"Task Force 30 reports that the first strike wave they sent is on its way back. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info The current definite record is to sink 1 German light fleet aircraft carrier, sink 1 light cruiser, and severely damage 3 German large fleet aircraft carriers......"

"The long-range reconnaissance aircraft of the Bermuda Princess reported the discovery of a German fleet of more than 50 nautical miles due east of Bermuda, with large surface ships, which is currently advancing westward at a speed of more than 20 knots."

After listening to the staff officer's report, Admiral Halsey glanced at the chief of staff, Major General Callaghan, with surprise on his face, and he found that his chief of staff, like him, had won the jackpot with an expression on his face.

God bless America!

This time, I really caught a big fish!

"Sir, the newly discovered German fleet must be going to the rescue of the German aircraft carrier formation that has just been defeated by us." Rear Admiral Callahan immediately made a judgment, "And the size of this fleet is not particularly large, it is estimated that there will be 6-8 battleships or battle cruisers, plus a couple of Kesselring-class aircraft carriers...... Certainly not our opponents! ”

Rear Admiral Callaghan's analysis certainly makes sense, and now the US Task Force 30 and Task Force 31 are concentrated on 9 of the most powerful battleships and 9 large fleet carriers. This is almost the strongest lineup that the U.S. Navy can currently deploy!

If it can't win the battle against a few German aircraft carriers that have already been heavily damaged and a few battleships that are inferior in firepower and defense to the Iowa class, then the United States of America may really have to pay 500 billion European marks in reparations to buy peace.

"How much time is left to meet?" Halsey asked.

"Seven hours at most," Callahan replied, "will be able to rendezvous with Task Force 30 tonight, and then be able to pursue it at a speed of about 25 knots." An hour can shorten the distance by up to 15 nautical miles, and if we're lucky, we'll be able to catch up after 24 hours. ”

"How many more airstrikes can be launched before dark?" Halsey was clearly still a little uneasy about the fleet artillery battle, and if it could be solved with air strikes, it would obviously be the most desirable outcome.

"Task Force 30 has at least two more strike waves, the second of which has already departed," Callahan said, "but the airfields in Bermuda are so badly damaged that it is difficult for the F7F to take off with full fuel and ammunition." ”

The airport in Bermuda was bombed by more than 100 Fw190s that penetrated at low altitudes early this morning, and almost 200 250-kilogram aerial bombs were hit, and the runway was blown up to a cratered pulp, although after some emergency repairs were barely enough for the F7F to land -- after all, the F7F was developed as a carrier-based aircraft, and the length of the runway was not required -- but when this twin-engine heavy fighter was filled with fuel and bombs, if there were no catapults available, a certain length of runway was still needed. Currently, airports in Bermuda can only allow F7Fs with a small amount of fuel to take off.

As a result, the more than 150 F7Fs that arrived in Bermuda had to fly back to Norfolk before they could be refueled with fuel and bombs. However, this process is more time-consuming, and it is difficult to say whether you can play another round before dark.

"Have you counted the final losses of the first attack wave of the 30th task force?" Halsey then asked about the loss of Task Force 30's carrier-based aircraft.

"Not yet." When Major General Callahan replied, his brow was already twisted.

At present, the 9 aircraft carriers of Task Force 30 are still recovering the aircraft of the first attack wave, so the final statistics have not yet been released.

However, the preliminary statistics have already been obtained, and the losses are quite staggering, including SBD dive bombers, TBF torpedo bombers, F4U fighters and F6F fighters, no less than 100 aircraft were lost in battle! And the final loss statistics will definitely increase!

"Sir, the USS Conway's radar has detected an unidentified aircraft, about 80 nautical miles from the USS Iowa."

The staff officer's report made Callaghan's already somewhat depressed mood sink a lot. It was not that he was worried about being attacked by German carrier-based aircraft, but that he was worried that the huge Task Force 31 had frightened the Germans, who had just lost the battle.

"Sir, it should be a large German seaplane."

"Will it find us?" Halsey asked.

"Possibly...... The Germans had a good radar on board. "I don't know if we will frighten the fleeing Germans, and if they abandon the battered aircraft carriers and run away, it will be very difficult for us to catch them." ”

……

"Sir, the Hawkeye 10 has discovered the American Grand Fleet, numbering more than 100 ships, located in the B4 sea, about 360-400 nautical miles away from us."

On the aircraft carrier "Zeppelin", the aviation staff officer Hersman Jr. loudly reported the report of the reconnaissance plane that had just been received.

"Sir, there may be a battle in 24 hours." Rear Admiral Christiansen, Chief of Staff of Task Force 21, mentally calculated, "But we'll meet up with Task Force 20 in 18 hours...... If all goes well, they'll be sorted out tomorrow afternoon. ”

"How many more rounds of air strikes will the enemy probably launch?" Erich. Lieutenant General Bei asked.

"2-3 attack waves." Little Hersman replied with a frown, "One of the attack waves may be launched by the new twin-engine fighter. ”

The F7F is the only surprise to worry about!

Those fighters that took off from American aircraft carriers were not at all opponents of the Fokker 636 and Fw190. In particular, the Fokker 636 is particularly eye-catching, even if a very strong SBD is bitten by them, it can be knocked down with a 20mm shell.

But the F7F is not easy to deal with, the firepower of this large aircraft is strong, surpassing the Fokker 636, and the Fokker 636 has no advantage when facing the nose head-on. And it's too fast, and it dives faster. Although the Fokker 636 can still catch up with it, it is difficult for the Fokker 636's cannon to hit the target in high-speed dives of more than 700 kilometers or even more than 800 kilometers.

"Don't worry," Erich. Bei shook his head and said, "As long as we defeat the two waves of attacks launched by the US aircraft carriers, we will complete the mission." Even if...... The loss of Prussian-class or Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers is also nothing. ”

Speaking of which, Erich. Bey couldn't help but glance at the bombed-out bow of the USS Zeppelin. It was destroyed by a 500-pound bomb in the second round of air raids on Task Force 21.

Those fighters that took off from American aircraft carriers may have carried only 500 pounds of bombs because of the distance, which was ineffective against the armored deck of the Zeppelin-class. However, the bow and stern of the Zeppelin-class ships were not covered with thick armor plates, so the large fleet aircraft carrier still suffered some damage, and the ability to take off and land aircraft was also reduced.

In addition, the two large aircraft carriers, the Prussia and the Bohemia, are now also damaged to varying degrees, and part of the flight deck has lost its function.

As for the 2 Sedlitz-class aircraft carriers, they have now been blown up to the ground and have not yet sunk, so it can only be said that the quality of the German shipbuilding industry is first-class, and the damage management on the aircraft carrier is very good.

However, the personnel of the 21st Task Force Command on the USS Zeppelin already knew that the two light aircraft carriers would definitely not be able to be saved.

Just 30 minutes ago, Erich. Bey ordered the non-damage personnel on the two Sedlitz-class aircraft carriers to evacuate, and the aircraft, ammunition, and aviation fuel on the aircraft carriers were all disposed of (thrown into the sea).

In fact, these two light aircraft carriers have now become "target ships", and the reason why they have not yet been disposed of is to use them to attract the attention of the Americans in order to mitigate the possible blows to the other three large aircraft carriers.

However, in the opinion of Hersman, who was in charge of the Tsosen General Staff, even if all the five aircraft carriers of the 21st Task Force were lost, as long as most of the personnel on the aircraft carriers, especially the carrier-based aircraft pilots, survived and could lure the US Grand Fleet out, the loss would be worth it.

Even if 5 aircraft carriers are exchanged for 4 "Iowa"-class and 1 "North Carolina-class" battleships, this deal will not be a loss. Because aircraft carriers can make do, if there is no Zeppelin class, use the Kesselring class, but battleships can't cut corners, otherwise they will be target ships on the battlefield!

"Reich Marshal, the Zeppelin reported that it once again repelled a group of American air raids, shot down more than 60 enemy aircraft, and our side lost 12 Fw190 fighters and 4 Fokker 636 fighters. One 500-pound bomb each on the Prussia and Bohemia, and one torpedo each on the Zeppelin, Sedlitz and Seckert. ”

"There's nothing wrong with the Zeppelin, is it?" Hersman asked lightly.

"No problem." Messer, Chief of Staff of the Navy, replied, "It was only an aviation torpedo, but it had only made a hole in the stern of the port side, and the power compartment and rudder were intact. ”

"Rudder?" Hirschman suddenly thought of something, "How about having Task Force 21 sail southeast?" ”

"Sailing southeast?" Raeder asked, "Where to go?" ”

"Nowhere to go," Hersman shook his head, "just disguised as a damaged rudder and unable to turn." It's like ......"

Like the hapless Bismarck - certainly not the Bismarck battleship of this plane.

"I think so." Raeder smiled, "Then the Americans will be even more reluctant to give up the big fish in their mouths, and they can also dodge the American air raids by changing the course." ”

Hersman nodded, "The time of the engagement must be carefully calculated, and strive to start the engagement before dark tomorrow, so that the two missile ships Gneisenau and Wilhelm II can launch a round of missile attacks at dusk!" He paused, "Sink 4 of the most powerful battleships Iowa in the Atlantic Ocean no matter what!" ”