The bombing of the USS Breton was only the beginning of a series of disasters for escort carriers. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 infoSince the Essex-class, Yorktown-class, and Independence-class aircraft carriers in Task Force 58 are all key protection objects, not only are cruisers and destroyers protected, but each aircraft carrier is accompanied by a battleship with perverted anti-aircraft firepower.

Therefore, the Japanese pilots who had been in battle for a long time wisely avoided these main aircraft carriers that were protected by the regiments, and led the team to rush to the escort formation with relatively poor protection, and the escort aircraft carrier became the most ideal target.

At 4:10 a.m., just five minutes after the USS Breton was shot, another Borg-class aircraft carrier, the USS Block Island, was hit by an aerial torpedo. This aircraft carrier was hit by a bomb before, and the bomb penetrated directly into the power compartment of the aircraft carrier, and after a loud bang, the escort aircraft carrier with a standard displacement of 11,420 tons lost all power, and also ignited a fire, becoming an iron coffin floating on the water. The torpedo that hit it again now became the terminator of the aircraft carrier, and after only 10 minutes, the aircraft carrier capsized and sank, killing nearly half of the sailors and officers on board.

After another 3 minutes, the aircraft carrier "Tracker", also of the "Borg" class, was hit by 2 more torpedoes. Japanese aviation torpedoes, although not comparable to their 93 Lance torpedoes, could still inflict fatal damage on the carriers of the "Borg" class. Two torpedoes made two huge openings directly on the port side of the "Tracker", the sea water rushed in, and the aircraft carrier quickly tilted. The captain of the "Tracker" had to give the order to "leave the ship in general" at 4:33.

At 4:20, the Casablanca-class aircraft carrier "Manila" was loaded with a "Comet" dive bomber dragging black smoke! The plane and bombs exploded violently on the deck of the aircraft carrier, instantly devouring more than a dozen F4U and F6F that were refueling and refueling, and the deck crew also suffered heavy losses, and 10 pilots who were on standby were also killed in the fire at the same time.

After a few more minutes, the disaster struck again, when the escort aircraft carriers "Molotovsk" (not a Soviet aircraft carrier, just a name given to highlight the friendship between the United States and the Soviet Union) and "Li Mei" (in honor of the internationalist fighter Li Mei), which had been heavily damaged by bombs dropped by dive bombers, were torpedoed and the hull was quickly tilted badly......

"Your Excellency, Commander, what a victory! The second attack wave of our army sank just sank at least 5 escort aircraft carriers! "At 4:40 a.m., Rear Admiral Kuroshima, chief of staff of the Japanese 10th Fleet, loudly reported to Commander Onishi Takijiro the battle report he had just received.

"Onboard!"

"Great Japan, onboard!"

There was also jubilation in Onishi's headquarters. For the Japanese Navy, which has a total of only 19 aircraft carriers, 5 aircraft carriers is definitely not a small number. Even if they are all escort aircraft carriers, it is enough for a big victory.

And these are the 2 attack waves, the fighters sent by the 1st Mobile Fleet will soon deal a heavy blow to the 3rd and 4th waves of the US fleet, and Christmas Island is also fully capable of sending the 3rd attack wave.

Today's battle looks like a big victory.

"Mixi!" Onishi Takijiro showed a satisfied expression, "Order the 3rd attack wave to go!" Give the Americans one more blow before dark. ”

"Hay!"

The third attack wave from Christmas Island is a land attack, and these twin-engine attack planes will carry torpedoes to target the American ships floating on the sea and burning - they can't be allowed to extinguish the fire and escape back to San Diego, or it will be a good ship in a few months!

"By the way, when will the first attack wave return?"

Hearing Onishi Takijiro's question, the joyful atmosphere in the headquarters froze at once, and no one answered Onishi's question for a while.

Because everyone knows that the first wave of attack is in a tough battle! According to a report by the commander-in-chief of the first attack wave, Koichi Takahashi, they were stopped by at least 500 American fighters and suffered very heavy losses. According to incomplete statistics, more than 140 Japanese fighters could not be contacted and confirmed to crash after the two sides separated!

If none of these planes are able to return in the end, the "god chance" of the first attack wave will exceed 40%.

According to the report of the commander-in-chief of the second attack wave, Kusunamimasa, the number of American fighters they encountered was no less than 500. Considering that the second attack wave had torpedoes as the main means of attack, the losses would definitely be greater!

"It may not be until after 5:30 that planes will return one after another." The Black Island Turtle Man finally opened his mouth to break the silence.

"Okay......" Onishi Takijiro suddenly asked, "Kuroshima-kun, do you think the American fleet will be frustrated and retreat?" ”

The current results of the battle are the sinking and damage of more than 30 landing ships of various transport ships and the sinking of 5 aircraft carriers. For the U.S. fleet, less than 10% of the ships were lost, and even if the two attack waves sent by the mobile fleet later achieved the same result, at most 15%-20% of the U.S. fleet's ships were destroyed.

"Probably not!" The Black Island Turtle Man shook his head.

The local tyrants are so hateful, they can't finish fighting with many ships! Even if it could sink 100 of it today, it would have at least 300 more.

Ryujiro Onishi sighed and said, "Let's get ready to transfer the plane...... All planes have to transfer to Oahu this evening. ”

"Transferring to Oahu?" The Black Island Turtle Man subconsciously shook his head, "Oahu is more than 2,000 kilometers away from Christmas Island, and if the plane is transferred to Oahu, then they will have no way to participate in the battle." ”

"There is no way to do that," said Ryujiro Onishi, "and if there is no transfer, the American battleships will destroy the airfield before dawn tomorrow morning, and then the planes and pilots will not be able to escape." ”

Onishi's fears were justified, just as the remnants of the second attack wave from Christmas Island fled the battlefield in disarray after being chased by U.S. fighters. Spruance was already planning this evening's battleship assault.

"It's finally over......," Spruance sighed, and said to Browning beside him, "There are at most two waves of attack aircraft from the carriers, but we should be able to withstand them." ”

"Yes!" Browning nodded, "The seaplanes didn't spot the Japanese fleet, they should be far away from Christmas Island...... Artillery formations should be able to launch an artillery breakout this evening. ”

"Dispatch the 58.0 Battleship Group, the 58.1 Battleship Group, the 58.3 Cruiser Group, and the 58.7 Destroyer Group." Spruance said, "Transfer the command to the USS Essex." ”

Excluding landing ships and transport ship formations, the 58th Task Force has a total of 10 detachments, of which there are 2 battleship detachments, named 58.0 and 58.1 respectively.

The 58.0 Group consisted of three battleships, the USS Iowa, the USS New Jersey, and the USS Washington, all of which were cutting-edge battleships armed with 406mm guns. The 58.1 Brigade consisted of 7 old battleships, which were of little value in a decisive battle at sea, but were still very useful for bombarding the coast. If these 10 battleships were all near Christmas Island, they would be able to fire at least 10,000 large-caliber shells in a day, and the airfield on the island would definitely be blown into craters, as if it were the surface of the moon.

As for the main force of the 58th Task Force, the landing ship formation, and the transport ship formation, it will sail south after dark to avoid the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet.

Just as Admiral Browning was about to give an order according to Spruance's instructions, a staff officer suddenly reported in a loud voice: "Sir, the seaplane has discovered the Japanese Grand Fleet, numbering more than 50 ships, in the L8 sea area, about 300 nautical miles away from us......"

The staff officer was just halfway through his report when suddenly a shrill air raid siren sounded over the radio.

"The radar detected enemy aircraft, the number is more than 200, the altitude is 6000, the distance is 140, and the azimuth is 312."

Spruance took a breath and said to Browning, "Another wave of enemy aircraft...... It seems that today is a good day to hunt Japanese turkeys, and I don't know if I can get enough of 1,000? ”

Hearing the metaphor of Spruance's image, Major General Browning burst out laughing: "What can be made, there will always be enough!" The days of Japanese arrogance have come to an end, and it is time for us to exert the power of American industrial power. ”

……

"More than 500 again?"

At 5:45, Vice Admiral Jizaburo Ozawa received the report handed over by the staff officer on the aircraft carrier Shozuru, and gasped after looking at it: "How many fighters and aircraft carriers do the Americans have?" ”

"Your Excellency, Commander," replied Ozawa's chief of staff, Keizo Furumura, "I estimate that the Americans have 2,000-2,500 warplanes and 80 aircraft carriers......"

"80?" Jizaburo Ozawa shook his head, "Really, there are really so many?" ”

Furumura nodded and said, "There should be...... The United States is very strong in industry, currently controlling about 75% of the world's total oil production, before the war steel production is about the same as the whole of Europe, and the shipbuilding industry is about the same size as the whole of Europe combined. Isn't the naval shipbuilding program of the Germans now also a dozen aircraft carriers? The Germans still have to deal with the battlefield on the Eastern Front, and they can build ships like this, not to mention the United States, which is fully developing its navy? ”

This is the war of local tyrants!

Ozawa Jizaburo suddenly felt powerless, the Americans' aircraft carriers can serve about dozens or hundreds of aircraft carriers a year, and the great Japanese side has only 19 aircraft carriers so far......

"Commander, telegram from the command of the fleet of the 10th Front."

When Ozawa was sighing, Onishi Takijiro's telegram had arrived.

"Commander Onishi said that all the planes on Christmas Island should be evacuated tonight, because the island could be shelled by the American fleet in the early hours of tomorrow morning. In addition......"

"What else?" Ozawa looked at Chief of Staff Furumura and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

"The first attack wave on Christmas Island has returned...... Furumura said, "and there are 140 planes that have not yet returned!" ”

"140!?" The words "Panama" immediately popped into Ozawa's mind.

There were only 336 planes in the first attack wave on Christmas Island, and now 140 have not returned, and the god success rate has exceeded 40%! This battle for Christmas Island is a war of attrition that is even more tragic than the battle of Panama!