Bismarck

The U.S. Navy still has Japan to deal with in the Pacific, so it is impossible for it to stay in the North Atlantic for a long time! However, if the British cannot handle it alone, the U.S. Navy, which is responsible for both ends, will have to pay more effort and cost even if it can succeed!

However, now that he had ordered the fleet to advance northward ahead of schedule, and with the cooperation of his aircraft carrier girls - Saratoga's air combat command ability coupled with the super combat power of the pilot named McCampbell under Essex, the German reconnaissance planes didn't even know how they died! Not to mention sending out early warning telegrams!

Stealth + surprise attack + assault + preemptive strike! Plus, the opponent is likely to be defeated by Tovey...

The full confidence in their own situation and combat effectiveness turned into hesitation and fighting spirit to win the first victory of the US Navy!

"Now that everything has been settled, then... next, it's my turn!"

Under the cold wind of Cape Fisterra, the sea dragon Leviathan lurking in the Atlantic Ocean is about to reveal its hideousness!

Happy Valentine's Day Bismarck!

Does anyone remember that today is the day she goes into the water?

Chapter 840: Buying Time

The V1 missile traveled at lightning speed, and its speed in catching up with the British aircraft fleet was also first-class.

Although the cruising speed of the British fleet was increased to 450 km/h due to the general equipment of the "Torch" fighter-bombers with outstanding high-speed performance, it still took some time to catch up with the aircraft in the rear range compared to the 750 km/h missiles.

Just when Lütjens and Kumets were in a dilemma facing the unknown enemy situation and the strict orders from their superiors, the hamster lying on the pillows finally discovered some movement through the pitiful vision of the missile-borne radar.

"Following the British aircraft group, we found the British fleet and are preparing to launch an attack... No! The altitude of their returning planes... This should be their vanguard fleet, and their main fleet should not be far behind! Hmm? It seems that there are two aircraft carriers in this formation, but judging from the echo, it is smaller than the main fleet, and is about the same size as a cruiser. This should be their light aircraft carrier... Forget it, it would be a waste if we don't fight. Let's dispatch a few missiles to launch an attack first. In addition, I will report the intelligence of this cruiser and light carrier formation to my sister and the commander... Hmm? There is a battleship fleet behind the cruiser fleet?! There are also two light carriers? It seems that the distance from this place to the British aircraft carrier formation is not too far... Wait! What is that? It seems that they have gathered another attack wave? No, I have to report it immediately!"

Seeing the changes in the enemy situation on the opposite side, Ti Zi, who was still holding a lollipop in his mouth, finally perked up. On the one hand, he allocated the missiles in the formation to "precision strike" the designated light aircraft carrier, and on the other hand, he directly reported in the WIFI space what he saw and heard with the help of anti-ship missiles, although the performance was limited, when the formation happened to "pass by" the British cruiser fleet and battleship fleet.

"Tizi said that they have discovered their cruiser fleet and battleship fleet, and attacked four light carriers... Wait? She also said that she discovered a British attack aircraft group of about a hundred just took off and was heading towards us!"

The meeting was originally in a dilemma, and even silent due to insufficient intelligence and pressure from superiors. However, after being frightened by Tizi's words, both Lütjens and Kumets turned their attention on the spot.

And I was frightened!

"This... Does Tovey want to end up hurting both of us?!" Kumets' tone was obviously a little panicked.

Even Zeppelin's face didn't look very good.

Her main body is still under repair and is currently fragile. Although Kumets has two aircraft carriers, the entire flight deck is packed with more than 80 aircraft that have just landed.

Although there are two air catapults on the Europa's front deck, and the compressed air reserve can guarantee the launch of more than one squadron of fighters in an emergency, the problem now is that Europa and Bremen have also accommodated additional carrier-based aircraft of the Zeppelin. The overloaded number of aircraft has squeezed out the space originally reserved for the emergency fighter squadron on the front deck! In this case, in addition to the two squadrons of fighters released by Kumets before, now we can only hope that the reinforcements of the naval aviation brigade called from Brest Airport can arrive in time - you know, air combat is transient, even if it is only delayed for a few dozen seconds, it may cause irreparable consequences!

Not to mention, many of the carrier-based aircraft dispatched were FW-190 air-cooled engines whose high-altitude performance was not outstanding. Apart from the initial threat of these aircraft during their dive, they were no match for the opponent's new Spitfire in sustained air combat!

Facing the siege of Fire-Breathing Jushiro, even she was fighting with every step in fear, let alone others!

After thinking for a while, Zeppelin took a step forward and asked Kumets to join the war again: "General Kumets, please help me tow my plane onto the catapult first, and then refuel it first - my plane is equipped with a jammer, and it is the first one to land here..."

"Okay, okay, no problem - someone, go and help Miss Zeppelin prepare the machine immediately!"

Seeing Zeppelin asking to take the initiative to join the war, Kumets agreed immediately.

Although he had a bad relationship with Lütjens and Zeppelin before, he had figured it out now - now he was relying on the ship girl to keep the German fleet alive! If Lütjens really collapsed, it would be unknown whether he could return to Brest under the next round of attacks from the British mainland airport and the Royal Navy...

On the other side of the ocean, Lütjens was also passing Bismarck, asking about the repairs on the Zeppelin:

"...Bontai, how about it, can the (Zeppelin) be moved before eleven o'clock?"

"I don't know. Welding is quick. Cutting the damaged parts now will take time... Commander, we need Zeppelin to come back and help the damage control team."

"Stop talking. I need Bismarck to come back and help me later! In half an hour, we can only plug a few small holes at most. It mainly depends on the damage control team..." Lütjens thought for a moment and gritted his teeth: "How about this, Lindemann and I will go to the front and use the 380 main gun to disrupt their bombing formation and cover your repairs!"

"Wait! Commander, this is too dangerous..." Hearing this, Bangtai's face was frightened on the spot, but before he could say more, he was interrupted by Lütjens:

"We have four ships here, and no one can lose them, but at least the two battleships of Lindemann and I are more resistant than your aircraft carriers. I have said before that we must ensure that everyone survives this war safely!"

Although Bontai couldn't see Lütjens himself, he could imagine Lütjens's determination just from the calm and decisive voice coming from the radio headphones.

and……

"Yes, so Captain Bonte, you should hurry up and repair the ship in the back. Eugen, you should protect the Zeppelin well! Tirpitz and I will buy you time at all costs."

Bangtai, whose thoughts were interrupted by the sudden female voice, looked up in astonishment, only to see the secretary ship nodding seriously with a determined look on her face. It was only at this time that Bangtai remembered that the heroic woman standing in front of him and holding the radio microphone for him - who was also "relaying the signal" - was the incarnation of the battleship Bismarck.

She couldn't help but smile when she heard Tirpitz's slightly complaining voice.

"That's it!"

(PS: Europa's takeoff capability is inferred based on the rationalization of the design of the historical Zeppelin. Many people say that the design of the historical Zeppelin "can only" use catapults to launch aircraft, which is incorrect. In fact, the distance between the two catapults of the Zeppelin is very wide, basically at the edge of the deck. Even if there is a height difference between the catapult and the runway, the width in the middle is not less than 18 meters, which is fully capable of taxiing takeoff @ Royal Ark with the same layout - in fact, the height difference between the Zeppelin catapult and the deck is not obvious, and it can be filled by laying a layer of oak deck. Therefore, according to this point, it can be basically concluded that the design idea of ​​the Zeppelin catapult is to ensure that aircraft can be taken off urgently in any situation, including landing or when the deck is full. Then use the vacated space to take off subsequent aircraft by taxiing to ensure that the air force has relatively flexible combat capabilities in any situation.)

----

It was 1943: p.m., and there was still an hour and a half left until New Year's Day .

Braving the howling cold wind and rubbing their frozen hands, the ground crew on the deck of the Allied aircraft carrier were launching the carrier-based aircraft that were ready to take off on the deck one by one.

Traveling at a speed of 32 knots, braving the howling northwest wind of the North Atlantic in winter, one after another carrier-based aircraft fully loaded with ammunition and fuel, under the command of the flight deck management officer, broke away from the densely packed aircraft group at the stern of the ship, and then, with the roar of the engines and the whistling of the propellers, and with the help of the deck wind of nearly 30 meters per second, they jumped out of the bow of the flight deck one after another.

Seeing that the launch of the carrier-based aircraft was about to be completed, the next step was to prepare for the landing of the first attack wave. After completing the take-off and landing tasks of these two waves, it was time to change shifts at 12 o'clock in the evening.

Although this was the time when 1943 arrived, for the sailors who were busy and mechanically repeating their duties day after day, after getting off work, they just wanted to have a good four hours of sleep, and then get up at four o'clock in the morning to take over the shift of another group of comrades.

As for the glory of killing the evil fleet... although it is glorious, I have to rest well first.

only……

"The cruiser fleet reported that they were attacked by German anti-ship missiles! The two Independence-class light aircraft carriers assigned to them were severely damaged by missiles and are in critical condition. The other missiles are following the returning aircraft group and heading towards the aircraft carrier formation!"

"Alert! Alert! Everyone muster! Air defense and damage control, emergency preparations!"

As two flashes suddenly appeared on the dark sea and sky in the distance, the shrill air defense alarms suddenly resounded throughout the three remaining formations of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. Even for a moment, the ground crew who had just cleared the flight deck of the second attack wave and were preparing to receive the remaining aircraft of the first attack wave were all stunned.

The aircraft carrier cannot change its course during takeoff and landing, so it will be a sitting duck if attacked! But if it doesn't land now, the fuel of these aircraft will not last after an 800-kilometer round-trip assault!

The ground crews all looked towards the control tower, and the air traffic control tower all looked towards the captain's command room. The captains who had the final say on the battleships all looked towards the battle fleet, the Vanguard battleship that was said to have the "holy spirit" to protect it and was specifically designed to fight against "evil spirits" and was also the flagship of the home fleet.

In the command room on the Vanguard were the "Holy Spirit" of the Home Fleet and the battle-hardened Marshal Tovey...

"Commander! The Germans really launched a missile attack!"

The meticulous Royal Knight glanced towards the eastern sky and reported without any emotion in his tone.

"Missile attack? As expected, the Zeppelin is probably badly damaged this time! So... now it all depends on how fast our two aircraft carrier formations can disengage at full speed, and whether they have already outrun the maximum range of their missiles!" Tovey snorted with some disdain, but his expression was still solemn: "Pass the order down, battleships and aircraft carriers, air defense emergency alerts. Returning aircraft that can't hold on will prepare for an emergency landing at sea, and destroyers will be responsible for rescuing people. In addition, if the aircraft carrier fleet suffers losses, the second attack wave will directly land at Cornwall Air Force Base."

"Well, that's the only way." Vanguard nodded, with some reluctance in her tone. But she also knew that there was no good way for anti-ship missiles, including herself and Senior War-weary: the enemy's heavy long-range anti-ship missiles were guided by ship girls, and jammers were ineffective against them; and even if she operated the anti-aircraft guns, she couldn't deal with these things with extremely small radar reflection surfaces and speeds far exceeding fighter jets.

So in this case, the destroyer actually doesn't have any Mao Yue, so it's better to just let them rescue people.

"Damn it, the radar-guided 40 Bofors can't do anything to the missiles, otherwise..."

Qianwei gritted his teeth secretly, his heart filled with resentment.

At the same time, outside her porthole, one after another V1 anti-ship missiles came whistling in with a slight puffing sound, their wings cutting through the cold wind and carrying the shock wave caused by the compression of the air at high subsonic speed. In addition to several missiles attacking the two light carriers in the formation that were in a panic because the deadline was approaching, the remaining missiles had passed over the heads of the battleship fleet and rushed to the four armored aircraft carriers and two light carriers that were separated from each other at the edge of the anti-ship missile range thirty nautical miles behind them. They were heading west at full speed and releasing the last few attack aircraft with due diligence.

For the two British aircraft carrier formations, their mentality at this moment is extremely calm.

Although there were still 70 missiles in the sky, even the carrier-based aircraft carrier could not withstand such a large-scale saturation attack. However, most of the second wave of carrier-based aircraft had been released, and at least it was a situation of "killing one is enough, killing two is still a profit". Besides, the current position of the formation is the maximum range of the missiles. As long as we make an extra effort and get out of the enemy's range, we can escape!

From the Tovey vanguard to the ordinary sailors, everyone was in the same mood, except for the four light aircraft carriers that were unfortunately hit and were scrambling to organize an evacuation.

Chapter 841: It’s up to us

On the vast ocean, three warships that had been damaged but still maintained their combat effectiveness advanced side by side in the night. With the Prince Eugen, which had the shortest air defense range, as the center, they formed a single horizontal array with a width of fifteen or sixteen kilometers twenty kilometers in front of the Zeppelin aircraft carrier - like a screen, covering the Zeppelin behind.

The previous missile attack had already produced results. At the same time, the second wave of attack aircraft from the British aircraft carrier formation had also appeared on the radar screen of the battleship Tirpitz...

"Report! There are about ten squadrons of enemy aircraft directly in front of the formation, at an altitude of 160 kilometers and a distance of 20 kilometers. It is expected to engage in battle in minutes."

"Continue to monitor the enemy aircraft group. Everyone, reload the main guns with high-explosive shells, release the jammers, and keep your distance from each other!"

"Captain, the missile attack report from Tizi is out: We have confirmed that we destroyed two of their armored aircraft carriers and five of their light aircraft carriers. However, they have two aircraft carrier formations, and one of them was not hit because the distance was just beyond the missile's maximum range. Now they still have two aircraft carriers and one light carrier..."

"Are there still two aircraft carriers left? If there were two consecutive attack waves, they should be in an empty state now. In this case... they should be able to recover a batch of aircraft (from the first attack wave)." Lütjens calculated the accommodation capacity of two aircraft carriers and a light carrier, and always felt that it was still a little unsafe to fight like this.

After all, it’s not like Lütjens himself hadn’t managed to turn the tables with a single aircraft carrier, such as the Battle of the Mid-Atlantic…

Although the missile counterattack severely damaged the British aircraft carrier formation, the enemy still retained a minimum combat capability. In addition, the enemy's surface fleet has basically not suffered any losses so far. Not to mention, the reconnaissance intelligence has not come back yet, and God knows where the American fleet is, looking at the battle situation with sinister eyes, waiting to stab them in the back...

And now I can't retreat...

"How's the repair going on Zeppelin?" Lütjens asked without turning his head while sitting in the chair.

"The repair situation is not very optimistic. She only has the last set of boilers available now, and her speed is only 20 knots... Captain Bangtai has now personally gone to the damage control site in the hangar, trying his best to repair one set of boilers before the air strike."

Bismarck thought for a moment and replied.

"Is that so? But it's still not enough... Bismarck, tell Tizi and Eugen that now they have to rely on us! We must maintain our positions. This time it depends on whether this 'area air defense' is effective!" Lütjens said without even thinking.

"Ok!"

Bismarck nodded seriously and looked at his captain deeply.

"Regional air defense" was something she had "explained" to her captain when she "confessed" to him. It was a tactic for air defense in the future. However, there was no such thing as long-range regional air defense missiles in this era, so the captain had not dared to use this idea before.

However, in the previous missile attack, it was found that if the traditional air defense formation was still followed, the missiles that broke through the blockade would have a high probability of attacking Zeppelin. Now, Lütjens could only think of the "regional air defense" trick.

In short, the main gun has a range of more than 20 kilometers for air defense, and the 203 and 105 have a range of more than ten kilometers to "act as long-range air defense forces" to expand the scope of the air defense circle as much as possible.

After all, the range of the enemy's missiles is only about 406 kilometers. With only the 450-kilometer air-to-air range of the 120 main gun and the distance between the cat and mouse sisters, even if we take into account that there will be a delay of at least one minute for the shells to fly more than ten or twenty kilometers, and even if we calculate the lead time based on the enemy's carrier-attack speed of KM, it only needs to "release" another eight kilometers at most to threaten the aircraft group trying to enter the attack route within a full -degree range in front.

Even if we assume that the enemy aircraft group wants to bypass from the two wings, but the anti-aircraft range of 23 kilometers plus the lateral expansion width of nearly 10 kilometers, even if they are pulled away from the two wings at a long distance from the beginning, there will be at least ten minutes for Bismarck and Grapes to pull away separately - in this way, the width of the two wings will be expanded even more, and the entire front can be defended!

As for the defense of the middle lane after the breakout? There is also the Prinz Eugen with an air range of 16 kilometers that can fill in the position for air attack - not to shoot down missiles, but to threaten the enemy attack aircraft to break up their formation before they enter the bombing range!

Moreover, at a distance of more than ten kilometers, there is no need to worry about the missiles that "missed" and could attack the Zeppelin - after all, the essence of the "Bat" is just a gliding guided bomb. If it attacks the three sisters, there will definitely not be enough height to support them to glide for more than ten kilometers to attack the Zeppelin aircraft carrier.

Not to mention, there were at least 40 planes in the sky commanded by Zeppelin himself! If the British attacked from the front, they would be broken up by the heavy anti-aircraft guns. If they wanted to bypass them, Zeppelin would be happy to chase them!

The only problem is that the sisters can only rely on the air defense of a single ship and towed jammers to withstand the risk of missile attacks, and Zeppelin is dragging behind alone, and there is no telling whether he will encounter British submarines or something...

However, I can’t care about so many things now!

At least, when the three ships formed a single column and headed to the front, they didn't find any British submarines for the time being...

As for Kumets...

"Anyway, his warships don't have ship girls, so they're basically doomed if they encounter a cluster of anti-ship missiles... Let them stay behind and keep some seed power for the German Navy." Lütjens said lightly: "Now, we can only rely on ourselves!"

Bismarck did not speak, but at the stern of her main body, there was a group of sailors gathered, and behind her, four small jamming boats with tow cables of different lengths were launched at the same time...

....................................

"The lead plane is calling the lead plane, the lead plane is calling the lead plane!... The radar and infrared detectors have repeatedly confirmed that the Germans have formed a horizontal line on the sea (dudududu-boom)...zizi...zizi...zizi..."

Looking at the earphones in his hand and listening to the crackling sound which had completely lost its echo, the leader of the British team looked confused.

It was not until more than ten minutes later, after encountering a wave of interception that was obviously premeditated and well-directed, and then flying more than ten kilometers, and taking the target signal echo on the sea surface that was buried in heavy interference into the field of view of the belly-mounted radar, that the British leader scratched his head through his thick pilot hat, and finally thought about what the sacrificed lead reconnaissance plane wanted to say:

"They lined up in a horizontal line... Do you mean to put out a cover-up line in advance?"

This is a little different from what we agreed on before...

In fact, the British are not unfamiliar with this tactic - in fact, the position of the battleship fleet led by Admiral Tovey himself and the cruiser fleet ahead of the battleship fleet is a tactical formation of "covering up in advance and gaining depth in air defense."

The only problem was that the Germans were the only ones using ship-borne anti-ship missiles guided by the Shipgirls, so they could not be intercepted at all. As for whether the British Empire and the United States had projects to develop similar weapons, how could a small lieutenant colonel-level formation leader like him know for sure?

Not to mention not knowing the missile development plan or anything like that, this kind of regional defense, just thinking about how to attack is enough to give people a headache!

"Regional air defense tactics, plus the distance of the evil spirits' anti-aircraft shooting in the data, plus the evil spirits' ability of electronic interference, so... if we concentrate our attack and directly rush into the opponent's aircraft carrier, we will be killed by the three evil spirits' anti-aircraft guns; if we bypass the opponent's range to attack the aircraft carrier, the distance is too far and the opponent can also change its formation; if we attack separately, the troops and firepower will be dispersed, and there will be basically no threat... Wait! They will be scattered in this way, right? So... we can first disperse the opponent, and then...?"

The British lieutenant colonel was, after all, a battle-hardened commander. After thinking for a while, he resolutely issued a tactical deployment:

"Everyone, pay attention. Our six bomber squadrons will disperse to the left and right, pretending to bypass them from the two wings, and then attack from the direction of their two battleships: first launch infrared-guided missiles to attack the battleships, and cover the follow-up formation to attack the aircraft carrier! If they open their main guns, they will expose themselves to the target. If the main guns stop firing, they will directly attack their aircraft carriers - listen carefully! Even if we all die under the muzzle of the evil spirit, we will bite off a piece of their flesh!!" The voice suddenly rose eight degrees, and the British leader almost shouted out his fighting will with a roar: "As long as we defeat the Edelweiss Witch of the Evil Spirit Fleet, the two garbage aircraft carriers converted from merchant ships of Kumetz are nothing to fear! The first, third, and fifth squadrons will attack from the left with me, and the others will be led by the deputy commander to attack the right wing - long live His Majesty the King of England, long live the British Empire!"

"Long live!"

"Come on!"

The British leader took the lead in pushing the throttle to the overload position and at the same time the joystick was pushed to a position with a slight dive angle. The British attack aircraft in the dark night relied on their well-trained night flying capabilities and pre-arranged formations over the aircraft carrier. Under the cover of four carrier battle squadrons, they were divided into two formations, following closely behind the formation leader and the adjutant, and with a slight dive acceleration, began to move towards the left and right wings.

All this did not escape the radar of the Prince Eugen, the front of the "horizontal formation" 40 kilometers away on the sea, nor did it escape the Edelweiss early warning command fighter, which was directing its subordinates in the sky to tightly entangle the Spitfire Jushiro while chasing the carrier-attack aircraft group.

The Torch's level flight speed with missiles is over 450 kilometers, and if it dives, it is not even slower than the Bat missile! And considering the performance of the aircraft, as long as it dives, it can continue to accelerate!

Qi Bolin's eyebrows were already slightly twisted.

Although when it comes to diving, two of the four carrier-based aircraft squadrons she currently commands are equipped with FW-190s, so if they really want to compete in diving, they are not afraid of not being able to catch up with the torches. However, the combination of the Allied ship battles on the opposite side is really annoying - the two squadrons of the Spitfire Jushiro, which are very strong in climbing and maneuvering, firmly occupy the high altitudes. Even though she herself has been in a tough battle, the other two squadrons of the British fighters are F4U Corsairs with inverted gull-shaped wings and excellent dive and roll!

The BF-109 he was with was in a fierce battle with the Spitfire on the opposite side for high-altitude air supremacy. If these inverted gull-wing aircraft were to chase the FW-190, even with the FW-190's high speed performance, it would not be very optimistic if it was always chased from behind. Even if a head-on battle really came, the FW-190 was not afraid of pirates, but being threatened from behind while chasing was not a very comfortable tactical situation.

In particular, the night flight vision and instrument flying capabilities of the FW-190 are not very good. Moreover, the aircraft flying in the sky now is not Zeppelin's own aircraft, so Zeppelin cannot directly "project" the tactical arrangements in her mind into the radio headsets of other aircraft in real time. If she relies solely on predictive command, although Zeppelin's predictive ability is not bad, the efficiency of voice command is still much lower than that of commanding "her own carrier-based aircraft wing" before.

Although, in night battles, the enemy's command efficiency is actually lower than ours - otherwise, their performance would be inferior to that of the Spitfire's BF-109s, and it would be difficult to even gain high-altitude air superiority!

However, in this situation, there is no better way...