I Became a Captain of the British Empire - I Became a Captain of the British Empire chapter 124

Pacific Fleet Battle (8)

14:00. Task Force Z’s flagship ‘Repulse’.

“You sent a raiding party towards the enemy’s main fleet?”

I blinked at the report from Akagi and asked back. Despite the panicking voice, the communication staff calmly replied.

“Yes, right after the restoration, they said they concentrated the last raid there.”

“Ryujo Raid? Is that the same?”

“I don’t know, but given the circumstances, I think it might be.”

“Damn it, what if we change the target without consulting it!”

Admiral like a raccoon! Obviously, the carrier task force’s defense was strong, so the target was changed.

But then we have to talk. If I had known I could fly at least one more raid, I would have thought of another strategy. In addition to our battlecruisers, we cut off only the enemy battlecruisers and hit them.

“A key carrier! The slow battleship squadron can strike at any time!”

“Admiral. Enemy battlecruisers, retreat.”

Chimney smoke slowly sinking over the horizon.

He must have looked at the situation and pulled it out quickly. It’s that high-value target that we need to focus our attention on.

“Is Yamamoto scared?”

“I guess we’ll be the ones to deal with the task force in the future anyway.”

It is said that they will prioritize reducing damage to their own fleet now. Unbelievable guys anyway.

“I can’t help it. We prepare combat patrol planes.”

“yes? Then the enemy task force… .”

“Let’s maintain contact with reconnaissance planes and focus on air defense. We have an advantage even if we infiltrate the main fleet’s showdown but don’t let it happen.”

The fight between the battleship forces in the southwest is still in the Middle Ages. Concentrating large raids on one side would tip the balance sharply.

Once we have achieved our goal, there is no reason to put more effort on that side. From now on, I’ll just watch the progress.

“Osprey, it’s rash.”

Booung-

A squadron of biplanes taking off from the rear of the fleet, the Furious. I nodded my head calmly as I looked at those whose canvas wings glistened in the sunlight.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, the US Navy Pacific Fleet flagship ‘South Dakota’.

Watching the huge army of carrier-based aircraft flocking from the sky, Admiral Scofield clenched his fists.

“It’s an attack squad… Of course, at a time like this!”

This is the worst timing.

The admiral wasn’t too nervous about an aircraft carrier raid not too long ago, but things were different now.

The artillery battle greatly reduced the anti-aircraft firepower of each battleship.

Even bullets that did not penetrate armor did great damage to external structures.

For this reason, many of the ship’s 5-inch anti-aircraft guns and 28mm ‘Chicago Piano’ were burned as scrap metal piles.

“Admiral! There are no anti-aircraft guns left!”

“Then call the escort fleet! You must not delay the pursuit. Don’t get caught up in the aircraft!”

Some even evacuated anti-aircraft gun crews from decks to concentrate on the bombardment. That’s why, even in the midst of a large army of enemy aircraft, there were extremely few ships that poured anti-aircraft fire.

“The 3rd Cruiser Squadron, anti-aircraft battle begins!”

“The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, deploy forward!”

Thus, the core of anti-aircraft warfare was the escort fleet, which was still capable of combat. However, unlike the bulky battleships, they did not have much space for anti-aircraft guns.

Only heavy cruisers like ‘Salt Lake City’ provided significant anti-aircraft firepower, but they were still few in number.

Between the burning aircraft caught in the barrage, the raiding party came in despite the fire.

“First wave of enemy torpedo bombers! Number 20! Continued approach at defense 220 and 290! Continue par 2! Approaching at bearing 170!”

“Yanghyeon torpedo… !”

A tactic that throws torpedoes from both sides, so that no matter which side the rudder is turned, one side is bound to be hit. It takes time to deploy and requires a lot of numbers, but if successful, the hit rate will increase significantly.

I don’t know about bombs, but torpedoes are dangerous. Especially now that you have to increase your speed and chase the enemy fleet.

Because of this, Admiral Scofield gave a quick command in a shrill voice.

“Concentrate anti-aircraft firepower on the port side! Starboard avoids with steering!”

The tracers scattered everywhere changed direction in an instant according to the command of the flagship. Some frigates failed to see the signals and still fired on the starboard side, but most of the fire nets hit the torpedo bomber cluster on the port side.

“The 1st Cruiser Squadron has shot down 3 enemy planes so far!”

“Confirm that the 8th Destroyer Squadron shot down 1 enemy plane!”

Aircraft carriers burning and falling. One squadron consisting of three planes was directly hit by 5-inch anti-aircraft fire, and then scattered with shrapnel.

Caught in the net of cannonballs, the fuselage disintegrated in the air with the front fuselage torn apart.

But there were too many of them. The attacking party, which looked well over forty, managed to reach the attack distance even though nearly a third of them were hit.

Tung-

Countless small water columns rose up and the wake split the sea.

“Red flag, torpedo drop!”

“Join the entire fleet! Each ship is free to evade and maneuver!”

The fleet, which was later guaranteed freedom of action, tried to avoid the torpedoes with agile movements.

Flagship South Dakota’s ships also leaned sharply to avoid approaching torpedoes.

“My, Admiral! Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Rather… .”

Overcoming the worries of the reeling staff, Admiral Scofield looked out the window.

“The bombardment stopped as the enemy raiders entered. As long as you hold on to this airstrike, we will be able to reach you more easily!”

Beyond the sky, where anti-aircraft gunfire and biplane wings danced, a vast smoke screen that seemed to cover the horizon covered the Japanese fleet.

If we can’t chase the fleet hidden behind the smoke screen now, there will be no chance forever. At least you have to take away the opponent’s mobility and make them collapse.

Otherwise, it is self-evident that only his fleet floating on the sea will be destroyed.

Night fighting was never what he wanted.

“port! Keep an eye on it!”

But his wish was just a wish.

“Bearing 290! Street 80! Approaching torpedoes! coming!”

A white plume of water hit South Dakota’s side.

* * *

3 hours later,

US Navy Pacific Fleet.

After the stormy air raid passed, no ships in the US battleship row could maintain their original speed.

South Dakota was hit by one torpedo, and the anti-torpedo structure prevented flooding, but the speed slightly decreased. Indiana was also hit by one shot.

Colorado and Maryland were hit by two torpedoes each and were slowing down. Only West Virginia is progressing unscathed.

After a number of battleships were hit by torpedoes one or two, the first assault force withdrew. However, the anti-aircraft battle was not over.

An additional air strike was carried out by 30 attack units launched from Kaga.

Instead of the frigates in front, they mainly attacked the 14-inch battleships in the rear.

Fortunately, thanks to the anti-air battle prepared earlier, only light damage from 3 torpedoes and 2 bombs occurred this time.

“Chief of Staff, what time is it?”

Admiral Schofield asked as he looked back at the fleet devoted to damage control.

“At 1630. Sunset in two hours.”

“Can you gather your lines and pursue the enemy fleet for two hours?”

The chief of staff bowing his head.

I haven’t heard an answer for a long time. The Admiral inhaled quietly.

“then… It’s over.”

A long night is coming.

* * *

9 p.m.

It was only after the sun had completely set that the Japanese fleet, which had retreated over the horizon, reappeared.

A number of destroyer squadrons were approaching toward the US fleet, which had turned toward Pearl Harbor in pitch-black darkness. At the forefront, a destroyer with a twin turret quietly blocked the advance of the US fleet.

A Fubuki-class destroyer.

Often referred to as a special type destroyer, this class is a ship that marked a turning point in the history of destroyers.

It was the first in the world to be equipped with a sealed turret, significantly increased displacement compared to the previous class, and equipped with powerful torpedo equipment.

“Second battle, we’re entering.”

A telegram came in to the Combined Fleet’s gunship, Kiie. Starting with that, several destroyers turned their bows in unison.

Soon after, a single flare split the sky over the battlefield.

pop-

Under the bright yellow light, a huge cage-like mast emerges.

The US battleships, whose location was exposed, hurriedly fired auxiliary batteries and turned on their searchlights. However, only their position was more clearly revealed.

Then, the torpedo squadron began to charge, starting with the searchlight of the flagship ‘Kinu’.

“Admiral! It’s an enemy destroyer!”

From the bridge of the Pacific Fleet flagship South Dakota, Admiral Scofield looked around with a cold face.

the sea with nothing to see. In the meantime, the enemy shooting fierce light was approaching right in front of me.

The distance is about 10,000.

A still-living US escort fleet stood in their way, but soon something huge shell struck the cruiser’s hull.

“battleship?!”

From the South Dakota bridge, Admiral Scofield exclaimed in bewilderment.

A battleship before night.

“Bearing 030! Distance 15,000! Enemy battlecruisers found!”

The report of the observation came as if to imprint that fact.

The admiral blinked in bewilderment.

With the same beaten subject, he never imagined that a battleship would be launched into a night battle.

Anyway, if the enemy had a battleship, what to do was simple.

“Open fire!”

The US battleships, which no longer needed to hide their positions, opened a grand opening.

* * *

The flagship of the 4th Squadron, ‘Gonggo’.

Cannon fire from a volley that burns the night sea.

Yellow flares flew everywhere, and water columns hit the water’s surface everywhere.

“Squadron, open fire! Illuminate the searchlight to aid the entry of the destroyers!”

Admiral Hiroyashi, commander of the 4th Squadron, commanded in a grave voice. The four gungo-class ships he led approached at close range and fired searchlights and flares repeatedly.

At close range, the 14-inch guns are quite powerful. However, in the dark night sea, the battlecruiser’s self-luminous appearance was easily noticeable.

Soon after, artillery fire from the US battleships flew towards the Kongo-class.

“Admiral! Enemy’s aft deck hit! Turret 3 is complete!”

“Hold on! Keep shooting and get their attention!”

In an instant, Gonggo, engulfed in artillery fire, turned around, scattering bullet smoke.

The 14-inch guns were still firing, but the two on the aft deck were burning violently, leaving their barrels bent like candy.

The following ships, Haruna, Hiei and Kirishima, were also hit by battleship fire. Among them, Hiei, which was hit by Indiana’s artillery fire, suddenly stopped with a large explosion.

“Hey, green onion!”

Admiral Hiroyashi grimaced as he watched Hiei spit out flames from the chimney.

While the heavy warhead split the sky, the 11th Destroyer Squadron belonging to the 2nd Torpedo Squadron, which had broken through the barrage of the escort fleet, all turned their bows.

A total of 36 61 cm torpedoes were fired by four ships, all of which were made up of Fubuki-class destroyers. A torpedo that quietly navigated the dark surface of the water broke the waist of the US heavy cruiser Pensacola and exploded.

With a steel roar, the 10,000-ton hull quickly sank as if being sucked into the sea. But that was just the beginning.

From the port side of the 11th Destroyer Division, there was also a destroyer group approaching the front of the US battleship row.

The 12th Destroyer Squadron belonging to the 2nd Torpedo Squadron.

Consisting of the newest Fubuki-class destroyers, they received special equipment.Make sure to read from noble mtl dot com

Prototype torpedoes specially manufactured for testing at the factory in the home country and hurriedly airlifted right after the outbreak of war.

It was a Type 93 oxygen torpedo.

“The entire fleet, turn around! Torpedo bombardment!”

Those who approached a distance of 8,000 simultaneously turned and fired torpedoes. The timing is slightly later than that of the 11th Destroyer Division. However, the speed of the torpedoes was much faster on this side, so the two torpedo groups reached the U.S. battleship line almost at the same time.

As a result, a huge water barrier covered Colorado.

* * *

“Admiral… ! Colorado!”

Admiral Schofield turned his head to the furious voices of the staff.

The US Navy’s first battleship with 16-inch guns.

The nameship Colorado was immersed in a fierce explosion, showing off its bright red bottom.

The overturned battleship quickly sank to the bottom of the water and spewed out massive flames from the explosions of the shells rolling inside.

Soon after, similar vibrations shook South Dakota’s hull.

“Admiral! Are you okay?”

“I’m okay! Rather, the fleet… Are you all right?”

Admiral Scofield hurriedly grabbed the railing and looked around. Plumes of pure white water rose from all over the battleship row.

“My God… .”

It was the admiral who mumbled with his despondent eyes.

Similar charges were made all over the line.

The Japanese destroyer fleet, which risked fire and rushed in, took all kinds of artillery fire and burned, but many more than that threw torpedoes.

The torpedoes approaching in the dark, obscuring their tracks, hit the surviving U.S. ships, setting up countless water columns.

The outer light cruiser Detroit was hit by three torpedoes and her hull was quartered, followed by the battleship Nevada next to it.

Battleship Pennsylvania was hit directly by four torpedoes. The ship, which once served as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, just turned into a pile of scrap metal and quietly sank into the water.

Arizona miraculously let down a torpedo, but leading Tennessee was unlucky. It was hit by three torpedoes evenly on both sides.

Among them, the torpedo on the starboard side is an oxygen torpedo. Tennessee moaned loudly from the shock of the enormous charge. Stained with screams of tearing steel, the 30,000-ton body was quietly submerged from the bow.

A number of other destroyers were blown up by blinding torpedoes.

Obviously, the enemy’s damage was considerable.

Hiei, which had been stopped by Indiana’s pinpoint fire, was hit by concentrated artillery fire and the entire hull burned and sank.

The flagship Kinu of the 2nd Sujeon also helped the destroyers enter by shining a searchlight until the end, but was soon buried under South Dakota’s volley and split.

However, they were essentially only auxiliary fleets.

The main force of the Combined Fleet is watching the trend over the horizon.

Admiral Scofield was not unaware of that either.

“Admiral, the enemy fleet is retreating.”

“… Which ships survived?”

The admiral, who asked in a tired voice, soon stepped out of the bridge on his own.

Beneath the dawning horizon, seven battleships were still afloat. However, only three of them still maintained speed.

And the enemy fleet was quietly casting a shadow over the horizon.