"Fifth Fleet requesting reinforcements?" Leahy was taken aback when he heard the news.

He knew about what happened to the Fifth Fleet and the Huaxia aircraft carrier from the beginning, but he didn't expect to lose so quickly.

The Americans are not as brainless as the Japanese, and when they heard that the American aircraft group that was attacking the Huaxia aircraft carrier in front was intercepted by the Huaxia Army Aviation and could not get out, Spruance already felt the danger. However, the Pacific Fleet's situation in the US Navy is somewhat delicate after successive defeats, and even if it cannot win a victory, at least it cannot make any more defeats worse.

This involves not only the power struggle of Nimitz and other high-level leaders, but also the future fate of many more people and even the Pacific Fleet.

So Spruance was a little hesitant.

Immediately after that, 1 more Essex-class aircraft carrier and 1 escort aircraft carrier were severely damaged, and the deck could no longer take off and land, he ordered to evacuate backwards.

By this time, he had figured it out. Relying only on the two main aircraft carriers of the Midway-class and the 1 Essex-class and the 1 escort aircraft carrier, it is a problem to protect oneself when the attack momentum of the Chinese fighters continues unabated, let alone attack.

And without the cover in the air, relying only on the anti-aircraft artillery, the remaining battleships are afraid that they will be sunk by the fighters in the air one after another before they can attack the Huaxia aircraft carrier.

You must know that the closer it is to the Gulf of Aden, the more strength the Huaxia Army Airlines may fly from East Africa or the Middle East.

Originally, the bombers and torpedo planes in front had to consume the fuel consumption of those jet fighters, and they made a last-ditch effort, but new J-5 fighters continued to join, and Spruance finally gave the order to retreat.

This also proves that China's army and aviation forces near the Gulf of Aden are more powerful than originally thought.

In order not to cause greater losses and so that the Pacific Fleet will not usher in another major defeat, it can only withdraw from this land of right and wrong.

But is it so easy to retreat?

Even if they didn't encounter the Huaxia warship at close range, the Huaxia fighters above their heads were always haunted, as if they could fly in the sky forever.

Range and airborne capacity are limited, and reloading and refueling can take a long time. And pilots get tired. Especially in tense and intense battles, it will be even more exhausting. It is impossible for the air battle between the two sides to continue at sea.

However, the tenacity of the Huaxia pilots and their reasonable shifts in advance, coupled with the great loss of the strength of the US fighters, made it possible for even some outstanding rookie trainees to harass them with live ammunition from afar, which made the Huaxia fighters hang over the heads of the US fleet that was slowly retreating towards the Seychelles.

Socotra was supposed to be the nearest Allied port, but air defense there was weak. The army was equally weak, and even Spruance suspected that the reason why there did not fall there was due to the intention of the Chinese. Anyway, going there is not only difficult to protect yourself, but also unable to provide supplies for those damaged battleships.

So far, the US Fifth Fleet has only sunk 2 escort aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light oceans, and 5 destroyers, and the other damaged aircraft carriers are at most seriously damaged. Unable to take off and land fighters. As long as repairs are carried out, these aircraft carriers will soon be ready for service again.

So, unwilling to be strong, Spruance ordered an evacuation in the direction of Seychelles.

If you return to Mumbai, which is about the same distance, Yemen and Oman along the way have already been occupied by the Chinese, and no one can predict other surprises.

At this time, Mogadishu, Somalia, was still in the hands of the Allies after being occupied by the British-backed Kenyan in 41 years, although the Chinese Army had already attacked the vicinity. But the African seaports all the way south could provide some simple supplies. Seychelles and Comoros were even able to provide more supplies and hold out all the way to Cape Town.

Fall in Australia. After the danger of the Suez Canal, the Allies had set up the center of their base in the southern hemisphere in Cape Town, where they could already repair the damaged aircraft carriers.

Most importantly, the support fleet of the 2nd Fleet is on its way in this direction.

At the beginning of 45, the United States targeted operations against China and Germany, and after adjusting the fleet formation.

After Halsey was captured and the Pacific Fleet suffered heavy losses, the US Navy made great adjustments, and the establishment of the 9th Fleet under the original jurisdiction of the Pacific Fleet was cancelled, and the corresponding 8th Fleet of the Atlantic Fleet was also canceled, and most of them were merged into the 2nd Fleet.

After suffering from the Chinese air raid on the mainland, the Americans felt that the coast guard could not ensure the safety and vigilance of the sea and air on the mainland, so the 1st Fleet became the fleet to protect the mainland.

In the end, the Pacific Fleet only dominated the 3rd, 5th, and 7th fleets. The Atlantic Fleet is under the control of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th fleets.

And the 10th Fleet, which had no warships from the beginning, was still located in the United States, but the target of this fleet that studied escort and anti-submarine was added to the Germans from the beginning, and the name of China was added.

In this naval battle against China, the Pacific Fleet, whose strength has not yet recovered, still has to take into account the ambush circle on the Guam side, and in addition to some power struggles within the Navy after the damage to the Pacific Fleet, the Second Fleet has participated in this naval battle in the Indian Ocean.

Although the 2nd Fleet still has the name of a strategic supplement, it is mainly aimed at the Atlantic Fleet, and it is suddenly inserted into the side of the Pacific Fleet, and is rejected by the Pacific Fleet.

This attack, because the two sides were not so close, and the surprise attack of the Huaxia Navy was too sudden, so that the reinforcements of the 2nd Fleet had not yet arrived on Socotra Island, where the two sides had agreed to gather.

But in any case, the reinforcements of this Second Fleet have 1 Essex-class aircraft carrier and 3 escort aircraft carriers, which will definitely greatly relieve the air pressure on the 5th Fleet.

"Why haven't the people of the Second Fleet come yet?" Spruance asked again, "Even if they were delayed by German submarines in the Atlantic, it would be time to get to the vicinity of the Seychelles, right?" ”

"Now they are dealing not with German submarines, but against Chinese submarines!" The little Banse, holding the latest message, said with a strange expression, "They just passed through the Mozambique Channel." ”

This support force of the 2nd Fleet did not expect the 5th Fleet to be defeated so quickly. This attack was mainly based on the 5th Fleet anyway, they were just preparing, and after encountering the harassment of the Huaxia submarines, especially after an escort aircraft carrier was seriously damaged, they walked more carefully. Originally, the encounter with a German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean delayed the time of convergence, and at this time it was even more unhurried to the Comoros.

According to the original plan, they were not considered late. But the result of such a speed was fatal for the 5th Fleet. For at least 28 May, the 5th Fleet was left alone, relying on its own protection to hold off the undiminished Chinese fighters and another dangerous enemy.

At dusk, they were also attacked by Chinese submarines.

Even if the sonar was in the midst of all kinds of noise, there was some effect, and the destroyers were expelled so that the losses to the submarines were not large, but the sky above the head of the American fleet was obviously more dangerous than during the day.

The U.S. HNA is obviously not able to compare with the superior Huaxia. Under the interception of the Huaxia night fighters, not only could they not quickly detect the location of the Huaxia submarines, but they also could not quickly intercept the bombers and torpedo planes that were diving.

The beams of the searchlights did not fully direct the fire of the anti-aircraft guns, and the white lines of torpedoes always caused a series of panics and explosions in the light of the explosions.

A heavily damaged Essex-class aircraft carrier was sunk with 7 torpedoes, and the relatively intact Essex-class aircraft carrier was also hit by bombs, and the deck was in flames.

When the deck of the Midway-class aircraft carrier was also opened with two big holes in the bombshell, and the take-off and landing of the aircraft were greatly affected, Spruance looked at the naval forces supported by only one escort aircraft carrier, and couldn't help but be in a hurry, constantly urging the reinforcements of the Second Fleet, and sent a signal for help to Leahie.

At this time, the only possible surplus air power to support the Second Fleet reinforcements and the British in Africa was possible.

Either way, it needs to be coordinated at the top. Including reinforcements from the 2nd Fleet, it would be more effective to have high-level coordination.

"It doesn't matter if you lose for a while. We will return it near Guam and teach the Chinese people a hard lesson. Nimitz also sent a message of consolation.

This time, the Fifth Fleet was attacked by such a powerful Chinese fleet near the Gulf of Aden, which no one had expected before. The momentary defeat was not that Spruance was not weak.

Since the Chinese fleet has amassed heavy forces in the Gulf of Aden, this attack on Guam may greatly reduce the naval strength. This made Nimitz, who was bent on winning a big victory, a little disappointed in his heart, but also made up his mind to fight a beautiful total annihilation battle.

The sneak attack plan of the Huaxia people, which has been repeatedly confirmed by intelligence, is being implemented, and even if the strength is reduced, it can be counted as a war achievement.

"The fleet of the Chinese people has appeared near Hawaii!" Nimitz, who was anxiously waiting for the Huaxia warship to attack the island, had just comforted Spruance when he heard the adjutant's anxious report. (To be continued.) )