Although, the four battleship detachments of the Imperial Navy had as many as nineteen battleships. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 However, there is undoubtedly a huge gap between these battleships, which are almost all more than 20 years old, in front of the eight cutting-edge battleships of the US Navy. Although they have undergone modernization, their combat effectiveness has been greatly improved. However, this still does not fundamentally change the balance of power between the two sides.

Rear Admiral Cai Junbao, commander of the 3rd Battleship Detachment of the Imperial Navy, led these nineteen old battleships and rushed to the battleship detachment of the US army without hesitation. Although, he knew that this battle was very likely to be a heavy loss. However, there is no way back for them at the moment. Behind them is the main aircraft carrier of the Imperial Navy, and the real main force in these naval battles is the most valuable warship of the Imperial Navy. These battleships of theirs are already old, and even if they are lost, they will not have much impact on the combat effectiveness of the Imperial Navy.

"Order all ships to attack with all their might. Fight to the death! Major General Cai Junbao ordered.

"Yes, General." A communications officer replied loudly.

Twenty years ago, the Imperial Navy's 'Five Emperor-class' battleships were undoubtedly the world's main warships. However, today, twenty years later, these battleships of the Imperial Navy already look like old people. The eight battleships of the U.S. Navy are like young and strong young men. If you want to defeat them, it's not ordinary! Even with an absolute numerical advantage, Major General Cai Junbao is not sure at all. After all, in the Imperial Navy, these battleships were already used as auxiliary warships, and they were no longer regarded as the main force that determined the victory of naval battles, but as auxiliary warships for air defense and bombing of islands.

"Fortunately, we didn't have to hold out for long, the 1st and 2nd battleship detachments were coming. When they arrive, they should be able to curb the arrogance of the Americans. As long as the Imperial Navy eased up and took off carrier-based aircraft, it would be possible to send the Japanese battleships to the bottom of the sea. Major General Cai Junbao thought secretly.

He believed that the 1st and 2nd battleship detachments must have received orders and were on their way to the rapid arrival. The distance between them and the main forces of the Imperial Navy was not far from them. It can be there in a maximum of an hour. Although, the 'Tokai-class' battleships of the 1st Battleship Detachment and the 'Three Emperor-class' battleships of the 2nd Battleship Detachment are also not light. However, the 460-mm guns and 410-mm guns on these two battleships were capable of posing a mortal threat to the American battleships. Unlike the 381 mm guns or 343 mm guns of several other battleship detachments, they simply could not penetrate the thick armor of the American battleships, let alone sink them.

In fact, the 1st Battleship Detachment and the 2nd Battleship Detachment of the Imperial Navy were indeed already approaching at a rapid pace. It's just that, because of the speed, their speed can only be controlled at 26 knots. However, in the case of the fleets of both sides moving in the opposite direction, it would take them a maximum of forty minutes for them to reach the battlefield. This is also where General Chen Houfu's confidence lies.

In the sky, the battle had come to an end, and the huge carrier-based fighters of the Imperial Navy had shot down all the 120 carrier-based planes of the incoming US troops, and none of them escaped. And the carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Navy also lost eight fighters. Without exception, when attacking the US dive bombers and torpedo planes, they were bitten by US fighters and then shot down.

However, six of the eight downed fighters managed to parachute out. The destroyers of the Imperial Navy and rushed to rescue them. The other two pilots were not able to escape. One of them was hit and disintegrated in the air, and the pilot was killed in the first place. In the other fighter, the pilot's cockpit was pierced by an aviation machine gun bullet, and the pilot was killed on the spot, which caused the plane to crash into the sea.

After a lot of air battles, the Imperial Navy's carrier-based aircraft were almost out of fuel, and they began to prepare to return to the aircraft carrier to land. This is also the reason why the aircraft carriers of the Imperial Navy cannot be fast. When the fighter plane lands, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the aircraft carrier, otherwise, accidents are prone to occur. After all, from the beginning to the end, the landing of fighters is quite difficult.

At this time, the anti-aircraft search radar suddenly discovered a new target, and dozens of planes were approaching due west at high speed. This is exactly what 46 carrier-based aircraft took off from the USS Wasp aircraft carrier, including 18 F4F Wildcat fighters, 18 SBD2 Dreadnought dive bombers and 10 TBD Devastator torpedo attack aircraft.

On their way to attack the Imperial Navy, they deliberately made a turn and went around from the south to the west, so that they were not discovered by the Imperial carrier-based aircraft heading south. At the same time, it had the effect of a surprise attack.

"Damn! The Americans dispatched not one batch, but two batches of carrier-based aircraft. Ordered the fighters who were preparing to land, stop the landing, and go to deal with the American carrier-based aircraft. Admiral Chen Houfu immediately gave the order.

"But Commander, many fighters don't have much fuel, and their stay time in the air is very short." An operational staff officer said.

"Of course I know, tell those pilots. It was really out of fuel, so it was forced to land on the sea. Even if all the fuel is exhausted, all the carrier-based aircraft of the Americans will be shot down. Admiral Chen Houfu ordered.

He is desperate to shoot down the US Navy's carrier-based planes even if he loses dozens or hundreds of fighters. In this way, although the losses are not small, they can save the fleet. While the fleet was rapidly fleeing for its life, the original air defense formation was already very loosely stretched. If it is attacked by the carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy, it is very likely to be severely damaged. The value of an aircraft carrier, apparently, is above the carrier-based aircraft. So, in such a situation, it is natural to choose to keep the aircraft carrier.

Besides, carrier-based aircraft are not the most important, with the current industrial strength of the empire, hundreds of fighters have been lost, and they can be replenished at any time. As long as the pilots were able to make a forced landing, or parachute out, the Imperial Navy would be able to rescue them. When the fighters are replenished, they will soon be able to regain their combat effectiveness. However, if the aircraft carrier is sunk, it will not be so easy to replenish. At least until the middle or end of next year, the next eight D-class aircraft carriers will be able to enter service. What's more, the Americans' 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers will also be commissioned at that time, and 12 will be in service at one time. There will be more pressure on the Imperial Navy.

"Yes, Commander." The battle bread nodded and said no more.

The fighter pilots who were originally preparing to land, after receiving the order, were stunned at first, but then chose to accept the order, and no one said anything. As soldiers, it is their duty to obey orders. What's more, they also know that this is the most correct choice.

Even if it is not very safe to make a forced landing on the sea, it may crash at any time, and the plane will be destroyed and people will die. Even if you are parachuting, you can become food in the shark's mouth, or get entangled in a parachute and sink into the sea. But it is their duty to protect the fleet, to protect their own aircraft carriers.

Except for the first batch of air defense fighters that met the US Navy, which did not use any fuel and continued to land, the fighters that took off later all attacked the second batch of carrier-based planes of the US Navy under the guidance of the anti-aircraft search radar.

Hundreds of fighter planes are already fighting one against 46 US carrier-based planes. The fighters of the Imperial Navy undoubtedly had a huge advantage. Of course, because of the limited fuel supply, they also have a very limited time in the air. Therefore, they must take out the opponent in the shortest possible time. Otherwise, they will have to make a forced landing on the sea and abandon their landlines.

"Attention planes, we have less than ten minutes to launch an attack on the Chinese fleet. Attack the Chinese's main aircraft carriers with all their might, sink or severely damage them, and create an opportunity for us to win this naval battle. "The commander of the US army gave the order.

They are also full of confidence in this attack. The first carrier-based aircraft that took off before have already attracted the attention of the Chinese Navy. The battleships that appeared later made the Chinese Navy flee frantically, and the formation and the like had long been abandoned aside. This is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for them.

It's a pity that they ran into those fighters of the Imperial Navy. Even if there is not much fuel in the tank. However, they still launched a decisive blockade like the US carrier-based planes, vowing to prevent the US carrier-based planes from threatening their own aircraft carriers.

"Pay attention to all planes, launch an attack, don't fall in love with a fight, and attack directly." The commander of the fighter of the Imperial Navy also gave the order. This kind of attack is undoubtedly the most trouble-free and fuel-efficient. If it goes well, it may be possible for most of the carrier-based aircraft to return to the aircraft carrier safely. These pilots also want to minimize their losses as much as possible.

"Knock knock!" The first batch of more than forty fighters began to dive and attack, and in order to ensure the success of the attack, they all chose to attack with machine guns without exception. And at the expense of wasting shells. Anyway, for them, there is only one chance to attack.

"Boom! Rumble! "A US SBD2 dive bomber was hit and disintegrated in the air, and an explosion occurred in the air.

Another TBD torpedo attack aircraft even had its entire tail blown off, and the front half fell to the sea. (To be continued.) )