This time, Li Mingbo did not wait for Bai Zhizhan's orders, and immediately called Zhou Yongtao and asked Zhou Yongtao to gather the main staff officers.

It's just that you still have to be patient.

The point is that there is a 7-hour time difference between the transit island and the East Fanyan Ocean, where the combined fleet is located.

In the morning, several telegrams came from the command of the Navy.

Some of the previous speculations were confirmed.

In the Nuland sabotage fleet, there are not only 2 "North Carolina" class fast battleships, but also 6 "Xinao" class heavy cruisers and more than 10 destroyers.

Fortunately, the Combined Fleet is not easy to bully either.

In addition to 3 fast battleships, the Combined Fleet had 3 armored cruisers and 8 destroyers.

Although in the ultra-long-range artillery battle, the "Prime Minister" could only watch the excitement because it did not have time to install the artillery sighting radar, but in the ensuing battle, the eight 380-mm main guns on the "Prime Minister" and a large number of secondary guns taught the Newland heavy cruiser a hard lesson.

It was with the support of the "Prime Minister" that 3 armored cruisers withstood the onslaught of 6 heavy cruisers.

In addition, it was possible to separate secondary guns against the destroyers that were rushing and preparing to attack with torpedoes.

In the main showdown, the combined fleet did not take advantage.

The main thing is that the 400-mm naval guns equipped with the two "North River" classes have not been upgraded, not only the barrel is short, but the maximum elevation angle is only 32 degrees.

As a result, its maximum range is only 27 km.

In addition, the effective firing range is about 22 kilometers.

Soon after the engagement, the commander of the Nuland fleet discovered this, and so kept the engagement at a distance of about 25 kilometers.

If you want to say, this distance is also very far for the "North Carolina" class.

From this it can be inferred that the Nuland commander did not seem to be in a hurry to end the battle during the night.

In addition, during the fighting, the two "North River" class ships repeatedly tried to use the advantage in speed to get close to the opponent and bring the power of 400-mm armor-piercing shells into full play.

Relatively speaking, speed is the only advantage of the "Nord Stream" class.

The North Carolina class was designed to reach a speed of 28 knots, but it was only able to reach 27 knots, and not even 27 knots in bad weather.

In comparison, the "Nord Stream" class is capable of sustained sailing at a speed of 30 knots.

It's a pity that every time the destroyers in the Nuland fleet were encountered.

During the course of the engagement, the Combined Fleet had actually been following the Nuland fleet to the south, to be precise, led by the nose by the Nuland fleet.

The main thing is that the commander of the combined fleet wants to win the battle too much.

Although no definite information was received, according to the calculations made by the staff officers, the Combined Fleet would sail at least 200 kilometers south during the night battle.

This means that the maximum flight radius of shore-based fighters will be exceeded before dawn.

Even if you turn back immediately after dawn, you will not be able to get cover from shore-based fighters until around noon.

A few hours in the morning, very deadly.

If there are several aircraft carriers south of the battlefield, you can launch 2 strikes in just the morning.

In fact, after making this judgment, that is, at about 11 o'clock in the morning, Bai Zhizhan sent a telegram to the naval headquarters, proposing that Liu Changxun directly give an order for the Combined Fleet to immediately end the battle with the Nuland Broken Fleet, turn around and go north at full speed, and strive to return to the covering sea area of shore-based fighters before dawn. Even if you don't want to let go of the Nuland fleet, you can send out seaplanes to track and monitor.

Even if it is finally confirmed that there are no aircraft carriers in the Nuland fleet, the Combined Fleet can rely on the speed advantage to launch a pursuit and annihilate it after a few days.

In addition, arrangements were made immediately for long-range fighter jets to be deployed in Lion Springs and Sri Lanka to take off.

Let's not talk about whether this telegram can be taken seriously, or whether the order given by Liu Changxun is effective, but it is already too late to send the telegram.

A little more than an hour later, just after 12 noon, a telegram came from the command of the Navy.

The combined fleet is bombed!

At this time, it was just dawn on the side of Dongfan Yanyang!

It can be seen that the commander of the Nuland fleet did not waste half of his time.

In addition, the combined fleet had already turned around 1 hour earlier and retreated north at full speed, and all battleships and cruisers were put into anti-aircraft combat mode.

Perhaps it was the warning of the White Stop War that had an effect, or perhaps it was Admiral Lütjans who suddenly woke up.

It's a little late, but it's much better than continuing to sail south.

In addition, shore-based aviation units deployed in Lion Springs and Sri Lanka have been dispatched, and in addition to long-range fighters, dozens of heavy bombers have also been dispatched.

Even heavy bombers, which are hardly a threat to aircraft carriers, are able to frighten the Nuland fleet.

At this time, Bai Zhizhan had basically concluded that it was Spu who commanded the Nuland fleet, and there must be 2 small aircraft carriers in his hands.

If that happens, there's a good chance that Sp will stop after two waves of attacks.

The point is, Sp couldn't be sure that the 11th Task Force was still operating on the Mua Sea side, not following the Combined Fleet.

Of course, also to preserve the combat capability of the aviation of the fleet.

Even if the rear is the continent of Austria, it is difficult to replenish the carrier-based aircraft lost in the battle because of the inconvenient transportation.

It's just that Bai Zhizhan also feels that Spu may do everything he can.

If nothing else, if the Combined Fleet can be annihilated in one fell swoop, then the Imperial Navy will have no choice but to draw a task force from the side of the transit island.

At that time, Spuda could take the fleet to the Southern Fanyan Ocean, or return to the southwestern and eastward oceans.

The Imperial Navy, on the other hand, was exhausted.

In the end, if the advance to Posha Bay is affected and the transit island is not captured on time, the Imperial Navy may not be able to advance to the southwest-eastern sea.

The reason is also very simple, Ozhou has become a springboard for the Nuland Navy to enter and exit the Fanyan Ocean.

If Austria cannot be captured, the route from the empire mainland to Posha Bay will be threatened.

When the Nuland Navy solves the shipping problem and can send more troops and materials to the western ports of Austria, then the Nuland fleet based in Austria will inevitably become a major problem for the Imperial Navy in the direction of the Fanyan Ocean, and will also pose a threat to the surrounding areas of the Yanhai.

Even if this threat is not serious enough, it could lead the Empire's top brass to take drastic action that shifts the focus from the Middle East to the Southwest.

Even after the capture of Posha Bay, it is very likely that the Empire's top brass will let the navy advance to the southwest-eastern sea first.

If anything, this is what the Nuland Navy has been trying to achieve.

From this point of view, it is completely understandable why Spu went to Fanyan Ocean with 2 small aircraft carriers and 2 fast battleships.

If nothing else, at least at the strategic level, Spu has grasped the point.

The only weak link in the front built by the Imperial Navy, from the Mua Sea to the Middle East Ocean, is in the waters of the Eastern Fanyan Ocean.

At this weak point, the most vulnerable and easily defeated is the Combined Fleet, and Sp immediately grasps the key point.

As long as this weak link can be defeated, it can disrupt the strategic deployment of the Liang Xia Empire, revitalize the entire battle situation, and force the Liang Xia Navy to make corresponding adjustments.

In this regard, Bai Zhizhan has long had a clear understanding.

If he were Sp, he would do the same!

It's just that in the face of the challenge launched by Sp, Bai Zhizhan feels a little helpless, or he can't find an effective way to deal with it for the time being.