"Change of targets. Fighter squadrons should target the enemy destroyers. Be careful not to overlap targets. As for the attackers, Force A is to attack cruisers, and Force B is to attack battleships from the first to the fourth ship, with the fifth ship designated for the Kai unit. Instructions for the Yamato, Musashi and Shinano units will be provided later. Until then, remain outside the range of enemy anti-aircraft fire. The sequence of attack is to start with the fighters, followed by the attacker squadron."
Continuing from yesterday, the voice of Commander Sannomiya, who commanded the attack squadron, echoed from the receiver. Lieutenant Shinya, the leader of the Ibuki attacker squadron, jubilantly cheered in his heart for having drawn the lot. The target assigned to the 14-plane Ibuki attack squadron is the third enemy battleship. Alongside the active battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, namely the Nagato and Mutsu, it was part of the prestigious Big Seven, or adversaries that can be called archenemies. This is a Colorado-class battleship equipped with eight 40 cm guns.
Before the battle, the Ibuki attack squadron had 36 Type 1s. However, due to yesterday's combat, four aircraft were lost, and additional damaged planes resulted in only 10 operational aircraft at the end of yesterday's attack. Nevertheless, through the overnight efforts of maintenance crews, the squadron has been restored to a strength of 14 aircraft. Although not even reaching 40% of the original strength, Mamiya has no concerns. The American battleships excel in attack and defense but lack significant mobility. They have undergone intense training against the Ibuki, which can exceed 30 knots. If the Colorado-class, with a top speed of around 20 knots, can be considered a challenging target for torpedo hits, it is not an opponent that would make hitting torpedoes a difficult task.
Below, the surface strike force is reflected, and at the same time, Zeros transitioned to an attack maneuver. From the original 384 Zeros, the intense battle has resulted in numerous losses and damage, leaving just over 200 usable aircraft after a night of repairs. The Zero squadron focused its attacks primarily on destroyers, indiscriminately launching glide bombings on both undamaged destroyers of the surface strike force and those from the heavily damaged mobile force. Due to the small target size, only about 10% of the 20 bombs released hit their mark. Compared to a steep dive bombing, the hit rate is remarkably low. However, the damage inflicted by the 250 kg bombs, twice the weight of those dropped by heavy cruisers, is severe if even a single one hits an unarmored destroyer. In fact, the hit destroyers, without exception, lost their ability to maneuver. Additionally, nearly an equal number of 250 kg bombs function as near misses, causing significant damage below the waterline.
As all Zeros completed their bombing runs, the Type 1s also transitioned to an attack maneuver. Mamiya, along with four subordinates, launched a frontal assault on the third enemy battleship. Behind him, five planes led by the second squadron commander and, slightly delayed, four aircraft led by the third squadron commander, also approached the third enemy battleship. The ideal for torpedo attacks is an inescapable pincer movement, but Shinya opted for an attack on one side. An attack from one side is easier to evade than a pincer movement, but the target can only use half of its anti-air weaponry. Hence, Shinya chose this tactic considering the limited number of aircraft in the Ibuki's squadron. Moreover, even without a pincer movement, the sluggishness of the enemy battleship's maneuvers provides ample assurance.
The targeted Colorado-class battleship showed signs of turning. Presumably, it was attempting to minimize the torpedo target area by directing the bow toward them. However, Shinya anticipated this and slightly turned the nose to the right, and after a brief moment, twisted it to the left. Despite the Colorado-class showering them with machine gun and cannon rounds during the turn, accurate shooting during a turn is nearly impossible, and those projectiles won't catch the Type 1s.
"Fire!"
As Shinya reached the firing point and dropped the torpedo, his four wingmen followed suit. Additionally, the five aircraft led by the second squadron commander and the four aircraft led by the third squadron commander released torpedoes as well. White wakes extended in a straight line towards the enemy battleship.
"One hit, another one, two hits, and one more!"
If one were to believe the reports from subordinates confirming the results, it seems that the Ibuki attack squadron managed to score four torpedo hits on the Colorado-class battleship. Although the hit rate is less than satisfactory at less than 30%, targeting an older battleship with four concentrated torpedoes on one side would likely lead to fatal consequences. In fact, the Colorado-class battleship targeted by the Ibuki attack squadron came to a halt, listing heavily to the port. It won't last much longer in that state.
Shinya ordered his subordinates to transmit the news of the sinking of the Colorado-class battleship and surveyed the entire area. On the battlefield, one cannot afford to let their guard down for even a moment.
Meanwhile, Commander Sannomiya, overseeing the entire operation, marveled at the dazzling efficiency of his allies. The attack plane squadrons, excluding the Yamato, Musashi, and Shinano units, each targeted five battleships and four Brooklyn-class light cruisers per carrier air group. Each of them has dealt lethal damage to the opponents, with almost half of them already submerged.
"Yamato and Shinano squadrons, finish off the enemy destroyers. Musashi squadron, hold off the attack until further notice."
Having received a delay, the Yamato and Shinano units, still carrying torpedoes, scattered and charged toward the remaining American destroyers that were now crawling on the sea. From the perspective of the wounded American destroyers, the combined force of around 40 Type 1s from the Yamato and Shinano units would have seemed like an imminent encounter with the Grim Reaper.
"Please, save some for my subordinates too," Sannomiya internally addressed the Yamato and Shinano units.
Aware of the unfortunate situation he put his immediate subordinates in by delaying their action until the end, Sannomiya still couldn't help but feel unprecedented satisfaction with the skill of his carrier air group.