After Halsey released the first attack wave, Nimitz had hesitated. The idea was to avoid the fleet immediately and then retreat. Because even if the aircraft carrier attack group that was released could not find the Japanese aircraft carrier formation group, it could also attack the Japanese artillery fleet group near Tarawa, and in short, it would not be lost. As for these carrier-based pilots, after completing the attack mission, they could only go to parachute over Tarawa or emergency landing.

Under such a situation, the Pacific Fleet is in a relatively favorable position to attack the Japanese fleet, but the enemy cannot find him.

But after a long time of consideration, Nimitz gave up the idea for no other reason: this group of carrier-based pilots was too precious. Although the overall quality was slightly worse than that in the Battle of Midway, looking at the two-ocean aircraft carrier formations, due to the two-way defeats, the quality of carrier-based pilots of the Atlantic Fleet was surprisingly reduced, and the Pacific Fleet carrier-based pilots were the highest overall level in the entire US Navy.

Nimitz would not frown when he threw away the hundreds of planes, but if these pilots were forced to land in Tarawa, once the island fell, the pilots would become the turtle in the jar of the Japanese army.

After the second wave of attack aircraft was released, facing the unfavorable situation where the enemy planes had discovered their position, the Pacific Fleet was facing a situation where the route was adjusted. Giffin thought Halsey would turn north or east to distance from the Japanese army, but Halsey ordered: "Go west! Learn from Tsukahara."

The first half of the sentence was immediately executed, and the next half was everyone thinking about it. Someone immediately thought of Tsukahara Nishiso San's "turning around the gods" in the Battle of Panama, which deceived Fletcher's carrier-based aircraft pilot. Halsey planned to learn and apply it, and even Nimitz had a slight head, and expressed his approval.

However, this time, luck obviously did not stand on the side of the Americans. The first attack wave sent by Tsukahara did not fly from the south that the US military had already detected, but was mainly sent by the guerrilla fleet in the west. Turning around and making a decision to go west, instead invisibly narrowing the distance between the Pacific Fleet and the guerrilla fleet.

At 10:29, the first direct-covered fighter with the bullet took off from the Bolzano. The ship was a light aircraft carrier transformed by Italy using the hull of the cruiser. Although it had the ability to take off and land, due to the many differences between the various standards and operating methods and the Japanese army, Tsukahara usually did not calculate it in combat aircraft carriers, but only used as auxiliary aircraft carriers. The situation is urgent now, and he didn't have time to care about so much, so he could only use the backup aircraft carrier as normal. Fortunately, the excellent pilots represented by Sadaki Akamatsu showed strong adaptability. Even for such a uncomfortable aircraft carrier, they landed safely and steadily, which shows the difference in the quality of Japanese and American carrier-based aircraft pilots.

He had achieved three more results in the air above the artillery fleet. This time he was transferred here to re-capture the mobile fleet. Faced with the coming fierce battle, he was not only tired, but also in high spirits. He hoped to kill at least 5 more aircraft today.

At 10:34, all the Japanese attack waves landed and completed the intense supply. The three ships Xianghe, Ruihe and Longfeng were like they were on the clock, desperately carrying out ground supply.

At 10:57, all 28 zero-war reforms led by Akamatsu Sadaki were taken off (25 were redirected by the artillery fleet, and 3 were used to call for supplementary aircraft), supporting air defense parachutes for the mobile fleet. At this time, the US attack group had not yet appeared, and everyone in the Shochi couldn't help but feel relieved, but Tsukahara's brows were still frowning, and he believed that this group of people came from the US military, and their performance and technical level should be stronger than the first wave. At present, there were too few air defense fighters in the fleet.

He decisively ordered: "Adjust the order, fighter jets take off first. Once they are discovered, be sure to entangle them!"

At 11:04, Hiroyi Nishizawa led the first 12 zero-war reform to take off, and the mobile fleet covers reached 40; at this time, the Kaohsiung heavy cruiser, which was covered by the outer cover, sent an alarm: "The enemy aircraft group is approaching, with a position of 185, a speed of 175 knots, an estimated number of more than 100 aircraft, 130 kilometers away from this fleet..."

As soon as the news came out, the atmosphere suddenly increased, and the ground crew on the deck became even more nervous. Many people were shaking their hands so hard that the bomb could not be hung up no matter how.

At this moment, the radio rang: "I am Tsukahara Nishisan. The plane that completed the replenishment of oil ammunition accelerated takeoff. There is no need to worry about the order. After 5 minutes, the deck of the entire army was cleared. All ammunition, torpedo, and oil that could not be mounted were pushed into the sea!"

Kusato Ryunosuke had experienced the failure of the Midway Battle. His face turned pale, his veins burst out, and his teeth were chewing: "Sir, I'll go to the deck."

"Sit down, don't be nervous, it's not that easy for the US military to defeat us." Tsukahara comforted him, "We still have time."

Next was the 5 minutes of living like the year. Three regular aircraft carriers took off one after another. At the fastest time, five took off within one minute...

At 10:09, the US attack aircraft group had appeared within a range visible to the naked eye.

"Attack... entangle them and buy more time for the fleet." At the command of Akatsumatsu Sadaki, more than 40 Zero Zhankes rushed over roaring.

The Japanese army's good technical level ensured that it would not go wrong in such a tense moment. Even though they witnessed the appearance of American aircraft, the pilots could still take off safely. Only two of them fell into the sea because they were too nervous.

"Sir, there are more than 60 planes without ammunition." Genda Shi said in a low voice, "Do you want to push them into the sea?

"Where is the oil?"

“There are still some.”

"No need to hang bullets. The planes in front try to take off as much as possible, go to the guerrilla fleet to land, and push them all into the sea..."

The ground crew members on the three aircraft carriers were immediately divided into two groups, one assisted the planes parked in front of the deck to take off as soon as possible, and the other group would park behind. All the planes that were obviously not too late to take off were pushed into the sea. Looking at the Tianshan Gai that was hundreds of thousands of yuan each, the comet Gai fell into the sea, a large group of people burst into tears... It would be impossible not to push, but there was still a lot of gasoline on the plane.

The first attack wave of the US military found that they hit a strong fortress composed of Japanese fighters. No matter they rushed left and rushed, it was difficult to break through the interception of Japanese aircraft. Lieutenant Colonel Langdon, who led the team, was anxious. He saw that one aircraft after another on the Japanese aircraft carrier not far away, and if he didn't rush over, the enemy's chances of intercepting the aircraft are more now not only zero warfare, but those comets that did not carry bombs and rely solely on speed and maneuverability also rushed into the battle group to fight with SBD and TBFs. When they were red-eyed, the Japanese pilots used a powerful impact method, but they could continue to fight after parachuting. Only Tianshan Gai knew that he was powerless to fight in the air. All those without ammunition flew towards the guerrilla fleet. Tianshan Gai and Comet Gai, who had ammunition, attacked the US fleet together.

In the end, Langton could only rely on the slow tbf and the strongest combat power F6f to cover the sbds and yelled in the phone: "The formation was disbanded...the various aircraft groups scattered and broke through."

When he issued this order, the US military had already shot down 19 SBDs, 15 TBFs and 13 F6Fs in just 4 minutes of fire exchange. The Japanese army suffered a lot of losses. 17 were eliminated in Zero War and 8 Comets were eliminated.

The US military aircraft group that was scattered and broke through began to attack. The sbd roared down, and the main target was aimed at the most prominent Shohe and Ruihe, which had the most prominent characteristics. Although the Japanese fighter planes tried hard to intercept, some things could not be stopped.

At 11:17, Ruihe avoided three bombs and cut off three anti-aircraft guns on the starboard side at near-lost bombs;

At 11:18, a shot down SBD fell down with a plane and a bomb. The Xianghe ate a torpedo in the Australian-New Zealand naval battle. Its maneuverability and speed were not as good as Ruihe. The bomb seemed to be unable to avoid it, and finally plunged to the rear deck. There was only a loud "boom". Everyone in the bridge felt a sharp shock, and then a raging fire ignited.

"Bastard!" Genda Shi's eyes were red.

"The damage pipe promptly informs the situation."

"The rear deck, the elevator was destroyed, the hangar cannot be used for the time being...the fire is being put out at present."

Everyone thought to themselves that thanks to the commander who had desperately asked to clear the planes on the rear and rear decks on the deck, if they were all still there, the explosion would not be as simple as a hole or a lift damage.

At 11:24, the US attack aircraft retreated. The zero-war reforms in the sky did not dare to fight, and immediately rushed down to replenish ammunition.

"The destroyer salvaged the officers and soldiers who fell into the water, Shochi urged the repairs, and the other two ships immediately called for supplementary fighters and took off. Comets changed to land and replenish them all in the guerrilla fleet." Tsukahara Nishiso San's face turned pale, "The enemy has 2 large and 3 aircraft carriers, and it is definitely not just this kind of strength."

The fire of the Shohe was under control, but the twisted steel behind it still looked shocking. The aircraft carrier was temporarily paralyzed and could land at most 15-20 aircraft.

"Sir, do you want to change the ship?"

Tsukahara shook his head: "It's not necessary for the time being, and I don't know how effective the first attack wave is."

“No news has come…”

At 11:38, 16 newly added zero-war battles of each ship took off. The Beyan simply approached Bolzano and temporarily conducted battlefield dispatch. One zero-war battle after another full of oil bombs was placed on the Bolzano from this supplementary aircraft carrier.

At 11:49, all the zero battles that each ship could release were taken off, and only 49 fighter jets were left to cover the air. Tsukahara sighed slightly: "I don't know if I can escape the next disaster..."

His premonition was verified in two minutes, and the second wave of the US military attack came, "it is expected to be between 80-90 aircraft."

"The wheel-shaped air defense array is deployed...the air defense firepower is fully opened, and success or failure is here."

Almost at the same time, the guerrilla fleet's attack on the US military entered a state of intense heat... (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!