PS: Yesterday was actually chapter 23, so today directly starts with 24.

In the darkness, the American TF64 formation, which was heading northeast at a speed of 22 knots, and the Japanese artillery fleet, which was heading southwest at a speed of 20 knots, walked opposite each other, and the distance between them was constantly narrowing, as if two swordsmen with heavy swords in their hands were moving forward without knowing that the enemy was approaching.

As the hour hand slowly crossed 4 o'clock, about 200 nautical miles south-west of the TF64 formation, the carriers Enterprise and Wasp were busy, ground crews were busy lifting refueled planes to the deck, and pilots nervously checking planes and equipment for final preparations. Kincaid watched the movement on the deck through the gap in the porthole of the ship's island, his clenched fists showing his nervousness.

On the USS Washington, Rear Admiral Li listened to the tragic shelling reported by the 1st Marine Division on Kuah Island, and his forehead couldn't help but be bruised, and he whispered to the chief of staff of the formation behind him: "Let the seaplanes go to reconnoiter the enemy fleet in another 25 minutes, and be sure to find the aircraft carrier to point out the direction for Rear Admiral Kincaid." ”

At 4:25 a.m., five minutes before dawn, the distance between the two fleets had shrunk to 54 nautical miles, but the two sides still did not notice each other's presence (the US warships had only 35 kilometers of sea radar search distance, while Japan did not have one at all).

"Sir, reconnaissance aircraft No. 3 reports the discovery of a sea target." Only seven minutes after the ejection of the plane, the commander tower of the TF64 formation's flagship Washington was suddenly interrupted by a sudden report, and Major General Li was surprised and delighted. "Tell me quickly."

"The enemy fleet is about 50 nautical miles from our fleet...... The speed is 20 knots, and the course is 215 degrees...... About 3 large targets, 3 battleships...... Medium Target 9. 9 heavy cruisers...... More than 20 small targets, including light cruisers and destroyers...... No enemy aircraft carriers were found. Repeated, no enemy aircraft carriers were found. ”

The chief of staff of the formation muttered for a moment: "This is estimated to be the Japanese fleet shelling Kuah Island, and the number is basically in line with the report of the 1st Marine Division -- one of the heavy cruisers may have been misjudged as a battleship by the Kuah Island side." ”

Major General Li nodded in recognition and asked, "When is it expected to engage the enemy?" ”

"The speed in the opposite direction is about 42 knots...... If the current speed is maintained, it will be possible to enter the visual observation area after 25 minutes and the combat zone after 30 minutes. ”

"Good." He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. "It's 4:38 a.m., and the TF16\17 attack aircraft group should be ready, keeping the current course and speed of the fleet unchanged. Inform Rear Admiral Kincaid of the current position of the enemy fleet and request an air strike against the enemy. This fleet will launch a diversionary attack as soon as possible, and our reconnaissance planes will further expand the search area in depth and make sure to find the enemy aircraft carrier. ”

"Sir. Don't reconsider? The enemy had 3 battleships. We have only 1, and there are not as many heavy cruisers as they are. ”

Major General Li hesitated slightly, but finally said firmly: "When we see the enemy, we will fight, we have no reason to retreat, we want to avenge the 1st Marine Division." ”

"Yes."

Almost at the same time, the Japanese artillery fleet also received the relevant information.

"Sir, the Zero Water Scout has reported that the U.S. fleet has been spotted west-southwest. The detection results were large warship 1, suspected battleship; Medium warship 3. suspected heavy cruiser; Small targets are difficult to distinguish, and it is estimated that there are 6-8 destroyers...... At present, the relative distance is about 50 nautical miles, and it is estimated that it is the vanguard fleet of enemy aircraft carriers. ”

"It's coming pretty quickly...... Horikichi looked at the sky that had just been brightened, and then at the wall clock hanging on the wall, and after a moment of silence, he said, "The route remains the same, the fleet accelerates, and the overall speed is increased to 25 knots......"

"Yes."

Hearing this order, Kondo Nobutake understood why Horiyoshi had just asked Fuso and Yamashiro to break away from the formation to cover the 8th Fleet - the maximum speed of these two old ships could only run to 22 knots, and the slow transport ships that covered the 8th Fleet were of course not a problem, but this speed was slow to follow the main formation south, and it could only play a role in dragging its feet.

"With the current speed and course remaining the same, what is the closest land airfield to our army in 20 minutes?" Horikichi turned his head and asked Kusaka either.

Several staff officers immediately worked on the charts, and after a few moments came up with the results: "Report, the Munda Island Air Force is the closest to the place, and the distance is expected to be 150 nautical miles. ”

"Can the US aircraft carrier attack aircraft fleet take off now?"

"Yes."

"Can my land fleet take off?"

"It's bright at 4:30 at sea, 15 minutes later on land, and you can take off in about 7 minutes."

"Assuming that the enemy aircraft carrier formation is 100 nautical miles away from us at this moment, how long will it take from the time the attack aircraft group is released to the time it arrives at our position to attack?"

Caolu calculated that it would take 15-20 minutes for the US aircraft carrier to release the group, and at least 25-30 minutes to fly 100 nautical miles after releasing the attack group. He immediately replied loudly: "Sir, the enemy aircraft group will arrive on the battlefield at 5:15 at the earliest. ”

Horikichi quickly thought about it, and then smiled: "Very good, there is basically enough time." ”

Without waiting for everyone to ask, the follow-up combat instructions were immediately issued like flowing water: "First, the enemy aircraft carrier formation is estimated to be hanging behind the enemy battleship formation, and the reconnaissance planes will search 180 degrees to the south and west, with a search range of 250 nautical miles, and strive to discover the enemy aircraft carrier formation as soon as possible; Second, 150 nautical miles is about half an hour's speed of the Zero Combat Flight, and the Munda Island Air Force is required to provide the first wave of air cover at dawn according to the predetermined instructions, and the Zero Fighter Group will be the first to arrive at the expected position of the Fleet, and the attack aircraft group will wait for further instructions. ”

Cao Lu Yi thought about it in his heart: the fighter group on Munda Island took off at 4:45, even if they flew faster than the American attack aircraft group, they would have to fly for at least 35 minutes at 150 nautical miles, and he was so anxious that he shouted: "Sir, so that we will not have aircraft cover until at least 5:20, and there is a difference of 5 minutes in the middle, and there may be even more difference." ”

Horikichi said lightly, "Five minutes...... Don't worry, it's totally enough. ”

Cao Lu thought that Midway was 5 minutes away, and as a result, 4 aircraft carriers were blown up and sunk, why was it 5 minutes short this time? The words of his admonition were already on his lips, and after thinking about it, he felt unlucky and swallowed it back.

"What, afraid of the same fate for 5 minutes?" Hori Yoshiyoshi laughed, "You're overthinking, I'm thinking about the worst-case scenario, the enemy aircraft carrier formation is definitely farther than you think." ”

"Why?" Not only was Cao Lu curious, but even the operational staff officer felt that this conclusion was very strange - on what basis did the commander deduce it?

"Our reconnaissance planes have spotted the enemy's advance fleet, do you think the enemy will also find us? Maybe a little before us, right? The news has probably been sent back to the enemy fleet......"

There was no doubt about this, and the Americans were naturally trying to find a way to reconnoitre, and everyone nodded in agreement with the hypothesis.

"If the enemy aircraft carrier formation was really so close to us, the enemy avant-garde would have slowed down or turned around and retreated, so would it be necessary to send battleships to fight us closely? The only explanation was that it was a long distance, that he needed time, and that he was afraid that we would slip away, so he decided to let the battleship formation entangle us first - but he never expected that we were going for the enemy's avant-garde fleet. ”

Everyone was skeptical when they heard it, but what the chief said was so sure that everyone could only be silent.

"Wouldn't it be better if, I mean, the enemy aircraft carrier formation was really so close to us? The reconnaissance aircraft will be able to discover the target in a maximum of 10 minutes, and the fleet will be able to indicate the direction of attack for the mobile fleet with complete speed. ”

"But in this way, the fleet will be too dangerous, and it will be directly under the first strike of the enemy aircraft group." Nobutake Kondo was in a hurry.

"It's okay, we're bait...... How can Americans who are not fragrant be able to bite into it with confidence? Striking us, their attack aircraft groups can no longer go and strike at the mobile fleet. Kondo-kun, please come and command the fleet to fight, so that the Americans can see your gunnery ......" Horiyoshi said, "I'm old, and I don't have enough energy after staying up late, so I need to take a nap first." ”

Kondo Nobutake didn't expect Horikichi to propose to rest at this time, he was stunned for a moment, and then he was overjoyed: from the beginning of the Pearl Harbor battle to the present, the aircraft carrier formation has been making a big show of might, and the battleships have not shown their faces in the battle -- shelling the islands that cannot be fought back is not a skill, and it is his wish to fight the enemy battleships face to face.

"Yes!" He replied very loudly, as if he had just been admitted to the Etajima Naval Academy decades ago.

Time passed minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the Yamato Command Tower was depressed as if it was about to freeze, although Horiyoshi sat in his position and looked comfortable with his eyes closed, but everyone else was so nervous that their faces turned pale, and Kusaka couldn't stand this invisible oppression, so he simply plunged into the telegraph room to read the latest briefing.

At 4:38 Kincaid received a more explicit reconnaissance telegram from the USS Washington: 3 battleships, 11 cruisers, 32 destroyers, no aircraft carriers found, the center of the enemy fleet at 10 degrees 11 minutes south latitude and 159 degrees 05 minutes east longitude, headed southwest, and sailing at a speed of 20 knots.

The question is where exactly are the enemy's aircraft carriers? In the face of Major General Lee's request for air raids, he began to make trouble.

Now he had two choices: first, immediately dispatch all carrier-based aircraft to attack the Japanese battleship formation; Second, it is necessary to wait until the Japanese aircraft carrier formation is clear and give priority to attacking it. Of course, there is also a compromise third option that takes into account both, that is, to send part of the forces to attack the enemy battleship formation, and to reserve part of the forces to prepare for the Japanese aircraft carrier formation. At 4:30 a.m., the aircraft carriers were fully ready, but as the minutes and seconds passed, the aviation commanders on the two aircraft carriers still had not received clear combat orders, and all the pilots were anxiously waiting for the order to attack. (To be continued.) )