Six Hundred and Eighteenth Initiative

Nagumo Chuichi has four aircraft carriers in his hands, two of which are relatively small aircraft carriers Hiryu and Canglong. These two aircraft carriers are light fleet aircraft carriers capable of carrying more than 70 carrier-based aircraft, although they are not the Japanese Navy. The elite of the elite, but it is definitely a relatively large fleet aircraft carrier.

The other two ships are the flagship Akagi, and the other is Kaga. They are also large aircraft carriers carrying more than 70 aircraft. The Akagi can be fully loaded with more than 90 aircraft. It can be said that it is a relatively advanced aircraft carrier in this era. . So at this moment, the Japanese fleet near Oahu has more than 300 carrier-based aircraft.

But after the attacks in the past few days, Nagumo Tadaichi no longer has so many planes in his hands. He actually lost 61 planes, which is one-fifth of his total strength. If you count the failures Almost one-third of his aircraft are unable to participate in the war due to maintenance of aircraft and aircraft that cannot take off for other reasons.

Moreover, Akagi carries 20 Zero fighters, Kaga carries 20 Zero fighters, and the two aircraft carriers Canglong and Hiryu carry exactly 20 Zero fighters, so the Japanese navy can dispatch There are only 80 carrier-based fighter jets at full capacity, and so far, half of Nagumo Chuichi's 80 planes have been shot down.

That is to say, the Japanese Navy has a crazy bushido spirit, and these pilots are not afraid of death. If you switch to other navies, half the loss is enough to make soldiers collapse. However, these Japanese naval aviation units were still not afraid, and carried out Nagumo Tadashi's order to fight to the death without hesitation.

The power of brainwashing by Japanese militarism can be seen from this, and the terrible willpower of Japanese soldiers is absolutely frightening. They regard death as a way to express their loyalty, and to execute the orders of their superiors as a means of being loyal to the country. I have to admit that at least in terms of fooling soldiers to death, the Japanese are at the forefront of the world, and they have achieved an almost insurmountable level.

Throughout the ages, troops that can lose half of their strength and dare to fight to the death without retreating have become the indelible designations of various countries. And Japan's First Air Fleet actually did this near the Hawaiian island in the Pacific Ocean. With this terrible spirit, they are already one of the best soldiers in the world.

But Nagumo Chuichi knew that this time he really couldn't fight anymore. If his troops wanted to keep a trace of flesh and blood and continue to fight for the Great Japanese Empire in the future, they had to retreat no matter what. It's just that looking at the fragile American fleet so close at hand, Chuichi Nagumo has a hint of unwillingness to give up.

This is a battle that will determine the fate of Japan. If he dares not even try, he will regret it for the rest of his life. So after the dizzying situation, he supported the map table beside him, still gritted his teeth and issued an attack order: "Let the next wave of planes take off! Today, I will lead you of the Japanese Navy, and the damn Yankee!" Fight to the death! Never die!"

"His Majesty...Long live!" A Japanese military officer raised his hands high,

Shouted loudly from the bridge. After he finished shouting, more Japanese officers and sailors raised their hands and threw them to the sky from the sides of their legs: "His Majesty the Emperor! Long live!"

Even Chuichi Nagumo raised his hands and shouted loudly: "Long live! Long live!" Soon, the slogan spread to every corner of the entire Akagi aircraft carrier, and all the Japanese soldiers were The frantic shouts, fatigue and frustration seemed to be driven away at this moment, and the whole battleship was full of vitality again.

"General, Marshal Yamamoto called and ordered us to retreat immediately!" An officer walked up behind General Nagumo Chuichi with a telegram. His words were like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the entire bridge. For Waquan's determination to die. Everyone stopped shouting, but stared at Nagumo Chuichi, a strange smell of silence permeated the air, making people suffocate.

"This must be the telegram sent by the enemy to confuse us!" An officer muttered angrily while staring at the document.

"Baga! What are you doing with such a telegram? Are you still a soldier of the empire?" Another Japanese officer even put his hand on his command knife, gritted his teeth, and began to send the telegram. The officers come.

Nagumo Tadaichi with a livid face, took the telegram from Yamamoto Fifty-Six, and read it carefully. He had a thought of disobedience in his heart, but at the same time he was slightly relieved. Now whether it is a retreat or a decisive battle, this responsibility is irrelevant. It is no longer on him, which is undoubtedly very lucky for a frontline commander.

However, after he opened the telegram, he discovered that it was two telegrams. The first one was actually sent by Lieutenant General Oshima of the 4th Division on Oahu and Lieutenant General Fukuda, the commander of the 131st Division. In the telegram, it was clearly stated above that the resistance of the U.S. military on Oahu was very tenacious, and the Japanese infantry could not control Oahu in a short period of time, let alone launch an attack like Hawaii Island.

The second telegram is the retreat order issued by Yamamoto Fifty-Six. The Japanese admiral correctly assessed the losses suffered by the Japanese navy. In his opinion, he took the elite pilots of the entire First Air Fleet to fight against the United States. The naval fleet is acting like a complete idiot.

"General Nagumo Chuichi, if we try our best here, then when the US counterattack comes in the future, your fleet will have to return to the Japanese mainland to stand by. Responsibility! I order you to immediately retreat with me, so as to reserve strength to meet the first counterattack of the United States!" This is the core part of Yamamoto's telegram, which clearly points out that Chuichi Nagumo is wasting troops, which is not a wise move .

The United States loses a fleet, and after three months or half a year, it can almost replenish such a fleet. However, if Japan loses 200 pilots, then only 150 pilots can be replenished within half a year. This is why Yamamoto Fifty-Six is ​​unwilling to compete with the United States for consumption. He dare not consume it because Japan cannot afford it.

Yamamoto's plan is very simple. His naval fleet needs to be rested. After the replenishment and rest are completed, his fleet can resume combat capabilities. Seeking a decisive battle in the position, it is easier to crush the US fleet.

Of course, he also knows that once the troops are withdrawn now, the United States will be completely relieved, and the plan to force the United States to surrender in the short term will become more difficult. However, the Japanese navy must now take a break. This is something he feels must be done, and there is no way to omit it.

As for the changing hands of the strategic initiative, it is not that he has not considered it. From Yamamoto Fifty-Six's point of view, Japan's offensive has shown a weak trend. It is really unpredictable whether it will be effective if it is forced to show the United States. Things, it's not worth it to take the entire First Air Fleet for such a deception that doesn't necessarily work.

So after he received a telegram from the two army generals in Oshima and Fukuda, he immediately issued an order to retreat. Yamamoto Fifty-Six hoped that the 40,000 army soldiers could persist in Oahu and Kauai for 4 months. At that time, he will lead the elite Japanese combined fleet to fight back and annihilate the nearby US Navy in one fell swoop.

Yamamoto's calculation is very simple, that is to use a few months of passiveness to win a first move, and then stage a sea annihilation battle similar to the Battle of Wake Island to wipe out the American fleet again. The problem.

"Call Marshal Yamamoto back! Tell him, Nagumo Tadaichi is determined to fight to the death!" After Nagumo Tadaichi thought about it, he gritted his teeth and said his decision under the expectant eyes of everyone: "Soldiers of the Great Japanese Empire , there is no tradition of running away! I, Nagumo, am not a coward! My subordinates are not cowards either!"

"General!" An officer from the telegraph room came in and handed a telegram to Nagumo Chuichi: "Marshal Yamamoto called and said..."

"What are you talking about?" Nagumo snatched the telegram, and even tore off a small corner because of the speed. He carefully read the words above, and it turned out to be Yamamoto himself: "If you don't obey my order, I will rush to your fleet with the battleship Nagato and take over your command personally!"

Nanyun read the telegram blankly, and finally said: "Order the fleet to turn south and leave the battle area!"

"General!" An officer of the war faction stepped forward, trying to persuade Nanyun to change his mind.

Nagumo stretched out his hand to interrupt him: "Okay! Don't say any more! Marshal Yamamoto's order is right! If we continue to fight so hard, we will miss the Marshal's major event! He has his own plan, and we will abide by it." That's it!"

At 11:12 in the morning, the warships of Japan's First Air Fleet began to turn around. At the same time, a group of fighter planes from the United States arrived and damaged the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu in the chaos, resulting in the death of 2 Japanese ground crew and sailors and 32 injuries. Before noon, however, the Japanese navy disengaged from contact with the U.S. Navy and regrouped west of Kauai.

In this way, the Hawaiian naval battle ended in an anticlimactic manner. The U.S. Navy regained the maritime initiative in the central Pacific region. After being ruled by Japan for nearly 4 months, the Pacific battlefield entered a stage of strategic stalemate.