The distance between the Pacific Fleet and the guerrilla fleet continued to shorten due to Halsey's order, so although the Japanese discovered the American forces very late, because of the distance, the attack aircraft group was faster than the American troops, and the first Japanese attack wave flew over the American troops at about 11:45. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Both Nimitz and Halsey were taken aback at the appearance of the Japanese plane, they had not expected such an attack by the Japanese army, and they had not even received a complete report on the first attack wave.

Takashi Egusa, who was in charge of the attack, did not know the situation facing the mobile fleet, but was still ready to fight steadily.

The Japanese attack aircraft group consisted of 29 Comets, 26 Tianshan, and 29 Zero Combat Fighters -- if it weren't for the more than 20 planes left behind by Tsukahara, the strength of the first attack wave would not have been so strong.

In the face of fierce artillery fire from the U.S. military and the interception of F6F fighters, the Zero Zhan Gai took the lead in rushing over, and then the Comet changed from a high altitude volley, and the first target was the Essex, the largest and newest-looking and flying flagship flag, a total of 6 dive bombers rushed over.

The members of the USS Essex were among the few veterans of the US military, skillfully avoiding the bombs, and even shooting down 2 Comets with anti-aircraft guns - the attack on the USS Essex failed;

After the comet and zero battle were changed to attract enemy firepower, the Tianshan reformers pounced to a low altitude and began to release torpedoes in a fan-shaped plane, because the US troops were busy dealing with medium- and high-altitude threats, and ignored the low-altitude threats, at 11:50, the Japanese army achieved its first victory, and the heavy cruiser Boston (Baltimore class), which had joined the Pacific Fleet for less than two months, and some parts had not even completely dried the paint, was blown into two sections by three torpedoes and sank. This was the result of the Boston's mercy - because he blocked the Saratoga aircraft carrier.

2 minutes later, the USS Langley (Independence-class), a light aircraft carrier newer than the Boston, ate 2 bombs, and the second half of the hull was completely blown open, and the damage could not be stopped no matter what, and the captain could only order to abandon the ship;

In the third wave of the Tien Shan Reform, the New Mexico once again served as a human sandbag, blocking two torpedoes for the Saratoga, and the battleship entered more than 4,000 tons, tilted more than 11 degrees, and dropped its speed to less than 14 knots.

There had been no attack, and while waiting for the best opportunity, Takashi Ekusa saw the gap and led six ships to pounce together, aiming at the back half of the Saratoga deck, the ship twisted around, and finally ate a bomb - and the position of the shot was very close to the Xianghe, and also in the second half, the elevator was stuck by the deformed steel plate.

"Report, USS Langley sank, USS Saratoga lost most of its take-off and landing capabilities, USS New Mexico was heavily damaged, and 21 air defense fighters were lost......"

Halsey listened to the battle report with a grim face and asked, "How is the battle of the first attack wave?" ”

"The offensive fleet suffered serious losses, and it is possible that only nearly 30 aircraft will be returned, and the Xianghe, Zhongchuang Ruihe and a light air carrier will be severely damaged, and the specific model is unknown."

"What about the second attack wave?"

"An offensive is about to be launched."

At 12:03, when the first attack wave of the Japanese army returned to its home, the mobile fleet ushered in the second attack wave of the US army, and the number of US planes that came to attack this time was slightly smaller than the first one, but because the number of air defense fighters was also reduced, the intensity of the second round of attacks should not be underestimated.

The first to suffer was the light aircraft carrier Bolzano, which was halfway home, and was hit by two 1,000-pound aerial bombs in a row, and finally announced that it was unable to save and gave up.

Because the USS Bayane looked larger than other light aircraft carriers, the US attack aircraft group thought it was at least a medium-sized aircraft carrier, and although they could not recognize what the specific model was, it did not prevent them from beckoning the torpedoes and bombs towards the Bayarn, who was not fast and managed to avoid the overhead bombs, but was hit by a torpedo -- fortunately, although the French were unreliable in building an aircraft carrier, and the quality of the hull was acceptable, they actually managed to float on the sea, but they only entered more than 2,000 tons of seawater. The speed slowed down to 12 knots.

The U.S. aircraft that went to attack the Zuihe were strongly sniped by the Zero War Reformers, and as a result, not a single bomb hit the Zuihe, and only two near-missed bombs were eaten.

At 12:17, the second attack wave of the U.S. army retreated, and the Japanese lost 19 zero combat reforms in this round, and the U.S. army lost 14 SBD, 12 TBF and 17 F6F, with an exchange ratio of less than 3:1.

Hearing the news that the second attack wave had sunk a light carrier and severely damaged a medium-sized aircraft carrier, the bridge of the Essex was full of jubilation, but when they heard that there were only more than 30 planes that had left the battlefield, Halsey and Nimitz couldn't help but look heavy -- this means that the Pacific Fleet, which had more than 200 planes on board, had lost more than half of its offensive strength at the end of the first round of attack, and now all the remaining planes added up to one Essex.

With Halsey and Nimitz in front of them, should they leave or stay and play another round?

Judging from the current exchange ratio, although the U.S. military obviously suffers losses, if the suicidal losses of the A fleet are removed, the losses of the B fleet are actually basically the same as those of the Japanese army: the fleet aircraft carrier suffered heavy losses (Shozuru vs Saratoga), the light aircraft carrier lost one (Bolzano vs Langley), the battleship ship suffered heavy damage (Haruna vs New Mexico), and the rest was nothing more than the Japanese Bayarn hit, and the U.S. military sank a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser. This kind of precious, almost rare exchange ratio was exchanged for six light aircraft carriers and hundreds of planes of the A Fleet -- that is, the American tycoons had this capital to squander.

Halsey motioned to Nimitz with his eyes, stay or fight again?

"How many more backup planes can we muster?"

"Essex has 8-9 and Saratoga has about 6."

"Put them all to use." After thinking about it for a long time, Nimitz said, "The shipbuilding capacity of the Japanese Empire is very weak, whether it is heavy damage or destruction, they will not be able to continue to make waves for at least half a year, even if they fight Saratoga and Essex, I will also fight the Zuizuru - this is their only fleet aircraft carrier." And we have at least 2 Essex class ships ready for service after October, and the gap between the two sides will be even greater next year! In the long run, the initiative will be in our hands. ”

Halsey nodded in agreement and suggested that the USS New Mexico and Saratoga should be withdrawn from the battlefield after the release, the subtext of which was to abandon the rescue of Tarawa, and Nimitz was silent for a long time, and finally opened his mouth with a heavy heart: "I owe these Marines a debt forever!" ”

On the other side of the mobile fleet, the scene was also chaotic, but Tsukahara's mind was still very calm, and he asked, "How many planes did Mitsuo Fuchida take away?" ”

"There are about 40 ships, half of which are full of fuel and half need to be replenished, and they are now all over the mobile fleet."

"How many planes are there?"

Minoru Genda counted: "We have lost nearly 60 planes in total and pushed more than 30 planes into the sea, and the losses of the second attack wave of Jiangcao Takashi have not yet been counted. ”

"Let the second attack wave come to land the mobile fleet, and Genda will lead the third attack wave to attack."

"But, sir, the number of fighters in the third wave is not enough, and Captain Genda brought over all attack planes, not a single fighter."

"Send a telegram to Tsunoda, and he'll understand."

"Gentian, after replenishment, the whole army will attack!"

Mitsuo Fuchida hesitated a little: "There are not enough escort fighters, too few I'm afraid the loss will be a bit big." ”

Kakuharu Tsunoda, who has always been brave, pointed to the escort fighter above his head: "I still have 18 here, you take them all." ”

"What about the guerrilla fleet?"

"We haven't been exposed yet, the enemy won't come, and even if they come, it doesn't matter, the guerrilla fleet is only 2 light air carriers, and there are Xianghe and Ruihe there, sir, which are much more important than me." Tsunoda patted Mitsuo Fuchida on the shoulder, "Be sure to send Essex and Saratoga to the sea, after they are finished, the Pacific Ocean can be sideways by the Imperial Navy!" ”

Kakuji Tsunoda's optimistic attitude has encouraged Mitsuo Fuchida, and although he feels that this battle is indeed a bit unexpected so far, there is no one in this world who fights you in a step-by-step battle. He nodded: "Wait for our good news." ”

Before departure, the guerrilla fleet received the message: "Xianghe was heavily damaged, Bolzano sank, Bayar was heavily damaged, and the rest were intact ......"

Mikawa and Tsunoda are a little anxious, the US military can make another wave according to this posture, I don't know what about the mobile fleet.

"Sir, Tsukahara-kun sent a telegram, and only 16 fighter jets will be given to us later, and all the rest will be left by his side."

"12 is enough for us, let him keep 4." Horikichi thought about it and replied unexpectedly.

"Sir!" Caolu was in a hurry, "No, 12 unstoppable ......"

"Nimitz won't be coming, don't worry." Horiyoshi smiled, "If he comes to attack us, it's a big deal to sink another 1-2 battleships, but then the Pacific Fleet will not be able to protect everything, so he won't come, he will only attack the mobile fleet." ”

"Sir!"

"Don't worry, let's go land!" Horikichi waved his hand lightly, "Trust Tsukahara-kun!" ”

At 13:18, a total of 64 planes of the third attack wave that had taken off from the guerrilla fleet set off and headed straight for the US fleet, while the first and second attack waves of the US army had just returned to the Essex and landed. The US military has more than 100 planes, and the number is only about 40 less than that of the Japanese army, but the Japanese army has four aircraft carriers available, while only one aircraft carrier of the Pacific Fleet can play its role normally, and the speed of operation is far from catching up with the opponent. The distance between the two sides was only 460 kilometers from each other at this time, and Nimitz and Halsey never dreamed that the enemy attacking them had so far all set out from the guerrilla fleet in the west.

This cold and glistening rib is finally about to use his strongest blow! (To be continued.) )