Comrade, your ingredients are too complicated.

Faced with more than 120 aggressive land-based fighter jets, the bridge of DD-450 seemed to have pressed the mute button, and all crew members fell silent.

Strictly speaking, they do not have much practical experience.

It would be fine if I had to fight hand-to-hand with the German wolf pack in the Dark Trench of the Atlantic Ocean, but this was the first time I had to face Japan's air raid head-on.

As if he still held out a tiny glimmer of hope, the lieutenant even went to check the radar himself. His bloodshot eyes almost popped out as he stared at the screen inch by inch, trying to find evidence of a mistake in the combat situation center's work.

Unfortunately, two bright green spots on the screen ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.

This level of air raid reminded the deputy captain of the tragedies in the Pearl Harbor incident.

"It seems that our only choice now is to fight to the death. Those damned Zero fighters and Type 99 carrier-based bombers are not soft persimmons. Everyone, be prepared to give it a go."

"I hope the Ordnance Department can be more reliable this time. If the new weapon array is as magical as they describe, our survival rate may be higher."

"If those anti-aircraft guns are as unstable as the MK14 torpedoes, I will be the first one to trouble those engineers after returning home, haha."

After returning to the bridge from the combat situation center, the deputy captain exuded a tragic aura.

Although he tried his best to restrain himself and even pretended to be relaxed and made a joke, anyone could see that he was ready to die.

In fact, it is understandable that the crew members lack confidence. After all, the entire fleet is now isolated and helpless, and no one knows how many waves of air strikes the Japanese will launch next.

In addition, lack of confidence in new weapons is also one of the reasons.

Different from the impression of most people about American air defense, during the period from 1939 to 1942, the ugly Chinese, who have always been famous for their AA firepower, were actually also a member of the Pacific region's humorous matching mechanism.

Before July this year, in addition to the 127mm MK12 for both high and low range, Achou also used the famous 28mm Chicago Organ and the heirloom Lao Gan Ma for medium and short distances.

Judging from the results of previous naval battles, these two things are not much better than the combination of the Type 96 cannon and the Type 93 anti-aircraft machine gun.

40mm Bofors, 20mm Oerlikon?
I'm really unfamiliar with it. Who knows how powerful the new anti-aircraft guns are? Weapons that have not been verified in actual combat cannot give people peace of mind no matter how good the training effect is.

Perhaps the captain's professional ability is outstanding, but he is by no means a qualified organizer or mobilizer.

Seeing his own morale becoming increasingly low, Zhong Yun suddenly remembered a phrase his grandfathers often said. At this moment, the unyielding and bloody nature deep in his blood suddenly awakened.

"Fight the Japanese. It's just 120 land-based fighters. What's the big deal? If the Enterprise can take out the entire IJN carrier fleet, so can we!"

"It's no loss to kill one squadron, but it's a huge profit to kill two squadrons. Only after we fight will we know who will win!"

"Pass on my order! Hurry up and join the rear team, then maneuver to the wheel formation!"

"Anti-aircraft gun crew! Full alert!"

With the momentum of a great victory, Zhong Yun's personal prestige has almost reached its peak.

Under his mobilization and call, the crew regained their lost courage, and the bridge was instantly flooded with words starting with F.

Sometimes, the transformation from a new recruit to a veteran happens in just a matter of thought.

After receiving the order from the commander-in-chief, the two Liberty ships and Benson hanging in the rear quickly joined the main force.

Then the transport ship was in the center, and the four destroyers were responsible for one direction each. The entire fleet deployed an air defense wheel formation at the fastest speed.

Different from the air defense layer composed of single-ship weapons, the fleet air defense formation can be said to be the ultimate expression of the navy's air defense capability. It not only provides a greater depth of air defense, but also can maximize the firepower of all ships.

After the combatants on the deck were in position and all anti-aircraft guns were pointed at the direction of the first wave of enemy attacks, the lieutenant deputy captain patted Zhong Yun on the shoulder and said:

"I heard that the first ship of the Cleveland class, the USS Cleveland, and the second ship, the USS Columbia, completed their commissioning ceremony some time ago."

"Hey, it would be great if we had a light cruiser now. If that doesn't work, an Atlanta-class one would be fine too, haha."

"Commander-in-Chief, the bridge is now in your hands. I will be on the deck directing the air defense throughout the rest of the battle. By the way, I shouldn't have said that you were a lucky relative before. I'm sorry for that."

After saying this, the lieutenant left the bridge without looking back, leaving behind only a desolate back.

At the same time, the war center received another message. The head of the department was holding a whale sea chart, with a half-confused and half-unintelligible look on his face, and said:

"Captain, the situation has changed."

"The first wave of enemies coming from the south had a clear target, and they should be the Japanese land-based aviation. But the second wave of 'enemies' coming from the northwest seemed to have lost their way, and they have now deviated from their route."

As soon as these words came out, Zhong Yun suddenly became alert. With his sharp mind, he immediately realized one thing: the second wave of unknown targets was likely to be the Eighth Route Army's support troops.

However, he did not choose to make the news public immediately, after all, the enemy also had troops stationed on the peninsula.

Considering the country's backward radio and navigation technology, it might really be a lost pursuer.

As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Zhong Yun doesn't want a piece of unverified information to become the last straw that breaks the camel's back for the crew.

"Okay, I understand. Get ready for battle. We'll rely on the SC radar in your combat center. Be sure to report any situation in a timely manner."

"Roger that!"

······
For surface ships, one hundred nautical miles is a long distance. Even if the French destroyer Mogador class is at top speed, it will take more than two hours to travel.

But the speed of a fighter jet is another matter.

After discovering that the light training cruiser Kashima had been attacked, the Kagoshima naval aviation unit immediately took action and found the culprit in just fifty minutes.

Looking at the Kashima engulfed in flames and slowly capsizing and sinking, Colonel Takashima Moriji of the Tarumi Air Fleet was almost blinded by anger.

"Baga! Are all the new recruits in the navy now useless? A cruiser couldn't even defeat a destroyer and was sunk by the enemy without any damage!"

"It is because of this kind of rubbish that our main forces are stuck in the quagmire of war."

"Also, why are the Allied destroyers here? Do they really think they can run rampant in our territory just by hanging a flag? When I return, I must report the situation exactly as it is!"

Until August 1945, both sides remained neutral.

Therefore, as long as the flag of the bear is flying on the ship, the book theoretically cannot intercept it. Even if at first glance it is all Ugly Country supplies, or even Ugly Country ships and Ugly Country personnel, it cannot be intercepted.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with a temporary inspection, but if there is no weapons assistance, they will eventually have to be allowed to pass.

It’s simple. The writers are shouting “Long live the locust”, not “Hi little mustache”.

What does it have to do with their books if the Germans' third offensive is not going well? What if the Far East Military District directly goes south after the supplies are seized? The Kwantung Army does not want to be forced to fight.

But! The current situation is too extreme. If you run a few more steps south, you will reach Kyushu Island. Even if the swastika flag and the flag of the Kingdom of Pasta are hung on the ship, it will be useless!
After the idea came to his mind, the Japanese Colonel Takashima Moriji took the lead and drove his Zero fighter to attack the Ugly Country destroyer fleet on the sea.

"Gentlemen, follow me and charge! Together."

"boom!"

Before the old devil could finish his words, black clouds blooming in the sky interrupted his spell.

Different countries have different air defense principles. The British Royal Navy is accustomed to setting up barrages in the direction of enemy aircraft flight, mainly to interfere with the enemy.

The original version was even more extreme. They placed all their bets on ship maneuvers, trying to use their physical skills to evade enemy aircraft bombings.

The most arrogant ones are the wealthy and technologically advanced Achou. They will use precise fire control equipment to continuously track enemy planes until they shoot them down with anti-aircraft guns.

The barrage that almost blew up Takashima Moriji just now was the ultimate manifestation of the black cloud flow, the damage-per-second flow, and the range flow.

"Baga! Everyone, spread out and avoid the enemy's anti-aircraft guns. They only have four destroyers. Even if a single ship has strong firepower, it is impossible to block the sky!"

"Hi!"

······
As soon as the enemy aircraft group entered the range of the 127mm main guns, the four destroyers opened fire in unison, using the maximum firepower on one side to attack the enemy aircraft in the southern airspace with all their strength.

It's too late, but it's soon.

With just the first salvo, the trading fleet got off to a good start and shot down a Type 99 carrier-based bomber.

"Well done! Keep firing!"

After Marshal Mai escaped from Southeast Asia, Achou made a combat plan to counterattack Japan's mainland step by step along the island chain from the central Pacific region.

In order to cope with the endless air strikes that might be encountered during island chain operations, the U.S. Navy has uniformly arranged the most advanced fire control systems for its new ships.

This is why the DD-450 was a success from the outset.

However, the naval aviation team of the Tarumi Air Force was not a rookie. The sudden death of their teammates not only did not make the Japanese afraid to act, but instead aroused the brutality in their hearts.

Soon, twenty-six Zero fighters and Type 99 carrier-based bombers dispersed and launched a general attack in the form of two-plane formations.

"The anti-aircraft artillery team is on full alert!"

Seeing that some enemy planes broke through the defense circle of the 127mm dual-purpose guns, the 40mm Bofors and 20mm Oerlikon on the four destroyers also joined the battle.

As a weapon that has brought about a qualitative change in the U.S. Navy's air defense capabilities, Bofors perfectly fills the vacuum between the outer circle and the inner circle.

Its moderate firing rate and destructive effect make it far superior to other weapons of the same type and era.

Oerlikons are also very effective against surprise attacks, strafing and close-range assaults, and their flexible maneuvers always cause heavy losses to the enemy.

Unfortunately, the crew of DD-450 was still a little naive. With alternating cover, two Type carrier-based bombers broke through from the front and rear of the ship, and launched a dive at a speed close to the limit.

"Boom! Boom!"

Accompanied by the splash of water from the exploding bombs, the two near misses not only injured several gunners, but also destroyed Fletcher's fire control radar and radio antenna.

Taking advantage of the chaos, another smoking Zero fighter broke through the outer fire network of the main guns and dived towards DD-450 from the port side.

"Stop that plane! It's about to hit us! It's a suicide plane!"

At the critical moment, the inner circle combat teams desperately used Oerlikon to interfere with the Japanese pilots' vision and hit the target at a distance of less than 500 meters, causing a deflection at a certain angle.

But before the crew had time to cheer, the debris raised by the explosion of the Zero fighter smashed the body of a gunner.

At the same time, leaking aviation fuel also caused a small fire at the stern of the ship.

The nearby shells showed signs of exploding under the burning flames. The surviving crew members had no choice but to bite the bullet and throw the burnt shells into the sea regardless of the consequences.

"Fire alarm! Damage control team, put out the fire!"

Obviously, as the only damaged surface ship among the four destroyers, DD-450 naturally became the fat meat in the eyes of the Japanese.

After a while, three Zero fighters launched an attack at the same time.

Although the six 30-kilogram bombs did not cause many casualties, the bombs destroyed the communication between the stern and the front engine room. Zhong Yun in the bridge could no longer know the situation at the stern.

At the critical moment of life and death, the captain stepped forward.

He climbed atop the cockpit with a microphone and plugged it into the ship's speaker system, using this crude method to provide the crew with position reports of incoming enemy aircraft.

However, manpower is limited after all. Even though the deputy captain tried his best to report the location, a Type 99 ship still took advantage of the opportunity.

This time, the Japanese pilot was obviously a veteran, and the bomb he dropped directly hit the 20mm shells piled on the deck.

The flying debris not only caused a bloody storm among the crowd, but also broke the hydraulic pipeline of the steering device and stuck the rudder 26 degrees to the port side.

Such a heavy blow forced the DD-450 to make evasive maneuvers in small circles and rely on speed changes to avoid attacks from Japanese planes.

Fortunately, the watertight compartment at the stern was still there, and Zhong Yun could barely keep the ship sailing at full speed.

If the above situation were placed in the magic world of the white-haired Russians, it would be the destroyer's failure to put up a last stand. If it were placed in the Atlantic, it would be a replay of Bismarck's broken leg.

······
After more than 450 minutes of fighting, the brand new DD- was already covered with battle scars. She was being taken care of by the Tarumi Air Force and had almost lost her ability to fight back.

"The hull is breached, and our ships are taking on water rapidly! Fire alarm! The main turret is severely damaged! The torpedo tubes are damaged! The steering is out of order!"

Listening to the screams outside the bridge and the roars of the damage control team trying to put out the fire, the navigator asked while holding back the pain:

"Captain, our ship is seriously damaged. Should we abandon ship?"

After saying this, Zhong Yun glared at his colleague in anger. His eyes were red, and he rejected the other party's proposal categorically.

"Even if there's only one gun left, I won't abandon my ship!"

Just as the two were arguing, a twin-engine heavy fighter suddenly appeared in the sky not far away.

Those big guys, which were obviously different from the Japanese planes, were impatient and joined the battle without any hesitation, braving the firepower of both sides, as if to say:

"Get away from my boat" (End of this chapter)