On the other hand, Rear Admiral Montgomery, who was responsible for commanding the Third Aircraft Carrier Team, thought that the Japanese combined fleet had the First Aircraft Carrier Team stopped them, and the Japanese would attack the First Aircraft Carrier Team first, so they did not think that their fleet would be attacked at all. This made the First Aircraft Carrier Team have a large number of radars, but only a few were in the search state. ●⌒, Note: This Montgomery has the same name and is not a British Army Marshal.

What's worse is that when the radar soldiers found a fleet of aircraft flying towards them in front of the radar, they took it for granted that it was a US fighter jet because it happened to be dawn, and several US aircraft carriers and land-based bombers flying from the Nukufetao Islands and Baker Islands bombed Tarava again.

So there are planes flying everywhere in the sky, and radar soldiers have no idea that some of them are enemy planes.

This is also thanks to a pilot named Moore, who dropped the bomb near the warships on the day before yesterday and served more than ten aircraft carriers, many of which were novice crew members and pilots, so some misunderstandings inevitably occurred.

Therefore, Moore received an order to drive a bomber to practice in the unmanned land. According to the instructor, if that is the case, he would not drop the bomb on his warship or crash his own fighter planes.

Moore, who was flying a fighter plane for simulation training, suddenly saw a group of aircraft flying towards him. He originally thought it was a friendly fighter plane, but when he saw it seriously, he couldn't help but scream: "God, that's the Japanese plane."

In normal training, the instructor has long taught Moore how to distinguish enemy aircraft, so this is not difficult for Moore.

Moore immediately reported this information to the instructor.

The instructor was a little unbelievable when he received this information.

"Hey, Moore" instructor said to Moore: "Are you kidding me or you're not awake and dizzy when you're not awake yet. You know that lying about military information is going to the military court."

"I'm sure, sir," Moore answered nervously: "That's really Japanese planes, about fifty."

The instructor heard that Ma Er's tone did not seem to be fake, so he immediately ordered: "Don't get close to those planes, wait for them to leave and you will come back."

As he said that, the instructor immediately hung up the phone and passed the message to Major General Montgomery.

The alarm sounded quickly, and the officers and soldiers of the Third Fleet rushed to their posts nervously and waited for them to take advantage of them. Although this time was not long, just like Major General Montgomery's memories afterwards, if there were no eight minutes of preparation time, the Third Fleet would not know how much loss it would suffer.

Major General Montgomery was right, because the US aircraft carrier was in the stage of recovering the fighter jets of bombing and returning. If Japanese fighter jets were allowed to fly over the sky without any defense, it would undoubtedly be a disaster.

But now, Major General Montgomery immediately ordered the recycled bombers to turn, ordered the fighter to take off urgently, the air-visited fighter jets immediately intercepted, and the anti-aircraft guns of each ship were ready for combat immediately.

Before the Third Fleet was fully prepared, the Japanese fleet flew over the Third Fleet. The enemy and our fighter jets quickly fought together. The anti-aircraft guns of each ship opened fire together, and balls of black smoke were fired in the air.

The goal of the Japanese aircraft fleet is very clear, which is the three aircraft carriers of the Third Fleet. They are divided into three groups, one attacking the "Essex" and the "Bunker Mountain" aircraft carriers, and two groups attacking the "Independent" aircraft carriers.

This kind of distribution is the cleverness of Koga Fengichi.

He knew very well that the US fleet had strong air defense firepower and carrier-based aircraft, while most Japanese pilots were inexperienced novices. If three groups of fighter jets attacked an aircraft carrier, they were likely to be unable to break through the air defense firepower network organized by the US Navy, or even if they broke through, they would have nothing to gain.

So, Koga Fengichi asked one of the groups to attack two aircraft carriers at the same time and used one to attack two aircraft carriers. Koga Fengichi didn't want this group to achieve any results. He just used this group of fighter jets to distract the Americans from the sight.

The other two groups are the main force, and they rushed towards the "Independent" aircraft carrier from two different directions. It is obvious that these two groups were successful. This is not only because the US Navy is not equipped with hasty response, but also because most of the US Navy and pilots are also novices with no combat experience.

Japanese aircraft successfully dropped five torpedoes in front of the "Independent" aircraft carrier. One of them hit. With a loud bang, the main cabin, boiler compartment and ammunition compartment of the "Independent" aircraft carrier were damaged and water inlet was inflicted. The main water supply pipeline broke, and 17 crew members were killed and 43 injured.

Fortunately, it did not sink. After Jane fought for repairs, she evacuated the battlefield and drove into the Funafuti base for repairs. It was obvious that she could not participate in the next battle.

The news reached Koga Feng Ichina, and all the Japanese generals who were waiting for the news couldn't help but cheer.

Although the Japanese fighter jets suffered heavy losses, only 12 of them sent back 50 fighter jets, and 38 of them lost.

However, it may even be to sink an enemy light aircraft carrier at the cost of 38 fighter jets: The "Independent" aircraft carrier is a light aircraft carrier converted by the US Navy with a light cruiser under construction. This can be said to be a victory in any case.

However, Koga Fengchi did not smile.

Because he knew that even if he continued to fight with such a loss ratio, Japan would not be able to afford it.

In other words, Japan is fighting a hopeless war. Knowing this, Koga Fengichi would not laugh at any rate.

Seeing Koga Fengichi's expression, other naval generals gradually became quiet.

Koga Fengichi didn't say anything, but just ordered coldly: "Notify the results of the war to the entire army, and notify the Army Department that the joint fleet must return to China to replenish carrier-based aircraft and pilots because of insufficient carrier-based aircraft."

"yes"

"Change the course and return to Japan"

"yes"

After pausing, Koga Fengyi ordered again: "Prepare the plane, I want to stay here to continue commanding the battle."

"Your Excellency General" was stunned when he heard this.

Koga Feng raised his hand and interrupted Ito's words: "No need to say more, the battle here needs my command."

"But our fleet has returned to Japan." Staff Ito is a little puzzled.

"But we still have planes and submarines," Koga Fengichi replied: "Even if we know we will lose, we must do our last effort."

Although Koga Fengichi said it firmly, his words revealed a bit of sadness as if the road was in its end.
Chapter completed!