On the other hand, Rear Admiral Montgomery, who was in charge of commanding the Third Aircraft Carrier Group, thought that the Japanese Combined Fleet was blocked by the First Aircraft Carrier Group, and that the Japanese would attack the First Aircraft Carrier Group first, so he did not think that his fleet would be attacked at all. (Note: This Montgomery is the same name, not the Field Marshal of the British Army)

What's worse is that when the radar soldiers spotted a group of planes flying towards them in front of the radar, they took it for granted that it was a US fighter plane...... Because it happened to be dawn at this time, several US aircraft carriers and land-based bombers flying from the direction of Nukufetau Islands and Baker Island once again launched indiscriminate bombardment of Tarawa.

Therefore, there were planes flying everywhere in the sky, and the radar soldiers did not realize that some of them were enemy planes.

This was also thanks to a pilot named Moore, who had dropped a bomb near a warship during the previous day's bombing campaign...... The US Navy has commissioned more than 10 aircraft carriers at once, and many of the crew members and pilots are novices, so it is inevitable that some oolong incidents will occur.

So Moore was ordered to fly a bomber to a no-man's land, and according to the instructor, in this case, he would not drop a bomb on his own warship or crash his own fighter plane.

Moore, who was driving a fighter plane for simulation training, suddenly saw a group of planes flying towards him, and he originally thought it was a friendly fighter, but when he looked at it seriously, he couldn't help but exclaim: "God, that's a Japanese plane!" ”

In the usual training, the instructor had long taught Moore how to distinguish enemy aircraft, so this was not difficult for Moore.

Moore immediately reported this information to the instructor.

The instructor was still a little unconvinced when he received this information.

"Hey, Moore!" The instructor said to Moore, "You're kidding me!" Or are you still not awake and looking dizzy? You know that lying about the military is a court-martial! ”

"I'm sure, sir!" Moore replied nervously: "It is really a Japanese plane, there are about fifty of them!" ”

The instructor listened to Mar's tone and didn't look fake, so he immediately ordered: "Don't get close to those planes, and come back when they leave you!" ”

With that, the instructor immediately hung up the phone and passed the news to Major General Montgomery.

The sirens soon sounded, and the officers and men of the Third Fleet rushed nervously to their posts in an instant...... They were given only eight minutes to prepare, which was not a long time, but like Rear Admiral Montgomery recalled afterwards, without which the Third Fleet would not know how much damage it would have suffered.

Rear Admiral Montgomery was right, because at that time the US aircraft carrier was in the stage of recovering the fighters that had returned from the bombing, and if the Japanese fighters were allowed to fly into the sky unsuspectingly, it would undoubtedly be a disaster.

But now, Rear Admiral Montgomery immediately ordered the recovering bombers to turn, ordered the fighters to take off urgently, the fighters on air alert immediately intercepted them, and the antiaircraft guns of all ships were immediately ready for battle......

Before the Third Fleet could fully prepare, a group of Japanese planes flew over the Third Fleet, and the enemy and our fighters quickly became entangled in each other, and the anti-aircraft guns of all ships opened fire in unison, sending out clouds of black smoke in the air.

The target of the Japanese aircraft group was very clear, that is, the three aircraft carriers of the Third Fleet, and they were divided into three groups, one group to attack the aircraft carriers "Essex" and "Bunker Hill", and two groups to attack the aircraft carrier "Independence".

This kind of distribution is the genius of Koga Mineichi.

He knew very well that the US fleet was very strong in terms of anti-aircraft firepower and carrier-based aircraft, while most of the Japanese pilots were inexperienced novices, and if three groups of fighters attacked an aircraft carrier, they would most likely not be able to break through the anti-aircraft fire network organized by the US Navy, or even if they did, they would not be able to get anything out.

So, Koga Mineichi asked one of the groups to attack two aircraft carriers at the same time...... Using a group to attack two aircraft carriers, Koga didn't want this group to have any results at all, he just used this group of fighters to distract the Americans.

And the other two groups were the main forces, which pounced on the "Independence" aircraft carrier from two different directions, and it is clear that these two groups succeeded...... This is not only because the US Navy is not equipped enough to rush into battle, but also because most of the US Navy and its pilots are also novices with no combat experience.

The Japanese planes successfully dropped five torpedoes in front of the "Independence" aircraft carrier, one of which hit, and with a loud bang, the main engine room, boiler room, and ammunition compartment of the "Independence" aircraft carrier were damaged and flooded, the main water supply pipe was ruptured, and 17 crew members were killed and 43 wounded.

Luckily, it didn't sink, and after Jane fought for repairs, it was evacuated from the battlefield and sailed into the Funafuti base for repairs, apparently unable to participate in the rest of the battle.

When the news reached Koga Mine, all the Japanese generals who were waiting for the news couldn't help but cheer loudly.

Although the Japanese fighters also suffered heavy losses, only 12 of the 50 fighters sent were able to return, and 38 fighters were lost.

But...... At the cost of 38 fighters, it is even possible to sink a light aircraft carrier of the enemy (note: the "Independence" aircraft carrier is a light aircraft carrier converted from a light cruiser under construction by the US Navy due to the shortage of aircraft carriers), which can be said to be a victory in any case.

However, Koga didn't laugh.

Because he knew that even if Japan continued to fight according to such a war loss ratio, Japan would not be able to afford to fight.

In other words, Japan is fighting a hopeless war. Knowing this, Koga Mine couldn't laugh anyway.

Seeing Koga Fengichi's expression, the other admirals gradually quieted down.

Koga Fengyi didn't say anything, but just coldly ordered: "Inform the whole army of the results of the battle, and inform the Army Department that the combined fleet must return to China to replenish carrier-based aircraft and pilots because of the shortage of carrier-based aircraft!" ”

"Yes!"

"Change course and return to Japan!"

"Yes!"

After a pause, Koga Fengichi continued to order: "Prepare the plane, I will stay here and continue to command the battle!" ”

"Your Excellency, General!" Hearing this, Staff Officer Ito couldn't help but be stunned.

Koga Feng raised his hand and interrupted Ito's words: "Needless to say, the battle here needs my command!" ”

"But...... Our fleet has returned to Japan! Staff Officer Ito was a little puzzled.

"But we still have planes, and submarines!" Koga replied, "Even if we know that we will lose, we will do our last bit of effort!" ”

Although Koga Fengichi's words were very resolute, his words revealed a bit of sadness about the day's poverty.

(To be continued.) )