On May 21, the sun was setting over the Gulf of Aden.

On the destroyer USS Jarvis of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the British Royal Navy, Major McCall stood by the ship's bow torpedo launcher, looking north against the sea breeze.

His eagle-sharp gaze crossed the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and he saw endless golden waters.

Looking at the golden glow of the sunset over the sea, Colonel McCall couldn't help but think of a few months ago.

It was also the evening of sunset, and it was also a routine sea patrol, and the Jarvis, which he commanded, was the first to discover the Japanese Navy's European task force.

After the fleet's entry into the Mediterranean, the situation on the battlefield of the British Empire took a sharp turn for the worse, first with the accession of Spain to the Axis powers, and then with the fall of the fortress of Gibraltar.

What followed was a series of bad news from the Royal Navy, and the mighty warships that once dominated the four seas were sunk one after another.

Major McCall had long heard that the Japanese Navy had played a very dishonorable role in a series of naval battles.

First he was in league with Germany and Italy, and then he jumped out to be a so-called messenger of peace, and he deserved to be kicked out of the meeting.

Those damned Japanese, isn't there a word for shame in the dictionary?

Now, the Japanese are finally going to get out of Europe, and regrettably, they have to pass before their eyes.

Counting the time, the Japanese set out from Taranto and were about to reach the Gulf of Aden.

He had to keep a close eye on the movements of the Japanese fleet, especially the German and Italian fleets hiding behind the Japanese. A surprise attack on the Indian Ocean Fleet.

It was an unprecedentedly difficult time for the British Empire, which could no longer afford a single major loss, especially from the Royal Navy.

"Major. To the north, a black plume of smoke was found, number two, at a distance of about eleven nautical miles. Behind McCall came the shouts of a lookout post.

McCall hurried into the bridge and immediately gave the order to combat readiness.

It is not only the Japanese Navy that will emerge from here, but also the destroyers of the Italian Navy.

McCaul has played against his Italian counterparts on more than one occasion, and each side has left some "fond" memories for the other.

The gunners advanced the shells into the 120-mm breech, the muzzle of which was pointed north.

Torpedo crews also crouched behind torpedo launchers. Staring at the uninvited guests in the distance.

Communicators are also in contact with other patrol ships, ready to call for reinforcements at any time.

"Call with clear code. Ask for the person's identity. McCall commanded.

More than ten seconds later, the lookout post suddenly shouted: "The other party has fired, fire immediately, fire immediately." ”

The lookout whistle had just finished speaking. A rumbling explosion sounded in the air, and four white water columns rose into the sky on the sea more than 20 meters in front of the Jarvis right.

The 120-millimeter guns, which had been prepared for a long time, did not hesitate to return fire, and the red and black flames and gunpowder smoke spewed out of the muzzles and filled the front of the bridge.

Sure enough, it was the Italian Navy, and Major McCall's spirits instantly perked up.

Major McCall did not give the order to call for reinforcements, but commanded the Jarvis to fight the Italians in a one-on-two fight.

Everything was expected by him, at a distance of seven or eight nautical miles. After four or five rounds of artillery shells were exchanged between the two sides, news suddenly came from the lookout post that the Italian destroyer was turning around and retreating.

"Every day after dinner, we have a round of battles with Italy. Aids digestion after meals. Major McCall said with a smile to the first mate.

"It would be nice if I could sink one." The first mate said.

The Jarvis did not pursue and allowed the Italian destroyer to retreat into the depths of the Red Sea, where it continued its patrol.

Twenty minutes later, the lookout post shouted again: "A large black plume of smoke has been found in the north, and four warships are rapidly approaching, about thirteen nautical miles away. ”

"The Italians actually called for help? Do they want to rush out of the Red Sea? Into the Gulf of Aden? Major McCall said nervously.

"U-turn, retreat. Report the situation here to the fleet command immediately. McCall continued.

Against four Italian warships, the power of the Jarvis alone was too dangerous to take a pointless risk.

No sooner had the Jarvis turned the hull than a seaplane hummed past the Jarvis at a height of fifty or sixty meters above the Jarvis's head, and Major McCall's body shuddered violently.

"Seaplanes, at least one cruiser on the other side!" Major McCall exclaimed.

"Report, lookout post said that there was a circular red spray under the wing of the aircraft, which is suspected to be a Japanese aircraft."

"Japanese planes?" McCall subconsciously repeated, and a cold sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead.

"Quickly let the anti-aircraft artillery cease fire, and immediately send electricity to the Japanese in clear code, this is a misunderstanding." The muscles on McCall's face twisted and distorted in an instant.

The first mate also knew that the anti-aircraft gunners had caused a big disaster, and hurriedly shouted into the microphone.

After a few moments, the ping-pong cannon on the Jarvis stopped.

Fortunately, the plane was not hit, and there was still room for redemption, Major McCall wiped the sweat from his forehead, and secretly rejoiced in his heart.

The reproaches of the Japanese fleet followed.

"We are the Imperial Japanese Navy, who are you? Why attack our military aircraft? Are you going to declare war on the Japanese Empire? ”

Through the telegram, Major McCall could clearly perceive the anger of the other party.

As the two sides drew closer, McCall spoke directly to the Japanese naval commander on the other side by radio, explaining the misunderstanding that had just occurred.

"Major McCall, this kind of behavior can easily lead to war, please be careful not to make such a low-level mistake again. Our fleet is in a hurry to return to Japan, so please get out of the way. ”

The Jarvis hurriedly moved out of the way.

Not long after, a light cruiser and three destroyers sailed from the east side of the Jarvis into the Gulf of Aden.

Major McCall's gaze then turned to the north, where a large black "dark cloud" appeared over the sea.

The main forces of the Japanese fleet finally appeared.

On the deck of the Akagi, the trio of ship attack planes, like their comrades, stood in a square team, bouncing and doing evening exercises.

After the evening exercise, the three of them followed the queue back to the cabin, he looked at the red sunset in the west and said, "Today is finally over." ”

Nobita and Koo Karukawa looked at each other, sighed in unison, and walked behind Izuki to the cabin

Witnessing the huge hulls of the USS Akagi, USS Kaga, and the two Kongo-class battleships passing by one by one, Major McCall ordered the USS Jarvis to turn around and follow the Japanese fleet eastward.

He received a new order to monitor the movements of the Japanese fleet along the way to confirm whether the other side was acting hostilely

At six o'clock in the morning of the next day, Nagumo Tadashi walked into the bridge of the Akagi and immediately received a report from the officer on duty.

"According to radar signals and radio wave reactions, three British * ships were following us, ranging from seven nautical miles to ten nautical miles."

"Is the radar sent by the Germans still working?" Nagumo asked.

"It's very useful, especially at night, and it's able to detect targets that can't be seen by observation posts."

Nanyun nodded: "When we return home, we must urge the headquarters to strengthen research on radar." ”

After a morning flew by, and after confirming that the Japanese fleet was not hostile, the British fleet, which was "escorting" the Nagumo fleet, reluctantly left.

Sending four seaplanes to reconnoiter the waters around the fleet, Nagumo confirmed that the British destroyer had departed.

Twelve destroyers sent reports one after another, and no submarine signals were found in the nearby waters.

With Nagumo's order, the fleet's speed was immediately reduced from fifteen knots to ten.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, in the cabin of the pilot of the carrier-based aircraft Akagi.

The young man in the wooden shirt sat at the head of the bed, and wrote his family letter on the square wooden table at the head of the bed.

"Dear Father, I am going on a mission to complete the mission. I hope to win honor for our whole family, and if it takes my life, I will do whatever it takes to serve my country."

Behind him, Nobita Nobi and Koo Gukawa are also working hard to write.

Outside the cabin, Zero fighters, Type 97 carrier-based attack planes, and Type 99 carrier-based dive bombers filled the flight deck one after another.

Ground crews in white overalls were pushing bombs and torpedoes in carts, and then attaching them under the warplanes.

On the mast of the Akagi, the Z-shaped battle flag fluttered high.

A piercing battle alarm sounded, and one by one, pilots in grass-green combat uniforms and black leather flight caps jumped out of the hatch and assembled on the deck.

Holding aloft the sake glass, the trio of Izuki shirts and other comrades-in-arms shouted impassionedly: "Let's see you at the Yasukuni Shrine." ”

After drinking the sake in the cup, I put down the wine glass, took the long white turban sent by the ground staff and sent it to my forehead, with a red plaster pattern in the middle of the white turban and two big black characters on both sides.

Ran to the right side of the plane, stepped on the wings and quickly got into the cabin, put down the goggles, and started the plane immediately after getting out of the wooden shirt.

The 54 carrier-based planes participating in the first round of combat were launched one after another, and the roar of the engines resounded over the Akagi.

The massive hull of the Akagi had already turned upwind and increased to maximum speed.

The blue signal lights indicated take-off by the flight command post were constantly drawn in circles, and the fighters in front of the flight deck took off first.

The engines rumbled, and the plane began to glide slowly.

A storm of cheers rang out all around, and ground crews waved their hats, waved their arms, and waved small flags to see off the pilots.

After a long queue, gliding across the undulating and rocking deck, pulling the joystick, the plane rises into the wind and soars into the sky (to be continued)