Whoosh!
Almost every few seconds, a carrier-based FW-190 fighter took off from an aircraft carrier. The Sovereign-class carriers in particular used an angled-deck design. When necessary, these fighters could even take off from two runways at once.
The German Atlantic Fleet had eight aircraft carriers: four Sovereign-class carriers and four Constellation-class carriers. Including reserve aircraft, each Sovereign-class carrier carried 120 carrier-based aircraft—forty fighters, forty Dive Bombers, and forty Torpedo Bombers. Including reserves, each Constellation-class carrier carried 103 carrier-based aircraft: thirty-nine fighters, thirty-eight Dive Bombers, and twenty-six Torpedo Bombers.
After the German Marine Corps captured the Bermuda Islands, the German Navy had been on guard against American naval bombing. Thus, the decks of every aircraft carrier were packed with carrier-based fighters ready to take off.
The moment the incoming American aircraft were spotted, the carriers responded at once. Carrier-based fighters took off one after another, preparing to intercept the American formation.
"General, the Americans have come in force this time! According to the reports, they have deployed close to a thousand aircraft. A large portion of them are heavy bombers, while the rest are fighters." Lieutenant General George Fredberg wore a grave expression.
Although Germany had long regarded the United States as its greatest opponent, and German commanders all shared that view, the Americans had now casually dispatched nearly a thousand combat aircraft in a single operation. Apart from Germany, perhaps only the United States could produce such strength as easily as turning over one's hand.
Admiral Rolf Kars nodded. "Those American naval aircraft cannot directly threaten the Bermuda Islands because of their range. Therefore, the aircraft taking off now should all belong to the US Army Air Corps. According to the intelligence we have obtained, among the US Army Air Corps' combat aircraft, only P-51 fighters and B-17 heavy bombers