"Colonel, we just received a telegram from a reconnaissance plane, but it stopped abruptly only halfway through."

Tan Renhao was taken aback, and immediately asked the communications officer, "Which reconnaissance line is this reconnaissance plane responsible for?" Also, didn't send another telegram? ”

The communications officer was stunned for a moment, and then marked the reconnaissance route of the reconnaissance plane on the chart.

"They must have been intercepted by Japanese fighters as they approached the Japanese fleet." Lei Shaoqing said as he looked at Tan Renhao.

"What is in the telegram of the reconnaissance aircraft?" Tan Renhao frowned.

"It was only said that it was suddenly attacked by enemy fighters, and it was not mentioned whether the enemy fleet was found."

"It is impossible for Japanese shore-based fighters to appear in this sea area, this must be an air defense fighter on an aircraft carrier!" Lei Shaoqing's expression became serious, "Ren Hao, the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet must be nearby." ”

Tan Renhao nodded. "Immediately let the attacking troops go, and Colonel Luo Jinming will command the first wave of attacks."

The three aircraft carriers quickly turned and reached a maximum speed of 33 knots when sailing into the wind. The escort fighters were the first to take off, followed by dive bombers and torpedo bombers off the deck of the carrier. The first wave of bombers arranged by Tan Renhao included 36 dive bombers and 36 torpedo bombers, and 12 Sparrowhawk fighters escorted it. This is the maximum number of combat aircraft that the fleet can discharge. According to Tan Renhao's arrangement, the first wave of bombers will return to the fleet after completing the attack. If the attack is not satisfactory, a second wave of bombers will be dispatched, and the returning first wave of bombers will be ready for the next attack, and a third wave of bombing will be launched when it is most urgent. And the second wave of bombers will go directly to the airfield on Jeju Island to land, and not return to the fleet, because by then the fleet will already be in the storm zone.

In the first rays of the morning light, dozens of fighters who had completed the formation left the sky over the fleet. The team was led by Colonel Luo Jinming, who piloted the Sparrowhawk, while Major Zhang Naiding was in charge of the bombing operation. The aircraft carrier did not immediately return to the fleet, but then released 24 anti-aircraft fighters in three squads, while 8 fighters who had previously carried out night air defense patrols landed on the aircraft carrier to refuel and the pilots also needed to rest.

The atmosphere in the aviation operations center was tense. The fleet remained radio-silent, unless it was certain that the Japanese aircraft carrier had been taken out, or that the fleet had been attacked by enemy aircraft. This approach was a bit risky, since both warships equipped with radars had their radars turned off, unable to detect incoming enemy aircraft from a distance, and could only rely on fighters operating on the periphery of the fleet to detect enemy groups. Of course, Tan Renhao is not concerned about this, but about when the Fifth Fleet will be discovered by the enemy.

The downed seaplane has actually exposed the existence of the Fifth Fleet. This seaplane was shot down to the south of the Japanese fleet, so will the commander of the Japanese fleet judge from this that the Fifth Fleet is not to its northwest, but to its south? Even if it is not possible to make a judgment on this, the Japanese fleet will certainly send reconnaissance planes, and it is a high-speed carrier-based reconnaissance plane to search south, and at a distance of more than 200 nautical miles, at most 45 minutes, the Japanese reconnaissance plane will discover the Fifth Fleet, and then it will take about half an hour to organize an attack, and after another 45 minutes, the Japanese bomber group will reach the skies over the Fifth Fleet. In the event of an attack by Japanese bombers, then the Fifth Fleet would definitely not have been able to remain unscathed. Tan Renhao pinned his hopes on the first wave of bomber groups.

If the first wave of bombers could quickly detect the Japanese fleet and launch an attack, then the Japanese fleet would not be able to organize an attack, but as long as it missed or delayed the time, then the Japanese fleet's bomber group would have left the aircraft carrier. At that time, the Fifth Fleet will have to face a severe test.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao called a staff officer over. "When will the second wave of bombers be able to take off?"

"At least forty minutes of preparation."

"Immediately get the second wave of bombers ready to go, and in forty minutes, immediately go!" Tan Renhao made a decisive decision.

Lei Shaoqing was slightly stunned and immediately walked over. "Renhao, isn't this too hasty, if what we find is not the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet......"

"We don't have time to hesitate, if it is the Japanese Southwest Combined Fleet, the first wave of attacks will be intercepted by Japanese fighters, and the effect will not be too good, if we wait until the results of the first wave of attacks are determined before deciding whether to launch a second wave of attacks, I am afraid that Japanese bombers will already appear above our heads." Tan Renhao sneered, "The second attack will reduce one squadron of dive bombers and one squadron of torpedo bombers, and we can leave the third strike force, so that even if there is any accident, we will not have the power to fight back." ”

"But ......"

Tan Renhao glanced at Lei Shaoqing. "There is nothing to do now, let the attacking troops prepare to set off immediately, since they want to fight, then they must beat the opponent to death, and there must be no mercy, let alone softness."

The aviation crews on the three aircraft carriers were busy again, and the ground crews refueled the 48 bombers of the two squadrons and loaded bombs as quickly as possible, while dozens of pilots also gathered at the aviation operations center on the aircraft carriers to listen to the operational briefings before the attack.

Thirty minutes later, the first fighter pilots boarded their planes, and the engines of the first fighters ready to take off were running. In order to strengthen the escort force, this time Tan Renhao sent a squadron of escort fighters, leaving only one squadron of air defense fighters for the fleet.

When the three aircraft carriers turned to sail into the wind again, one after another fighter jets left the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, and then 48 bombers carrying 250 kg of aviation armor-piercing shells and torpedoes also ejected from the deck of the aircraft carrier. These bulky bombers had to take off with the help of catapults when they were loaded with ammunition and fuel, while fighters without bombs could take off directly without the use of catapults.