Time ticked by, and under the passage of time, the darkness of night gradually faded away.
By six in the morning, dawn had already broken over the southern waters of the South China Sea.
On the German Navy's aircraft carriers Aries and Taurus, carrier-based aircraft that had been fueled and armed were taking off in an orderly stream.
Carrier-based BF-109 fighters took off first, followed closely by carrier-based dive bombers and torpedo bombers.
As the two aircraft carriers possessed far fewer carrier-based aircraft than the Island Nation Navy's four carriers, the German Navy was going almost all out this time. Apart from reserve aircraft, all remaining carrier-based aircraft would depart in two waves. As for the fleet's air defense, it would be entrusted to the fleet's own anti-aircraft firepower, along with the fighter units of the 5th Air Group.
Of the three Fighter Wings under the 5th Air Group, one was equipped entirely with FW-190 fighters. At present, a full two squadrons of FW-190 fighters had been deployed to an airfield in western Borneo. Once fitted with drop tanks, these FW-190 fighters could remain above the fleet for a very long time. Should they encounter an attack by enemy carrier-based aircraft, these FW-190 fighters would absolutely make the incoming enemy pay a grievous price. After all, the FW-190 fighter's air-combat capabilities were even more formidable than those of the carrier-based BF-109.
The two aircraft carriers launched 36 carrier-based BF-109 fighters, 36 dive bombers, and 24 torpedo bombers in the first wave. A total of ninety-six carrier-based aircraft swooped toward the retreating Island Nation Navy Capital Ship Squadron.
At the same time, German Navy light cruisers and destroyers were still searching for the Island Nation Navy's Aircraft Carrier Formation. Once they discovered it, these carrier-based aircraft could receive revised operational orders