"Attack! Destroy the Germans' Capital Ships!" Colonel Yamashiro Ryutaro roared.
Although not many bombers and attackers had broken through the German Navy fighter planes' blockade—only a little over twenty in total—if luck was on their side, they could still inflict considerable losses on the German Navy.
"Yes, sir!" the pilots answered in chorus. With the resolve to face death without flinching, they charged toward the German fleet.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Anti-aircraft Gun shells exploded in the sky, leaving behind billowing clouds of black smoke.
One Type 99 carrier-based dive bomber was extremely unlucky and was hit by a 105mm Anti-aircraft Gun shell. The entire aircraft became a fireball amid the explosion and plunged toward the sea. Its pilot was blown to death on the spot.
"Damn it! The Germans' anti-aircraft fire is fierce. All aircraft, watch out!" Colonel Yamashiro Ryutaro's face turned ashen.
When the Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft were less than ten kilometers from the fleet, the 88mm Anti-aircraft Guns opened fire as well. These 88mm Anti-aircraft Guns fired far faster than the 105mm Anti-aircraft Guns, and their power was formidable too.
Under the pounding of the dense anti-aircraft fire, several Island Nation Navy carrier-based aircraft failed to evade in time and were destroyed on the spot.
On German Navy warships, long-range air defense was handled by 105mm Anti-aircraft Guns, medium-range air defense by 88mm Anti-aircraft Guns, and close-range air defense by 40mm Anti-aircraft Guns, 20mm Anti-aircraft Guns, and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns. Together, they formed a three-layered air-defense net of long, medium, and close range.
As the Island Nation carrier-based aircraft continued to close in, the air-defense fire aboard every German Navy warship opened up in full. Anti-aircraft shells and anti-aircraft machine-gun rounds formed a dense web of fire in the sky.
Without enough fighter planes to