Nine Hundred and Two Another Fleet

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Have the Americans been fooled? Americans have indeed been fooled! To be exact, even the U.S. intelligence agencies did not expect that Japan would attack across the board and fight a decisive battle with the U.S. Navy under such unfavorable circumstances.

General Halsey commanded his forward troops to violently attack the Japanese decoy fleet that first exposed himself, which is his usual style. In fact, his style of play is the simplest—whether it is a bait or not, as long as he bumps into it head-on and eats the opponent, it is undoubtedly appropriate no matter what.

Regardless of whether it is cheap or not, it will be occupied first. This was Halsey's idea, and his idea was also supported by Spruance, another commander of the US Navy fleet behind. The general also believed that the Japanese army would not fight with all their strength here, because even Nimitz behind him did not quite believe that the Japanese navy would fight back here.

But the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet is not a soft persimmon for nothing. The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga and the aircraft carrier USS Raider maintain a strong combat effectiveness, and the aircraft carrier Hornet and the Hornet, which was later launched, are also among them. With the addition of three refitted aircraft carriers temporarily recruited from the British Navy, this time the U.S. Navy fleet has an overwhelming advantage over Japan in aviation, and the number of aircraft is more than twice that of the Japanese.

A total of 7 US aircraft carriers faced 3 Japanese aircraft carriers. This is the capital for the US Navy to dare to launch a decisive frontal battle. Therefore, Spruance took off without any hesitation and took off the second wave of attack aircraft to carry out a saturated air attack against the Japanese decoy fleet. hit.

"We must concentrate on destroying their decoy fleet before the other fleets of the Japanese Navy appear in the theater!" General Spruance looked at the chart and said, "Since the Japanese feel that this fleet is here Let's attack first is a good idea, then let's make the Japanese regret doing it!"

However, he was more cautious than the hot-tempered Halsey. When he was determined to launch an attack first and eat the Japanese Navy's decoy fleet, he had not forgotten the other fleets of the Japanese Navy that might appear in the theater. So after he issued the order to send out the second wave of attack aircraft, he added a second combat order: "Let the reconnaissance aircraft take off! Focus on investigating the directions where there are islands! There are places with thick clouds, and focus on reconnaissance. ! Can't let go of any blind spots..."

Watching his own reconnaissance planes take off one after another and disperse in all directions, Spruance raised the corner of his mouth and smiled. He was using a majestic conspiracy to deal with Yamamoto's conspiracy and tricks, so as to keep himself from making mistakes. , it can make Yamamoto Fifty-Six have nothing to take advantage of.

All strategies must have advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you want to set a bait, then in the process of fighting, this bait will inevitably become the enemy's primary target-if the enemy does not take the bait, it will be another matter. Therefore, all decoy troops must be attacked by the superior enemy first, and try to hold back the enemy attacking themselves as much as possible.

The battleship Ise has now eaten two aerial bombs, and the part of the chimney is on fire. However, the power system is still in good condition and still maintains a maximum speed of more than 20 knots.

Another battleship, the Hyuga, performed at a super level, and has not been hit by the US military so far.

However, the good luck of the Japanese navy seems to be almost used at this moment. First of all, the battleship Ise, which was already on fire, was hit by the ammunition dropped by the American plane again, and this time it was not an aerial bomb, but a torpedo! The torpedo hit the bow of the Ise, blowing a huge hole in its bow. This time, the speed of the Ise had to slow down, and began to drag down the entire Japanese fleet.

Like a fly finding an egg with a seam, the American planes began to besiege the decelerating Ise battleship. Soon the central main turret behind the chimney of the Ise battleship was hit again. This time the Ise was out of luck. , because the ammunition in the turret exploded, completely causing the battleship to lose its power system.

"Send a telegram to the battleship Hyuga! Let Miura-kun take over the position of fleet commander." On the bridge of the battleship Ise, the original fleet commander ordered weakly while supporting the table: "If you can't reach the telegraph room, use the Semaphore, use light! If the fire is too bright and the smoke is too thick, put the sampan!"

At the same time he gave the order, a Japanese destroyer approaching to rescue the soldiers who fell into the water was hit by an American plane, exploded into two pieces and sank to the bottom of the sea, even faster than the Ise, which was about to sink. sink to the bottom of the sea. There are heavy oil and burning flames floating on the sea, and there are densely packed soldiers who fell into the water. The end of the Ise is coming.

"Report! General! Colonel Miura on Hyuga sent a semaphore signal, saying that he could not see the command flag on my ship, so he temporarily raised the command flag to replace you in commanding the fleet to continue fighting."

"That's great! Miura-kun! It's my honor to fight side by side with such an excellent soldier as you." The captain of the Ise gave a wry smile, then nodded and acknowledged the arrogance of his subordinates this time. He walked to the door of the bridge headquarters, suddenly remembered something, and asked the officer behind him, "Where is the first officer? Is there no news from the air defense command position?"

The fire inside the battleship has not been effectively controlled, and American aircraft are creating new explosion points everywhere. The iron stairs outside were also damaged by bombs, and the telephone line was damaged. The air defense command position had lost news for more than ten minutes. The officer shook his head as an answer to his superior.

"Don't worry! Today we are here to die on the battlefield. For His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire of Japan, it is a price that must be paid. As long as we can help our fleet win this war, then even if all of them are sunk here, we will not be able to save our fleet." What is there to regret?" The general, who had just been promoted to the rank of major general, patted his subordinates on the shoulders and encouraged him with a smile: "A young man like you should live a good life! Go! I approve you Use the sampan and continue fighting on the Hyuga!"

"Boom!" The main gun turret at the stern of the ship exploded, and the entire battleship Ise was flooded at the bow, but now it was flooded at the same time. The huge distorting force of the sea water made this sturdy battleship make the creaking sound of steel bending, which sounds quite scary.

Seeing the flames and black smoke rising from the explosion in the distance, the Japanese rear admiral tidied up his clothes and signaled for everyone to leave. Then he walked to the broadcast position, grabbed the microphone, and issued The combat order he should issue.

"Everyone, as your commander and the captain of this ship, it is a great honor to be able to work with you. Now I have to issue my last order with regret. All the crew...abandon the ship!" So in every corner of the battleship, the captain's familiar voice sounded, and suddenly the noise seemed to subside, and someone could even be heard crying vaguely.

At this time, the battleship Hyuga issued its first order to take over as the flagship of the Japanese decoy fleet, which was to order the decoy fleet to disrupt the fleet formation and start fleeing for their lives. I have to say that this order can be regarded as a sensible combat order, but it was issued a little late.

Because right in the sky, the second attack force of the U.S. Naval Air Force has already arrived. One after another, American planes began to dive down from the clouds. Unlike the first time, the American planes arriving this time were loaded with torpedoes and more threatening torpedo attack planes.

"Report!" On the bridge of the battleship Nagato of the Japanese Navy's Eastern Mobile Fleet far to the east, that is, the fast battleship strike fleet of Yamamoto Fifty-Six, an officer pressed the command knife with one hand and held a message with the other. , walked behind Yamamoto Fifty-Six: "Your Excellency, the battleship Hyuga sent a telegram."

"Read!" Yamamoto didn't look back, he stood in his position, coldly watching the calm sea being cut into waves by the bow of his warship. His fleet is advancing at full speed, and it is only a short distance of 100 kilometers from the estimated position of the US Navy fleet.

"The battleship Ise is sinking, and all communication has been lost. As the highest-ranking commander on the scene, I have taken over the command of the flagship, and ordered the fleet to disband and withdraw from the battle—Master Jiro Miura." The officer said. After reading the telegram, he stood there respectfully, waiting for further instructions from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto Fifty-Six raised his head, looked at the sky where the clouds were not thin, nodded and said: "The decoy fleet has completed their mission, now it's up to me and Nagumo Tadashi's fleet. They all He is a qualified member of the Imperial Japanese Army, and we want to avenge these dead comrades in arms!"

"Hi!" All the officers present stood at attention and bowed their heads respectfully. They all held back a breath of bad breath, as long as they were allowed to rush into the formation of the US aircraft carrier fleet, then it was time for them to use their skilled artillery to attack the US Navy.

However, what these people don't know is that an American reconnaissance plane has penetrated the clouds and discovered the white waves cut by the fleet on the ocean. The navigator behind the plane has already pressed his hand on the telegraph transmitter and sent a message An important telegram came: "The No. 015 reconnaissance plane discovered the Japanese fleet, the exact number is unknown!"

"Woo... woo...!" Soon, harsh sirens sounded in the US fleet, and many pilots were wearing their own equipment and checking their planes according to the order of emergency takeoff. The American fleet was busy, and everyone was very nervous about discovering another Japanese fleet.