"Are 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet ready?" Admiral Nimitz asked.
In a very short period of time, he had made a decision. Although it is not yet certain whether the other branch of German Navy, Aircraft Carrier Formation, is in their southwest. However, Admiral Nimitz's intuition told him that there must be a German Navy and a Aircraft Carrier Formation hidden there.
Without exact information, Admiral Nimitz decided to take a gamble. If the bet wins, this will be a good opportunity for American Navy to turn defeat into victory.
"Sir Commander, should we send a plane to investigate. If it is a fighter jet, it can arrive in half an hour." Lieutenant General Halsey suggested.
In this case, it is undoubtedly safer. However, this is not what Admiral Nimitz wants.
Admiral Nimitz shook his head. "No, let Carrier-based aircraft of 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet take off. Divide into two waves and go out with all your strength. If we find that it is indeed the aircraft carrier of Germany, then we must deal with them!"
Lieutenant General Halsey nodded. He knew that Admiral Nimitz had put the hope of defeating German Navy into this action.
"Okay, Your Excellency Commander. I will order Carrier-based aircraft to take off." Lieutenant General Halsey replied.
At the last moment, Lieutenant General Halsey chose to believe in Admiral Nimitz. He also hoped that with this attack, they could completely defeat German Navy, reverse the situation in one fell swoop, and win this naval battle.
After receiving the order, American Navy 1st Carrier Fleet's four 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers immediately began to take off Carrier-based aircraft. Originally, each of the 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers had 36 fighter jets. But in order to cover the Capital Ships formation, they had already taken off 18 fighter jets from each of the four 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers. In the end, only 18 F4U fighter plane came back. Moreover, these fighter jets need to be refueled and loaded with ammunition. Pilots also need a good rest.
Therefore, now of the four 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers American Navy 1st Carrier Fleet, the first batch can only take off 9 F4U fighter plane and 18 Dive Bomber each and 9 Torpedo Bomber, four aircraft carriers, the first wave has only 36 fighters, 72 Dive Bomber and 36 Torpedo Bomber.
4th Carrier Fleet includes two 'Lexington-class' aircraft carriers. Each 'Lexington-class' aircraft carrier carries 34 fighter jets, 30 Dive Bomber and 18 Torpedo Bomber. The two 'Lexington-class' aircraft carriers took off half of their fighter jets in the first wave. In addition, 4th Carrier Fleet also includes three "independence-class" aircraft carriers. However, these 'Independence-class' aircraft carriers are only light aircraft carriers, and each one can only carry 24 fighter jets and 9 Torpedo Bomber. During the first wave of attacks, these 'Independence-class' aircraft carriers also took off half of the Carrier-based aircraft. The entire 4th Carrier Fleet can take off a total of 60 fighter jets, 30 Dive Bomber and 32 Torpedo Bomber. In the second wave, the number of fighters is the same as Dive Bomber, but the number of Torpedo Bomber is one less.
American Navy's 1st Carrier Fleet and 4th Carrier Fleet jointly attack, and the first wave can dispatch 96 fighters, 102 Dive Bomber and 68 Torpedo Bomber.
This is undoubtedly a very large fleet. It can pose a huge threat to any surface fleet.
When the first wave of carrier-based aircraft of the U. S. Navy's 1st and 4th aircraft carrier groups had just left, the air search radars of the destroyers outside the U. S. Navy's aircraft carrier group discovered a large number of light spots.
"Woo!"
The shrill air-raid sirens sounded shrilly, and the whole American Navy Aircraft Carrier Formation felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"What's going on?" Admiral Nimitz asked with an ugly face.
"Your Excellency Commander, a destroyer reported that a large number of enemy troops are coming in our direction." the staff officer reported.
"How is this possible? We have been in radio silence all the time. How could the Germany people know our location?" Lieutenant General Halsey looked in disbelief.
"There is nothing impossible. The Germany people must have discovered our location. Otherwise, they would not have sent so many Carrier-based aircraft to attack us." Admiral Nimitz said with absolute certainty.
"Sir Commander, what should we do now?" Lieutenant General Halsey asked.
"Order the second wave of aircraft to accelerate takeoff. Then release the air defense fighters and prepare for air defense operations! This time, we not only have to pray that our Carrier-based aircraft will find the German aircraft carrier formation, and then sink the German aircraft carrier formation. At the same time, we have to pray that our air defense fighters and air defense fire network can withstand the Carrier-based aircraft attack by the Germany people. Otherwise, the consequences will be very disastrous!" Admiral Nimitz said with a serious expression.
There is no doubt that now it is a matter of life and death for American fleet. At this time, Admiral Nimitz also hopes to dispatch as many Carrier-based aircraft as possible so that their Carrier-based aircraft can sink the German Navy aircraft carrier. In this case, even if their own aircraft carrier is sunk, they will not lose. Otherwise, if Carrier-based aircraft did not set off and our aircraft carrier was sunk, it would be very uneconomical.
"Yes, Your Excellency Commander!" Lieutenant General Halsey replied.
American fleet's Aircraft Carrier Formation began to accelerate and take off Carrier-based aircraft. The second wave of planes taking off were all speeding up to take off. They must fly away in the shortest possible time. Then, free up the deck for fighters.
At the same time, on the six "Independence-class" aircraft carriers of American Navy 5th Carrier Fleet, one F4F fighter plane is also ready to take off. Once German Navy's Carrier-based aircraft approaches, they will take off to confront German Navy's Carrier-based aircraft. Although, these US military pilots all know that German Navy and Carrier-based aircraft are very powerful. Even F4U fighter plane is no match for the Germany people, let alone the F4F fighter plane they are equipped with.
However, with no other option, they had no choice but to fight to the death. Otherwise, their fleet will pay a heavy price.
When the positions of the aircraft carriers on both sides have been exposed, both American Navy and German Navy seized this opportunity and dispatched the most powerful Carrier-based aircraft fleet, hoping to completely defeat their opponents in one fell swoop.