On December 6, 4637, the Southern Hemisphere had entered a hot summer. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoDarwin, the largest city in northern Australia. Here, there are well-developed port facilities. As a result, the city has also become a key defensive place for the US-Australian coalition. The U.S. Army deployed three infantry divisions in the vicinity of Darwin, and the Australian Army also deployed three infantry divisions, bringing the number of troops in the area to more than 120,000.

In addition to this, the US Army Air Corps also deployed a large number of combat aircraft at military airfields and field airfields near Darwin. The number of P-36 fighters alone is two hundred. In addition, there are hundreds of dive bombers and horizontal bombers.

However, MacArthur thought that his defenses near Darwin were very strong. However, compared to the offensive forces put in by the Imperial Army, they were too bad. The joint attack of the Empire's army, navy, and air force was not so easy to deal with.

The 7th, 8th, 13th and 14th Carrier Strike Groups, the 3rd and 4th Battleship Detachments of the Pacific Fleet of the Imperial Navy, the 9th and 10th Carrier Strike Groups, the 5th and 6th Battleship Detachments of the Southern Fleet of the Imperial Navy. It's all over the Timor Sea. The Air Force has also deployed a large number of aircraft in the Indonesian archipelago to the north.

On the aircraft carrier USS Phoenix Mountain, the flagship of the Imperial Navy's Pacific Fleet, ground crews are refueling fighters and bombers and loading ammunition. Several other aircraft carriers are also preparing for takeoff. At the moment, the fleet is only two hundred kilometers off the northern coast of Australia. Several battleship detachments were moving south at a rapid pace. After the Imperial Navy's carrier-based aircraft attacked the U.S. airfields around Darwin, the battleship detachments began shelling the U.S. defenses along the coast with naval guns.

Compared with the bombing of carrier-based aircraft, the artillery of the Navy will launch an artillery bombardment, the firepower will be more sustained, and at the same time, the cost will be lower. The battleship detachment was accompanied by two divisions of the Imperial Marine Corps. They were to launch a landing operation after the battleship detachment destroyed the American shore fortifications. Of course, this time it is almost impossible to take Darwin's port intact. Americans don't make two mistakes. As soon as they find that they cannot hold Darwin, the first thing they will do is to blow up Darwin's harbor, lest it fall into the hands of the Imperial* army and be used by the Imperial army. Without a well-developed port, it would not be so easy for the Imperial Army's various heavy equipment to go ashore.

Therefore, the engineer brigade of the 16th Army of the Imperial Army, as well as the engineer of the Marine Corps, were also on standby for a long time. They will rush to repair Darwin's harbor or build temporary docks for Marines and Army to load and unload heavy equipment if needed.

"Chief of Staff, how long will it be before the battleship detachment reaches the waters off Darwin?" Admiral Chen Houfu asked.

"Just received a telegram from them, and they were only two hours away from Darwin." Chief of Staff Lin Xiangjin said.

"Alright, order the carrier-based aircraft to take off. This time, the US Army Air Corps in Darwin must be destroyed and those airfields blown up. Seize air supremacy in northern Australia. Admiral Chen Houfu ordered.

"Yes, Commander." Lieutenant General Lin nodded to Lieutenant General.

A few minutes later, the first carrier-based F9 fighter took off from the USS Phoenix Mountain. At the same time, several other aircraft carriers have also begun to take off carrier-based aircraft.

Half an hour later, 144 fighter jets flew towards the southern seas. They were followed by as many as 72 dive bombers and 72 torpedo planes on horizontal bombing missions. Because around Australia, there are no decent ships of the US Navy anymore. The vast majority of the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy were also ground attack missions. As a result, these torpedo machines carried small bombs and were used as horizontal bombers. At the same time, the Imperial Air Force also took off 80 H8 medium bombers and 80 H9 heavy bombers from the airfields to the north to bomb the Darwin perimeter.

The mighty fleet of planes slaughtered Darwin, with the overwhelming momentum of Tarzan. Although, this time, the Imperial Navy could no longer resort to the tactics of surprise attacks. But with the advantage that the empire now has, even a dignified head-on battle will be enough to defeat the Americans.

When the group was less than one hundred and fifty kilometers from Darwin, it was discovered by the American anti-aircraft search radar. On the radar's display screen, dense light spots show that a large number of enemy planes are approaching at high speed.

Suddenly, the air defense alarm was sounded. The US military pilots at the airport quickly rushed to their landlines. A large number of ground crews are also refueling the remaining fighters and refilling ammunition. At the speed of the carrier-based fighters of the Chinese Navy, the range of 150 kilometers takes only 10 minutes. To fend off these enemy planes, they had to take off as many fighters as possible. Of course, even if all 200 P-36 fighters took off, they would not necessarily be the opponents of the escort fighters of the Imperial Navy. The difference in strength between the two sides is so great that if the U.S. Army Air Force wants to win, it is basically unlikely.

"Quickly, the squadrons immediately took off and prepared to intercept the Chinese's planes and protect the airfield." The voice of the commander was heard from the loudspeakers at the airport. In his business, there is a hint of eagerness evident, and it can be heard that the enemy must be menacing.

"Boss, how many planes did the Chinese come?" One of the pilots asked.

"I don't know, but I know a lot. The Chinese have always been reluctant to make a move, and a shot is bound to be thunderous. The squadron leader said. He looked at the young pilots of his squadron, and he didn't know how much he could save after this battle.

With the help of the ground crew, the propeller began to spin rapidly. The pilots began to fly the fighters and glide towards the runway.

One after another, the U.S. fighter planes began to take off and, under the guidance of radar, flew towards the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy.

In the city of Darwin, Major General Donald, commander of the 21st Infantry Division of the US Army, also received news of a large-scale attack by carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy. His face was a little serious, because he did not know whether the Air Force would be able to withstand the attack of the carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy. He knew very well that the Chinese Navy's carrier-based aircraft would inevitably be accompanied by a large number of Chinese marines and land forces from across the sea. Darwin, where his infantry division is stationed, has undoubtedly become the target of the Chinese army's key attack.

"General, the air force called and the number of carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese attacking Darwin was very large, more than two hundred. They will do their best to intercept it. As for whether it can be intercepted, only God knows. After all, the gap between the two sides is too great. The adjutant said to Major General Donald with a worried expression.

Admiral Donald nodded: "Order the air defense forces in the city to get ready." Also, contact the 22nd Infantry Division and the 23rd Infantry Division. If we can't resist the Chinese attack, they must provide us with reinforcements. In addition, the 11th Infantry Division, the 12th Infantry Division and the 13th Infantry Division of the Australian Army should also be ready to fight at any time. Major General Donald ordered. He knew that this battle would be a huge test for them.

"Yes, General." The adjutant nodded, saluted, and left.

In the sky, the fleet of carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy was approaching Darwin. Among the 144 carrier-based F9 fighters, except for the two squadrons that stayed behind to cover the bombers in the rear, the remaining 120 fighters all killed Darwin at high speed. The Imperial Navy knew this time that the Americans' anti-aircraft search radars must have already detected them. The fighters of the Americans have already taken off. They need to shoot down these American fighters first to clear the way for the bombers to follow.

The battleship detachment of the Imperial Navy, which was about to arrive in Darwin, was also using anti-air search radar to provide guidance for carrier-based aircraft in the sky. They had already spotted the U.S. fighter jets taking off from the airfield near Darwin, and informed the carrier-based aircraft unit of their location.

"Attention squadrons, there are two minutes left to make contact with U.S. fighter jets. Good luck to all of you, and try not to shoot down a single one. Brigadier General Liu Tingsheng, Wing Commander of the 13th Carrier-based Aircraft Wing, notified the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy by radio.

Of course, it is not so easy to fight an air battle with zero casualties. This is especially true when large groups of aircraft on both sides are fighting. Although the fighters of the Imperial Navy were much stronger than the Americans. However, there are so many uncertainties in air combat that a single negligence can lead to being shot down. The performance of a fighter jet, while very important in air combat, is not absolute.

At 9:12 a.m., carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy spotted a group of American planes flying from the south. At this moment, the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy are at an altitude of eight thousand meters, while the fighters of the US Army Air Force are two thousand meters below.

As soon as the two sides met, the battle began. The carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy were the dive attackers, attacking the fighters of the American army with the aviation machine guns of the wings. And the US fighter group is well aware of its own inferiority. So spread out for the first time. They knew that if they gathered, they would only be more likely to be shot down by carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy.

"Da Da Da!" An Imperial Navy fighter put a fighter of the Army Air Corps in the crosshairs and pressed the launch button. Suddenly, two 12.7-mm aviation machine guns on the wing began to shoot. (To be continued.) )