By the time the air raid sirens sounded, enemy planes were already in view.

That's right, it's flying from ultra-low altitudes!

Although the enemy plane was still about 20 kilometers away, it was detected by the radar on the "Yanhai", but this distance was too close.

What is even worse is that the radar operator of the "Yanhai" did not make an accurate judgment at the first time.

Enemy aircraft entered from the north, and in that direction there were dozens of fighters from both sides, some of which were within radar detection range.

After a delay of about two minutes, the radar operator of the "Yanhai" judged that it was an enemy plane that had penetrated from an ultra-low altitude.

However, these enemy planes did not come at the "Accompany Beijing," but directly headed for the "Longjiang."

As a matter of fact, both the "Companion Beijing" and the "Longjiang" were directly in front of the enemy planes, and the distance between them and the enemy planes was about the same; perhaps the bridge of the "Longjiang" was taller and more conspicuous to look at, and it was first recognized by the pilots of the enemy planes, and only then was they targeted by the enemy planes and received special care.

However, it is also possible that Spark has mistaken the target.

The "Longjiang" was originally the flagship of the White Stop-War, and the "Companion Beijing" has always accompanied the "Imperial Capital" and has never served as the flagship of the fleet.

It must be admitted that the Nuland Navy is super capable of learning.

In the Battle of the Northwest and Guia Seas, the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy tried ultra-low-altitude penetration tactics for the first time, and achieved very good results.

Now the Nuland carrier-based aviation is used.

The first to arrive was a squadron of SBDs, only 6 SBDs to be exact.

When rushing towards the "Longjiang", the six SBDs were divided into two three-plane formations, and while climbing, they outflanked both sides of the "Longjiang".

Although there are only 6 SBDs, it is enough to divert the 4 "Roaring" fighters that directly cover the "Longjiang".

The Battle of the Northwest Guia has long proved that even if the "Longjiang" class strengthens its protection in the process of improvement, such as adding an armored deck, it will not be able to withstand the 1,000-pound bombs dropped by the SBD.

The point, behind the SBD group, there are 1 more TBFs in 8 squadrons.

These torpedo planes did not climb, they were still flying at low altitudes, and they were also heading for the "Longjiang".

Although after discovering the torpedo plane, the "Xu Hai," which was directly covering the "Longjiang," immediately adjusted its muzzle, and dozens of anti-aircraft guns were all aimed at the torpedo plane, in a hurry, even if the 130-mm and 80-mm anti-aircraft guns were used at the same time, the interception efficiency was not ideal.

The point is still that it is too close, leaving too little time for air defense warships.

When the TBF fleet turned, it was only about 10 kilometers away from the "Longjiang", and the "Xuhai" had been trying its best to intercept the approaching SBD.

If anything, this proves in disguise that the cover provided by an air defense warship is very thin, and it is almost powerless against enemy aircraft that launch a coordinated attack.

"Xuhai" is in front of the left side of the "Longjiang", so even if it is full of firepower, it is difficult to take care of the left rear of the "Longjiang".

The TBF fleet went around from the left rear of the "Longjiang" and prepared to attack from this side.

At about 8:58, five TBFs, which broke through the air defense network, dropped aviation torpedoes one after another about 1,500 meters behind the left rear of the "Longjiang".

At this time, the "Longjiang" was still trying its best to intercept the dive bombers overhead.

To be precise, to force the last SBD to drop the bomb ahead of schedule.

It's just that the SBD did not turn and fly away.

At this time, the commander of the six anti-aircraft gun crews on the port side of the "Longjiang" saw that the SBD had lost its payload when it approached.

It was in this way that the commander of the anti-aircraft artillery group gave the order for a ceasefire and renewed the search for targets.

Because the "Longjiang" was already turning with full rudders, the commander of the anti-aircraft gun on the starboard side was also adjusting so that after turning around, he would fire at the torpedo machine.

Even if the torpedo machine has turned and flown away, it can fire at the torpedo on the surface of the sea.

Intercepting a torpedo with an anti-aircraft gun, even if it is a complete attempt at luck and having to count on a miracle, is better than sitting back and waiting for death.

During the Battle of the Northwest and Guia Seas, the "Imperial Capital" and "Longjiang" used 40-mm anti-aircraft guns to intercept aerial torpedoes dropped by enemy planes.

As a result, none of the 12 commanders of the 12 anti-aircraft gun crews stared at the SBD.

Less than 9 o'clock, while avoiding the torpedo, the "Longjiang" was hit by an SBD, and the impact point was in the middle of the flight deck, in the left rear of the ship's island.

Subsequently, there was a violent explosion.

Although the SBD dropped the bombs, there was a lot of aviation gasoline left, and most likely two 100-pound bomblets.

The blow came very suddenly.

Fortunately, before being hit by the SBD, the "Longjiang" had already adjusted its course, and it was lucky enough to avoid 5 torpedoes.

About ten minutes later, the fire on the "Longjiang" was extinguished.

However, a large hole was blown out in the middle of the flight deck, and the area of the fire was close to one-third of the deck, temporarily losing the combat capability of aviation.

Even if it could be repaired, it would take dozens of hours.

The heavy damage to the "Longjiang" is tantamount to reminding the "Companion Beijing" and "Yanhai" and is tantamount to alerting the fighters patrolling the air.

It was that after 9 o'clock, 8 air defense fighters detected the second wave of enemy aircraft in time.

The fierce fighting continued until about 9:15, when the last SBD was shot down by anti-aircraft guns about 5 kilometers from the "Pekyo".

As for the TBF, all were shot down by fighters at a distance of 20 km.

It can be seen that the focus of air defense operations is still on peripheral interception.

As long as air defense fighters can be deployed in place to intercept incoming enemy planes in a timely manner, the pressure on air defense can be greatly reduced and the penetration efficiency of enemy planes can be reduced.

Fortunately, the attack of the 11th Task Force paid off.

At around 9:10, Shenpu sent back a report that the "Endeavour" had been severely damaged, and it was visually determined that there were at least three direct hits.

Although he did not witness the sinking of the "Endeavour", Shenpu said with certainty that the aircraft carrier was finished.

In fact, even if Shenpu hadn't said so, Bai Zhizhan would have ordered a retreat.

Before 9 o'clock, a seaplane sent out by the "Yanhai" sent a message that two battlecruisers and four cruisers of the Bran fleet, as well as several other small and medium-sized warships, were heading north at a speed of more than 25 knots towards the 11th Task Force.

In addition, the seaplane did not mention 2 carriers of the "Brilliant" class in the report.

Feelings, after the sinking of 2 aircraft carriers, Bran's fleet is ready to come over and fight hard.

If it's an artillery battle, there's nothing to say, Bai Zhizhan has 2 fast battleships in his hands, and he can easily crush 2 battle cruisers.

Based on the performance of the "Xuhai" class in the past few artillery battles, the torture and killing of 2 "prestige" class ships is definitely ten out of ten.

But the problem is that Bran's fleet is likely to kill it at night.

Then there will be more than just artillery battles.

With no cruisers to provide close cover, Task Force 11 was vulnerable to torpedo attacks at night.

For the Bran destroyer, 2 aircraft carriers and 2 battleships are excellent targets.

What really made Bai Zhizhan decide to retreat was the report from the escort destroyer.

At about 9:20 a.m., the "Perch", which had been operating on the east side of the fleet, sent a report announcing the discovery of an enemy submarine.

In the face of submarines, the 11th Task Force was even more powerless.

As a result, before half past nine, Bai Zhizhan gave the order to turn to retreat.