I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Coral Sea of the North Atlantic Ocean (2)

May 6, 1930 at 2pm. 350 km southeast of New York, the battlecruiser Repulse.

A series of anxious waits. It’s only been 30 minutes since the air corps was sent, but my thumping heart hasn’t calmed down at all.

Somehow, the expression seems to be visibly falling apart. Should I drink coffee and pretend to be calm?

It was the car that had no choice but to call Kirk. The communications officer posted a report.

“Entrance in Furious! See you in the raid! Engaging enemy fighters!”

“Did you catch it?”

sh*t.

He clenched his fists tightly.

Not very good news. If it is blocked by combat patrol planes, it means that the other side is also preparing well. It would be nice if even one hit would come out…

“Aviation staff, what about the 2nd attack force?”

“I just completed my understanding.”

I looked out the window and saw the Furious running in the face of the wind. Biplanes rose from the deck one after another.

The numbers are 4 fighters, 8 torpedo bombers and 4 reconnaissance bombers. Unlike the first raid, which was lightly organized to send it quickly, it is a fairly full-scale organization.

“Now, except for the combat patrol aircraft, you are virtually empty-handed.”

“There are about 4 spare units, but there won’t be much use for them. At least in this battle.”

The flight attendant also closed his mouth bitterly.

The number of aircraft mounted on the Furious is 36. A balanced composition of 12 fighters, 12 torpedo bombers and 12 reconnaissance bombers, but the strike power is not satisfactory. Since reconnaissance bombers are practically reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo bombers must take care of large bombs.

“What about the reconnaissance plane report?”

“There is nothing special about it.”

“Did I really get hit by the enemy CAP… .”

“I don’t know yet. Please wait for the report.”

The flight attendant shook his head and said that, but his eyes were trembling too.

Of course. If the aircraft currently engaged with our raid is an escort of the enemy raid, it means that bombers are still approaching. And they will definitely target the Furious first.

“How much CAP fuel do you have?”

“You can still fly another hour or so.”

“I’m glad.”

The words are still very uneasy. You have to find the enemy with the naked eye without radar, but if you hide in the clouds, you will be helpless.

At least, if there were many destroyers standing outside the anti-aircraft boundary, it was difficult to maintain the original formation with the current number.

“Correspondent! Send a light signal to Active! You keep getting closer!”

At present, our flyer is in the process of making a really basic circle and advancing. With Repulse and Tiger in the front and rear, and Destroyer Cuddington and Active on the left and right, Furious is in the center for intensive protection. The distance between them is 2 km. A range that barely overlaps the Pom Pom Cannon’s maximum range of 1.5 km. Considering the space for evasive maneuvers, this is the best.

Well, the surest response is to intercept the enemy aircraft in advance with fighter jets rather than anti-aircraft guns…

I asked the air staff to see the formations of fighters roaming around high in the sky.

“Can you possibly increase the number of CAPs?”

“There is no gas left.

“Still, having a second term… .”

There are only two squadrons roaming the sky. I don’t think anyone would think that that would stop all enemy planes.

“If you launch a standby aircraft now, air cover will be lost when you resupply later. At least two groups must continuously rotate to bridge the gap.”

“Well, I can’t help it.”

Tsk, unfortunately, he bit his lip.

A Lexington class would be able to mobilize an air force twice as large as this. After all, if you don’t know if it’s 2 ships, you can never deal with the fleet with 1 ship. It means that aircraft carriers must be gathered to show their true value!

“If the second air attack is blocked, we retreat without hesitation. Our goal is not to engage the enemy fleet.”

“All right. but… .”

The flight attendant, speechless, turned his head. He silently gazed at the rear of Repulse, then continued as if muttering.

“They won’t let go easily either.”

His eyes seemed to be looking out over the distant horizon. He nodded quietly.

“Because Lexington is faster than us.”

The maximum speed that our flyer can achieve is 28 knots, which is suitable for Tiger. On the other hand, the Lexington class can chase us at up to 33 knots. Even if you run away, you will soon catch up.

“If you missed it, you have to take it out now… .”

“If that happens, our air force may not be able to come back.”

This is the problem. We’re about to send out a raid, but retreat. Still, the cruising distance is moderate. It’s too risky.

“Pilots are a valuable human resource. I can’t let you die here.”

Even if flyers are briefly exposed to danger, people’s lives cannot be recklessly thrown away. It’s a matter of trust.

“They try to avoid their air raids somehow with the combination of each ship. Tell them to pay more attention to the combat aircraft.”

“… Yes, I understand.”

Air Chief Martin, who had blinked for a moment, saluted.

Maybe it’s because he’s also a member of the Haehangdae, but somehow his gaze is different.

“I expect good results.”

I deliberately smiled and approached the bridge window. Repulse’s player, galloping at full speed, was drenched in waves.

The Steel Castle, which advances confidently, is unfortunately not very helpful in battles that span hundreds of nautical miles. For now, we have to trust our pilots.

I quietly closed my eyes.

Over 120 km south of Rhode Island, USA. Saratoga Air Wing VF-1B.

A bursting sound passed my ears. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes swallowed the curse and hurriedly pulled the control stick. The matter was too urgent to say useless things.

“Kevin! Get rid of the guy behind me!”

“yes?”

Turning counterclockwise, the lieutenant colonel and his colleague passed by, tilting their heads. I couldn’t even hear my voice properly because it was drowned out by the sound of the engine. The lieutenant colonel sent a hand signal with a desperate face.

“A group of cubs behind me! hurry!”

As soon as Kevin turned around, a fellow plane appeared out of nowhere and fired bullets. The enemy plane lowered altitude and disappeared under the clouds.

“Damn it, you have to hear your voice to give orders… .”

Shaking his head and grumbling, the lieutenant colonel looked for the enemy plane again. Engines roared everywhere, canvases and wings brushed by, but nothing looked right.

“Where did the red flag go?”

“I do not know!”

“oh! Found a new red flag!”

“That’s the guy who just went down!”

Confused voices were heard from everywhere.

In the sky where the clouds are thick, discrimination failures appear one after another. Fortunately, no one has suffered a fatal blow so far, probably because the enemy planes were similar.

At that moment, Kevin from the rear fired a machine gun at the enemy plane that jumped up above the clouds.

“Hit! I got one!”

“You brushed it off, you idiot!”

Soon, a sharp engine sound came from the left.

“At 8 o’clock! Turn the nose!”

The enemy plane entered the control panel exactly. It’s your chance!

I pulled the trigger without hesitation.

however…

“Damn it, I got shot again!”

The lieutenant colonel hastily descended. When I looked back, there was an enemy plane attached to me before I knew it.

A flashing gun.

He swallowed dry saliva, but for some reason he didn’t hear gunshots. When I opened my eyes again, I saw the sight of the enemy plane waving its wings and turning its nose to fly away.

“He got caught too.”

With a bitter smile on his face, the lieutenant colonel pulled the steering wheel again.

100 miles northwest of the USS Saratoga.

Marshall stood by the window, arms folded in silence. The deck, busy preparing for the second raid, had just sent off the tenth aircraft. Still, numerous propellers were spinning on the deck.

“Allies, you have the upper hand! So far, 2 enemy planes shot down, 2 damaged!”

“You mean you caught one and hit the other with a few shots.”

Marshall snorted as he interpreted the report. On-the-ground criminal records have always been exaggerated.

If even half of the previous convictions were really true, we wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

Marshall grumbled to himself and asked the chief of staff.

“What about the reconnaissance aircraft that went ahead?”

“We are currently searching.”

still can’t see

I gradually felt uneasy. Sitting in the commander’s seat, Marshall bit his nails and tapped his toes. It was a car that I was thinking about going outside soon because I missed cigarettes. The communications officer hurriedly turned his head.

“Enter the battle from the reconnaissance aircraft!”

“contents is?”

“Finding the wake of a large number of enemy ships! Based on this ship, bearing 010! 160 miles away!”

Tak- Marshall rose from his seat with a slap on his knees,

“Were you there too!”

He groaned and approached the window. Immediately after, he gave the order without hesitation.

“Inform the attack team of their location and have the second raid team stand by in the sky. Let’s sortie after everyone has launched! You should definitely stop breathing!”

“Yes, Admiral!”

“Did you all hear? No time to rest! Move quickly!”

In an instant, shouts overflowed from the busy bridge. Marshall glanced at his watch.

time is life Air warfare can be the difference between winning and losing in just 5 minutes. Everyone from the chief of staff to the lower ranks rushes to their positions.

The pilot got on his baby, and the controller gave a hand signal eagerly. The sound of prop engines resonated cheerfully, and numerous biplanes leaped up the deck. Marshall looked at them with emotion on his face.

Neither friend nor foe are visible within the horizon. Combat only through aircraft. It will be the world’s first aircraft carrier showdown. That’s equal to one ship at a time! Who could not tremble!

“Fair fighting isn’t to my liking, but I’d better take a look at their skills.”

It was the moment I tried to hide my smile by putting my hand to my mouth. The voice of the watchman crossed the bridge.

“Watch starboard! Defense 050! 4 enemy bombers approaching! 10,000 streets!”

“Prepare for anti-air combat!”

Sirens blared and thumps were heard from the ceiling.

Sailors must be on the move on the open-air bridge. Marshall quietly clenched his fists.

“Has the seon-gong been taken away?”

He gritted his teeth and muttered.

150 nautical miles to the south.

A squadron of T4M torpedo bombers from VB-2 of the U.S. Navy’s Saratoga Air Group was currently flying with 1,000-pound bombs loaded. Thanks to bombs that were lighter than torpedoes, the aircraft moved lightly.

However, whether it will hit the target is another matter.

Squadron leader Ian wasn’t sure about that.

“Curner! How is your condition? Is it worth it?”

“It’s just fine.”

“Carefully. You’ll get a little bit of blood when you descend.”

Will an attack close to horizontal bombardment succeed? It is difficult.

However, everyone agreed that bombing was the best way to avoid anti-aircraft fire and deliver effective hits.

Even more so now that escorts are gone.

“Damn it, the escort plane flies by itself, and the subordinates disappear on their own… .”

Looking back at the empty rear, Ian muttered harshly.

The two planes, unfamiliar with maritime navigation, disappeared at some point.

He decided that if he went back and met him, he would beat him up so that he could find him.

“Where are the damn fighters going again? Did everyone get drunk and go filming westerns?”

“A fighter pilot is like that, right?”

The rear gunner responded to his words. The second squadron, without an escort, was following the track at the highest possible altitude. A thick wake was clearly engraved in the deep blue sea, as if paint had been spilled. The enemy ship must have been around.

“Jake! Can’t you see anything?”

“I can’t see a single ant cub!”

“Look for it! If there’s even smoke on the horizon, it’s an enemy ship!”

“Ah, I found it!”

“where are you?!”

Ian quickly turned his head.

“Three o’clock! Distance about 20,000!”

As I narrowed my eyes and concentrated, I saw black smoke pouring from the horizon.

Not one. at least three. The corner of the mouth went up.

“Okay, no enemy planes in sight… Go in like this! Kerner! Wire it professionally!”

“yes! Watch and upload!”

However, I had no intention of sharing my major with the 2nd raid. Ian pushed the throttle.

Now, without fighter jets, is an opportunity. You just have to fly like this on a cloud and attack from high altitude.

… But something is strange.

“Where is the enemy fighter?”

The sky is so calm. Not even a single bird is seen. Floating on the clouds, as if they were the only ones… .

It was the moment when I questioned the quiet sky.

“Lieutenant Colonel! above!”

“what?!”

The tracer stems poured down like wedges.

A report was heard from the bridge of Repulse where quiet silence reigned for the first time in a long time.

“Report from the CAP aircraft! Shoot down two enemy torpedo bombers!”

“Did you stop it?”

A sigh of relief.

He gently stroked his chest. Although it is a small number, it is important to block it early. It’s amazing that they managed to find it without radar.

“Was it a force reconnaissance?”

“Maybe. Anyway, the location seems to have been discovered.”

He silently nodded his head at the words of the air chief. A second wave of raids will be arriving soon.

If you hit a large formation with only two interceptors, you’ll be knocked out. Action is needed.

“Escape at full speed. If you see and hear the reconnaissance aircraft, report it right away!”

“Chairman, I have a suggestion.”

The officer, who had been locked in thought for a long time with his arms crossed, suddenly opened his mouth.

“What do you suggest?”

“Why don’t we turn our course to the north like this?”

… What bullsh*t is this again?

“Are you sane now?”

“There is a way!”

Ai, I’m surprised.

I flinched for a moment at the loud voice. The officer who took a step closer waved his hands and continued his explanation.

“It’s a situation where you can’t run away from the enemy anyway. As it is, it is to reduce the arrival time of the raid to the north, and to attack the enemy carrier by conducting a wave attack as quickly as possible. If only the deck is incapacitated anyway, the enemy aircraft carrier won’t be able to pursue it anymore, right?”

hmm? It doesn’t sound like something is wrong…

But there is one problem.

“That’s a good idea. But what about enemy battleships?”

“Looking at what caught up with us, they’re a fast fleet. It is correct to assume that there are no battleships. Even if you had a battleship, you wouldn’t even dare to pursue us with him.”

is it? Come to think of it, they moved south faster than expected. It is not surprising to see that there are no battleships.

“What do the air chiefs think?”

“It makes sense. There’s nothing that can’t be neutralized if you attack first.”

The air chief also nodded. Most of the other staff members also have positive faces. Is there anything you can’t do?

“Commander, offensive is the answer now. You have to make a decision while there are still aircraft left.”

The officer continued with a solemn face. everyone is looking at me Eyes that surround the surroundings. wait for my orders

Shall we proceed? But the risk is too great. Will our aircraft carrier be able to deliver effective hits before it gets hit?

sh*t! A decision, a decision is needed…

“Ooh, starboard watch!”

As I was struggling, I turned my head to the urgent voice. The lookout, who stuttered, was looking straight up at the sky. I ran to the observation deck and looked up.

The bright sun piercing the eyes. I squinted my eyes at the bright sky. I gazed at the sky again with the shade of my hand. A screaming voice continued.

“bandit! Approaching with the sun behind! Defense 110! Distance 1,000!”

Under the dazzling sky, a shadow like an eagle was approaching.