A retired old man once said: When people need to evaluate the combat performance of an aircraft carrier, they must first look at whether her appearance is elegant.

The Air Force's primary goal today was once highly praised by him on a talk show, and was even nicknamed the Happy Boat by netizens.

This "good-looking" warship is the first aircraft carrier in this book, and it is also the first regular aircraft carrier in the world to have a fully accessible deck when it was launched: Fengxiang.

Perhaps compared with the most cutting-edge Xianghe class in the Japanese Navy, her performance has long been unable to keep up with the pace of today's battlefield, and her combat effectiveness is also far behind her juniors.

However, its spiritual symbol is definitely unique in the entire IJN.

In a sense, even Akagi, Kaga and Shuanglong, who had achieved great success in battle, had to bow before her.

However, it is precisely because of this that Fengxiang became the first choice target of the Eighth Route Army Air Force. After all, when it comes to methods of destroying morale and inexplicable beliefs, rabbits are the most professional.

······

After five minutes of flight, the attack formation finally arrived at the airspace offshore Wu City.

Although the current position of the fleet is still eleven nautical miles away from the destination of the Air Force Division.

But the comrades who have always been alert have discovered the primary target of this attack: a small surface fleet composed of aircraft carriers and escorting destroyers.

After repeatedly comparing the photos and confirming that the light aircraft carrier below was the Japanese Fengxiang, the captain of the strategic bomber formation’s pilot warned in the communication channel:

"Attention all crews, attention all crews!"

"We are about to arrive at the battlefield. Now everyone should immediately descend to an altitude of four thousand meters and bring the Japanese carrier-based fighter planes up!"

"This is the first time for everyone to fight against the enemy's fighter jets. No matter what happens, we must stay calm. It is absolutely impossible for the opponent to break through our box formation."

After receiving replies from each crew, the navigator maneuvered his Lancaster to emerge from the clouds, and then led the entire squadron to begin descending.

When approaching the Fengxiang, he specifically ordered all the bombers to open their bomb bays, pretending to be ready to drop bombs at any time.

After a while, the bombardiers could see the Japanese aircraft carrier moving at full speed through the Norton sight.

A small number of young soldiers could not even resist the desire to attack, and eagerly asked the pilot aircraft via radio:

"Captain, the target is directly below our route. Is it possible to drop the bomb?"

In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, the Fengxiang was included in the first aviation battle of the Benzi Navy, and together with Kaga, it launched many air raids on the coastal cities of the Republic of China.

With the combination of old and new grudges, the comrades in the Air Force naturally regarded it as a thorn in their side and wanted to destroy this sinful aircraft carrier with their own hands.

When similar inquiries and requests kept ringing in the communication channel, the captain of the pilot plane could only shake his head helplessly.

"The speed of that ship is at least twenty knots. Our formation is currently at an altitude of four thousand meters. Even with the Norton sight, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of horizontal bombing."

"Let's hand her over to the comrades of the 1st Air Division. Their semi-armor-piercing aerial bombs have delay fuses and are more suitable for dealing with light warships with weak defensive performance."

"Our high-explosive bombs are best left to those shipyards and shipyards."

While everyone was communicating, the small surface fleet in Wu Port and the anti-aircraft artillery positions deployed at the commanding heights of the city began to attack the Lancaster bomber group.

Black clouds caused by the explosion of artillery shells rose in the sky from time to time.

It's a pity that Showa Air Defense is still stretched.

The gunners on the destroyers were almost hoarse from shouting, but their Nine-Six Artillery still could not pose an effective threat to the bomber group.

Just when the comrades of the Third Air Division were about to fly over the Fengxiang, the originally sparse air defense firepower network suddenly disappeared without a trace.

If it weren't for the fact that there was still some gunpowder smoke in the air that had not yet dissipated, most people would not have been able to tell that a "massive" open-air duel had just occurred here.

"The anti-aircraft guns have stopped! The machine gunners are ready for battle. The enemy's fighter jets are coming soon!"

······

As an aircraft carrier whose main mission is to train new recruits, the Fengxiang's priority is no longer what it used to be. There are only three Zero Fighters and seven Nine-Six Attackers on the flight deck.

At this time, under the cover of anti-aircraft artillery positions and fleet air defense, the Japs had already driven their respective carrier-based fighter jets and climbed to an altitude of 5,500 meters in a detour.

Looking at the bombers who were not aware of the danger at all, Ishizaki Heihachi showed a cruel smile, and then said in the communication channel:

"Gentlemen, it seems we are very lucky. The enemies are obviously a group of rookies with little combat experience."

"Then everyone will follow me to launch an attack, giving priority to destroying the four-engine bomber at the end of the formation. My requirements are not high. If I destroy half of the opponent's formation before it enters the city, the mission will be considered a success!"

"start to act!"

After speaking, Ishizaki Heihachi directly pushed the rudder and pushed the rod to take the lead in the charge.

The rest of the Hainan Airlines pilots were not willing to lag behind, and they all flew fighter jets to follow the pace of their captain.

Due to the numerical disadvantage in the Japanese ship battle, these sea eagles chose to use the clouds and the sun as cover to occupy a favorable position diagonally above the enemy aircraft group.

"attack!"

Following Ishizaki Heihachi's order, ten fighter jets launched a head-on dive in the direction of the Air Force 3rd Division's flight, and then the sounds of 7.7mm machine guns and 20mm cannons rang out in the air.

"Da da da!"

Hainan Airlines' training ethics clearly indicate that the nose of the aircraft, especially key areas such as the cockpit, is definitely the best choice when launching a surprise attack.

It's a pity that the self-defense gunners on the Lancaster are not just decorations. Comrades will not let those 96 ship battles and Zero fighters go as they wish.

As soon as the enemy launched a dive, hundreds of 7.7 and 12.7 Brownings completed their formation, using more powerful firepower to force the Japanese to change course.

After a while of confrontation, the two sides settled down.

Although Ishizaki Heihachi and others hit the target, the power of the 7.7 mm Type 97 coaxial machine gun was limited. The ability to leave a few small holes in the Lancaster's fuselage was their limit.

As for the much-anticipated 20mm Type 99-1 cannon?

In theory, that thing can indeed severely damage four-engine bombers, but at this stage, it has the problem of slow muzzle initial velocity and the shells tend to sag during flight.

Coupled with the ridiculous rate of fire, it naturally had no impact on the Lancaster fleet.

"Baga! You idiots, have you forgotten the textbooks compiled by the school? Don't underestimate the enemy, just treat the enemy as the B17 of the ugly country."

"Climb again! Don't waste another opportunity!"

The failure just now did not make Heihachi Ishizaki feel depressed.

The old Japanese has always believed that a bomber formation without fighter escort is essentially the same as meat on the chopping board.

As long as we are cautious and patient enough and launch a few more collective dive attacks, we will definitely be able to completely destroy the enemy's iron barrel array.

Just as the Fengxiang's carrier-based fighter formation was preparing to return to high altitude, a group of twin-engine fighter jets appeared out of nowhere and caught them off guard.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In just a few seconds, one of our Zeros and two 96s were restored to their factory settings, turning into sparks and floating towards the Kure sea below.

The sudden sneak attack did not make Heihachi Ishizaki lose the courage to resist.

As one of the few pilots with combat experience, he observed the situation on the battlefield while controlling the fighter plane to avoid enemies falling from the sky.

"The enemy's aircraft has twin engines! Get around quickly and compete with the opponent for maneuverability!"

Logically speaking, most heavy fighter aircraft during World War II did not have strong air control capabilities and were not suitable for participating in air superiority combat. Some particularly shameful models even bring their own bombers to kill people across straits and thousands of miles across the ocean.

In other words, P38 was quite successful and hunted a turkey once during the Pacific War.

If the comrades of the First Space Division are flying Mosquito fighter jets, they are the original early models of the Royal Air Force. Then there is a real possibility that they might reveal flaws in their maneuverability, and eventually be killed by the Japanese by killing one or two of them together.

but!

Products produced by the system must be of high quality.

As a product of the Awakening Yonghu Military Factory, the Mosquito of the Eighth Route Army Air Force almost touched the threshold of the doomsday piston in some aspects of performance.

To deal with a few obsolete Type 96 warships and the incomplete Zero Battle Type 21, BZ tactics were still used to defeat the enemy's aircraft first, so naturally no accidents were possible.

······

Fifteen minutes later, the air battle ended completely.

Looking at the light aircraft carrier below, combat hero Zhao Baotong showed a playful expression.

In the original timeline, the Fengxiang was the only aircraft carrier that could sail normally and take off and land carrier-based aircraft after the Japanese Navy surrendered.

But her good luck ended there.

"The first group, enter the combat position!"

As soon as these words came out, the four Mosquitoes immediately broke away from the formation. They lined up in a superb battle formation and launched a dive attack on the Fengxiang, which was traveling at full speed.

In the first wave, the comrades dropped eight special semi-armor-piercing aerial bombs eight hundred meters above the enemy aircraft carrier.

Seeing that a heavy bomb was about to fall on their heads, the sailors on the flight deck were suddenly frightened into confusion.

Normally, the Japs could use emergency maneuvers to avoid aerial bombs falling from the sky. But they are now flying the spare carrier-based aircraft they just lifted out, and they must keep moving forward in a straight line.

"Boom!"

Maybe it was because of too much tension, or the Showa air defense had a certain interference effect. All eight bombs in the first wave missed their targets.

The bomb entered the water, but the explosion did not occur.

"Dud?"

Just when the Japanese sailors were still rejoicing, bursts of earth-shaking explosions rose from the water. The destructive power of the near-missile bomb made the Fengxiang like a candle in the wind, as if it was at risk of being hit hard at any time.

"boom!"

Captain Daiichiro Kawaguchi's pupils shrank. The scene at this moment reminded him of the Fourth Fleet incident that year.

When life and death are at stake, the old Japanese dare not think wildly. He hurriedly shook his head and ordered to the communications soldier on the side:

"Quick! Let the fighter jets take off! Even if you can't shoot down the enemy's fighter plane, you can't let the enemy continue to dive and drop bombs wantonly!"

With repeated urging from the commander, the deck ground crew completed the preparations for the five 96-ships as quickly as possible. They were pushed to the starting point, as if they could take off to fight in the next second.

It's a pity that, let alone whether the Japs can climb to a high altitude within the limited time, the Kongyi Division cannot give them a chance to counterattack.

"here we go again!"

Daiichiro Kawaguchi looked in the direction pointed by the sailors and saw four more enemy planes diving towards the Hosho. Judging from the opponent's perspective, there is a high probability that our side will be hit this time.

As if aware of the imminent danger, the anti-aircraft guns on the three escorting destroyers were on full alert at the same time.

"Prepare for impact!"

Under the nervous gaze of all the Japanese, several black dots falling from high altitude gradually grew in size, and finally directly hit the flight deck of the light aircraft carrier.

Although it also bears the word "phoenix", the defensive power of Fengxiang's deck is greatly different from that of Dafeng. Naturally, it cannot withstand the penetrating power of semi-armor-piercing aerial bombs.

The fuze of the aerial bomb used by the First Air Division this time is not particularly sensitive.

This is so that it can explode in the hangar after penetrating the flight deck.

"boom!"

Blessings come in pairs, and misfortunes never come alone.

Since Fengxiang is an old experimental ship, there is no dedicated oil tank for aviation fuel inside her. Therefore, the gasoline used by all carrier-based aircraft is stored in iron barrels in the hangar.

This storage method does save space, but it has great hidden dangers.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Ten seconds after the second wave of attacks, violent explosions erupted from the inside of the light aircraft carrier.

The Fengxiang aircraft carrier was blown into two sections from a third of the hull in a manner similar to a suicide bombing. (End of chapter)

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