So, where exactly is Task Force 41 hiding?

By the time Hal sent the telegram, it was already 11:30 a.m., and the attack aircraft group of Task Force 16 had completed its bombing mission and was heading east.

As expected, it will reach the skies over Task Force 17 between 12:15 and 12:30.

There are only more than 20 SBDs and more than 20 TBDs, and the escorted F4Fs are still entangled with Liangxia fighters, and some of them are also sent to carry out search missions.

With these carrier-based aircraft recovered, Task Force 17 was able to organize two waves of attacks in the afternoon.

The key is to find Task Force 41!

It wasn't until 11:45 a.m. that Major Dutt sent the news that he had sunk two ocean-going cruisers and was secretly following behind two Liang Xia Navy fighters.

What do you mean?

Follow Liang Xia fighter jets to the 41st Task Force!

The two "Roaring Days" had fought in the sky above the heavy cruiser formation before, probably running out of ammunition, and after getting rid of the escort fighters of the 16th Task Force, they did not entangle with the attack aircraft group of the 17th Task Force and flew directly over the group.

The point, both fighters are flying westward!

Then, it is very likely that Task Force 41 is to the west.

In the report, Dutt also mentioned that he had contacted Major Clark and would inform him as soon as Task Force 41 was discovered.

Because it was flying directly west after takeoff, the fleet commanded by Major Dutt still had plenty of fuel.

Unfortunately, the bombs and torpedoes were used up.

It must be said that the Nuland naval pilots were still inexperienced, and the anti-aircraft fire of the two ocean-going cruisers was indeed very perverted.

As many as 32 130-mm anti-aircraft guns were deadly.

Theoretically, a large-caliber anti-aircraft gun on an ocean-going cruiser could fire at 8 targets at the same time, but in practice it could only deal with 6 targets in the same direction at the same time.

The so-called "target" generally refers to a squadron of aircraft!

The heavy cruiser was capable of long-range interception of up to 2 groups of aircraft on the same side.

In long-range air defense operations, the firepower of ocean-going cruisers was three times that of heavy cruisers!

In fact, even fast battleships can only carry out long-range interception of three groups of aircraft on the same side, and an additional air defense commander is needed.

As a result, the fleet commanded by Major Dutt used bombs and torpedoes on the two ocean-going cruisers.

At the time, Dutt may have taken it for granted that after they had sunk two ocean-going cruisers, Major Clark's fleet would be able to strike and attack the carriers hiding behind. Because it is not their turn to deal with aircraft carriers, there is no need to save bombs and torpedoes.

To say, this has something to do with the tactics arranged by Tian Shi.

Before taking off, Tian Shi also specially instructed the two commanders not to despise the air defense warships covering the aircraft carrier for the sake of assaulting the aircraft carrier.

By 11:55, when it was almost 12 o'clock, I finally waited for good news.

Arranged by Major Dutt, SBD, flying in front, spotted the aircraft carrier of the Liangxia Navy, and the pilot visually identified it as an "Imperial Capital" class.

That's right, it's Task Force 41!

In addition, Major Dutt had called Major Clark, and within 15 minutes, Major Clark was expected to lead the group to attack.

It was only at this time that Spu's face changed slightly.

Although only one aircraft carrier has been found, it has been confirmed that it is the "Imperial Capital" class, so it must be the 41st Task Force, and the other aircraft carrier is nearby.

At this time, Bai Zhizhan is difficult to fly.

It's just that it's not time to sit back and relax.

Now the question is: can a single fleet take out Task Force 41?

The Liang Xia Navy's new fighter jets are very powerful, and the 41st Task Force is alone behind enemy lines, so it will definitely carry more fighters.

The Sakuyi Navy had already received information.

The carrying capacity of the "Imperial Capital" class is about the same as that of the "Longjiang" class, and carrier-based aircraft can be moored on the flight deck, and on the premise of not affecting normal aviation operations, it can carry up to one and a half additional squadrons of carrier-based aircraft.

Crucially, in previous battles, Task Force 41 did not use many fighters.

Attacking the fleet of Task Force 16, up to two squadrons of fighters were on escort duty.

In addition, a squadron was sent to cover the forward heavy cruiser formation.

Even with the normal number of carriers, there are at least 3 squadrons of fighters on both aircraft carriers!

Because the two ocean-going cruisers that came out of the front were attacked, and there were still dozens of minutes of preparation time, Bai Zhizhan would definitely send out all the remaining fighters!

A fleet of aircraft commanded by Major Clark that can break through the air defense line consisting of 24 fighters?

Of course, you have to count the escort fighters in Major Dutt's fleet.

Even then, it's not enough!

If one attack is not enough, a second attack must be organized immediately.

Thinking of this, Tian Shi didn't dare to delay too much and told Spu his thoughts.

Immediately upon the arrival of Task Force 16, the SBDs and TBDs were landed, then reloaded and refueled.

As long as it is not damaged and can still take off, it will take off immediately after reloading and refueling.

And what about escort fighters?

If not, it will not be arranged!

Task Force 16 arrived at 12:15 p.m. and was able to relaunch by 1 p.m.

Even if the arrival time is delayed until 12:30, it will be able to leave before 13:15.

As a result, a group of attack aircraft from these carrier-based aircraft was able to arrive by 14:30 to attack Task Force 41.

Because there is enough time, even if the fighter on escort duty takes off half an hour late, it can catch up with the group in front of it with speed.

The key is to launch a second attack immediately.

In this way, Task Force 17 can turn to the east after 13 o'clock, that is, leave the battlefield, and do not have to worry about encountering the Liang Xia fleet at night.

Don't forget, Liang Xia's 43rd Task Force is in the northwest direction.

According to the news sent by the 11th Task Force, several capital ships have been sunk, and they are not the opponents of Liang Xia's 43rd Task Force.

In the end, even if six battleships are defeated, the 11th Task Force may not be able to achieve results.

Compared with the fast battleships of the Liang Xia Navy, the old battleships designed and built by the Nuland Navy during the last war are not ordinarily bad!

If anything, the generation difference affected battleships more seriously than aircraft carriers.

No matter how bad the aircraft carrier is, as long as the carrier-based aircraft are not bad, they still have enough combat effectiveness. If the battleship is a generation behind, it is almost a crushing gap.

Obviously, after dark, Liang Xia's 43rd Task Force would go south to pursue the 17th Task Force.

If the battle dragged on until the evening, and the 17th Task Force was bombed, the aircraft carrier, if not sunk, but only suffered heavy losses, would be caught up by the fast battleships of the 43rd Task Force during the night, and then sunk by the huge artillery, and it would not be possible to wait until tomorrow daylight to launch an attack with carrier-based aircraft.

All in all, there's nothing wrong with seizing the time to attack.

In Tian Shi's words, Bai Zhizhan will definitely not look forward or backward, as long as there is an opportunity, he will firmly grasp it and give the enemy a fatal blow.

Tian Shi was not wrong, Bai Zhizhan would indeed not miss any opportunities.

When Tian Shi was doing tactical analysis to Spu, the alarm suddenly sounded, and it was an air defense alarm!

.。 m.