"Commander, our Capital Ship formation will definitely be able to complete this mission!" General Kimmel declared with utter confidence.
He believed that the fifteen Capital Ships under his command were unquestionably the most advanced Capital Ships in the world. Even if they encountered all twenty-three Capital Ships from the German Navy's three major fleets, they would still be able to handle them. Even if they could not defeat the German Navy's main fleet, they could still cripple it heavily and withdraw unscathed.
As long as they fought at night and avoided an Encirclement Offensive by the German Navy's land-based aircraft and Carrier-based aircraft, General Kimmel was undoubtedly confident. After all, the reason their attack on the German Navy bases in the Azores had been scheduled for nighttime rather than daytime was precisely to avoid being encircled by German Navy aircraft.
If they were caught in an Encirclement Offensive by the German Navy's land-based aircraft and Carrier-based aircraft, General Kimmel was not confident that he could escape safely. After all, no matter how powerful a Capital Ship's anti-aircraft firepower was, it could not hold back aircraft that blanketed the sky and covered the earth.
Admiral Nimitz nodded. He was likewise highly confident in their Capital Ship formation.
"However, Commander, when we withdraw from the battle, if dawn breaks, I hope we can receive fighter cover for air defense. If we succeed, the Germans will certainly send large numbers of Carrier-based aircraft to pursue us after daybreak," General Kimmel said.
"General Kimmel, rest assured. After dawn, the 1st Carrier Fleet will launch F4U fighter planes to provide air-defense cover for the Capital Ship formation!" Admiral Nimitz said.
Only then did General Kimmel breathe a sigh of relief. After all, the F4U fighter plane was already the American Navy's finest carrier-based fighter. Moreover,