"Your Excellency, Commander, our seaplanes have already sent the Russian fleet. All four battleships were there! A staff officer reported excitedly. The location of the Russian fleet was determined, which means that it is impossible for the Russian fleet to escape. This was undoubtedly excellent news for the officers and men of the German Navy, who were eager to gain military success.

"Our aircraft carriers are now dispatching carrier-based aircraft, can they launch an attack on the Russian fleet?" Marshal Lütjens asked.

"Your Excellency, Marshal, although the distance is within the strike range of our carrier-based aircraft. However, it is too late now. If carrier-based aircraft are dispatched, it may be troublesome to recover. Although our carrier-based pilots have been trained to take off and land at night, the danger factor is still very high. "Chief of Staff Karl? Lieutenant General Witzel said.

Marshal Lütjans nodded, if the two aircraft carriers could take off carrier-based aircraft to launch an air attack on the Russian fleet, it would be enough to inflict heavy damage on them. In this way, the fleet will be able to easily eliminate them all tomorrow.

However, it would be too risky for the pilots to risk landing at night. Although the cost of carrier-based aircraft is not very high, pilots are very valuable. If any of these pilots make a mistake, it's a big loss. After all, when a carrier-based aircraft lands, the speed is usually very fast, and in the event of an accident, the pilot will definitely not be spared.

"Your Excellency, it is better to wait until after dawn tomorrow morning before attacking, for this is much more certain. As for whether the Russians will escape with the help of tonight, we have no need to worry at all. The Barents Sea is so big, and the north is covered with ice, it is impossible for the Russian fleet to escape. We can also send some destroyers and cruisers to keep an eye on them. In this case, it will be difficult for them to fly with wings. "Carl? Lieutenant General Witzel continued.

"Okay, then let's arrange it like this!" Marshal Lütjens said. This was undoubtedly the best way for the German fleet.

In order to prevent the Russian fleet from slipping away, the German fleet was monitoring them by water planes before the sun went down. This made it easy for the German fleet to learn about the movements of the troop fleet.

After dark, the seaplanes were evacuated. And the Russian fleet also changed course at this time.

It's just that the German fleet has long been prepared for this. More than a dozen destroyers and light cruisers, dispatched. They had fanned out the area. Even at night, the German Navy had installed sea search radars on all of its warships, which were able to detect targets within 40 kilometers.

Therefore, the German fleet was not at all worried that the Russian fleet would slip away. Unless the Russian fleet continues to sail towards the North Pole and crashes into the thick ice. Otherwise, they will never be able to escape.

At 12 o'clock in the evening, Marshal Lütjans, who had already slept, was woken up.

"Your Excellency, determine the orientation of the Russian fleet. They are moving south at a rapid pace. We are only 150 kilometers away from us. At the current rate, we are expected to be in two and a half hours. "Carl? Lieutenant General Witzel reported.

The sleepiness in Marshal Lütjans's eyes suddenly disappeared without a trace. For these generals, the news of the imminent battle is undoubtedly the best cheer.

"Are the Russians crazy? At this time, instead of running away, they are still coming at us, is this a way to kill themselves? Marshal Lütjens said.

"Who knows! Maybe the Russians think that if they fight us at night, they will have a better chance of winning! "Carl? Lieutenant General Witzel said.

A smile also appeared on Marshal Lütjans's face.

In order to enhance the combat effectiveness of these capital ships, the German Navy went to great lengths, although there was no doubt that aircraft carriers would become the main force in naval warfare. However, on some specific occasions, the combat effectiveness of the capital ship should not be underestimated. For example, during a night battle, the carrier-based aircraft of an aircraft carrier could not take off. The guns of the capital ship can be completely unaffected.

Therefore, after spending a lot of money, the German Navy finally developed a gun-sighting radar. Use radar to direct gun fire, increase hit rate, and attack targets at great distances. A person's line of sight is limited, and they can't see beyond a certain distance. And the radar can detect tens of kilometers. It is obviously much more effective to use gunsight radar to target enemy ships than to rely on ordinary ranging equipment.

In previous exercises, the use of radar to guide artillery shelling at night was much better than the accuracy of shelling within visual range during the day, but it was much better than before. This makes the night combat capability of the capital ship of the German Navy definitely the first in the world.

Therefore, when it was deduced that the Russian fleet actually wanted to engage in a night battle with the German fleet, Marshal Lütjans could not help laughing. That's a self-defeating one.

"Since the Russians want to fight us at night, let them be fulfilled! Order all the gunners to get ready for battle, and prepare a supper for them, I don't want to fight later, they will be hungry. Marshal Lütjens said.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Cal? Lieutenant General Witzel said.

"Also, let the aircraft carriers withdraw from the fleet and distance themselves from us to the south."

By this time, Marshal Lütjans had not forgotten about the safety of the aircraft carrier fleet. Although the aircraft carrier is strong in combat, it is in long-range attacks. Once it is close to the enemy's capital ship, only one large-caliber shell is enough to inflict heavy damage on the aircraft carrier.

The aircraft carriers "Archer" and "Capricorn", after receiving the order, immediately changed course and moved away from the German fleet. Their combat effectiveness will burst out during the day tomorrow. Of course, the premise is that the Russian fleet will not be completely lost in the night battle.

The light cruisers and destroyers of the German fleet were firmly eyed by the Russian fleet, making it impossible for them to escape.

As time passed, the fleets of both sides became closer and closer. Because of the implementation of the light control, the Russian fleet did not find out that they were discovered by the German fleet.

When the distance between the two sides was shortened to thirty kilometers, the four 'Caesar-class' battleships of the German Navy began shelling!

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The three triple 50-caliber 410-mm main guns of the four 'Caesar-class' battleships let out an earth-shattering roar, smashing one shell after another into the four battleships of the Russian fleet.