Chapter 1526： to intercept

On the aircraft carrier 'Essex', Admiral Nimitz and Lieutenant General Halsey looked serious, and they stared at the distant sky. Although the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft fleet has not yet appeared, they know very well that the German Navy's carrier-based aircraft fleet is already on the way and will arrive soon. At that time, they will face an uphill battle. Even, this is very likely to cost their fleet an unimaginable price.

"Your Excellency, the German fleet is still two hundred kilometers away from us." A staff officer reported.

"Order the air defense fighters to take off immediately to intercept the German fleet. In any case, they must be intercepted!" Admiral Nimitz ordered. Although, Admiral Nimitz knew that with their strength, it would undoubtedly be very difficult to intercept the German carrier-based aircraft group. However, at this time, they had no other choice.

After receiving the order, the aircraft carriers of the US fleet immediately began to take off the carrier-based aircraft.

Of the four "Essex-class" aircraft carriers of the 1st aircraft carrier formation, there are only 18 F4U fighter jets left. Even with the spare aircraft included, there are only thirty of them. Now these F4U fighter jets are all ready to take off from the aircraft carrier one by one.

There are only 12 F4F fighters left in the second aircraft carrier formation. As for the other fighters, they have all been dispatched to **** dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft.

The 3rd aircraft carrier formation and the 4th aircraft carrier formation also have no fighters. Their fighter planes have all been dispatched.

Instead, on the six "Independence-class" aircraft carriers of the 5th aircraft carrier formation, each aircraft carrier has 24 F4F fighter jets. After receiving the order to take off for combat, these F4F fighter jets began to take off, preparing to intercept the carrier-based aircraft group of the German Navy.

The entire US fleet now only has 30 F4U fighters and 156 F4F fighters left. Of course, this is already an extremely large fleet. However, to protect the more than 20 aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy, the strength undoubtedly seems a bit weak. In addition, in addition to the F4U fighters, the large number of F4F fighters have poor performance, and they are simply vulnerable to the advanced carrier-based fighters of the German Navy. Of course, no matter how poor the performance of the F4F fighter is, it still has no problem dealing with the dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft of the German Navy. Bombers carrying heavy bombs and torpedoes were no match for nimble fighters. Even F4F fighter jets with relatively poor performance cannot be dealt with by dive bombers and torpedo attack planes.

"Order the fleet to switch to air defense mode!" Admiral Nimitz issued the order.

After all the **** fighter jets took off, the only thing they could rely on was the anti-aircraft firepower on the battleship. The aircraft carrier began to accelerate while separating as far as possible. Escorting warships, guarding all sides, provide air defense protection for these aircraft carriers. However, no matter how tight the air defense firepower is, it is undoubtedly very difficult to resist the blow from the air.

"Your Excellency, our air defense fighter jets will definitely be able to intercept the German fleet!" Lieutenant General Halsey said on the side.

Admiral Nimitz shook his head: "The German fleet is very large, with more than 300 fighters. There must be many **** fighters among them. What's more, our number of F4U fighters is still too small. If all If all the aircraft carriers in China are equipped with F4U fighter jets, they may still be able to compete with the Germans."

Admiral Nimitz said this, looking a little helpless. The fleets that provided air defense protection for capital ship formations have already proved that their F4U fighters still have a significant gap when facing FW-190 fighters. Not to mention those F4F fighters. Facing the pilots of the German Navy who have experienced many battles, those F4F fighter jets are estimated to be slaughtered.

"Your Excellency, even if the German air fleet can cause huge losses to us. However, haven't we also dispatched a large number of carrier-based aircraft fleets? I believe that our carrier-based aircraft fleets can also cause great damage to the Germans. Bear the loss!" Lieutenant General Halsey said.

"I hope so!" Admiral Nimitz said. Speaking of this, his confidence is obviously lacking. He can only pray to God, and pray that the carrier-based aircraft group they dispatched can severely damage the German Navy's aircraft carrier formation in one fell swoop.

As time passed bit by bit, the fleets of both sides were rapidly approaching. More than one hundred carrier-based fighter jets of the U.S. Navy are about to encounter the carrier-based aircraft fleet of the German Navy.

The first attack on the US fleet was the first carrier-based aircraft group of the German Navy's Atlantic Fleet. 48 carrier-based FW-190 fighters, 48 ​​carrier-based BF-109 fighters, protecting 144 dive bombers and 120 torpedo attack aircraft.

At a distance of about 100 kilometers from the aircraft carrier formation of the US fleet, the huge fleets of the two sides finally encountered each other.

"Good guy, the Americans actually took off so many fighter jets!" When the German pilots saw the densely packed air defense fighter jets in front of them, they couldn't help feeling a little bit numb.

Although their carrier-based aircraft fleet is larger in scale, most of them are dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft. The number of fighter jets is not large, only 96. The American air defense fighters are already twice as large as theirs.

"Attention all squadrons! Hold back the American anti-aircraft fighter jets and cover the dive bombers and torpedo attack planes to break through!" the commander of the German carrier fleet ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The pilots of each fighter squadron replied.

"Dive bombers and torpedo attack planes, break through on their own. We will try our best to intercept American fighter jets for you. However, I am afraid that the attack on American aircraft carriers depends on you. Next, we have no way to provide you with There's fire support."

"Leave it to us, without the fire support of fighter jets, we can destroy the American aircraft carrier in one fell swoop!" said the officer in charge of the dive bomber and torpedo attack aircraft.

"The German fleet has been found, prepare to fight. Give priority to shooting down the German dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft!" The commander of the US Navy's air defense fighter also issued a combat order.

For these air defense fighters of the U.S. Navy, the dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft of the German Navy are undoubtedly the most threatening. If you want to ensure the safety of your own aircraft carrier, you must first eliminate these dive bombers and torpedo attack aircraft.

"Attack!" The commanders of both sides issued orders almost at the same time, and a large-scale air battle kicked off in this sea area.