Cash-Loaded Fleet

Chapter 70 - Destruction of the Remnants

Of the 240 Tenzan attackers that attacked the American mobile task force or the surface strike force, 12 did not return, and an additional 47 were damaged beyond repair. The reason the non-return rate was kept at a low 5% was because the Tenzan used the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs. If they had attacked the American ships with conventional slow-fall bombing or torpedoes, the damage would have been much worse.

While the First Fleet and Task Group 58.7 were engaged in combat, the four Air Fleets deployed 181 Tenzan to deliver the final blow to the remaining American carrier task force. Among the three identified American carrier groups, the core strength, 12 aircraft carriers, had all been sunk by yesterday. Additionally, more than 30% of the cruisers and destroyers that were protecting them were either sunk or destroyed. At present, only two cruisers and 27 destroyers remain operational, many of them still undamaged. As for the damaged ships, those with significant damage likely chose to scuttle themselves. With heavily damaged ships unable to move, escape was not an option.

On the attacking side, the Tenzan had slightly altered their formation. They operated with four planes per section and three sections per squadron. In this battle, the Akagi and Kaga as well as the Shōkaku-class aircraft carriers each had two squadrons, and the Sōryū and Hiryū as well as the Unryū-class aircraft carriers each had one squadron. However, these twenty squadrons had now been reorganized into groups each consisting of four to five planes, in response to the reduced number of operational aircraft.

"All units, we're about to begin the attack. The order of attack is the 1st Air Fleet, followed by the 2nd and 4th Air Fleets, with the 3rd Air Fleet last. Follow the instructions of the unit commanders for the attack method."

Under the command of Lieutenant Commander Murata, overall commander of the attack group and commander of the 3rd Air Fleet air group, as well as the leader of the Akagi air group, the 43 Tenzan of the 1st Air Fleet were divided into ten groups and transitioned into attack formation.

Like yesterday, each plane carried the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bomb under its belly. The Tenzan of the 1st Air Fleet, with a time delay, began launching their radio-guided bombs. The reason for not launching simultaneously was that there were limited radio frequency channels for guiding these bombs. The number of these frequencies was the same as Germany's Hs 293, eighteen in total. In other words, the maximum number that could be launched simultaneously was also eighteen.

On the other hand, the targeted American cruisers and destroyers, realizing within less than a day that the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs were their vulnerability, aimed their anti-aircraft and dual-purpose guns at the Tenzan instead. In a sense, it could be said that they demonstrated a formidable ability to learn and adapt.

However, the advantage of the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs were that it can be launched at the target ship from a minimum distance of 4.000 meters. This allows the Tenzan to hit the target ship with their guided bombs before the enemy's machine guns and cannons can accurately aim, and then retreat.

Nevertheless, a number of attackers were caught within the danger radius of high-angle and dual-purpose shells. Some unfortunate aircraft were hit directly at their payload and exploded. However, thanks to well-equipped armor, not many planes were shot down.

40 radio-guided bombs were launched from the Tenzan toward the ten remaining American destroyers that reinforced the outer perimeter of the surviving fleet. In a wave-like attack, the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs attacked the targets, but nine of them dropped due to issues such as radio communication or propulsion system malfunctions. However, the remaining 31 of them hit the American destroyers, with some unlucky ships taking two hits, and others even taking four hits.

When a destroyer is hit by the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs carrying a 1.000-kilogram warhead, containing 400 kilograms of explosives, its attack power and maneuverability are significantly reduced with just one hit, and multiple hits render it practically inoperable. Indeed, the damaged American destroyers, once hit, emitted thick smoke and either crawled forward or came to a complete stop on the open sea.

Against the remaining fleet, which had diminished from 29 to 19 operational ships, the 46 Tenzan from the 2nd Air Fleet, acting as the vanguard, ruthlessly fired their bombs, further reducing their number by ten.

The 4th Air Fleet aggressively attacked the remaining nine ships, setting all of them ablaze. The last group, now running out of fresh prey, targeted the cruisers, significant targets among the small fry, launching their guided bombs. Faced with the overwhelming combat prowess of their allies, Lieutenant Commander Murata, feeling a sense of amazement, issued the final order, "Each squadron of the 3rd Air Fleet, target the less damaged ships."

Having sunk or destroyed all of their prey below, there were no words left to say.

'The Second Fleet crewmen are so going to hate us for this.'

In response to this misplaced thought that rose in his mind, Murata let out a bitter smile. The Second Fleet, consisting of four Kongō-class battleships, was racing to this area at full speed. Of course, it was to deliver the finishing blow to the remaining enemy. However, the crucial opponent they were meant to face had already been dealt with by them.

Unlike the First Fleet, which had wreaked havoc in the battles off Oahu and in the North Atlantic, the Second Fleet had not been fortunate enough to encounter fleet battles. The only exceptions were the 7th and 8th Cruiser Divisions, transferred from the First Fleet to the Second Fleet. By the time they arrived in this area, there should not be a single enemy ship afloat.

'Well, thanks to them coming, we can go all out.'

With the sinking of all American ships, a large number of enemy military personnel would be thrown into the sea. However, if the Second Fleet arrived here, even though they would become prisoners, quite a few personnel would be saved. Dismissing such thoughts from his mind, Murata scanned the sea surface, determined to find the best possible prey and present them with his radio-guided bomb as a gift.