ps: Yesterday was actually Chapter 23, so today started directly from 24.

In the darkness, the US TF64 formation heading northeast at a speed of 22 knots and the Japanese artillery fleet heading southwest at a speed of 20 knots were moving opposite each other, just like two swordsmen holding heavy swords who were still moving forward without knowing that the enemy was approaching.

The hour hand slowly passed by 4 o'clock. About 200 nautical miles southwest of the TF64 formation, the Enterprise and the Hornets were busy. The ground crews were busy lifting a plane filled with fuel bombs to the deck, while the pilots were nervously checking the planes and equipment to make their final preparations. Kincaid observed the movements on the deck through the gaps in the portholes of the ship island, and his clenched fists showed that he was extremely nervous.

On the Washington, Major General Li listened to the tragic shelling reported by the 1st Marine War Division of Guadalam, and his forehead couldn't help but burst into veins. He whispered to the chief of staff of the formation behind him: "In another 25 minutes, let the seaplane go to investigate the enemy fleet, and be sure to find the aircraft carrier to point out the direction for Major General Kincaid."

At 4:25, 5 minutes before dawn, the distance between the two fleets had shrunk to 54 nautical miles, but the two sides still did not notice each other's existence (the US ship's search for sea radar is only 35 kilometers, but Japan did not). In order to discover the enemy first, the commanders of the two fleets ejected several water reconnaissance planes at the same time.

"Sir, the No. 3 reconnaissance plane reported to be discovered at sea targets." Just 7 minutes after the ejection plane, the Commander Tower of the tf64 formation flagship, the USS Washington, was suddenly interrupted by a sudden report. Major General Li was surprised and happy. "Report quickly."

"The enemy fleet is about 50 nautical miles away from our fleet... the speed is 20 knots and the course is 215 degrees... about 3 large targets, 3 battleships... medium targets 9. 9 heavy cruisers... more than 20 small targets, including light cruisers and destroyers... no enemy aircraft carriers were found. Repeat, no enemy aircraft carriers were found."

The formation chief of staff pondered for a moment: "This is probably the Japanese fleet that shelled Guadalam, and the number is basically consistent with the report of the 1st Marine Division - one of the heavy cruisers may have been misjudged as a battleship by Guadalam."

Major General Li nodded in agreement and asked, "When will it be expected to take the enemy?"

"The opposing speed is about 42 knots... If the current speed remains unchanged, if nothing unexpected happens, you can enter the visual observation area after 25 minutes and enter the combat area after 30 minutes."

"Very good." He raised his wrist and looked at his watch. "It's 4:38 now, and the attack aircraft group of tf16\17 should be ready. Keep the fleet's current course and speed unchanged. I inform Major General Kincaid of the current position of the enemy fleet and request an enemy air strike. This fleet will launch a restraining attack as soon as possible. Our reconnaissance aircraft will further expand the search range in depth and be sure to find the enemy aircraft carrier."

"Sir. Don't think about it again? The enemy has 3 battleships. We only have 1, and there are not as many heavy cruisers as them."

Major General Li hesitated for a moment, and finally said firmly: "We will fight when we see the enemy. We have no reason to retreat. We want to avenge the 1st Land War Division."

"yes."

Almost at the same time, the Japanese artillery fleet also received relevant news.

"Sir, Zero Water Reconnaissance Reported, and the US fleet was discovered in the southwest direction. The detection result was a large warship of 1, suspected to be a battleship; a medium warship of 3, suspected to be a heavy cruiser; a small target is difficult to distinguish, and there are estimated to be 6-8 destroyers... The current relative distance is about 50 nautical miles, and it is estimated to be an enemy aircraft carrier vanguard fleet."

"It's coming very quickly..." Horitiki looked at the sky that was just bright, then looked at the wall clock hanging on the wall, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "The route remains unchanged, the fleet accelerates, and the overall speeds up to 25 knots..."

"yes."

After hearing this order, Nobutake Kondo understood why Hori Teiki asked Fusang and Yama Castle to leave the formation to cover the 8th Fleet just now. The maximum speed of these two old ships can only run to 22 knots. It is of course no problem to cover the 8th Fleet's slow transport ship, but this speed seems slow to follow the main formation south, and can only play a role in dragging back.

"At the current speed, the course remains the same. How far is the nearest land airport to our army in 20 minutes?" Hori Teiki turned his head and asked Kuro Renyi.

Several staff members immediately carried out their operations on the chart, and after a moment, they came up with the results: "Report that the Monta Island Air Force is closest to the place, with an estimated distance of 150 nautical miles."

"Can the U.S. aircraft carrier attack aircraft fleet take off now?"

"Can."

"Can my land fleet take off?"

"It will be bright at 4:30 on the sea, and the land will be 15 minutes later, and it will take off in about 7 minutes."

"Suppose the enemy aircraft carrier formation is 100 nautical miles away from me at this moment, how long will it take to attack from launching the attack aircraft group to reaching our army's position?"

Cao Lu calculated it all. It took 15-20 minutes for the US aircraft carrier to release the aircraft group, and it took at least 25-30 minutes for the flight of 100 nautical miles after the attack cluster. He immediately replied loudly: "Sir, the enemy aircraft group will arrive at the battlefield as soon as 5:15."

Hori Teiki quickly calculated and smiled: "It's great, there's almost enough time."

Without waiting for everyone to ask, the subsequent combat command was immediately issued like flowing water: "First, the enemy aircraft carrier formation is estimated to be hung in the enemy battleship formation, the reconnaissance aircraft will go south and search westward for 180 degrees, with a search range of 250 nautical miles to try to discover the enemy aircraft carrier formation as soon as possible; Second, 150 nautical miles is about half an hour of zero battle flight, and the Monta Island Air Force is required to provide the first wave of air cover according to the pre-determined instructions at dawn. The Zero Fighter Group will first arrive at the expected location of the fleet and wait for further instructions on the ship attack aircraft group."

Cao Lu Renyi thought about it: The Mengda Island fighter fleet took off at 4:45. Even if they fly faster than the US attack aircraft fleet, they will fly at least 35 minutes in 150 nautical miles. He shouted in a hurry: "Sir, we will have to cover the aircraft until at least 5:20. The difference between the two is 5 minutes, and it may be even worse."

Hori Teiki said lightly: "It's 5 minutes... don't worry, it's enough."

Caolu Ren thought that Midway Island was only 5 minutes away, but four aircraft carriers were sunk. Why did he get another 5 minutes away this time? His words of advice were already on his lips. After thinking about it, he swallowed it back.

"Why, I'm afraid of 5 minutes of the same fate?" Horitiki laughed, "You're too worried. I'm considering the worst case. The enemy aircraft carrier formation is definitely farther than you think."

"Why?" Not only Cao Lu Renyi was curious, but even a vote of combat staff thought this conclusion was strange - why did the commander infer it?

"Our reconnaissance plane has discovered the enemy's garrison fleet. Do you think the enemy will also discover us? Maybe it's a little earlier than us, right? This news has probably been sent back to the enemy fleet..."

There is no doubt about this, and the Americans are naturally trying to find ways to detect this, and everyone nodded to express their approval of the assumption.

"If the enemy aircraft carrier formation was so close to us, the enemy's vanguard would have slowed down or turned back, so would he have to send a battleship to fight us closely? The only explanation is that the distance is far. He needs time, and he is afraid that we will slip away and decide to let the battleship formation entangle us first - but he never expected that we were going to the enemy's vanguard fleet."

Everyone was skeptical after hearing this, but the chief said so confidently that everyone could only remain silent.

"If, I mean, if the enemy aircraft carrier formation is really so close to us, wouldn't that be better? The reconnaissance aircraft can discover the target in up to 10 minutes, and the fleet can indicate the attack location for the mobile fleet at all quickly."

"But this is too dangerous for this fleet. We are directly under the first round of attacks of the enemy aircraft group." Kondo Nobutake was so anxious.

"It's okay, we are bait... Why are the Americans who are not fragrant and willing to bite them with confidence? If they hit us, their attack aircraft group can no longer attack the mobile fleet. Kondo, please command the fleet to fight and let the Americans see your art of art..." Horitiki Yuyou said, "I am old and I am not energetic after staying up late, so I need to take a nap."

Nobutake Kondo did not expect Hori Teiki to rest at this time. He was stunned and then overjoyed: Since the war between Pearl Harbor, the aircraft carrier formation has been showing its might, and the battleships have not yet shown their faces in battles - shelling islands that cannot fight back are not considered capable, and fighting face to face with enemy battleships is his wish.

"Yes!" He answered very loudly, as if he had just been admitted to the Etashima Naval School decades ago.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the Yamato Commander Tower seemed to be frozen. Although Hori Teiki sat in his seat and closed his eyes and rested, the others were so nervous that their faces turned pale. Kurori could not stand this invisible oppression, so he simply plunged into the telegraph room to see the latest situation.

Kincaid received a more clear reconnaissance telegram from the USS Washington at 4:38: Three battleships, 11 cruisers, and 32 destroyers were found, and no aircraft carriers were found. The center of the enemy fleet was located at 10 degrees and 11 minutes south latitude, 159 degrees and 05 minutes east longitude, with a southwest direction, and a speed of 20 knots.

The question is where the enemy's aircraft carrier is? Faced with Major General Li's request for air strikes, he began to be in trouble.

Now he has two choices: first, immediately dispatch all carrier-based aircraft to attack the Japanese battleship formation; second, hold on to the Japanese aircraft carrier formation and then attack it first. Of course, the third choice is to take into account both, that is, dispatch some forces to attack the enemy battleship formation and retain some forces to prepare to deal with the Japanese aircraft carrier formation. At 4:30, the aircraft carrier-based aircraft was fully ready, but time passed by minute by minute, and the aviation commanders on the two aircraft carriers still did not receive clear combat orders, and all pilots were anxiously waiting for the attack order.
Chapter completed!