As soon as the sun appeared above the sea, the aircraft carrier "Xuanzong" broke away from the core of the fleet and began to wind up accompanied by several destroyers. Dozens of fighters on the flight deck are ready to fly, and the pilots are all staying in the cabin, making final preparations before takeoff with the help of aviation crews. As a red flare rose into the sky, the "Sparrowhawk" in first place was ejected, and then the fighter 6 behind it left the flight deck.

At this time, a bomber formation consisting of 48 medium-range bombers of the 6th Army Air Force had already crossed the sky over the fleet, and then a total of 8oo bombers flew over the fleet and flew towards the Ryukyu Island to the east. Navy bombers and fighters that had just taken off from the aircraft carrier also quickly joined the bomber group. This was the last bombing before the 6th of the Deng, and all the bombers were asked to drop bombs on the Japanese defensive positions north of the port of Naha, clearing the way for the 6th unit of the Deng-6.

To the east of Task Force 1, the 6th Fleet of Ships, covered by two heavy cruisers and several destroyers, released the first 6 boats on the sea about five nautical miles from the beach. The 6 boats were carrying officers and men of the 6th Brigade of the 6th Combat Brigade, whose mission was to seize the beachhead and gain space for the troops that arrived later. Then several battleships, as well as several transports temporarily converted into fire support ships, fired at the Japanese defensive positions on the beach.

The entire combat operation was commanded by Admiral Wu Xianyu, who stayed in the 6th Fleet. He was the commander of the Western Pacific Theater, and when the Deng 6 operational plan began to be formulated, Wu Xianyu was assigned to command this combat operation. In order to indicate that this was a joint combat operation with the 6th Army, the chief of staff of the 6th Operational Command was a lieutenant general from the 6th Army.

Tan Renhao did not participate in the command of the Deng 6 operation, and he did not even personally arrange the operation of the fleet. Ji Xiaobin was in charge of dispatching the aircraft carrier bombers, and Ji Xiaobin was also directly under the command of Wu Xianyu. Tan Renhao had another important task, that is, to keep an eye on the Japanese First Battlefleet and look for opportunities. Take out this Japanese fleet.

"The reconnaissance plane will be out in five minutes." Lei Shaoqing can be regarded as the busiest officer in the aviation operations department now, "What we have is still in our possession, and we still have information received last night: the Japanese First Battlefleet is operating in the sea about 35o nautical miles east of Ryukyu Island. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, what he was most worried about was this Japanese fleet. And the biggest possibility is that on the first night of the Deng-6 field, the Japanese battlefleet suddenly appeared outside the Deng-6 field, which will be a disaster for the Deng-6 troops. Because tens of thousands of Deng-6 troops were invested at one time. It is also necessary to transport a large amount of war materials and equipment to the beach. In the first three days of the 6th boarding, hundreds of ships will be concentrated on the sea. And these ships are either transport ships aboard 6 ships. Either it's destroyers, cruisers, these small and medium-sized ships. If they were attacked by the Japanese First Battlefleet, they would not even have the strength to fight back. Goro Takasu is not a stupid person, and he will definitely attack at night. It was necessary to hold off the Japanese fleet before nightfall, or at least force the Japanese fleet to come close to landing six before dawn.

"When will Air 6 be able to guarantee the removal of the Japanese airfields on the island?" Tan Renhao sighed, he had already drawn up the battle plan, and now the question is whether it can be implemented smoothly.

"The bombing mission will be completed by this afternoon at the latest." Lei Shaoqing looked at the table below: "The bombers of the second echelon should have been prepared for takeoff at the airport. ”

"I hope that 6 Airlines will not disappoint us this time." Tan Renhao nodded slightly: "We only have one chance, if we can't kill the First Battle Fleet before dark today, or force it to leave the waters near the Ryukyu Road, then this battle will be lost." ”

"I've done what you asked. Let the reconnaissance aircraft focus on the search of the sea area where the Japanese fleet operates. This time we sent more than twenty reconnaissance planes, which should have been able to find the Japanese fleet in the afternoon. ”

Tan Renhao did not say anything more, whether the most critical reconnaissance plane in the past few hours could determine the position of the Japanese fleet. will be directly related to the final outcome of the naval battle.

Soon the first reconnaissance aircraft came out. Half an hour later, the second group of reconnaissance aircraft also left the flight deck. At noon, Tan Renhao dispatched a third group of reconnaissance planes, and these three groups of reconnaissance planes will each carry out two reconnaissance missions in one day. At this time, the first reconnaissance aircraft were returning home. These reconnaissance aircraft were all temporarily played by the "Osprey" and "Kingfisher", and at that time there were no regular aircraft carrier reconnaissance aircraft in the Imperial Navy. After returning home, the aircraft carriers of the aircraft carrier "Xuanzong" carried out a second round of bombing of the Japanese defensive positions, anti-aircraft artillery positions, and airfields on Ryukyu Island. With the arrival of the second echelon of bombers on Ryukyu Island and the completion of the bombing of several surrounding islands, the airfields deployed by Japan on Ryukyu Island and the surrounding islands were basically paralyzed.

In the afternoon, Tan Renhao received the good news that the troops of the 6th Army had taken control of the beachhead, and the 6th Brigade of the other two brigades had gone ashore and would let the first division of the 6th Army go ashore in the evening. It was also a little later in the afternoon that day, hundreds of transport planes carrying the 1st Airborne Division arrived over Ryukyu Island under the cover of fighters, and the Airborne Forces of the 6th Army began to move. The first task of these airborne troops was to seize those Japanese airfields on Ryukyu Island and ensure that the Tang Emperor's ** team could control air supremacy over the island.

The Deng-6 combat operation went smoothly, but Tan Renhao did not feel very happy, because the three groups of reconnaissance planes he sent took more than half a day to find the Japanese First Battlefleet. It was as if this huge fleet had suddenly disappeared from the sea.

"Will they be returning home?" Lei Shaoqing also felt very strange.

"This is certainly impossible, unless Goro Takasu wants to go to the Judge Advocate General's Office." Tan Renhao sighed, "But where is this fleet?" ”

Just as the two of them were puzzled, a communications officer ran over. "The chief of staff reconnaissance plane No. 322 has sent a telegram to the Japanese fleet."

The two of them were both happy and shocked at the same time, because they both knew where the area searched by the No. 322 reconnaissance plane was. That sea area is less than 15o nautical miles from Ryukyu Island!

Tan Renhao looked at the navigation clock, and there were still 2 hours before it was about to darken. He hurried over to the chart table. At this time, the staff officer reported the exact position of the Japanese fleet and marked it on the chart with a red pencil. The distance between the two fleets is about 25o nautical miles, which is within the strike range of bombers, but now Tan Renhao does not have enough fighters in his hands. The group of planes on the "Xuanzong" has not yet returned, and the bombers on the "Taizu" have all gone on reconnaissance missions. Now Tan Renhao has a bit of a headache.

"When will Deng Zi's fleet return?" Tan Renhao lit a cigarette. He looked a little nervous. Deng Zi is now leading bombers to provide bombing support for the Deng 6 troops.

"Return to the fleet in about fifteen minutes."

"Immediately get the aviation crew ready, and leave twelve more anti-aircraft fighters, and all the other Sparrowhawks will hang up their bombs and take off before the Deng Zi group returns. Then they bombed the Japanese fleet together. Tan Renhao sighed, "After the second group of reconnaissance planes returns, immediately organize the two groups of reconnaissance planes to prepare for the second round of attacks." ”

"It was too late by then." Lei Shaoqing immediately stood up: "If you organize a second batch of bombing." By the time the group reached the skies over the Japanese fleet, it was already dark. ”

"It's better than doing nothing. At least our pilots have now mastered the technique of landing at night. Even to scare the Japanese, they had to carry out a night bombing. ”

Lei Shaoqing did not object again, in fact, he also knew very well that even if he could not destroy the Japanese fleet, he would at least have to hold off the Japanese fleet for as long as it could.

"Contact Commander Ji Xiaobin and let them act according to the plan, if we can't stop the Japanese First Battlefleet. Then it's just up to them. ”

The fleet was quickly busy, and when Deng Zi's group appeared in the open space above the fleet, more than 2o "Sparrowhawks" 6 with 25o kg bombs left the flight deck of the aircraft carrier. Then Deng Zi's group 6 continued to land on the aircraft carrier in order to be able to improve the degree. Some of the fighters landed on the "Taizu" and replenished fuel. After the ammunition, the planes took off again. The pilots did not leave the cockpit at all, each received a few pieces of chocolate, and there was no time for them to rest.

While the two aircraft carriers were busy, Ji Xiaobin led the large cruiser "Li Jing" and four other heavy cruisers, and eight destroyers left the fleet and headed for Ryukyu Island. This was another part of the plan, and if the 1st Task Force had not destroyed the 1st Japanese Battlefleet during the day, some of the 1st Task Force would have deployed a defensive line in the waterway between the Kerama Islands and Ryukyu Islands, covering the 6th Squadron in the north at night, and trying to stop the Japanese fleet from the 6th Battle. As long as it can be delayed until dawn, then it will be worth losing these ships. This is the last move, and it is also a move to fight hard. Of course, this can only be done if there is no choice, and now Tan Renhao has no choice.

An hour before dark, the second group of reconnaissance planes, led by Major Zhang Naiding, returned to the fleet. Tan Renhao specially talked to Zhang Naiding, Zhang Naiding, after knowing that he was going to carry out a night bombing mission, he didn't even frown his eyebrows, and then agreed. Then he boarded the fighter plane with the pilot. Half an hour before dark, Zhang Nai's Dingdi aircraft group 6 left the two aircraft carriers. And Tan Renhao also bet on 12 air defense fighters at the last moment. He was prepared to fight to the death, and if he could force the Japanese fleet to retreat during the night bombardment, then he would have won. Seeing the last fighter leave the fleet, Ren Hao breathed a sigh of relief and was a little nervous at the same time. Now that he had put his old Bendu on board, he had no strength at his disposal to attack the Japanese First Battlefleet except for the third group of reconnaissance planes that were to return before dark. Now his only hope is that Deng Zi's group can rush to the sky above the Japanese fleet before dark, inflict heavy damage on the Japanese fleet, and then Zhang Naiding's group will disrupt the Japanese fleet's arrangement at night, and if it really can't work, let Ji Xiaobin block it for a while.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao felt as if the strength in his body had suddenly disappeared, he sat on the chair, and then stared blankly at the sea outside the porthole.

"Don't worry, Deng Zi and Zhang Naiding are the best, and their pilots are also the best." Lei Shaoqing walked over, "What do you want to eat at night?" ”

Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, how could he still have an appetite now.

"Then I'll bring you a boxed lunch."

Tan Renhao couldn't refuse, so he could only nod.

Lei Shaoqing patted him on the shoulder, and then walked out of the command headquarters. The pressure of this operation was even greater than the pressure of the naval battle on Ryukyu Island, and when studying at the Imperial Naval Academy, every officer had to master the common sense of the Deng-6 operation (this is a tradition of the Imperial Navy for hundreds of years, because in hundreds of years of naval warfare, the Imperial Navy moved the Deng-6 operation no less than the naval battle), and the most basic common sense is that the risk of using the Deng-6 operation without gaining sea supremacy is very high, and it can even lead to complete failure. At present, the Imperial Navy has not fully mastered the sea supremacy, and it can even be said that the sea supremacy is in the hands of the Japanese Navy. In this case, it is indeed too risky to fight in the 6 battle. Everyone who understands this common sense is under tremendous pressure, especially Tan Renhao.

When Lei Shaoqing came back with a boxed lunch, Tan Renhao was lying on the chart table looking at something.

"Let's eat first, people are iron, rice is steel, you can't command the battle on an empty stomach."

Tan Renhao smiled and took the lunch box, but he opened his mouth and said, "Shaoqing, don't you think it's a little strange? ”

"What's weird?" Lei Shaoqing is much simpler than Tan Renhao.

"The actions of the Japanese Navy." Tan Renhao put the lunch box on the table, "The Battle of Ryukyu Island has been over for more than two months, and the Japanese should know the powerful attack force of the aircraft carrier, even if Takasu Goro is a pure battleship general, but Yamamoto Sixty-five is not, he will not let Takasu Goro take the first battlefleet to risk." In addition, now the Japanese 1st Air Fleet still has an aircraft carrier, and it has definitely regained its combat effectiveness, the Japanese did not use it, put this strike force under the ass, did not use it? ”

Lei Shaoqing glanced at Tan Renhao, and then nodded, this is indeed a problem.