Chapter 467 Caribbean Sea (9)

After obtaining the exact location of the US aircraft carrier, it was finally the turn of the Shokaku and Zuikaku to get busy. According to Kusaka Ryunosuke's calculations, the mobile fleet was only 590 kilometers away from the enemy fleet, and the distance between the two sides was still further shortened, which was completely within the normal attack range of carrier-based aircraft. Based on the above judgment, Tsukahara issued three orders at 9:03:

First, all four aircraft carrier attack aircraft groups were immediately released, and the ready-made Hayabusa and Skyhawk attack aircraft groups took off quickly; second, the decoy fleet direct cover aircraft returned to the mobile fleet for rapid refueling, and then coordinated with the fleet direct cover aircraft to escort the attack aircraft group; third, the bombardment fleet direct cover aircraft was withdrawn and turned to escort the mobile fleet.

At this time, it was seen that it was important for Tsukahara to prepare the attack aircraft groups. After they took off quickly, they could just free up the deck to provide fuel for the 12 Bf-219s that were about to fly back without interfering with the takeoff operations of Zuikaku and Shokaku. In terms of overall time, they could basically keep in sync. To ensure that the attack aircraft group had enough range, the ground crew hung small wing fuel tanks on the He-218, extending its maximum range to more than 1,400 kilometers.

In the distant bombardment fleet, seeing the overhead fighters suddenly fly away, Kusa Kazuto was stunned: "What's going on? The replacement fighters haven't arrived yet, how can they leave first?"

Hori Teikichi thought for a while and smiled: "Don't think about it, Tsukahara is going to attack."

"Attack? Attack from so far away? Isn't the US aircraft carrier said to be southeast of Port-au-Prince? It's still far away from the mobile fleet."

The intelligence collected by the water reconnaissance is shared by all fleets. Kusa Kazuto inferred based on common sense that the distance between the mobile fleet and the US aircraft carrier formation was more than 800 kilometers. Although he wanted to take action, he felt that it was too far. Just when he was about to ask Tsukahara what he was going to do, Kusa Kazuto's telegram had arrived.

"Mobile Fleet Report: Prepare to attack the enemy aircraft carrier formation. This fleet is currently 500 kilometers away from the bombardment fleet and about 240 kilometers away from the decoy fleet."

"What?" Kusaka Renji was shocked and almost spit out a mouthful of blood. "How can it be so close? Has he been staying far away all morning? No, no, no! Even if he stayed still, we wouldn't be so close to him."

Hori Teikichi sighed: "Don't guess, he turned around, and he didn't just turn around, it's been a while..."

"This..." Kusaka Renji's eyes widened, "Is he crazy? Yesterday's combat plan was not reported like this. He only said that he would try to run out, and then use fighter jets to cover the safety of the bombardment formation."

Hori Teikichi smiled bitterly: "It's my fault. I set a bad example: I bypassed the military. The headquarters made arbitrary decisions, and Tsukahara made arbitrary decisions without my permission. Alas... Now we have nothing to lose."

"Sir... What should we do? Let him turn around quickly?"

"Let him go. Since he dares to do this, he must have his confidence." After reading the nautical chart, Hori Teikichi did not seem to be angry about it. Instead, he nodded continuously, "Well, being bold and careful is a good move. It depends on luck..."

At 9:30, the attack aircraft group of the mobile fleet was assembled. Fuchida Mitsuo led a formation of 180 aircraft to attack northwest, including 78 Bf-21218 dive bombers (after a flight crew escaped from the Panamanian garrison, Tsukahara used the backup aircraft to restore the number) and 70 Ju-98 torpedo attack aircraft. Judging from the composition, the attack aircraft group is strong enough, but the number of escort fighters is small.

Time passed by minute by minute, 9:40, 9:50, until 10:05, the heavy cruiser Haguro, which was alone with two destroyers on the periphery for lookout mission, still did not report any enemy aircraft attack, and the fighter formation ambushed in the designated airspace also reported that it was safe.

Kusaka Ryunosuke became anxious again: According to common sense, the US military obtained the position of our fleet at around 7 o'clock and should have started to attack immediately. Assuming that the relevant attack aircraft group was launched at 7:30, it has been 2 and a half hours so far. Why is it still not here? If the heavy cruiser Mogami and other warships escorting the mobile fleet outside reported no discovery, he would almost suspect that the strategy had failed and the enemy had directly rushed to the fleet.

He didn't know that he was waiting anxiously for the American fleet, while Fletcher and Cox on the other side were also waiting anxiously on the Lexington: the carrier-based aircraft formation arrived at point X to meet with the Puerto Rican Army Air Force at the designated time, but they didn't see the other side at all. Then the Army Air Force was also worried about not being able to find the carrier-based aircraft formation - the Army Air Force navigator was indeed lost at sea. The two sides sent telegrams back and forth, and there was no clue. Fletcher was so anxious that he almost ordered the two formations to attack separately. Finally, considering the strong anti-aircraft fleet of the Axis fleet, he didn't want to turn to the refueling tactic again. In the end, it took a full 15 minutes for both sides to gather together. Without caring about complaining to each other, they attacked the Axis fleet together.

At 10:08, the fleet noticed the lonely heavy cruiser Haguro and two destroyers on the sea, which excited the US fleet. Lieutenant Colonel Henry, who led the fleet, was dismissive of this - he didn't want to waste precious time on these small shrimps, so he directly sent a telegram to the second attack wave, asking them to "take advantage of" these cruisers and destroyers while advancing. His idea was good: after these more than 200 planes pressed over, the Axis aircraft carrier formation would probably not have many warships left, so it would be good to leave some targets for the brothers behind to attack, after all, it was a heavy cruiser.

After arriving at the designated combat area Z point, this huge fleet did not find anything. Lieutenant Colonel Henry was still in a calm state of mind: just now, he was delayed for a while, and because of the speed difference between the fleet and the enemy fleet during the flight, he believed that the Axis fleet must use this time to advance or turn, so he divided the large formation of more than 200 aircraft into three small formations of 60 or 70 aircraft to disperse and search for the movement of the enemy fleet.

After searching for 5 minutes, Henry's central formation had not found anything yet, and he only heard a cry of surprise in his ears: "A large group of enemy planes are rushing towards me..." Looking closely, a large wave of enemy planes rushed straight to our left wing from high altitude, and the number seemed to exceed 60.

Henry was not panicked. Before departure, Cox explained that the other side might have 50 or 60 fighters. After seeing the Axis fighters take the initiative to fight and the number was in line with his cognition, he felt very happy: This shows that the enemy aircraft carrier formation is close at hand, otherwise why are these fighters rushing over?

"F6F, P-47 try to entangle the enemy aircraft, the attack group follows me, don't leave the formation without authorization..."