The German Navy's Constellation-class aircraft carriers carried considerably more aircraft than the preceding Deutschland-class carriers. In particular, after the final batch of Constellation-class carriers had been fitted with angled decks, their sortie rates rose significantly. Between the hangars and decks, they could accommodate as many as 103 aircraft.
Among those aircraft was one Carrier-based Fighter Group, comprising 36 carrier-based BF-109 fighters; one Dive Bomber Group, comprising 36 Carrier-based Stuka dive bombers; and one Torpedo Bomber Group, comprising 24 Torpedo Bombers. There were also seven reserve aircraft: three fighters, two dive bombers, and two torpedo bombers. Compared with the first two batches of Constellation-class carriers, they carried slightly more aircraft, and their combat strength was naturally somewhat greater as well.
After Marshal Lütjens gave the order, German Navy carrier-based aircraft immediately took off from the aircraft carriers Archer and Capricorn.
Half the carrier-based aircraft aboard each carrier took off. After forming up in the air, they flew in a mighty stream toward Murmansk Naval Base. Marshal Lütjens's orders were to completely destroy the naval base, making it impossible for the Bolshevik Navy to use it ever again, thereby forcing the Bolshevik fleet to come out and fight them in a decisive battle.
Once the first wave of carrier-based aircraft took off, the ground crews became busy. They had to refuel the second wave and load them with munitions, so they could launch before the first wave returned.
More than ninety carrier-based aircraft sped toward Murmansk. Buru had no Radar at the time and knew nothing of the coming attack. Only when the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft had flown close to Murmansk were they discovered.
"Woooo!"
The shrill alarm echoed throughout the naval base as countless Buru anti-aircraft gunners rushed to their positions. Before Admiral Isakov had left, he had instructed them