Six cruisers acted as the vanguard, followed by six battleships in single-file formation behind them. Additionally, on both flanks, there were single-file formations consisting of eight destroyers each. Confirming the enemy's composition and formation, simultaneously, the commander of the 1st Air Fleet's attack group and the captain of Hiryū's attack group, Lieutenant Commander Tomonaga, issued orders.
"Hiryū unit will target the destroyers on the left flank. The first section, go for the first ship, the second section to the second ship, and the third section to the third ship. As soon as the Shōkaku and Zuikaku units have completed their attack, the Hiryū unit should begin the assault from the enemy battleship's port side. The first and second squadrons of the Shōkaku will target the enemy second battleship, and the first and second squadrons of the Zuikaku will target the enemy first battleship. The attack sequence will start with the Shōkaku first squadron and end with the Zuikaku second squadron."
After giving the instructions, Tomonaga turned his plane's nose at the eight American destroyers sailing on the left flank. The members of the first section, under direct command, maintain a disciplined formation as they follow. When the distance to the targeted enemy destroyers was less than 10.000 meters, they fired their Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs while the four Tenzan launchers continued their level flight.
In fact, the time between launch and impact is the most dangerous for the Tenzan. Accurate piloting is crucial to ensure the radio-guided bombs hit their targets, and maintaining a constant speed and altitude is necessary for precise control. Any deviation in the aircraft's stability could result in missing the target.
Meanwhile, the American destroyers focused on shooting down the approaching guided bombs. If they manage to shoot down the Tenzan plane, the radio-guided bombs will lose control and become ineffective. However, faced with an unfamiliar weapon, the American crewmen have no time to comprehend the situation.
As the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs flew towards the leading destroyer, the third bomb launched from among them malfunctioned. Whether it was a problem with the radio control mechanism, posture control mechanism, or damage from exploding anti-aircraft shells was unclear. However, the remaining three bombs successfully navigated through a barrage of bullets and rockets, reaching the targets. Among them, one missile narrowly missed the deck, becoming a stray, but the remaining two bombs consecutively hit the side of the target.
With 400 kilograms of explosives in each of the 1.000-kilogram warheads, and considering the multiple hits, it was a fatal blow for the destroyer, which had no armor to speak of. Unless extremely fortunate, sinking was inevitable.
By the time the first ship emitted thick smoke and visibly faltered, the American destroyers in the positions of the second and third ships were also reduced to crawling across the ocean. The second and third ships, targeted by the second and third sections of the Hiryū air group, respectively, each took two Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs, completely lost their maneuverability and combat capabilities. To avoid collisions with the damaged three companion ships, each ship from the fourth ship onwards had no choice but to turn the rudder for evasion.
As a result, the protective barrier that had fortified the left flank of the battleship formation collapsed. Seizing this opportunity, the first squadron of the Shōkaku began its assault. When the distance to the battleship formation fell below 10.000 meters, they launched their Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs.
However, out of the twelve Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs launched by the first squadron of the Shōkaku, three of them dropped off midway. The bombs couldn't escape the curse of initial defects common to new weapons. Nevertheless, considering that they managed to operate 75 percent of the exceedingly precise Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs in this era, one could even say it was a rather commendable achievement.
As they rushed towards the second ship from the front of the American battleships, the Iowa, nine Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs faced a barrage of shells from six cruisers and battleships each. One of them was downed before it reached the Iowa. Shooting down fast-approaching small targets was a testament to the American ship's formidable anti-aircraft capabilities. However, they managed to intercept only that one bomb. The fire control system of the time was only slightly too heavy to shoot down a barrage of these bombs, which were little more than large bombs with wings.
Of the remaining eight bombs, up to seven of them hit the Iowa. Moreover, many of them landed in the central part of the ship, specifically near the funnel. Of course, this was a deliberate targeting by the crew of the first squadron of the Shōkaku. The boiler room, the heart of the ship, was located beneath the funnel. Most of the bombs that hit sent heat and flames into the boiler room through the smokestack during their explosions.
By the time the attack of the first squadron of the Shōkaku concluded, the second squadron of the had also launched their radio-guided bombs. Ideally, weapons like the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs are more effective in a simultaneous attack than in a wave-like assault. This is because it disperses the opponent's anti-aircraft weapons, reducing the reaction time for interception. However, the Type I Mk. 1A radio-guided bombs had a constraint due to the need for radio guidance. The frequency channels it could use were limited, specifically to 18 channels. In other words, the maximum number of missiles that could be simultaneously launched was also 18. To add redundancy, the Imperial Japanese Navy generally limited the maximum simultaneous attack to a squadron.
The second squadron of the Shōkaku, like the first squadron, had three out of twelve bombs dropped off and one shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Having already experienced seven hits causing a large fire in the central part of the ship, the Iowa now faced another eight bombs plunging into the same area. It was no longer a matter of adding salt to the wound. A pillar of fire rose from the central part of the ship, and the stern was engulfed in thick smoke. The Iowa came to a complete halt on the open sea shortly thereafter.
The relentless attack of the 1st Air Fleet's attack group continued. The first squadron of the Zuikaku focused on the first ship, the New Jersey, among the American battleships. The smoke emitted by the Iowa covered the third to sixth ships of the battleships, making them unable to provide effective support fire. As a result, none of the radio-guided bombs shot down midway in the previous wave and all eight missiles aimed at the central part of the New Jersey, focusing on the funnel, hit their mark. The following second squadron of the Zuikaku also ruthlessly targeted the central part of the New Jersey, achieving the highest performance with nine hits.
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Cash-Loaded Fleet
ऐतिहासिक साहित्य「As long as you have money, you can strengthen the fleet as much as you want.」 Born with a natural inclination for gambling, or perhaps a true gambler at heart, Binta Satsutaba is drawn by his instincts to immerse himself in the tumultuous world of...
