afterglow

Chapter 461 The sword points at Tarawa; the eve of the great sea battle

On the same day, Zhu Lingjing received a report jointly signed by the Naval Department and the General Staff Department of the Metropolitan Governor's Office.

"...The outcome of a war depends on field strength, and the core of field strength on the oceans is the aircraft carrier. In order to achieve the current strategy, the most direct and effective way is to try to lure the US fleet."

"...We are convinced that seizing the Gilbert Islands can put tremendous pressure on the United States, thereby luring the U.S. fleet and inflicting heavy damage with superior force. If we can sink three to four ships, it will be considered a victory, and the future is bright."

"...If the enemy refuses to fight, the Gilbert Islands and Reefs of Tarawa will be completely under the control of our country. The local sandy soil is conducive to the construction of an airport, which can shield the US-Australia coalition forces and serve as a fulcrum for the northward attack on Hawaii. "

Zhu Lingjing quite agreed with this aggressive strategy in her opinion, and she favored it more than the Supreme Emperor Zhu Shiyan.

Although a strategic decisive battle is equivalent to a big gamble, she believes that she can afford to lose, and the Ming Navy has a huge advantage at the moment, so even if the decisive battle is mediocre, she will definitely make a profit.

So...it's worth the gamble!

Zhou Changfeng once again felt the strange mentality of land-power countries towards naval power. Looking at the series of measures taken by the Ming Navy so far, overall they are defensive postures, and even offensive actions are offensive and defensive strategies.

Moreover, the decision-makers of the Ming Dynasty never seemed to regard the navy as the foundation of the country, and did not hesitate to treat the fleet as a consumable - even the most cutting-edge battleships.

They seem to think that as long as the navy can buy enough time for the land forces to firmly take root in the Nanyang region, then it doesn't matter if they wipe out the fleet.

Even though the Ming Dynasty's navy accounts for the largest share of military expenditures, it still serves the army on a macro level; the same goes for the air force.

Especially after the power of the aviation force was confirmed, this mindset became even more solid - there is no unsinkable aircraft carrier, but land airports will always exist, and the army and air force are enough to repel all invading enemies.

Of course, this is the mentality of decision-makers other than the upper echelons of the navy. The Ming Navy itself is certainly unwilling to be treated as expendable.

If it hadn't been put off for too long and now being pressed for war by all parties, the Ming Navy would not be willing to take the initiative. They would prefer to wait and wait for the US fleet to come.

This time, the Gilbert Islands strategy plan was formulated under the personal auspices of Navy Commander Song Zhongkai.

There are two people responsible for the outline of the main framework of the plan. They are Rear Admiral Ouyang Zhanghua, who has the deepest knowledge of aircraft carrier tactics in the Ming Dynasty, and Colonel Dong Jian, the staff officer of the Operations Section of the Navy.

The rest of the details were filled in and completed by many staff members according to their professional division of labor.

The purpose of the strategy plan is two-fold. One is to occupy the main islands and reefs on the Gilbert Islands and establish an air base; the other is to lure the US Pacific Fleet and strive to fight decisively with it.

If the basic campaign objectives are achieved - sinking two to three aircraft carriers and occupying Tarawa Atoll and Makin Atoll, it will greatly weaken the U.S. military's counterattack force and severely dampen its fighting spirit.

Conservative estimates suggest that this can postpone the U.S. military's strategic counterattack in the Pacific to two and a half years later, giving Ming Dynasty enough time to consolidate its defenses in Southeast Asia.

The Ming Dynasty's navy will devote all its resources to the A-180 special agent fleet.

The order of battle is:

The first is the first formation, commanded personally by Song Zhongkai, with battleships as the core.

A-4 artillery fleet, 2 high-speed battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 9 light cruisers, and destroyers.

A-5 artillery fleet, 3 low-speed battleships, 9 light cruisers, and destroyers.

Type A thirty-eight artillery fleet, 2 battlecruisers, 4 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and 12 destroyers.

In addition, two seaplane carriers, Donghu and Taihu, and five oil tankers have been strengthened.

Followed by the second formation, under the full command of Ouyang Zhanghua, with the aircraft carrier as the core.

C-2 air raid fleet, 1 aircraft carriers Taiwei Zuoyuan and Taiwei Youyuan, as well as 5 light cruiser and destroyers.

C-2 air raid fleet, 1 armored aircraft carriers Ziwei Zuoyuan and Ziwei Youyuan, as well as 5 light cruiser and destroyers.

C-3 air raid fleet, 2 light aircraft carriers Fomalhaut, Rikyu, and Tiangang, 6 light cruisers, and destroyers.

There are also 2 supply ships and 5 oil tankers.

最后是第三编队，由三支雷击舰队和一支潜战舰队组成，共8艘轻巡、5艘超级驱逐舰、42艘驱逐舰、2艘潜艇母舰、8艘远洋潜艇、4艘重炮巡洋潜艇、4艘给油船。

The transport ship unit is not included in the combat sequence. The Second Marine Brigade is divided into 6 landing ships, 21 cargo ships, and 1 hospital ship to follow the third formation.

明军一共投入航空母舰7艘、水上飞机母舰2艘、战列舰9艘、战列巡洋舰2艘、重型巡洋舰6艘、轻型巡洋舰22艘、驱逐舰93艘、潜艇12艘、补给舰2艘、给油船14艘、医疗舰1艘在内的庞大舰队。

The operation number is "A word/600/No. 1/Change 1", and the code name is "Feng Jue".

Working day and night to perfect the action plan made many staff members exhausted, but they were finally completed.

In the morning of February 2, a major from the Army Department of the Metropolitan Government was suddenly called to Gaoqiao Airport. The place was heavily guarded, and the heavily armed Forbidden Army soldiers were stationed at every post and post at every step.

Just when he was confused, a leather suitcase was handed to him.

The major underestimated the weight of the suitcase and almost lost his grip. He asked confusedly: "What are you doing?"

"Top-secret documents, go to Guam, and you must hand them over to Xia Jinbo in person. Until then, you cannot leave this box even half a step away. If there is an accident, just unscrew the lid next to it, pull out the fuse and then twist it."

A naval captain replied calmly, and then solemnly saluted with clasped fists.

Inside this suitcase is a document with "The Supreme Military Order of the Metropolitan Governor" printed on the cover and stamped with a top-secret seal. A cube filled with thermite is placed in each corner of the box. The contents inside can be burned to ashes with a snap of the finger. .

"As ordered!"

A Type 36 light bomber was already on standby beside the runway, its propellers spinning slowly.

Soon, the plane aimed at the runway and gradually accelerated. Finally, it gently jumped off the ground and climbed into the sky...

Although the order was issued on this day, all units should go to the Mariana Islands to assemble as planned. However, in order to keep it secret, the Ming army used inefficient manpower and carried written documents, and it was not until February 2 that the order was completed.

After that, orders specific to each ship had to be given by radio.

However, these telegrams are complicated and complicated, full of various code names and code words, and the number of words sent is strictly controlled. Even if they are intercepted, they are not worth deciphering.

Zhou Changfeng, who had nothing to do during this period, was relatively free. Although he didn't understand how to plan a naval battle, how could he forget that the code of the Battle of Midway was deciphered in history?

So he also flew to Guam specifically to try to urge the fleet to be vigilant when conducting radio communications.

When large and small ships of the Ming Dynasty gathered towards the Mariana Islands, the Americans in the Pacific Fleet Command in Hawaii were deliberately taking countermeasures. Joseph Rochford is the current head of the Pearl Harbor Intelligence Station. He is proficient in cryptography and studied mathematics at the University of California. Now he is leading a group of subordinates to "attack the enemy" with all their strength.

Admiral Hasband personally came to the basement of the A14 building of the base today. He wanted to know what the fleet's "ears" were doing.

The working environment in the basement is not comparable to that upstairs. It can be said to be isolated from the world, and the soft and charming sunlight on the beach in Honolulu is not available here.

"I know why you came, sir." Joseph was disheveled and looked like he hadn't taken care of himself for many days, but he still showed energy.

Hasband looked around and said, "As you think, I have to know what the Chinese want to do."

"We have intercepted 90% of the enemy navy's telecommunications, but unfortunately we have not found the pattern yet. We can only decipher a small part, and it also includes code names."

"I don't want to hear this. You can ask me for anything and I will do my best to satisfy you, but I need answers."

Joseph's eyes jumped up and down, "Admiral...Sir, we are sure that they will go to the South Pacific, but we don't know which island their target is."

"That at least narrows the scope." Hasben nodded and said solemnly: "I look forward to the results of your future work."

It is logical for the Ming army to march to the South Pacific next, and this information is worthy of belief.

In other words, the target of the Ming army must be one or several islands and reefs in the Marshall Islands or Gilbert Islands?

Although it is still huge, it is at least much stronger than a black eye.

The most valuable of the Marshall Islands is Kwajalein Atoll; the more important of the Gilbert Islands are Tarawa Atoll and Makin Atoll.

The Pacific Fleet Command immediately began to draft a combat plan to deal with the grand offensive in the near future - God knows how many warships those Ming people will send over!

At the same time, the Army Air Force and Navy began to do their best to mobilize additional supplies and troops to the three islands and reefs.

Because it is difficult for the C-47 transport aircraft to fly such a long distance with a full load, the Americans even temporarily used B-17 bombers to perform transportation tasks.

In ten days, the defense strength of the three islands and reefs has increased significantly.

其中塔拉瓦环礁的美军守备部队已经达到1738人，机场跑道也在日夜不停的连续施工下拓宽了20%，航空兵力量包含23架PBY卡特琳娜水上飞机、12架F2A水牛战斗机、9架P-40战斗机、24架SB2U辩护者俯冲轰炸机、19架TBD鱼雷轰炸机。

Two task forces, TF-30 and TF-31, have also been formed. They are the protagonists of the upcoming sea and air battle.

The TF-30 fleet is commanded by Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance and consists of 8 battleships including the Wasp light aircraft carrier and 31 ships of various types.

This is a huge bait, and Admiral Hasband believes that this is enough to arouse his opponent's thoughts.

The TF-31 fleet is commanded by Lieutenant General William Halsey and consists of the USS Raider, USS Saratoga, USS Yorktown, USS Enterprise, and 22 ships of various types.

This is the real power of the fist. The aircraft carriers have high hopes. Only by relying on them can they win the next decisive battle.

On the morning and afternoon of February 2, the main forces of the two task forces set off from Midway Island and Wake Island respectively, and some individual ships had to arrive from other bases.

Finally, everyone will meet at a coordinate 160km north of the Gilbert Islands, which is called "Victory Point".

The next day, Guam.

On the eve of dawn, more than a hundred large and small warships of the A-180 special agent fleet were quietly moored at the anchorage.

The blue-black sea is so calm under the night, like a deep glass mirror, reflecting the brilliance of stars.

Most of the sailors have woken up at this moment. On the middle deck inside the Ziwei Zuoyuan armored aircraft carrier, the sailors are busy carrying out anchoring operations; the sailors in charge of the engine room got up earlier and started igniting two hours ago. Preheat the boiler.

Zhou Changfeng, who was wearing the uniform of a commodore, came to the flight deck with a pair of binoculars. What his boots stepped on was a layer of teak with a thickness of 48mm, but in fact, under the teak flight deck was a 64mm thick Type B Strong deck made of structural steel.

Looking north from the Ziwei Zuoyuan, at the other end of the anchorage is a battleship formation symbolizing no sea rights. The tallest and most conspicuous one is the battleship Yongle, the flagship of the A-180 fleet.

The huge triple main gun was lying flat at the moment, but Zhou Changfeng couldn't help but recall the scene of it spewing out raging flames and causing ripples.

He put down the telescope, and then looked to the south. Those were numerous aircraft carriers, Ziwei Right Yuan, Taiwei Zuoyuan, Taiwei Right Yuan, Fomalhaut...

Zhou Changfeng had been very confused about whether to join in the fun, after all, this battle had nothing to do with him.

But after much thought, he finally came, just to witness the grand sea and air battle, otherwise he would regret it in his life.

Anyway, the fleet doesn't lack food for him alone.

For safety reasons, he did not choose the Taiweiyuan class, but came to the more survivable armored aircraft carrier Ziweiyuan class - even if the fleet was attacked by an air attack, he would be able to survive without any danger.

He had a premonition that a decisive battle would inevitably break out next, and this naval battle would directly determine future strategy.

There is no doubt about our strength, but luck is also an indispensable part. I hope the goddess of victory will continue to favor us this time.

At the same time, in the hangar of the Taiwei Youyuan, Song Xinyuan, the leader of the dive bomber "Western General" team, was also looking at the place where the sky and the sea meet in the east.

The white fish belly is already exposed there, and the fiery red sun will soon emerge from the sea level.

This time, we can compete with the Americans. Which ship's fleet will get off to a good start?

The training performance of the "Western General" team has always been at the top of the list, and it once set an unattainable astonishing record of "eleven planes dropped bombs in turn and finally hit nine bombs."

Song Xinyuan was full of confidence and naturally believed that his subordinates should be able to achieve the first victory.

But at this moment, he felt a pain in his stomach, which became extremely obvious within a moment.

Got a bad stomach?

After a while, the strange pain intensified again, exceeding the limit that ordinary people can endure.

A pilot who came to say hello was shocked when he saw that his face was pale, and he quickly shouted: "Come here! Come here! Get to the medical cabin quickly!"

(End of this chapter)