Chapter 750 Atlantic Strangulation War (59)

By the afternoon, Cunningham's fleet had successfully reduced the distance between it and the break-up fleet to about 1,200 kilometers. After Turner commanded the fleet to retreat south, the gap from the German army still remained at about 1,300 kilometers. Now it is roughly The three sides formed an equilateral triangle with a side length of 1,200-1,300 kilometers. However, 600 kilometers behind the German apex was the main force of the Ozawa fleet. While the fleet was conducting air strikes, the fleet as a whole was still heading east—that is, close to the coastline of the African continent. Moving forward, we will soon reach the due north of Cape Verde.

Cunningham sent a telegram to Ingersoll at around 5 o'clock, believing that the carrier-based aircraft attack circles on both sides could be stacked after tomorrow morning. Everyone was originally very happy, but Turner's expression changed after receiving the Army's emergency telegram. He froze for a moment, "Our army suffered a devastating air attack. If we do not rescue, the entire army will be destroyed..."

He gritted his teeth and said, "The Army is all bastards. The Germans were bombed by us for a week and they were able to resist. But they screamed that they couldn't stand it after being bombed once?"

Ingersoll also expressed surprise that from the intelligence point of view, the German army had more than 200 aircraft, and the number did not exceed the level of US air strikes. How could it be so disastrous? They intentionally or unintentionally ignored one point: the German army had a complete defense system and psychological expectations when encountering bombings, and its ability to withstand was certainly strong. However, the US military had been demoralized by repeated frustrated attacks. It would certainly be doubly difficult to suffer such a round of air attacks. Feeling frustrated.

"This is just a continuation of their constant complaints, but we need to give them appropriate comfort and tell them that the fleet can regroup tomorrow. As long as they endure for another 24 hours, our army will regain the upper hand..." Turner suggested, "I don't I believe that the Germans can bring the Army to its knees by relying on air strikes and the few remaining troops on the island. If this could be done, we would have achieved it long ago.”

On the Zeppelin aircraft carrier, Machar and other senior officials are assessing the positive impact and conducting simulations on the sandbox, trying to find an appropriate strategy for the next stage.

"Since the enemy avoids fighting with us, it means two problems. Either they are timid to fight due to lack of strength, or they are unable to decisively fight our army because their fleet has not yet approached, and they still have to wait for time. In this way, The direction of the next move is obvious." Ozawa's finger moved directly from the fleet position to Sal Island, "Order the breaking fleet to advance at the highest speed and strive to launch a bombardment of Sal Island tomorrow morning!"

"Shell bombardment?!" Crank was stunned for a moment and asked subconsciously, "Will the aircraft carrier also move forward?"

"It's enough to assault forward 200 kilometers, and then rely on the Night Owl Team to launch a search tonight to try to find the enemy as soon as possible! We can even consider launching a night attack!" Ozawa sighed, "It's a pity that the Marine reinforcements are not around, and the battleship Most of them are injured, otherwise the enemy will be very uncomfortable if they attack Sal Island directly with the artillery fleet! "

"What's the worst possibility?"

"Early tomorrow morning, the battleship force will be attacked by US carrier-based aircraft, but this attack can only come from the escort aircraft carrier force, and they cannot carry heavy bombs, so they can only damage the battleship but cannot destroy it. And their ability to hit the battleship means that our military You can also attack them..."

Machar suddenly realized: Ozawa's intention was to use the thick-skinned battleship as bait. If he could discover the enemy fleet first, he would be able to attack first. If not, he could also use artillery troops to draw it out and annihilate it - think about it carefully. It is very similar to Horikichi's tactics in the South Pacific naval battle, except that the Yamato was replaced by the Richelieu. And the US military has to eat this bait - otherwise the US military on the island will be suppressed first!

Time passed by, and the battleship troops were advancing at a high speed, and the Night Owl troops, which had frightened the US military, were dispatched again - this time their goal was not to attack, but to search for a radius of 500 kilometers to the west and south of Sal Island. 120-degree fan-shaped surface, find the hidden US fleet!

The Americans were still waiting anxiously for dawn, but they didn't know that the German army had made full use of the night. In the early morning, the Night Owl team arrived in key sea areas and used high-power radar to search. Relying on a 200-kilometer search range, they finally found peripheral warships 470 kilometers due south of Sal Island, and then more and more US warships came in. In the radar soldier's sight, the dancing green dots fully demonstrated the size and existence of Admiral Ingersoll's fleet.

"Sir, the radar detected a German plane flying in..."

"Damn it, we ran so far and still met the Germans." Turner cursed, "It's probably their night fighting force. The fleet should be careful!"

After identifying the target they wanted, in order to avoid alerting the enemy, the German heavy bombers flew away quietly. Seeing that the enemy did not launch an attack as before, the U.S. fleet was glad that they had not been discovered, and Ingersoll and Turner also relaxed. Although he was alert, he was still thinking about how to cooperate with Cunningham tomorrow to gather the German troops and annihilate them...

At 1 o'clock in the morning, Machar received the exact news that part of the US military fleet was located in the sea 500 kilometers south of Sal Island. He laughed: "Very good, I didn't expect you to hide here. Why don't you send fighter jets to the island during the day?" How about protection?"

"Sir, give the order." Koch couldn't wait.

Since the German aircraft carrier formation was divided into two parts, the next dispatch was a bit troublesome, but Ozawa had obviously already made up his mind. "The commerce raiding fleet is moving at full speed. The Dunkerque will release all combat aircraft to form the first attack wave in half an hour. The Zeppelin and the Harrier will release the corresponding attack aircraft groups. Some fighters will go forward to cover, and then go to the Dunkerque for secondary fuel replenishment and form the second and third attack waves. All the spare aircraft of each ship are activated! Night bombers continue to monitor key sea areas!"

"Yes!"

As the exact order was issued, all ground crews entered a frenzy. At 2 o'clock At 15:15, the first wave of German attack was formed and began to rush to the south, while their opponent, the US Navy ground crew, was just preparing for the departure of the fighter planes...

3:18, the second wave of German attack arrived at the Dunkirk for secondary replenishment, and the advantage of the angled deck was immediately brought into play. Since all combat aircraft had been cleared, the deck was now empty, and two runways could be used at the same time: one for landing and one for rapid launch. The German army used 45 minutes to form the second wave of attack groups, and at the same time, the Dunkirk completed the accommodation of all aircraft.

The Dunkirk aircraft carrier acted extremely boldly at night, with all the lights on and a brilliant scene. This adventurous gambling spirit was something the German Navy had never had...