400 meters away from the right front of the "Yunpeng," Major Gao Shenli, commander of the destroyer "Hengyang," suddenly received a report from a lookout post on the starboard side of the bridge: "At 3 o'clock, a Chinese fighter plane suddenly dived down and kept hovering at a low altitude, as if it had discovered something. ”

Gao Shenli raised the binoculars hanging around his neck and looked at them, and sure enough, he saw the "Haiyun Electricity" that was hovering and shaking its wings, and his heart tightened, and he immediately approached the pedestal-type high-powered telescope used by the soldiers, opened his eyes wide to look for clues from the undulating sea, and at the same time ordered the first mate behind him: "Inquire about the sound detection department, have you found any traces of the enemy?" ”

Soon a reply came: "The Acoustic Detective Department reports that the speed of this ship is too high, and the surrounding interference noise is too loud to distinguish the audio. ”

Gao Shenli frowned unhappily: "What...... Anyway, send a signal to the team's flagship, find a suspicious target, and immediately leave the team to expel it. Nautical Department obeys, 3 o'clock bearing, left rudder - full speed on both sides! ”

The main engine let out a violent roar, and the backward-tilting integral chimney spewed out a large puff of gray-black oil smoke, and the "Hengyang" suddenly accelerated from the speed of the 28-knot formation to the top speed of 33 knots, and quickly broke away from the right front of the formation

"0 o'clock bearing, periscope! The target is rapidly passing in front of the ship and approaching the Yunpeng! ”

The lookouts in the foremast finally found the target

"Our fighters fired at the target...... No, such a dive...... It seems to be trying to hit the target! ”

Gao Shenli was startled, and immediately clenched his fists: "Send a signal, stop the pilot!" ”

"It's too late. [Looking for the latest chapter?] It's already in the sea! The goal is still ongoing—"

Gao Shenli punched the bulkhead: "Damn...... We can't let our heroic pilots die in vain, the Ministry of Navigation, give me the right calculation, ready to ram the target! ”

"However, this ship ......"

The first mate in charge of navigation hesitated slightly, and was immediately pushed away from the helm by Gao Shenli.

"Get out. Don't be the sea if you're afraid of death

On the undulating sea, the "Hengyang" flew through the layers of waves, stirring up pieces of flying snow droplets covering most of the bow, like a sharp arrow, which had already calculated the amount in advance, and accurately shot at the obscene black shadow hidden under the sea surface with a large half of its body.

"It's about to hit the target, and the whole ship is ready for the impact!"

Captain Gao Shenli gave an order. Everyone lowered their postures and clutched whatever they could hold on to around them—except for Gao Shenli himself.

With a loud bang, the whole ship shook violently as if it had been kicked into a canned food box, and the officers and men were staggered like broken biscuits in a box. All the glass around the bridge shattered in an instant, stabbing many people, including Gao Shenli, who knocked out his front teeth on the steering wheel.

Without the time to find his lost front teeth, Gao Shenli, who had recovered his breath, endured the sharp pain in his heart and approached the call tube: "All departments report damage." ”

"The damage management department reports that a large number of compartments in the bow have been flooded, and efforts are being made to organize the plugging of the leak—"

"The Acoustic Detection Department reports that the acoustic sounder has lost connection, and is trying to schedule it."

"The engine department reported that the spindle made a loud abnormal noise, and requested that the engine be stopped for inspection—"

Listen to all the reports. Gao Shenli looked around at the people on the bridge: "Is anyone hurt?" ”

"Captain, you have blood all over your mouth." The first mate kindly reminded.

Gao Shenli glanced at him coldly: "Has anyone seen the target?" ”

Everyone looked at each other and said nothing, until a report from the rear lookout came from the intercom tube: "A large area of oil and debris has surfaced in the stern of the ship-"

Gao Shenli breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the blood stains mixed with saliva on the side of his mouth. Holding on to the bulkhead, he slowly ordered: "Order the Marine Department to stop for inspection, the damage management department to make every effort to plug the leakage and drainage, the Ministry of Communications to raise the flag of self-rescue of the suspension of sailing, and send two small boats to find the pilot who crashed into the sea just now, and the others, those who should go to the infirmary will be sent to the infirmary, and those who have nothing to do will stick to their posts." ”

"Captain, I'm in charge here. Go to the infirmary......"

Ignoring the sincere concern of the first mate. Gao Shen used the cuffs of his snow-white military uniform to casually wipe the bright and dazzling blood stains on his face: "Before confirming the fate of this ship, this is the post I must hold—" Er, Royal Indian Flying Corps Air Base, Rear Admiral Westland was watching the air raid team sail with his bloodshot eyes open. Thorway "Cuckoo" torpedo attack planes and five similar guidance planes, 22 Handley Pedy V100 four-engine heavy bombers, and 15 Thorpside "Camel" fighters were all that Westland could use that morning, and at Jericho's request, 11 "Camel" fighters were sent to provide air cover for the main forces.

"We should be able to gather some strength by the afternoon......," Westland thought to himself, holding back intense sleepiness, "The remnants of the Visakhapatnam base, as well as the small forces that have been delayed at the inland base due to the storm, although we can't expect much from them, as long as the fleet keeps sailing close to the coast, the efficiency of our support is basically guaranteed......"

Thinking of this, Westland raised his hand and instructed the staff officers behind him: "Send a telegram to the commander-in-chief, the first wave of air raid teams has already departed, if the situation allows, the second wave of air raid teams will be organized as much as possible in 4 to 5 hours, and if you need to change the target of attack, such as switching to attacking enemy battleship forces, please call and make it clear." The first air attack wave of the Chinese army's mobile unit, composed of shipboard attack planes, three guidance planes of the same type, and 12 "Haiyundian" shipboard fighters, successively drilled out a thin light gray cloud layer and appeared over the huge wheel-shaped formation of the advance guard of the Allied Combined Fleet.

"Target, 2 aircraft carriers in the center of the enemy formation, Team A from the left, Team B from the right, destroy them at all costs - all of them, attack!"

——