The first wave of 176 carrier-based aircraft launched by the Island Nation Navy's 1st Carrier Squadron was still flying south. Because they did not know the exact location of the German carriers, they had to advance while searching.
The forty Zero Carrier Fighters escorting the formation were not only responsible for protecting the fifty-six Type 99 carrier-based dive bombers and eighty Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft. They also had to search for the German aircraft carriers.
This spread the Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft group out very widely, and their southward speed was not particularly fast.
And that gave the German fleet more time to prepare. It allowed the German Air Force to dispatch more fighter planes to the battlefield.
The Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft group was entirely within the detection range of the German Navy's air-search Radar. Guided by the air-search Radar, German Air Force fighter planes could pounce directly on their target.
The first to intercept the Island Nation formation were thirty-six German Air Force FW-190 fighters. Though they appeared far smaller compared to the Island Nation formation's enormous strength of 176 aircraft, the German Air Force pilots were not afraid. Instead, they felt excited and exhilarated.
"We are about to encounter the Island Nation formation. All squadrons, take note: prioritize attacking the Island Nation bombers and Torpedo Bombers. Take them all out!" the Squadron Leader ordered.
"Understood, sir!" all the pilots replied.
With the Island Nation's Army Air Force suffering grievous losses, the pilots of the German Air Force's 5th Air Group had not been able to score any victories for a long time. Now that the Island Nation Navy had sent so many aircraft to their deaths, they were extremely excited. After all, whether they shot down Island Nation Army Air Force aircraft or Island