The rookies on the US escort aircraft carrier did not have the ability of the night attacks of Japanese and German pilots, so they could only take off the air strikes in the early morning. The formation commander Major General Bode had a total of 392 combat aircraft. He cautiously left 96 fighter jets to cover his fleet and sent two waves of attack groups, nearly 300 aircraft went to air strike Cape Verde.

When he released the attack group earlier, all the aircraft at Cape Verde base, except for 12 air defense fighters left to cover, the rest took off before dawn to welcome the enemy. Earlier, 36 F-190a8 fighters transferred from the Canary Islands. After refueling at Cape Verde base in the early morning, they took off and took over air defense missions.

On the morning of November 21, the first air combat in Cape Verde broke out, and a total of 52 German aircraft (20 B-219 fighters, 20 He-218, and 12 joint attack aircraft) attacked the US fleet. There were 48 fighters defending on Cape Verde. After the draw, there were only more than 60 aircraft left in Canaria. This was of course a very risky act, but the German army had no choice.

However, the result of the battle made Turner in the rear very anxious. Six of the 14 escort aircraft carriers were sunk. In addition, the US air defense group also lost more than 40 aircraft. Only 28 were left after the 52 German aircraft attacked. However, they could not find a safe landing place. Cape Verde Airport was the key target of US aircraft attacking. Although the 48 F-190s tried their best to resist, the number gap was obviously too large in front of nearly 300 US aircraft. With the assistance of ground air defense artillery fire, they tried their best to kill nearly 90 US aircraft. They were all shot down or the pilots actively parachute to crash.

In the first round of the fight between the two sides, the US military won the victory. The US military destroyed the aviation power and airport facilities of Cape Verde at the cost of more than 130 aircraft and 5 escort aircraft carriers. But Turner was not satisfied with the results. According to his original idea, 45-50 escort aircraft carriers and about 1,300 aircraft should be enough to suppress the German aviation power of Azore. Now it seems that he is too optimistic. Cape Verde has only 100 aircraft and no jets, which has caused such losses. Azore has at least 600 aircraft, which means that the number of 45-50 is still too conservative, and it will be safer to increase to at least 60-65.

"First of the People's Republic of China, the US military officially began to attack Cape Verde. In the face of the overwhelming air force of the enemy, our army's aviation power was completely lost. The enemy planes are now launching air strikes frantically." In the afternoon, Yodel reported with some concern, "If this continues, our army is very passive and must support it as soon as possible."

"Is the air strike strong enough to Bermuda?"

"That's not yet. There are about 200 enemy planes that are carrying out air suppression. The problem is that we have no counterattack power."

"Stand with it, the enemy's landing has not begun yet, we cannot get out of our way." Hoffman thought for a while, "Send me a message to the supreme commander who guards Cape Verde in my name: Germany needs him to fight to the last bullet, but we will do our best to rescue him."

"Let Mashar attack?"

"It's not time yet, wait another day." Hoffman thought for a while, "informed Mashar that the fleet will be ready to move 600 kilometers westward from now on, and the fleet will need to move in place before 10 am tomorrow."

"To the west?" Dunitz was a little surprised. "You are? I thought you would order him to rescue Cape Verde."

"It's not time yet." Hoffman shook his head, "Don't you know how Horitiki went to rescue Tarawa? I want to see if the Americans are sincerely trying to hit Cape Verde or just a fake shot to seduce us."

When talking about the example of the Battle of Tarawa, Yodel immediately remembered the three-week harassing war between A&N and New Zealand. When contacting the head of state’s order just now, he immediately reacted: “First of state, are you going to send a fleet to harass the east coast of the United States?”

"The East Coast defense is very strong, but we can go to Bermuda again." Hoffman smiled. "This time we go to three more battalions to see if the Americans have the ability to send another 82nd Airborne Division. Oh, forget that they have a 101st Airborne Division, which makes Mashar ready to send four battalions."

Although he was surprised that the head of state reported the US airborne troops as if he had known it, Yodel believed that this strategy was good, at least better than going directly to rescue Cape Verde. Cape Verde lost at most and threatened German West Africa. If Bermuda was lost, the East Coast would be directly threatened. Can the American people still have a sleep?

Hoffman didn't know that his strategy had hit Turner's fatal point. It was not that there was a staff officer who suggested giving up attacking Cape Verde and going directly to attack the Falkland Islands. But Turner always said in a resentful tone: "But, Maschel is still there. If he doesn't kill him one day, he will be unhappy..."

Admiral Ingersoll understood what Turner meant that as long as the main German fleet stayed near Azore for a day, the main forces of the British and American Atlantic Fleet could not be assured and boldly went to the South Atlantic to find trouble for the Argentines. It doesn’t matter if the British and Canadian routes were not connected. Bermuda must not be lost. The island is now carrying out restorative construction, and its defense capabilities are worse than at the beginning.

Hoffman's strategy was locked in the war room and thought hard for a night before he could hold it out. He was an expert in combat tactics research, and Horitiki's Australian-New Zealand harassment tactics gave him great inspiration. In front of his two confidants, he joked vulgarly: "The United States has two testicles on the Atlantic Ocean, one is the British-Canada route and the other is Bermuda. As long as they are pinched, they can stop the United States from doing anything wrong. I heard that Roosevelt was preparing for re-election through public opinion. I wonder if he can withstand the public anger after the bombing on the East Coast..."

The two immediately burst into laughter.

At the same time, the big men of Washington's Joint Conference were also frowning because the exact information from Argentina was coming, and the news was very frustrating: more than half a month ago, the German army completed reinforcements to the Falkland Islands through the Madagascar route. Now the guard forces on the island are not the initially expected more than 10,000 people and more than 100 aircraft, but at least 4 times the strength. The third wave of the US military is preparing to seize the strength of the Cavaliers Island, which is three divisions and more than 600 aircraft. It was originally expected to be five times the strength of the enemy. In this way, the direct force is almost equal, so what else can I fight?

"Why didn't we receive the news from the second support force? Such a huge fleet cannot be hidden quietly."

"The main force of this group of troops was not through Suez. The most likely reason was to mobilize the German troops in Africa. After the African Battle, the German army deployed more than 100,000 troops in Eastern Africa and Madagas, and it was not difficult to draw two divisions for transfer support. As for the route, the dimensions between the southernmost tip of South Africa and the Falkland Islands are more than 2,000 kilometers apart. It is relatively easy to avoid the reconnaissance in the direction of South Africa. Didn't the Navy also proposed a plan to bypass the distance of more than 2,500 kilometers to transport supplies and ships to Australia?" Eisenhower frowned and analyzed, "If I guess correctly, the main force of the German transport force should be the Will wheel, the European standard cargo ship that is more similar to our victory wheel, implementing the so-called "Three Five" standard load capacity of 15,000 tons, a maximum range of 15,000 nautical miles, and a fastest speed of 15 knots."

General Jin nodded without comment. The biggest difference between Eisenhower and ordinary army generals is that he is very sensitive to logistics and is very proficient in air transport, sea transport and railway transport. General Jin always believes that Marshall misplaced him. This guy will not fight at all. It is appropriate to be the deputy chief of staff in charge of logistics.

"Gentlemen." Marshall slammed the table, "What should I do now? The President is still very concerned about the joint element action."

"There is no other way, so I can only increase troops again. I think the army must be prepared to use at least 6 divisions and escort aircraft carriers. I think at least 50 ships will be used."

"What if the enemy increases its troops?" Arnold said, and everyone nodded. If they increase their troops, they would be unable to defeat them if they do.

"It will take a long time. You must first use a fleet to cut off the German supply line and then push it over step by step. The problem is..." Admiral Jin smiled bitterly, "There is an Argentina who supports the Germans behind. They can't starve to death on Falkland Island..."

Everyone looked at each other: Falkland has an area of ​​more than 12,000 square kilometers, with a permanent population of less than 10,000, and most of them are British residents. The area of ​​Great Britain is 12 times that of the Falkland Islands, but it has a population of more than 40 million. If it can be blocked by hunger, then the first one will fall must be Great Britain rather than Falkland Islands.

"There is another way..." General Kim said slowly, "The army pushed it from the ground and first deal with the Argentina."

Marshall had no choice but to smile bitterly: It is perfect to deter Argentina, but to attack Argentina, it is necessary to authorize Congress. Attacking a neutral country for no reason will only ignite the anger of the Argentines. Although Argentina is not big, it is also one of the great powers in South America. It has almost 10 divisions, about 150,000 national defense forces, and a not-so-weak navy. In addition, the Germans have been trying hard to support, in Argentina, it is using German weapons and instructors to fight to arm national defense. How many troops can it take to conquer Argentina? 200,000 or 300,000? Even if the army is willing to put out so many troops, what about time?

"This is impossible. The Army is willing to add four more divisions to attack Falkland and kill them before the German reinforcements arrive. The key is how much force can the Navy provide?"

"There are two Essex-class ships in service next month and can join the South Atlantic. In addition, 5-6 escort aircraft carriers are expected to be completed, which is probably just that."

"Aren't there 14 escort carriers available in Cape Verde?"

"Not so many. I fought with the Germans today, and there were 9 ships left. I will fight for another day tomorrow. If the Germans still refuse to take the bait, the Tiantong fleet will cover the landing troops to log in." (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!