More than two hundred carrier-based aircraft, taking off from the Island Nation Navy's eight aircraft carriers, flew through the air. Though the sky was still pitch-black and they could not form up yet, the Island Nation Navy pilots were not worried in the slightest. Daybreak would come soon. They had plenty of time to form up in flight before launching their attack on the target.
The Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft were divided into three types: Zero Carrier Fighters, Type 99 carrier-based dive bombers, and Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft.
The Zero fighters were naturally responsible for seizing air superiority and protecting the fleet and air groups. They would dogfight enemy fighters and suppress enemy anti-aircraft fire. The Type 99 carrier-based dive bombers were bombers capable of carrying three 250-kilogram Aerial Bombs. Of course, they still fell somewhat short of the Stuka dive bombers and Carrier-based Stuka dive bombers used by the German Navy. Stuka dive bombers could carry two 500-kilogram Aerial Bombs. If armed with 250-kilogram Aerial Bombs, they could carry four. The German Navy's Carrier-based Stuka dive bombers all carried two 500-kilogram Aerial Bombs. These heavy aerial Armor-piercing Shells posed an even greater threat to surface targets. Even heavily armored Battleships or aircraft carriers converted from Battleships could not withstand 500-kilogram Aerial Bombs. Once potential energy was converted into kinetic energy, these heavy aerial Armor-piercing Shells would possess terrifying armor-piercing power.
The Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft were Torpedo Bombers. They could carry one Type 91 heavy torpedo, or be fitted with Aerial Bombs to conduct level bombing and serve as level bombers.
After these Island Nation Navy carrier-based aircraft set out, both Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo and Lieutenant General Kakuta Kakuji were extremely nervous. Although they had trained for a long time and conducted numerous exercises, this