The speed of the four heavy cruisers must have exceeded 33 knots, if not 345 knots, then close to 34 knots.

In addition, the speed of the "Imperial Capital" and the "Companion Beijing" did not reach 3 knots, and only remained at about 30 knots.

In order to find out how fast he could run, Li Mingbo also went to the engine room and asked several experienced officers about the situation. If you only need to sail for a few hours, regardless of the consequences, you can run up to 3 knots, but if you want to continue to sail at a faster speed for a longer time, you have to control the speed within 30 knots, and not more than 30 knots at most, otherwise the power system may lie down at any time.

If nothing else, just blow up a boiler and it's over.

Now, not to mention Li Mingbo, even Bai Zhizhan is in a hurry.

Even if four heavy cruisers could only reach a speed of 33 knots, they could reduce the distance to 25 kilometers in an hour and 22 kilometers before dawn by virtue of the speed advantage of 3 knots, which would make it possible to fire on two aircraft carriers before dawn.

As long as they are suppressed by artillery fire, the two aircraft carriers will not be able to lift carrier-based aircraft into the air.

At about six o'clock, four heavy cruisers caught up, reducing the distance to 25 kilometers. It was also in this way that it was calculated that the speed of the four heavy cruisers exceeded 33 knots, which was already close to 34 knots, and that the distance would be reduced to 20 kilometers at dawn.

There's no way to fight at all!

Let six destroyers drag the enemy ship?

Before half past five, Bai Zhizhan gave the order, just to send six destroyers to the front sea area to assemble and prepare for a torpedo attack.

As for when to attack, it will not be until after dawn.

If you really can't escape, let those six destroyers attack from the side and fire torpedoes at the enemy ship, maybe you can sink the enemy ship.

Even if you don't have that luck, you can force the enemy ship to slow down and turn.

That's the key.

Neither aircraft carrier ran fast, and the six destroyers did not have much fuel left. If the situation is not reversed in one fell swoop, the consequences will be unimaginable. At that time, even if you succeed in avoiding the shells from enemy ships, you will run out of fuel or the power equipment will malfunction during the continuous high-speed voyage.

All in all, there is only one chance to counter-attack.

In fact, in the face of heavy cruisers, it is a miracle that the destroyer can successfully launch a counterattack.

Do not forget that the number one value of the existence of heavy cruisers is the small warships of the enemy in naval battles, and primarily against destroyers. According to traditional tactics, the first task of heavy cruisers in a decisive battle in the fleet is to prevent enemy destroyers from launching torpedo attacks on their own capital ships.

To fight, six destroyers will be killed in seconds by four heavy cruisers in a matter of minutes!

Although he was very calm, Bai Zhizhan was already a little panicked, and he was still secretly scolding his mother.

No one else can be blamed.

If you want to blame, you can only blame yourself!

Don't forget that it was Bai Zhizhan who sent out the four heavy cruisers and four light cruisers that provided cover, and there was no arrangement for a re-convergence.

Actually, it can't be arranged.

It was not until the beginning that the White Stop War ordered the breaking of the radio silence, and no telegram had been sent until then, and there was no way to let the other warships know the whereabouts of the Third Air Task Force. Even if arrangements were made for the guards at that time, they might not be able to reunite in the Guiat.

It is precisely because of this that Bai Zhizhan did not make arrangements, and felt that it would be better to let the guards decide for themselves.

To say that at that time at least four light cruisers should have been left.

When Bai Zhizhan was making arrangements, Li Mingbo mentioned that there was no need to send all the cruisers, but Bai Zhizhan didn't listen to it. According to the arrangement at that time, the guards had to continue to track and monitor after discovering the first main battle group, so they would definitely be attacked by enemy cruisers.

In addition, Bai Zhizhan made a small calculation.

By sending a detachment of cruisers to follow and monitor, Takano was forced to abandon the idea of going to the Watchman's Strait, so as to end the naval battle at the most favorable time.

It's just that it's useless to regret it.

Less than 6:25 a.m., as soon as the sky was bright, the four heavy cruisers, which were approaching 2 kilometers away, dispersed and fired their first salvo at the two aircraft carriers.

Because only four main guns in the bow direction could be used, it was only a half-salvo.

Immediately after observing the enemy ships firing, the two aircraft carriers made an emergency turn.

Subsequently, almost every half a minute, four heavy cruisers would "alert" the two aircraft carriers in front of them by shelling that it was time to turn to evade.

Until the phone rings.

"Okay, got it."

Hearing Li Mingbo's words, Bai Zhizhan turned around.

At this time, it was already 6:48.

"The destroyer detachment is ready to launch a torpedo attack, and according to your arrangement, it is maneuvering southward, and it is expected to reach the preset sea area at a quarter past seven."

"Wait for my orders."

Li Mingbo didn't ask much, picked up the microphone, and told Bai Zhizhan's order to the communications staff officer who had already gone to the telecommunications center.

There is only one chance to fight back, and you must not mess around!

At this moment, there was a commotion outside the hatch.

"This is the Commander's Bridge, you can't go in!"

It was a Praetorian Guard soldier who was guarding the outside, and he deliberately shouted it out loud, apparently to attract the attention of those inside.

The Praetorian Guard, who accompanied the ship, was responsible for maintaining order in peacetime and enforcing military law in wartime.

Only the officers and men of the Praetorian Guard carried firearms and other weapons with them, but they were usually pistols, and submachine guns and rifles were only issued in special cases.

Without waiting for Bai Zhizhan's order, Li Mingbo got up and ran over.

After a while, it was quiet outside.

Although he didn't go out, Bai Zhizhan knew who was outside.

That's right, it's the pilot who came to ask for help.

Before being shelled, Zhou Yongtao suggested that some carrier-based planes should immediately take off with bombs and bomb the enemy ships after dawn.

At that time, Bai Zhizhan was really a little excited.

It's just that after finding Li Yunxiang and asking about the situation, Bai Zhizhan dispelled this idea.

The front of the flight deck was full of fighter jets, and they were all ready for air defense missions, without bombs and no way to use the bombers parked at the back. It takes at least half an hour to return the fighter jet to the hangar or tow it to the rear of the deck to load the bomb.

That is, it cannot be done before dawn.

When it is shelled, if there are still carrier-based aircraft on the flight deck to refuel and reload, as long as it is hit by one shell, it will be dead!

The key is that after dawn, the enemy's bomber group may be killed at any time, so when making deployments, we must first consider strengthening air defense.

If they were bombed at the same time as the shelling, the two aircraft carriers would certainly be unable to fly.

The Type 9 Land Attack is a long-range heavy attack aircraft of the Saori Navy, which has extremely strong sea strike capabilities, such as being able to throw aviation torpedoes to attack warships.

It was for this reason that Li Yunxiang proposed that the fighter should take off before dawn.

It was at this time that some pilots volunteered to fly fighter jets into the air, even if they did not hang bombs, they could ram and sink enemy ships.

At that time, these pilots found Zhou Yongtao.

Perhaps in their eyes, Zhou Yongtao is a big celebrity in front of Bai Zhizhan, so he has a certain right to speak, even if the request is a bit excessive, he will not be blamed.

Bai Zhizhan not only did not agree, but also scolded Zhou Yongtao and asked Zhou Yongtao to control his mouth.

It's just that now, Bai Zhizhan did not come forward.