The speed of the four heavy cruisers must be more than 33 knots, and even if they do not reach 34.5 knots, they will be close to 34 knots.

In addition, the speed of the "Imperial Capital" and "Paijing" did not reach 31 knots, and only remained at around 30 knots.

In order to figure out how fast it can run, Li Mingbo also went to the engine room and found several experienced officers to ask about the situation. If you only need to sail for a few hours, regardless of the consequences, you can run to 31 knots. However, if you want to sail at a faster speed for a longer time, you must keep the speed within 30 knots, and at most not more than 30 knots, otherwise the power system may be stuck at any time.

Not to mention anything else, just burst a boiler and it will be done.

Now, let alone Li Mingbo, even Bai Zhizhan was anxious.

Even if the speed of four heavy cruisers can only reach 33 knots, they can shorten the distance to 25 kilometers within an hour and shorten it to 22 kilometers before dawn, which is possible to open fire on two aircraft carriers before dawn.

As long as it is suppressed by artillery fire, the two aircraft carriers cannot let the carrier-based aircraft be launched.

At around six o'clock, four heavy cruisers caught up and shortened the distance to 25 kilometers. It was precisely because of this that the speed of the four heavy cruisers exceeded 33 knots, which was close to 34 knots, and the distance would be shortened to 20 kilometers at dawn.

There is no way to fight this!

Let the six destroyers drag the enemy ships?

Before 5:30, Bai Zhizhan issued an order, only to ask the six destroyers to gather in the waters ahead to prepare for a torpedo attack.

As for when to launch an attack, it will never be after dawn.

If you really can't escape, let the six destroyers launch an attack from the side and fire torpedoes at the enemy ships, which may sink the enemy ships.

Even if you are not so lucky, you can force the enemy ship to slow down and turn.

The key is only one.

Neither aircraft carrier can run fast, and the six destroyers have less fuel left. If the situation is not reversed in one fell swoop, the consequences will be difficult to imagine. At that time, even if the shells fired from enemy ships are successfully avoided, the fuel will be burned out during continuous high-speed navigation, or the power equipment will malfunction.

In short, there is only one chance to fight back.

In fact, it would be a miracle that the destroyer could successfully launch a counterattack in front of the heavy cruiser.

Don’t forget that the number one value of heavy cruisers is to deal with the enemy’s small warships in naval battles, and mainly to deal with destroyers. According to traditional tactics, the primary task of heavy cruisers in the fleet’s decisive battle is to prevent enemy destroyers from launching torpedo attacks on their main battleships.

To fight, six destroyers will be killed instantly by four heavy cruisers within a few minutes!

Although he was very calm, Bai Zhizhan was already a little panicked and was still cursing his mother secretly.

You can't blame others.

If you want to blame, you can only blame yourself!

Don’t forget that Bai Zhizhan sent out the four heavy cruisers and four light cruisers that provided cover, but had not arranged a reunion.

Actually, it cannot be arranged.

It was not until the beginning that Bai Zhizhan ordered the breaking of radio silence, and there was no telegram before that, so that other warships could not know the whereabouts of the Third Air Special Mixed Fleet. Even if the guards were arranged at that time, they might not be able to reunite in the west and east oceans.

It is precisely because Bai Zhizhan did not make any arrangements, and he felt that it would be better to let the guards decide on their own.

At that time, at least four light cruisers should have been left behind.

When Bai Zhizhan was making arrangements, Li Mingbo mentioned that there was no need to send all the cruisers out, but Bai Zhizhan didn't listen. According to the arrangement at that time, the guards had to continue tracking and surveillance after discovering the first main force, so they would definitely be attacked by enemy cruisers.

In addition, Bai Zhizhan made a small plan.

By sending cruiser teams to track and monitor, Takano forced to give up the idea of ​​going to the Watchmen Strait, thus ending the naval battle at the most favorable time.

But it's useless to regret.

It was less than 6:25, and the sky had just turned bright. After the four heavy cruisers approached 21 kilometers away, they fired their first volleys at the two aircraft carriers.

Because we can only use four main guns in the head direction, we only fired half a volley.

After observing the enemy ships fired, the two aircraft carriers immediately made an emergency turn.

Then, almost every half minute, four heavy cruisers would "remind" the two aircraft carriers in front of them by shelling, and they should turn to avoid them.

Until the phone rings.

"Okay, I got it."

Hearing Li Mingbo's words, Bai Zhizhan turned around.

At this time, it was already six forty-eight.

"The destroyer team is ready to launch a torpedo attack. According to your arrangement, it is maneuvering south and is expected to arrive at the preset waters at 7:10."

"Waiting for my order."

Li Mingbo didn't ask much, picked up the microphone and told Bai Zhizhan's order to the communications consultant who had already gone to the telecommunications center.

There is only one chance to counterattack, so you must not do anything randomly!

At this time, a commotion came from outside the hatch door.

"This is the Commander's Bridge, you can't go in!"

The person who spoke was a soldier guarding outside, and he shouted out loudly, obviously to attract the attention of the people inside.

The imperial guards accompanying the ship are responsible for maintaining order in peacetime and enforcing military laws during wartime.

Only the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guards will carry weapons and other weapons with them, but they are usually pistols. Submachine guns and rifles will be issued only when encountering special circumstances.

Without waiting for Bai Zhizhan's order, Li Mingbo stood up and ran over.

After a while, it became quiet outside.

Although he didn't go out, Bai Zhizhan knew who was outside.

That's right, it's the pilot who volunteered.

Before being bombarded, Zhou Yongtao made a suggestion that some carrier-based aircraft should take off immediately with bombs and wait for dawn to bomb enemy ships.

At that time, Bai Zhizhan was really moved.

However, after finding Li Yunxiang and asking about the situation clearly, Bai Zhizhan gave up this idea.

All the fighter planes parked at the front of the flight deck were ready to perform air defense missions, and they did not mount bombs, nor could they use bombs parked at the back end. Whether it was to send the fighter plane back to the hangar or to drag the bombs to the back end of the deck, it would take at least half an hour.

That is, it cannot be completed before dawn.

When bombarded, if there are still carrier-based aircraft on the flight deck to refuel and load the projectiles, as long as they are hit by a shell, they will be dead!

The key is that after dawn, the enemy's bomber fleet may arrive at any time, so when making deployment, you must first consider strengthening air defense.

If it is bombed while being bombed, the two aircraft carriers will definitely be difficult to fly.

The Type 96 Land Attack is a long-range heavy attack aircraft of the Nai Navy, with extremely strong sea strike capabilities, such as being able to throw aviation torpedo attack warships.

That's why Li Yunxiang proposed to let the fighter take off before dawn.

It was at this time that some pilots volunteered to fly fighter jets and even if they didn't have bombs, they could hit and sink enemy ships.

At that time, these pilots found Zhou Yongtao.

Perhaps in their eyes, Zhou Yongtao is a big celebrity in front of Bai Zhizhan, so he has a certain right to speak. Even if the request made is a bit too much, he will not be blamed.

Not only did Bai Zhizhan not agree, he also scolded Zhou Yongtao and asked Zhou Yongtao to take care of his mouth.

But now, Bai Zhizhan has not come forward.
Chapter completed!