On the island of the carrier Sōryū, Lieutenant General Kakuta Kakuji, commander of the Island Nation Navy's Second Carrier Division, had his brows tightly furrowed. Fleet Chief of Staff Sanwa Yoshitomi stood before him, his expression equally grim.
"Can it be confirmed that the radio signal was sent by German submarines?" Lieutenant General Kakuta Kakuji asked.
"Yes, General. Our radio department did indeed detect that transmission. It can be confirmed that a German submarine sent out a radio signal!" Colonel Sanwa Yoshitomi reported.
"It seems our trail has been exposed. In that case, there is no need to maintain radio silence any longer. Send a telegram to the flagship, inform them of our situation, and request tactical guidance! Also, the fleet is to immediately switch to air defense mode!" Lieutenant General Kakuta Kakuji ordered.
He knew that once their position was exposed, what awaited them would likely be an attack by German Navy carrier-based aircraft. With their own carrier-based aircraft having suffered grievous losses, holding back the German Navy's Encirclement Offensive by carrier-based aircraft would undoubtedly be extremely difficult.
"Yes, General!" Colonel Sanwa Yoshitomi replied. He too knew that the Island Nation fleet's Second Carrier Division had reached its most critical moment. If things went badly, they would pay an incomparably terrible price.
The moment the carrier Sōryū sent its telegram, the German Navy detected it at once, confirming their position yet again.
Aboard the carrier Ibuki, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and the others could not help but look even grimmer. Although their Capital Ships and carrier-based aircraft had suffered severe losses in the previous battle, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had not abandoned his confidence in winning this naval battle. He believed that their aircraft carriers had not yet suffered any losses. Their losses in this battle had certainly been heavy, but