Also reacted was Zhang Guozhu.

When the news was sent, Zhang Guozhu came to his senses.

Because the anti-aircraft search radar temporarily installed on the "Longxing" could only measure ranges, when the enemy planes were approaching, they did not measure the flight altitude of the enemy planes, and they were not able to make an accurate judgment on the nature of the enemy planes by the flight altitude.

When the enemy planes approached, they found that they were all at high altitude.

Because they were not attacked, none of the four anti-aircraft guns of the "Longxing" class opened fire, and the gunners simply aimed their guns at the incoming enemy planes.

Of course, it is not an enemy plane, after all, the two sides have not yet declared war.

After obtaining the exact report, that is, the lookout visually judged that all the enemy planes were flying at high altitudes, most likely fighters, Zhang Guozhu immediately issued an order that all warships should not fire at enemy planes, to be precise, not to open fire until they were attacked. To be on the safe side, he also ordered the gunner to withdraw the loaded shells to ensure that he would not fire due to misuse in the event of an emergency.

Strictly speaking, even if it is attacked, it must first be reported to the commander of the fleet.

As those F4Fs approached, a dozen Imperial warships, including the four battleships, were all silent.

In addition, the destroyers of the 42.5th detachment had already withdrawn under the 42.2nd detachment.

At about half-past seven, the four Newland battleships that had disengaged with Detachment 42.1 after the explosion reappeared to the east.

Unlike before dawn, the four Newland battleships did not linger in the distance, but kept sailing westward, and pounced straight on the 42.1st detachment.

After about half an hour, Task Force 21 fighters arrived.

At this point, the atmosphere was already very tense.

The eight battleships on both sides have all aimed their guns at each other, and the distance has been shortened to less than ten kilometers.

That's the engagement distance for a flat shot!

Although the armor-piercing shells fired by the 400-mm main guns of the "Longxing" class could easily penetrate the main armor belt of the Newland battleship, the heavy shells fired by the opponent's 14-inch naval guns could also penetrate the main armor belt of the "Longxing" class at this distance, and even penetrate the turret and command tower.

To say, this is the distance of mutual spikes.

As long as it hits the ammunition depot of the main gun and detonates it in the ammunition depot, it is definitely a shot to the soul.

In addition, cruisers and destroyers from both sides had arrived, chasing each other around the battleship formation, like hounds on a hunting ground.

With the arrival of more than 20 "roaring sky", the air suddenly became lively.

It's just that the fighters don't have such a long endurance, and those "wildcats" have been hovering over the 42nd Task Force for an hour.

In addition, "Wildcat" is certainly no match for "Roaring Sky".

Although it is just a coincidence, it sounds like the emotional "roaring sky" is rushing to the "wild cat".

"Roaring Sky" is a sacred dog in the mythical story of Liang Xia!

When this name was taken, it was actually because the engine was too loud, and there would be several violent vibrations during the acceleration process, and the sound made was like a low roar, which got the wrong name of "roaring in the sky", but it also happened to allude to the allusion of "cat and dog discord".

In terms of performance, the F4F is a little better than the "Typhoon" and is not at all an opponent of the "Roaring Sky".

Maximum speed, dive acceleration stability, climbing speed, sustained steering angular velocity, minimum steering radius, etc., none of the F4F can compare to the "roaring sky".

The aerial grappling lasted until about half-past eight.

As the F4F returned one after another, the four Newland battleships that were still hovering in the east turned around and took the initiative to distance themselves from the 42.1 detachment.

To say that the Nuland Navy is not prepared is definitely a liar!

This clearly means being prepared.

Comparatively speaking, fighter dogfights are more dangerous and more likely to misfire, after all, pilots who are acting alone need to bear more psychological pressure.

The officers and men on the battleship, how to say that they all have a companion by their side, and when they are afraid, they can still rely on their comrades.

The pilot sat alone in the cockpit of the fighter jet, constantly maneuvering at high speed, turning on the machine gun safety and pressing down the launch switch.

If the dogfight in the air turns into a fight, war will also break out.

Those "wild cats" are obviously here to find fault!

Fortunately, the fighter pilots from Task Force 21 were not confused.

"Commander!"

Receiving the telegram sent by the telecommunications officer, Zhang Guozhu quickly glanced at it, and then frowned.

A telegram order from the command of the Navy.

Task Force 42 sailed eastward and extended its patrols, sending warships to keep an eye on the Nuland convoy and sending seaplanes to monitor Nuland ships if necessary.

What is this for, does it make sense to keep an eye on the convoy?

The confrontation is about to turn into a battle, what do you care about those freighters!?

Zhang Guozhu was puzzled, but this was indeed an order issued by the Navy Command, maybe it came from the Chief of Staff of the Navy.

He did not delay, and immediately asked the staff officer to convey the order.

received a telegram from the Navy Command, as well as Liu Xiangzhen.

However, the content of the electric order is different.

Keeping a distance from Task Force 42, while providing anti-aircraft cover for Task Force 42, managed to locate the Nuland Navy's carrier task force.

This command is clearly contradictory.

To provide anti-aircraft cover for Task Force 42, you can't get too far away, otherwise too many fighters will be occupied.

If the fighter is operated most of the time, it will not be possible to arrange too many carrier-based aircraft to carry out reconnaissance missions, after all, there is a limit to the sortie ability of an aircraft carrier.

Even without the use of catapults, the maximum number of sorties of the "Longjiang" class in a single day is only 240.

In all previous combat operations, the "Longjiang" class did not reach this sortie, and the highest record was 224 sorties set during the attack on Liuhuangdao.

At that time, it was a ground strike mission, with a combat radius of less than 300 kilometers, and the pilots took turns.

In naval operations, the highest record was 188 sorties set in the Battle of the Yanhai Sea.

Because of the use of catapults, all sorties to carry out combat missions against the sea are somewhat less efficient.

However, the meaning of this telegram is clear.

Continue to maintain concealment, and strive to find the two aircraft carrier task forces of the Nuland Navy first and seize the initiative.

In fact, before receiving the telegram, Liu Xiangzhen had already made arrangements.

He didn't let Task Force 21 turn westward, but slowed it down and headed south.

As a result, as Task Force 42 sails eastward, it will distance itself from Task Force 21.

As for the search for the Newland aircraft carrier task force, Liu Xiangzhen pinned his hopes on the seaplanes carried by the escort warships and did not immediately dispatch carrier-based reconnaissance planes.

The reason is the same, in his judgment, this battle will not be fought for a while and a half.

If it was to fight, then after dawn, Task Force 42 would have been attacked, and the Nuland Navy's carrier-based reconnaissance planes would not have discovered Task Force 21.

Missed the best opportunity to launch a surprise attack and did it now, isn't that asking for trouble for yourself?

Since you haven't found a reason for bell, you have to keep pestering, waiting for the next opportunity, or create an opportunity at some point.

It must be admitted that in terms of grasping the overall strategic situation, Liu Xiangzhen is really right.

The current situation was also unexpected by Lofus.