Time passed little by little, and the night gradually faded away with the passage of time.
At six o'clock in the morning, it was already dawn in the southern waters of the South China Sea.
On German Navy's 'Aries' aircraft carrier and 'Taurus' aircraft carrier, Carrier-based aircraft, which have been filled with fuel and loaded with ammunition, are taking off in an orderly manner.
The carrier-based BF-109 fighter jet took off first, followed closely by the carrier-based Dive Bomber and Torpedo Bomber.
In view of the fact that the number of two aircraft carriers in Carrier-based aircraft is seriously less than the four aircraft carriers in Island Nation Navy. Therefore, Carrier-based aircraft, who was dispatched by German Navy this time, almost tried his best. Except for the backup machine, the remaining Carrier-based aircraft will be divided into two waves. As for the fleet's air defense, it is left to the fleet's own air defense firepower and the 5th Air Group fighter force.
One of the three Fighter Wings under 5th Air Group is equipped entirely with FW-190 fighter jets. Now, fully two FW-190 fighter jets are deployed to the airport in the west of Borneo. After carrying auxiliary fuel tanks, these FW-190 fighter jets can stay over the fleet for a long time. Once attacked by the enemy's Carrier-based aircraft, these FW-190 fighter jets can definitely make the incoming enemy pay a heavy price. After all, the air combat capabilities of the FW-190 fighter jet are more powerful than the carrier-based BF-109 fighter jet.
From the two aircraft carriers, the first wave took off 36 carrier-based BF-109 fighters, 36 Dive Bomber and 24 Torpedo Bomber. A total of ninety-six Carrier-based aircraft flew towards the retreating Island Nation Navy's Capital Ship Squadron.
At the same time, German Navy's Light Cruiser and destroyers are still searching for Island Nation Navy's aircraft carrier team. Once the aircraft carrier team of Island Nation Navy is discovered, these Carrier-based aircraft can be notified of the change of combat orders through radio equipment as soon as possible. At that time, they will change their attack target and prioritize the aircraft carrier of the Island Nation fleet. After all, German Navy pays more attention to those aircraft carriers than those Capital Ships.
After the first wave of Carrier-based aircraft takes off, the second wave of Carrier-based aircraft will also be transported from the hangar to the deck, and then continue to take off. However, this is at least an hour later than the first wave of Carrier-based aircraft.
"General, the Capital Ships formation of Island Nation people is about 350 kilometers away from us. After Carrier-based aircraft takes off, it can launch an attack in an hour." Major General Bürgel reported.
Lieutenant General William Canaris nodded. "I hope we can find the Aircraft Carrier Formation of the Island Nation people before launching an attack on the Capital Ships formation of the Island Nation people! If we can deal with the Island Nation people's aircraft carrier at once, then we can take the initiative of the Pacific Ocean."
"It all depends on luck!" Major General Bürgel said.
Indeed, in such a naval battle, luck undoubtedly plays a large factor. In addition to sending Light Cruiser and destroyers to search for the location of Island Nation Navy's aircraft carrier team, German fleet also took off seaplanes to focus on searching the northern waters. Under such a high-density search, Island Nation Navy's aircraft carrier team obviously cannot be hidden. However, everything takes time.
"Where are the Air Force fighter jets? When will they appear?" Lieutenant General William Canaris asked.
After the decision was made to release all Carrier-based aircraft, the fleet's air defense force was very weak. At this time, the support of the air force becomes particularly important.
"General, the Air Force fighters will arrive in half an hour. 36 FW-190 fighters from one group. 36 FW-190 fighters from another group will come to replace the fighters of the previous group before they run out of fuel." Major General Bürgel said.
After hearing the news, Lieutenant General William Canaris felt relieved.
At the same time, Island Nation Navy 1st Carrier Squadron was also taking off Carrier-based aircraft. In order to find the location of German fleet, they also released a lot of seaplanes. However, in order to increase the search scope, Island Nation and 1st Carrier Squadron still took off some Zero fighter for investigation. These Zero fighter, after carrying the auxiliary fuel tank, can reach a range of 3350 kilometers, which is very suitable for use as Reconnaissance Aircraft.
However, there are not many Zero fighter on the Island Nation Navy 1st Carrier Squadron four aircraft carriers. So not many took off. They are also responsible for the aircraft carrier team's own air defense needs, as well as escorting Carrier-based aircraft. Even Capital Ship Squadron's air defense was requested from Army Air Force.
On the four aircraft carriers Island Nation Navy 1st Carrier Squadron, the aircraft carrier 'Ibuki' and the aircraft carrier 'Hotaka', A total of 91 Carrier-based aircrafts were carried, including 16 Zero fighters, 24 Type 99 carrier-based dive bombers and 51 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircrafts. The aircraft carriers 'Kurama' and 'Togakushi' carry 90 Carrier-based aircrafts, including 24 Zero fighter, 33 Type 99 carrier-based dive bomber and 33 Type 97 carrier-based attack aircraft respectively.
It can be seen that the combat philosophy of the Island Nation Navy aircraft carrier is to emphasize attack and despise defense. But in fact, if the number of fighter jets is too small, once all the carrier-based fighter jets are lost, Bomber and Attacker will only become the targets of massacre by the enemy's carrier-based fighter jets. Therefore, there are relatively more fighter jets on the German Navy aircraft carrier.
Of course, this is a different concept of the application of aircraft carriers between the two navies. It is almost impossible to change it in a short time. Only after passing the test on the battlefield can we prove who is right and who is wrong.
At this moment, Island Nation Navy's Capital Ships formation was in the sky, and Army Air Force's Type 1 fighter plane, which took off from Philippine Islands, was escorting them. Although, the number of those Type 1 fighter plane is as high as 36. But Lieutenant General Takasu Shirō and others who were protected did not feel at all at ease. They doubted that once they were attacked by Carrier-based aircraft of German Navy, could these Type 1 fighter plane really be able to withstand it? If they can't resist it, they have to rely on their own anti-aircraft firepower.
Aboard the 'Mutsu' No. Battleship, Lieutenant General Takasu Shirō was working hard. Unless the fleet could be truly safe, otherwise, he would have no idea of resting at all.
At this time, officer Radar reported that a large number of aircraft groups had been discovered.
"Notify Army Air Force that Carrier-based aircraft from Germany is here, ready to fight!" Lieutenant General Takasu Shirō shouted.
Because Island Nation Navy's air detection Radar only has a detection range of two hundred kilometers. This only takes half an hour for the German Navy and Carrier-based aircraft fleets. However, Island Nation's Army Air Force still has time to prepare.