Empire Conquest
Chapter 179 - 175: Desperate Escape

Chapter 179: Chapter 175: Desperate Escape

The speed of the four heavy cruisers definitely exceeded 33 knots, and even if they didn’t reach 34.5 knots, they were close to 34 knots.

Moreover, neither the "Imperial Capital" nor the "Peijing" was able to achieve a speed of 31 knots, only maintaining around 30 knots.

To figure out exactly how fast they could go, Li Mingbo had even made a special trip to the engine room to consult with several experienced officers. They could reach 31 knots if they only needed to sail for a few hours, consequences be damned, but to sustain a higher speed for a longer duration, they had to keep their speed under 30 knots, and not exceed that by much, otherwise the power system could fail at any moment.

Not to mention anything else, just one boiler explosion and it would be all over.

Now, not just Li Mingbo, but Bai Zhizhan was also anxious.

Even if the speed of the four heavy cruisers could only reach 33 knots, they could close the distance to 25 kilometers within an hour using their 3-knot speed advantage, and before dawn, reduce it further to 22 kilometers, potentially allowing them to open fire on the two carriers before daylight.

Once under fire, the two carriers wouldn’t be able to launch their ship-borne aircraft.

Around six o’clock, the four heavy cruisers had caught up, narrowing the distance to 25 kilometers. It was exactly this calculation that led to the conclusion that the speed of the heavy cruisers was over 33 knots and nearing 34 knots, and that they would close the distance to 20 kilometers by dawn.

This was absolutely an impossible fight!

Send six destroyers to hold off the enemy ships?

Before five-thirty, Bai Zhizhan had already given the order, merely to have the six destroyers assemble in the waters ahead, ready to launch a torpedo attack.

As for when to launch the attack, it would not be until after daylight at the earliest.

If they really couldn’t escape, then they would have those six destroyers charge from the flanks and fire torpedoes at the enemy, perhaps sinking them.

Even if they weren’t that lucky, they could still force the enemy to slow down and turn.

The key point was just that.

Both carriers weren’t fast, and the six destroyers were also low on fuel. If they couldn’t turn the situation around in one fell swoop, the consequences would be unimaginable. By then, even if they successfully avoided the enemy’s shells, they could still run out of fuel from continuous high-speed sailing, or experience a power system failure.

All in all, there was only one chance for a counterattack.

Actually, it would be a miracle if the destroyers managed to launch even one successful counterattack against the heavy cruisers.

Don’t forget, the primary value of heavy cruisers lay in naval battles against smaller enemy warships, primarily to counter destroyers. According to traditional tactics, the primary task of heavy cruisers in fleet showdowns was to prevent enemy destroyers from launching torpedo attacks on their own main battle ships.

In a fight, the six destroyers would be annihilated by the four heavy cruisers within a few minutes!

Although he appeared calm, Bai Zhizhan was actually starting to panic, cursing under his breath.

But he couldn’t blame anyone else.

If there was blame, it was only his to bear!

Don’t forget, it was Bai Zhizhan who had dispatched the four covering heavy cruisers and four light cruisers without arranging for them to regroup.

In reality, they couldn’t be regrouped.

It wasn’t until things started that Bai Zhizhan ordered to break radio silence, and until then, no telegrams had been sent, making it impossible to inform the other battleships about the third Aviation Mixed Fleet’s movements. Even if arrangements had been made for the Wei Jun at that time, they might not have been able to regroup in the West East Ocean.

That’s why Bai Zhizhan didn’t make arrangements, feeling it might be better to let the Wei Jun make their own decisions.

At least, he should have kept the four light cruisers back then.

When making arrangements, Li Mingbo had mentioned that there was no need to dispatch all the cruisers, but Bai Zhizhan hadn’t listened. According to the plans at that time, the Wei Jun had to continue tracking and monitoring after discovering the first Main Battle Corps, so they were definitely going to be attacked by enemy cruisers.

Furthermore, Bai Zhizhan had a little scheme in mind.

By sending cruiser squadrons to track and monitor, he intended to force Takano to give up the idea of heading to Watcher Strait and end this naval battle at the most advantageous time.

But regret was useless.

Just before 6:25 a.m., as the sky was barely getting light, the four heavy cruisers, having spread out, fired their first salvo at the two carriers from a distance of 21 kilometers.

Since they could only use the four main guns in the direction of the ship’s bow, it was only a partial salvo.

After observing the enemy ships opening fire, the two carriers immediately executed an emergency turn.

Subsequently, about every thirty seconds, the four heavy cruisers would "remind" the two carriers ahead with gun fire that it was time to maneuver for evasion.

Until the phone rang.

"Alright, noted."

Hearing Li Mingbo’s words, Bai Zhizhan turned back around.

At this time, it was already 6:48 AM.

"The destroyer squadron is ready to launch a torpedo attack, and as per your arrangements, is maneuvering southward. They are expected to reach the designated sea area at 7:15 AM."

"Wait for my command."

Li Mingbo didn’t ask further and picked up the handset to relay Bai Zhizhan’s orders to the Communication Advisor who had gone to the communication center.

There was only one chance for reprisal, which must not be squandered!

At that moment, a commotion came from outside the cabin door.

"This is the Command Bridge, none of you can enter!"

The one speaking was an Imperial Guard soldier stationed outside, who deliberately raised his voice to draw the attention of those inside.

The Imperial Guard, onboard ships, is responsible for maintaining order during peacetime, and for enforcing military law during wartime.

Only Imperial Guard officers and soldiers carried firearms with them on a warship, generally pistols, but they were issued submachine guns and rifles only under special circumstances.

Without waiting for Bai Zhizhan’s instructions, Li Mingbo stood up and ran over.

After a while, it quieted down outside.

Although he didn’t go out, Bai Zhizhan knew who was out there.

Indeed, it was the volunteer pilots.

Before coming under cannon fire, Zhou Yongtao had suggested that a portion of the ship-borne aircraft immediately take off with bombs, to bomb enemy ships as soon as it got light.

At the time, Bai Zhizhan was indeed tempted.

However, after finding Li Yunxiang and getting the full picture, Bai Zhizhan had dismissed the idea.

Parked at the front end of the flight deck were all fighters, prepared for air defense missions, not equipped with bombs, and the bombers parked at the back end couldn’t be used. Whether putting the fighters back into the hangar or dragging them to the rear of the deck to arm them with bombs, both would take at least a good half hour.

Meaning, it couldn’t be done before daylight.

In case the ship came under cannonade while the ship-borne aircraft were still fueling and arming on the flight deck, a single hit by a shell would mean certain death!

More importantly, as soon as it got light, the enemy bomber Plane Group could arrive at any moment, so when planning, the primary consideration had to be to strengthen air defense.

Should the carriers come under bombing at the same time as cannon fire, they would definitely be sitting ducks.

Type 96 Land Attack craft were the Saiyi Navy’s long-range heavy attack aircraft, with a strong anti-ship capability, such as being able to drop air torpedoes on warships.

Precisely because of this, Li Yunxiang had proposed that the fighters take off before dawn.

It was at this time that some pilots volunteered, proposing to fly out in fighters—even without bombs to crash into and sink enemy ships.

Initially, these pilots had approached Zhou Yongtao.

Perhaps in their eyes, Zhou Yongtao was an influential figure with Bai Zhizhan, thus having a certain level of clout and not facing reprimand even if they made excessive requests.

Bai Zhizhan not only refused but also reprimanded Zhou Yongtao severely, instructing him to watch his mouth.

Only now, Bai Zhizhan did not intervene.