When the first reconnaissance plane was launched, Bai Zhizhan looked at the wall clock at 5:15.

Not bad at all points, very punctual.

This is Li Yunxiang.

Soon, three other "flying fish" ejected one after another.

Because the location of the transport fleet has been roughly determined, the "Imperial Capital" dispatched four reconnaissance aircraft. After discovering the transport fleet, these reconnaissance aircraft do not have to return, hover near the transport fleet, guide the attack aircraft group behind, and command the battle on the front line.

To this end, the pilots of the four reconnaissance planes were all elites who participated in the previous battles.

On the flight deck, the air service personnel did not stop and had already begun to prepare for the fighter before they could take off.

Because the reconnaissance aircraft was not dispatched, the "Paijing" took the lead in the attack and took the lead in dispatching carrier-based aircraft.

These things were arranged by Li Yunxiang, so you don’t have to worry about them in vain.

Relatively speaking, at this time, the easiest person on the aircraft carrier is Bai Zhizhan. If it is a fleet exercise, he will place a beach chair in the open-air corridor outside the commander's bridge, make a cup of coffee, make two plates of pastries for afternoon tea, and watch the carrier-based aircraft perform a takeoff performance.

Of course, that has to be on the "Longjiang".

The commander bridge of the "Imperial Capital" is even more spacious, while the open-air corridor outside is very narrow. Not to mention the beach chairs, the few people standing there seemed to be crowded.

Besides, this is a cold and cold morning, not a sunny afternoon.

Not to mention outside, even inside the commander's bridge, the temperature is only 5 degrees Celsius.

Because the high-speed navigation continued for several days, the boiler problems became more and more common, so after soliciting opinions from Bai Zhizhan, the captain ordered the closing of heating in all non-essential departments to reduce the workload of the power system. The commander's bridge belongs to the "non-essential departments".

Leading by one's hands is the basic code of conduct for naval officers.

There is almost an hour before dawn, so there is no need to let the fighter take off immediately.

Even if the Nai Navy sends 97 boats to carry out reconnaissance missions in front and lets the 96 land attack aircraft group follow behind, it will have to wait until dawn to launch an attack.

For this reason, after coming to the commander's bridge, Bai Zhizhan asked Li Mingbo to have breakfast first.

Only after eating are enough can you have the energy to command the battle.

When the phone rings, Bai Zhizhan was stunned for a moment, and after a few seconds, he realized that Li Mingbo had already gone to the restaurant.

"Commander Bridge, I am Bai Zhizhan."

"Commander Bai... reported to the commander. He just received a report from the reconnaissance plane and found an unknown ship suspected of an enemy ship."

"What!?"

Bai Zhizhan was shocked when he heard the captain's words.

How long does the reconnaissance plane take off?

Is there ten minutes?

Even the first one to take off was about 40 kilometers north of the north, and the other three were not 40 kilometers away.

How could an enemy ship be found so close!?

But the captain didn't say anything.

The investigation report was quickly confirmed.

The reconnaissance plane circled back again and was fired by anti-aircraft guns while approaching for reconnaissance. The pilot judged that it was four heavy cruisers sailing south at full speed.

The key is that the pilot is Major Ji Yeshang, a three-level elite squadron leader.

Yesterday's battle against the Third Air Force was commanded by him on the front line.

After the fleet returned, Bai Zhizhan also specially met and commended him, so he knew him and remembered his voice, and was still very impressed.

The main reason is that his surname is too rare, similar to the staff officer named Zhang Xiaohua.

Obviously, Ji Yeshang will not avenge the enemy.

Thirty kilometers away from the north, the heavy cruiser of the Sidus Navy was sailing south at full speed, heading towards the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet.

There is no doubt that the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet has been exposed.

Not to mention when it was exposed, but the four heavy cruisers were enough to be deadly.

What should I do now!?

While Bai Zhizhan was thinking about countermeasures, Li Mingbo, Li Yunxiang and Zhou Yongtao came to the commander's bridge one after another.

They all received calls or met officers sent by the captain.

The situation was extremely urgent. Bai Zhizhan did not dare to delay it. He issued a steering order and asked Li Yunxiang to make arrangements immediately. After turning, the fighter planes were immediately launched.

The reason is that the 96 Land Attack Group will probably arrive soon.

Detach the "Flying Fish" and "Hornets" to attack the four enemy ships?

It's not time.

Even if the bomber and torpedo plane can take off, it will have to wait after dawn.

In addition, there may not be a chance to launch carrier-based aircraft.

The fastest speed of the "Imperial Capital" class is only 32.5 knots, and Li Mingbo called to inquire. Because there was a problem with the boiler, the fastest speed that could actually be achieved may be only 31 knots, which cannot be sustained. It can sail for a maximum of several hours, and then it must slow down.

Can you get rid of those four heavy cruisers with this speed?

Definitely not possible!

According to confirmed battle reports, four "most fashionable" classes were incorporated into the mobile fleet, four "Gaoxiong" classes were joined with the first main team, four "Second High" classes were incorporated into the second main team, and two "Ligen"s were destroyed with the third aviation team. So among the eighteen heavy cruisers of the Nai Navy, there are only two "Guying" classes and two "Qingle" classes that were built first.

The fastest speed of these four heavy cruisers is claimed to reach 34.5 knots, but it is actually no less than 33 knots!

In addition, the eight-inch naval guns equipped with these four heavy cruisers have a maximum range of more than 25 kilometers. The power of the eight-inch shells is enough to destroy an aircraft carrier without protection.

No need to sink, just destroy the flight deck.

In theory, it only takes one and a half hours at most, the four heavy cruisers can shorten the distance to 25 kilometers, and it will be dawn by then.

Even if the distance is too far, it doesn't matter much.

It is enough to just keep firing at two aircraft carriers, forcing the aircraft carrier to continuously make tactical turn and avoid the shells fired.

When evading tactical means, the aircraft carrier cannot let the carrier-based aircraft take off.

When bombarded, the aircraft carrier cannot place bombs and carrier-based aircraft loaded with fuel on the flight deck.

As the distance shortens, perhaps by noon, the heavy cruiser of the Navy's Navy will catch up and then use ship guns to sank the two fleet aircraft carriers.

In addition, the powerful "spear" torpedo on the heavy cruiser of the Nai Navy.

Bai Zhizhan regrets it very much.

In the early morning, when preparing to release the reconnaissance plane, in order to save fuel, Bai Zhizhan retreated the two destroyers that were supposed to patrol ahead.

This arrangement is mainly because we do not want to provide supplies to these destroyers that are about to bottom out before returning.

The key is that the fleet aircraft carrier is not a fleet oil tanker, so it can only stop and replenish the supply. It is not only very troublesome, but also takes a lot of time.

It will take at least a few hours to replenish 100 tons of fuel to each of the destroyers.

If you can save some fuel and postpone the supply operation for one day, you can make arrangements after leaving the combat waters.

Don’t forget that Bai Zhizhan has always been worried about being attacked by a submarine.

If Bai Zhizhan did not make this adjustment, the two destroyers that came out would definitely be able to detect the heavy cruiser in time.

But now, regret is useless.

After making the arrangements, Bai Zhizhan ordered the radio silence to break the silence of the radio, allowing the destroyer who was still wandering nearby to return at full speed, providing cover for the aircraft carrier.
Chapter completed!