The German Air Force's 5th Air Group fighter planes slaughtered the Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft group with abandon. The Zero Carrier Fighters might still have had a sliver of strength to resist against the German Air Force's FW-190 and BF-109 fighters. But those Type 99 dive bombers and Type 97 attack aircraft were completely outmatched.
At this rate of losses, the Island Nation Navy's carrier-based aircraft group would likely be wiped out before they even found the German Navy's aircraft carriers.
This was undoubtedly good news for the German Navy. After losing so many carrier-based aircraft, even if the Island Nation Navy's aircraft carriers remained afloat, their combat strength would be greatly weakened. After all, an aircraft carrier's fighting power lay in its carrier-based aircraft. The carrier itself merely provided a platform for taking off and landing at sea, as well as serving as an ammunition depot—a floating airfield for carrier-based aircraft. Once an aircraft carrier had no carrier-based aircraft left, it naturally had little combat power.
The loss of nearly two hundred carrier-based aircraft was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Island Nation Navy's 1st Carrier Squadron. Carrier-based aircraft pilots, in particular, were not so easily trained. With the Island Nation Navy taking the elite-training route for carrier-based aircraft pilots, every single one was a precious treasure. Lose one, and there was one less; it was enough to make one's heart ache.
While the German Air Force fighters carried out their slaughter, the second wave of carrier-based aircraft launched from the German Navy's two aircraft carriers sped toward the position of the Island Nation Navy's 1st Carrier Squadron.
"Sir, our Radar has detected a large aircraft group. It is likely the German carrier-based aircraft group." A staff officer aboard the aircraft carrier Ibuki reported to Vice Admiral Chuichi