost in battle, and the final loss statistics will definitely increase "Sir, the USS Conway's radar has detected an unidentified aircraft, about 80 nautical miles from the Iowah."
The staff officer's report made Callaghan's already somewhat depressed mood sink a lot.
It was not that he was worried about being attacked by German carrier-based aircraft, but that he was worried that the huge Task Force 31 had frightened the Germans, who had just lost the battle.
"Sir, it should be a large German seaplane."
"Will it find us?"
asked Halsey.
"It's possible that the Germans had a good airborne radar."
"I don't know if we're going to frighten the fleeing Germans, and if they abandon the battered carriers and run away, it's going to be very difficult for us to catch them." ” "Sir, the Hawkeye 10 discovered the U.S.
Grand Fleet, numbering more than 100 ships, located in the B4 sea, about 360,400 nautical miles away from us."
On the aircraft carrier "Zeppelin", the aviation staff officer Hersman Jr. loudly reported the report of the reconnaissance plane that had just been received.
"Sir, there may be a battle in 24 hours."
Rear Admiral Christiansen, Chief of Staff of Task Force 21, mentally calculated, "But we'll meet up with Task Force 20 in 18 hours, and if all goes well, we'll be able to get rid of them tomorrow afternoon." ” "The enemy probably has a few more rounds of air strikes," Lieutenant General Erich Bey asked. "23 attack waves."
Little Hersman replied with a frown, "One of the attack waves may be launched by the new twin-engine fighter. ” The F7F is the only surprise to worry about Those fighters that took off from American aircraft carriers were no match for the Fokker 636 and FW190 at all.
In particular, the Fokker 636 is particularly eye-catching, even if a very strong SBD is bitten by them, it can be knocked down with 20 shells.
But the F7F is not easy to deal with, this large aircraft has strong firepower, surpassing the Fokker 636, and the Fokker 636 has no advantage when facing the nose head-on.
And it's too fast, and it dives faster.
Although the Fokker 636 can still catch up with it, it is difficult for the Fokker 636's cannon to hit the target in high-speed dives of more than 700 kilometers or even more than 800 kilometers.
"Don't worry," Erich Bey said, shaking his head, "as long as we defeat the two waves of attacks launched by the American aircraft carriers, we will complete the mission."
Even the loss of Prussian-class or Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers is nothing. ” Speaking of this, Erich Bey couldn't help but glance at the bombed bow of the aircraft carrier "Zeppelin".
It was destroyed by a 500-pound bomb in the second round of air raids on Task Force 21.
Those fighters that took off from American aircraft carriers may have carried only 500 pounds of bombs because of the distance, which was ineffective against the armored deck of the Zeppelin-class.
However, the bow and stern of the Zeppelin-class ships were not covered with thick armor plates, so the large fleet aircraft carrier still suffered some damage, and the ability to take off and land aircraft was also reduced.
In addition, the two large aircraft carriers, the Prussia and the Bohemia, are now also damaged to varying degrees, and part of the flight deck has lost its function.
As for the 2 Sedlitz-class aircraft carriers, they have now been blown up to the ground and have not yet sunk, so it can only be said that the quality of the German shipbuilding industry is first-class, and the damage management on the aircraft carrier is very good.
However, the personnel of the 21st Task Force Command on the USS Zeppelin already knew that the two light aircraft carriers would definitely not be able to be saved.
Just 30 minutes ago, Erich Bay ordered the non-damage personnel on the two Sedlitz-class aircraft carriers to evacuate, and the aircraft, ammunition, and aviation fuel on the aircraft carriers were all disposed of and thrown into the sea.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
In fact, these two light aircraft carriers have now become "target ships", and the reason why they have not yet been disposed of is to use them to attract the attention of the Americans in order to mitigate the possible blows to the other three large aircraft carriers.
However, in the opinion of Hersman, who was in charge of the Tsosen General Staff, even if all the five aircraft carriers of the 21st Task Force were lost, as long as most of the personnel on the aircraft carriers, especially the carrier-based aircraft pilots, survived and could lure the US Grand Fleet out, the loss would be worth it.
Even if 5 aircraft carriers are exchanged for 4 "Iowa"-class and 1 "North Carolina-class" battleships, this deal will not be a loss.
Because aircraft carriers can be improvised, if there is no Zeppelin class, the Kesselring class will be used, but the battleship cannot cut corners, otherwise it will be a target ship on the battlefield "Reichsmar, the Zeppelin reported that it once again repelled a group of American air raids, shot down more than 60 enemy aircraft, and our side lost 12 FW190 fighters and 4 Fokker 636 fighters.
One 500-pound bomb each on the Prussia and Bohemia, and one torpedo each on the Zeppelin, Sedlitz and Seckert. ” "Led Zeppelin is nothing serious," Hersman asked lightly.
"No problem."
Messer, Chief of Staff of the Navy, replied, "It was only an aviation torpedo, but it had only made a hole in the stern of the port side, and the power compartment and rudder were intact. ” "Rudder" Hersman suddenly thought of something, "How about letting Task Force 21 sail southeast" "Sailing southeast," Raeder asked, "where to go" "Nowhere to go," Hersman shook his head, "just disguised as a damaged rudder and unable to turn."
It's like " Just like the hapless Bismarck, certainly not the Bismarck battleship of this space-time.
"I think so."
Raeder smiled, "Then the Americans will be even more reluctant to give up the big fish in their mouths, and they can also dodge the American air raids by changing the course." ” Hersman nodded, "The time of the engagement must be carefully calculated, and the battle must start before dark tomorrow, so that the two missile ships Gneisenau and Wilhelm II can launch a missile attack at dusk" He paused, "Sink the four most powerful battleships of Iowa in the Atlantic Ocean anyway" t1706231537: