On the morning of 18 February, the German Navy's Home Fleet and Atlantic Fleet arrived in the waters near the Azores. It's just that by this time the Americans were almost ready. Two U.S. Marine Divisions and a British Marine Brigade have already landed. They built a lot of fortifications on the islands of the Azores.

Although, because of the rush of time, those fortifications may not be very strong. However, it has to be admitted that it would be very difficult for the German marines to storm the Azores and recapture those islands without strong fire support. Even the huge casualties would have stained the beaches red with the blood of the officers and men of the German marines.

In order to prevent the Azores from being attacked by the main guns of the German Navy, the American fleet also operated around the Azores, hoping to find a favorable fighter plane that would inflict heavy damage on the German Navy in one fell swoop so that the situation could be reversed.

"General, the American fleet is definitely near the Azores, but how are we going to lure them out?" Chief of Staff of the Home Fleet Richter? Lieutenant General Phils asked.

"Where is the aircraft carrier fleet?" Admiral Hipper did not answer immediately, but asked about the location of the aircraft carrier fleet.

"The aircraft carrier fleet is now in the sea one hundred and fifty kilometers northeast of the Azores. In order to avoid being detected by the Americans, they operate at a greater distance. "Richter? Lieutenant General Phils replied.

"Then, we can carry out the plan and lure the American fleet out." Admiral Hipper said with a smile.

Admiral Hipper's plan seemed simple. The Azores archipelago stretches several hundred kilometers from east to west. If the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet and the Home Fleet were to appear on either side of the Azores, this would undoubtedly have dispersed the fleet. If it is attacked by the Americans at this time, it will take more than ten hours for another fleet to reinforce it. A naval battle, almost a few hours. This will be a great temptation for the US fleet, which has eleven capital ships. If the Americans don't want to lose this opportunity, they will definitely attack. When the time comes, aircraft carriers hidden in the rear will be able to attack. Directly use the overwhelming number of carrier-based aircraft to drown the main fleet of the US Navy. Even if you can't eat all of the U.S. Navy, you can at least inflict heavy damage on them. Next, it's time for the Home Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet to pick up the pieces and take out the American fleet in one fell swoop.

At 11 a.m. on February 18, the German Navy's Home Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet jointly launched a heavy artillery bombardment of the defensive positions of Hero Brother and the surrounding U.S. Marines on Terceira Island.

Although the U.S. Marines also had some cannons, their small-caliber guns were obviously not able to compete with the battleship's main guns. The final result was that the defensive positions of the US Marines were almost crushed by the German naval guns, and the casualties were very large.

The German Navy's Home Fleet and Atlantic Fleet launched an attack around Terceira Island, almost plowing the positions of the American Marines with artillery fire, inflicting great losses on the American Marines.

Subsequently, the Home Fleet of the German Navy and the Atlantic Fleet dispersed their actions. The native fleet swept those islands west of the Azores, while the Atlantic fleet swept east of the islands east of the archipelago.

The U.S. Marines and British Marines stationed in the Azores were out of luck. The naval guns of the German Navy were very sharp, and even those secondary guns were definitely not something that the fragile human body could resist. This directly led to the heavy losses of these troops stationed on the island.

The Marine Corps commander in charge of the Azores kept sending telegrams to the American fleet, asking them to launch an attack and defeat the German navy. Otherwise, they were wiped out by the German naval guns before the German marines could attack.

But how dare the American fleet attack? The German Navy's Home Fleet and Atlantic Fleet combined, with sixteen powerful capital ships, were enough to crush the American fleet.

This made the top brass of the US Marine Corps even send the telegram to the desk of Secretary of the Navy Daniels. And that makes Henry? Admiral Mayo, under tremendous pressure.

But even so, Henry? Admiral Mayo still did not act rashly. The fleet in his hands is the only main fleet that the US Navy can handle. If it is lost, the US Navy is completely finished.

"General, Your Excellency Minister Daniels is also under a lot of pressure. The losses of the marines were too great, and the British expressed equally dissatisfaction. "Henry? Lieutenant General Wilson reported.

"I know, but we still need to be patient!" Henry? Admiral Mayo said.

"General, the Germans' fleets are scattered, their native fleet is sailing west, and the Atlantic fleet is sailing east. Both fleets are constantly shelling our marines. A staff officer reported.

Henry? Admiral Mayo's eyes lit up.

"The Germans actually dispersed? Don't they know that in this case we can concentrate our efforts on them? "Henry? Admiral Mayo laughed. He realized that the fighter plane he had been waiting for seemed to have arrived.

"General, the Germans are probably doing this to speed up the progress and create conditions for the landing of their marines!" Henry? Lieutenant General Wilson said.

Henry? Admiral Mayo thinks it's not that simple. However, he was also unwilling to give up this excellent fighter. In addition, it is the pressure from within the country that makes him have to fight quickly. Otherwise, the losses of the Marine Corps will be too great, and he will not be able to account for it.

"Order the fleet to turn, and tomorrow morning we will rush to the east of the island of São Miguel and prepare to deal with the Atlantic Fleet of the German Navy." Henry? Admiral Mayo ordered.

Henry? Admiral Mayo set his sights on the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet, naturally because it was slightly weaker than the German Navy's home fleet. With the strength of the American fleet, the possibility of eating the Atlantic Fleet of the German Navy is very large, and its own casualties will not be too great. In this way, they would be able to gain an advantage in the subsequent battle with the German Navy's home fleet.

Of course, Henry? Admiral Mayo didn't realize that it was all a trap.