After receiving the battle report sent by Yuantian, the Mobile Fleet Command was completely in chaos.

The first group of aircraft 50 carrier-based aircraft attacked a fleet of oil tankers, and the fleet aircraft carrier was not found by the reconnaissance aircraft.

At that time, some staff advised to make immediate adjustments to the attack and let the second group of aircraft commanded by Major Yan Ben return.

There is no different reason: there are eight zero battles in the second attack aircraft group, and before the first attack aircraft group returns, there are only eight zero battles in the air defense mission.

In addition, shortly after the second attack aircraft group set off, all Zero Warfare had their secondary fuel tanks, and after returning, they could hover near the fleet until one pm. Because the first attack aircraft group had returned before this, they could use the escort fighter of the first attack aircraft group to perform air defense missions.

Simply put, as long as the second attack aircraft group returns in time, there will be enough air defense fighters available.

Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected by Kitamura.

The reason given by Kitamura was that after being exposed, the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet avoided the Northeast, that is, the Sky Island Strait, thus avoiding the first attack aircraft group led by Yuanta. Therefore, as long as the search range is expanded to the northeast, you can discover and kill the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet.

In addition, the maneuver fleet has been sailing eastward, so when the second attack aircraft group set off, it is closer to the sea area where the third aviation special-mix fleet is located, the combat radius is shortened by hundreds of kilometers, and the return range will also be shortened, and there is no problem of insufficient range.

Kitamura suggested adjusting the course and sailing northeastward so that the second attack aircraft group could have more fuel for searching for the third aviation special-mix fleet.

Lan Yun did not adopt Beicun's suggestion, nor did he order the second attack aircraft to return.

At such a critical moment, Lan Yun did nothing!

The quarrel did not end there.

According to the previous arrangement, all air defense fighters, in fact, only eight zero fighters, must return before ten o'clock, replenish fuel before taking off.

Because the Feilong is the main force of the second wave of attacks, the Jiahe is responsible for recovering the air defense fighter jets.

But now, it's impossible!

It has nothing to do with Kitamura, but the ground crew on the "Jahe" was too tired. A serviceman responsible for refueling the fighter jet made a low-level mistake and forgot to turn off the booster pump, which resulted in damage to the valve of the pipeline and leaking the aviation gasoline on the flight deck.

Now, the entire flight deck has been cleared.

On the side of the "Feilong", ground crews were preparing for the first attack aircraft group that returned and could not receive air defense fighters for the time being. Because all the 97-ship attacks were needed, the "Feilong" had to clear the flight deck and free up the space at the front of the deck.

It is precisely because some staff members suggested that the air defense fighter jets should first land on the Feilong, and the Jiahe would recover some torpedoes later.

Unfortunately, it was still rejected by Kitamura.

If this is the case, the torpedo plane landed on the "Jahe" would not be able to take off again and would not be able to participate in the third wave of attack.

Don’t forget that there is a hole in the front deck of the "Jahe". The wooden boards that block the holes are not firm and cannot withstand the heavy attack of the 97 ship.

Before, Yuantian used to take a speedboat to get to the "Feilong".

According to Kitamura's meaning, wait until the first wave of attack aircraft group returns, and then let the air defense fighter land and refuel.

The reason is also very simple: the Yuantian aircraft group will return to the airplane fleet before eleven o'clock, and the fuel of the air defense fighter can last until after eleven o'clock.

In addition, by that time, the "Jahe" can also recover fighter jets.

Aren't you afraid of being hit during this period?

Some staff members raised this issue, but were refuted by Kitamura.

In the words of Beimura: Where does the blow come from?

The third aviation special mixed fleet?

That was obviously impossible.

If the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet is within the range that can strike the mobile fleet, then it will be discovered by the Yuantian fleet before nine o'clock.

There is enough reason to believe that the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet is five hundred kilometers away.

Even if this speculation is not correct, it is not completely wrong. The mobile fleet is indeed not within the range of the third aviation special-mix fleet.

In the special mixed fleet that confronted yesterday?

Obviously, if the special mixed fleet was close enough to prepare for combat overnight and launched an attack immediately after receiving the report from the reconnaissance aircraft, the attack aircraft group it sent could arrive at at 9:30 at the latest. That's why there were always four Zero Battle patrols in the west.

The enemy's attack aircraft group did not appear, which was enough to prove that the special mixed fleet did not follow yesterday.

Maybe it wasn't a timely turn.

It cannot be said that Kitanumura is wrong. After all, all the intelligence and discoveries show that the reconnaissance aircraft that discovered the mobile fleet after 7:30 is likely to be from the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet. As for the special Mixed Fleet yesterday, if it sails south at night, even if it turns in the second half of the night, it will definitely not be able to catch up with the mobile fleet today during the day, which is equivalent to missing the opportunity to catch up with the mobile fleet in the Yanhai.

In this way, do you need to worry about being hit?

In Kitamura's words, if it is really hit, even if the air defense fighter jets are immediately returned to refuel, the eight zero battles will be useless.

If you miss the opportunity to launch an attack in the afternoon because of fear of being hit, who will be responsible?

As a result, new problems arise.

Some staff members advocated focusing on the west side, after all, the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet was not in the north, so the one that must be strictly guarded is the west side.

Without any suspense, this proposal was rejected by Kitamura again.

According to the arrangement of Kitamura, after 9:30, the four fighters that had been patrolling the west side of the fleet were transferred to the north to replace the other four fighters.

The four Zero Fighters patrolled the north before, went north to welcome the Yuantian group and then returned to the fleet.

It is not about giving Yuantian special treatment, but about the motorized fleet keeping radio silence, and the returning aircraft fleet may not be able to find the aircraft carrier in time.

Because there is not much fuel left, there is no delay.

In short, Kitamura has been insisting on his own opinion and rejecting all the suggestions put forward by the staff. It seems that only by insisting on his own opinion can he prove his ability.

Perhaps, Kitamura's abnormal behavior has a lot to do with Tian Shi's previous overshadow of the enemy.

However, Kitamura is not stubborn.

After receiving the battle report from Yuantian, Kitamura issued an order before 9:30, and asked the accompanying battleships and heavy cruisers to send seaplanes to search westward.

Kitamura arranged this way not because he was worried about being attacked from the west, but because he prepared for the afternoon battle.

After successfully retrieving two waves of attack aircraft groups, the combat effectiveness of the mobile fleet will be restored, and offensive operations must be rescheduled.

Then, we naturally need to find the target of attack.

If the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet slips away, if it can catch the special Mixed Fleet that follows behind, it will be better than nothing.

On the contrary, as long as it can prove that there is no threat in the west, it can concentrate all its strength to search and attack the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet.

During this period, Lan Yun did not intervene.

Although Lan Yun's expression was calm for more than an hour, his heart had already been overturned.

When Yuantian Machine Group sent back the battle report, Lan Yun knew that even if the devastating blow had not arrived, the mobile fleet would be unable to escape.

What awaits him will surely be a catastrophe!
Chapter completed!