Cash-Loaded Fleet

Chapter 65 - Radio-Guided Bombs

The Zero fighters of the second attack group, consisting of 331 aircraft, were intercepted by over 250 F6F Hellcat fighters before even spotting the enemy mobile task force's fleet. At the beginning of this battle, each of the five Essex-class carriers in the American task force had two squadrons, and each of the seven Independence-class carriers had one squadron, totaling 204 F6Fs prepared for direct air cover. Additionally, 47 aircraft that had survived the attack on the Combined Fleet joined the fight. These 251 F6F fighters were the last remaining fighter strength for the Americans.

As in the morning battle, the Zero fighters took the initiative. They fired Type I Mk. 1B rockets at the noses of the F6Fs. Meanwhile, the F6Fs attempted to escape the deadly encirclement through a rapid descent. Many of those who had survived the morning battle had escaped the attack of enemy rockets with spontaneous dives, a well-known tactic. However, due to the excessively high relative speed, many could not react in time. Nearly 50 F6Fs were caught in the danger zone of the rockets, and most were either shot down or sustained damage rendering continued combat impossible.

The Zero fighter pilots anticipated the series of movements by the F6Fs. They transitioned above the F6F attempting to escape through a descent, and as the F6Fs shifted from the pull-up to horizontal flight, the Zero fighters attacked from above, covering them. Even the sturdy F6F couldn't withstand the continuous rain of 20 mm shells from above. Furthermore, more than 50 F6Fs were destroyed in this attack, widening the numerical gap between the Zero fighters and the F6Fs to more than twice as many.

No matter how strong the F6F was, it couldn't match up against more than twice the number of Zero fighters. In various areas of the aerial battlefield, individual F6Fs, cut off from coordination, were pursued by multiple Zero fighters. The Zero fighters, tasked with the mission of sweeping the enemy aircraft, relentlessly pursued the F6Fs until their presence disappeared from the skies.

. . .

The third attack group, comprising the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Air Fleets, attacked the American mobile task force, while the remaining 1st Air Fleet targeted the surface striking force.

"Attack squadrons of the 2nd Air Fleet to the north, and the 4th Air Fleet to the south. The 3rd Air Fleet will handle the center. Follow the instructions of the unit commanders for the attack strategy."

Delegating the attacks of the 2nd and 4th Air Fleets to their respective commanders, Lieutenant Commander Murata, the overall commander of the third attack unit, the commander of the 3rd Air Fleet attackers, and the leader of the Akagi air group, issued further orders.

"First, the third section of each carrier should form a ring formation and attack the escort ships, especially in the forward positions. Then the first and second sections of each carrier will go for the carriers. The targets are as follows: Akagi second squadron to the carrier on the front right, Unryū unit to the one on the front left, Hakuryū unit to the one on the rear right, and Sekiryū unit to the one on the rear left. The Akagi first squadron will remain on standby out of the range of enemy anti-aircraft fire until further notice."

Without delay, the twenty Tenzan in each of the five sections directed their noses toward the identified enemy escort ships. The target of the 3rd Air Fleet was Task Group 58.2.

Before the ships of said task group could unleash their anti-aircraft fire, the attackers released the unusual payloads they carried beneath their bellies. These were air-to-surface missiles known as Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs. Controlled wirelessly by the launching aircraft, these bombs guided themselves toward the targets. Within the 1.000-kilogram projectiles, 400 kilograms of explosives were packed.

Against the approaching guided bombs trailing white smoke, targeted cruisers and destroyers fired high-angle guns, dual-purpose guns, machine guns, and autocannons. However, capturing the small and rapidly moving bombs was challenging.

Of the twenty launched bombs targeting the front section of the circular formation, five fell off due to malfunctions in their attitude control or propulsion mechanisms. Additionally, one bomb exploded due to a chance hit from enemy anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless, 12 of the remaining 14 bombs hit their marks. An accuracy rate exceeding eighty percent was a remarkable achievement for a dive bomber, even one considered highly accurate in its attacks. This exceptional accuracy was possible due to the functionality that allowed the crew to guide the bomb until the moment of impact.

Of the cruisers and destroyers targeted by the radio-guided bomb attack, some suffered two hits, while others endured three. For ships with thin armor or practically none, having a one-ton projectile containing 400 kilograms of explosives thrust into them was devastating. The two destroyers hit by three bombs each quickly sank, while the cruisers and destroyers struck by two bombs each either crawled along the sea surface or came to a stop on the ocean, emitting thick smoke.

Seeing the collapse of the circular formation, 32 Tenzan seized the opportunity and approached the carriers of TG 58.2.

The target of the eight Tenzan from the first and second sections of the second squadron of the Akagi was the Bunker Hill, an Essex-class carrier. They charged from the starboard side, successively launching their guided bombs.

Not a single Tenzan was shot down. The Bunker Hill became intent on shooting down the incoming radio-guided bombs heading towards them, and as a result, there were hardly any anti-aircraft weapons directed at the bombers themselves. In fact, if they had shot down the launching Tenzan, the radio-guided bombs would have lost their radio control and become neutralized. However, due to the unfamiliarity with the radio-guided bombs, the American personnel failed to realize this.

Two out of the eight bombs dropped due to mechanical troubles, but the remaining six hit the Bunker Hill. The hits were concentrated on the bridge and the lower part of the hull. The bridge housed critical functions of the ship, including navigation, communication, and the weapons control system. Therefore, everyone aimed for that spot when launching the radio-guided bombs.

Successive hits from the radio-guided bombs caused the bridge to be blown apart, and the Bunker Hill underwent an impromptu transformation from a carrier with an island to a totally flush-decked ship. Furthermore, the heat and flames generated by the exploding radio-guided bombs flowed backward through the chimney and smokestack, affecting the boilers. Damaged in its vital boiler, the Bunker Hill rapidly reduced her speed.

By then, the Yorktown, subjected to a fierce assault by the first and second sections of the Unryū, was writhing in thick smoke, while the Belleau Wood and Cowpens of the Independence-class carriers suffered damage exceeding their durability, nearing the end of their survival life.

"First section of the Akagi first squadron, attack the large carrier on the front right, the second section will go to the large carrier on the front left."

To deliver the final blow to the heavily wounded enemy carriers, eight Tenzan transitioned into an attack formation. With their engines damaged and two Essex-class carriers half-disabled, they had no power left to evade.

The tragedy was not limited to TG 58.2. Task Group 58.1, attacked by the 2nd Air Fleet's unit, and Task Group 58.3, subjected to the relentless assault of the 4th Air Fleet, found themselves in similar situations.