Although the Bran fleet and the Newland fleet had not yet been discovered, the White War was certain that Cunningham and Spark were somewhere in the sea a few hundred kilometers to the southwest.

Having won this battle, victory is just around the corner.

Of course, even if we withdraw now, there is a great chance of a complete victory, but it will take more time and suffer more losses.

Give up like this, Bai Zhizhan is indeed very unwilling!

"If the speed of sailing is reduced now, and the unnecessary consumption is reduced as much as possible through the regulation, the remaining fuel should be able to hold out until February 3."

It was not Zhou Yongtao who said this, but Li Mingbo, who had just returned to the commander's bridge.

"When the time comes, even if the two fleet oil tankers fail to return in time, we will be able to join the oil tankers sent by Li Jie from the landing fleet."

When he said this, Li Mingbo handed the received telegram to Bai Zhizhan.

After seeking the consent of the Navy Command, Li Jie had arranged for four heavy cruisers of the 11.3rd Detachment to cover the four oil tankers and enter the Fanyan Ocean from the Xunfeng Strait, and was rushing over at the fastest cruising speed, and was expected to arrive on 6 February.

To rendezvous with it on 3 February, Task Force 11 had to turn back by 31 January at the latest.

"It can be arranged like this." After reading the telegram, Zhou Yongtao said: "Let the two fleet oil tankers go to join the 11.3 detachment, get fuel and then return at full speed, so even if we turn around on February 1, we can meet the fleet oil tankers on February 3." ”

"This has to break the radio silence."

"As long as we can annihilate the Bran fleet and the Nuland fleet before then, it doesn't matter if the radio silence is broken."

Li Mingbo didn't argue with Zhou Yongtao, and turned his attention to Bai Zhizhan.

"The risk is too great, and the time for returning to the flight is temporarily scheduled for January 31." The decision was made by Bai Zhizhan. "There is no need to arrange a second wave of reconnaissance aircraft, remember to send more air defense fighters to strengthen the air defense of the fleet and expand the range of air defense patrols. If we are not mistaken, this battle will drag on for a few more days. ”

After giving the order, Bai Zhizhan left the commander's bridge and returned to the commander's cabin to sleep.

Li Mingbo was speechless, while Zhou Yongtao was a little worried.

However, it is only a matter of a few hours.

By about 8:30 a.m., when all 32 "Suzaku" planes had reached the final turning point and had completed the first half of their flight, they still had not received a report from the reconnaissance planes, indicating that the speculation of the White Stop War was not wrong, and that it was very likely that the Bran and Nuland fleets had shrunk back.

That being the case, there is really no need to continue to arrange investigative operations.

For the sake of safety, it is certainly necessary to strengthen air defense and send more air defense fighters.

In addition, the two battleships escorting the escort took turns to activate the anti-aircraft search radar to ensure that the approaching enemy aircraft were detected in time.

As for anti-submarine, Li Mingbo didn't even think about it.

It's not that you don't worry, but it's useless to worry.

There are only 4 destroyers in total!

In order to avoid being attacked by submarines, the 11th Task Force always stayed away from the sea routes and also carried out steering maneuvers at regular intervals.

As for whether it is effective or not, it mainly depends on luck.

In the words of Li Mingbo, if you are not lucky enough and happen to collide with an enemy submarine, a few heavy torpedoes will be able to send 2 aircraft carriers to the bottom of the sea.

Thankfully, so far, luck hasn't been bad.

At noon, with the return of the last "Suzaku" on a reconnaissance mission, even Zhou Yongtao returned to the cabin to sleep.

This can't be done, Zhou Yongtao didn't rest last night, but Li Mingbo slept peacefully.

Actually, it doesn't matter.

Throughout the afternoon, apart from a few insignificant telegrams from the command of the Navy, there were only trivial matters.

At this time, it was in the middle of the Fanyan Ocean.

Two fleet tankers were one after the other, the "Honghu" in front and the "Zehu" in the back.

On the night of the 25th, after the last refueling of the ships in the 11th Task Force, the two fleet tankers turned back.

Although there is not much fuel left, the speed is not slow.

It's also very simple, after returning to the port to replenish fuel, the 2 fleet tankers have to go back to meet the 11th task force, and there is no time to waste.

At the time of departure, Li Mingbo also focused on this matter, and the captain of the "Honghu", Major Robin Kai, also focused on this matter.

If the two fleet tankers are unable to return in time, the 11th Task Force may not be able to return to the mainland, and it is very likely that it will run out of fuel on the way back.

Li Mingbo also mentioned that as long as the two fleet oil tankers can return in time, he will apply for awards for the two captains as the chief of staff of the fleet.

In fact, even if Li Mingbo doesn't say it, Robin Kai can understand.

In addition, he knew better that only by sailing fast could he avoid the dangers he might encounter.

Fleet tankers, and only tankers, can be regarded as armed tankers at best.

Even if it was later renamed a fast combat support ship, it was only a small number of weapons, and at most it could deal with pirates, and it was not a warship in the true sense of the word.

Oil tankers that operate alone and are not covered by anti-submarine warfare ships are very easy to fall prey to submarines, and the only way to avoid being attacked is to sail at high speeds.

The fastest speed of more than 25 knots is the best defense for the fleet's oil tankers.

Prior to this, the Imperial Navy had already lost 5 fleet tankers, 3 of which were sunk by submarines in the Guia!

The key point is that all three fleet oil tankers were attacked by enemy submarines when their speed was below 20 knots.

Don't look at the displacement of the fleet oil tankers are more than 20,000 tons, because to reduce the construction cost, a large number of civilian ship standards, coupled with inherent defects, such as the oil tanks are large compartment structure, so the damage resistance is very bad, even compared to some small compartment structure of cargo ships.

As long as it hits the vital point, 1 heavy torpedo can send the fleet tanker to the bottom of the sea.

For this, the command of the Navy specially gave an order.

Unless they follow the fleet, the fleet tankers must maintain a speed of more than 20 knots and have to perform anti-submarine steering maneuvers from time to time.

Now the speed of 2 fleet tankers is around 24 knots.

In order to return as soon as possible, the anti-submarine steering maneuver was not carried out as specified.

In Robinkai's opinion, there is no need to worry too much in the central waters of the Fanyan Ocean, because the nearest route is thousands of kilometers away.

The Emperor's ** team had just captured Lion Spring City, and the ships were all active in the Northeast Fanyan Ocean, and the submarines of the Newland Navy and the Bran Navy had gone there.

The probability of encountering a submarine in the central waters of the Fanyan Ocean is very low.

Besides, a speed of 24 knots is capable of getting rid of any submarine that tries to pursue it, so unless you are too unlucky to hit the muzzle of a submarine, you don't have to worry about being attacked.

In the vast ocean, the probability of directly hitting a submarine is even lower.

In the evening, after dinner, Robin Kay returned to the bridge of the nautical ship and asked the first mate to go to dinner.

Anyway, it's been a safe voyage for almost a day. Even if there is danger, it has long passed.

Although there is a greater chance of being ambushed at night, submarines may not be able to seize the fleeting opportunity as long as they maintain sufficient speed.

Of course, Robin Kay still did his job.

After taking up their posts, they observe and search the surrounding sea area, and only after confirming that there are no abnormal conditions, do they record them in the logbook.

Only today, there is no need to write a logbook. 8)