Chapter 1069 1944: Speed ​​and Lightning (19)

After discussion, the two came up with a solution: First, Doolittle sent a reconnaissance plane to take photos, and Navy professionals used the photos to study how many Japanese warships were on the sea, which would be more accurate; second, Ingram represented the Navy. "Synthesizing" these conflicting and nonsense war reports and reporting relatively reliable intelligence to Washington and Halsey is really difficult for this Pacific Fleet commander.

Based on the suggestions of his staff and his own experience, Ingram submitted a comprehensive report that he believed to be a more reliable composition of the Japanese fleet:

More than 25 aircraft carriers of various types, including 6-8 fleet aircraft carriers;

1-2 battleships (battle cruisers);

14-16 light and heavy cruisers;

More than 60 auxiliary warships such as destroyers and frigates;

It is estimated that there will be 700-800 aircraft of various types.

This last number is purely Ingram's estimate, but Doolittle thinks it is very reliable: 25 aircraft carriers don't even have 700-800 aircraft? In the early morning, the Japanese army had sent out two huge attack groups, with a total of more than 400 aircraft (actually more than 340). The air defense also reported hundreds of aircraft. Plus some reserves, 700-800 was a natural conclusion.

Taking a step back, assuming that all 25 aircraft carriers are American Casablanca-class escort aircraft carriers, there will be nearly 750 aircraft! Doesn't Halsey's TF50 fleet also bring 2 Essex-class ships + 12 Casablanca-class ships, with nearly 550 aircraft? It is normal for the Japanese army to have 700-800 aircraft.

Based on this judgment, the two men appropriately reduced the reported results:

During the Pearl Harbor air defense operation, our army shot down nearly 220 enemy aircraft (the actual total losses in the first and second attack waves were less than 120). In the first round of counterattack, we shot down more than 70 enemy aircraft (actually less than 20), and overall shot down all Japanese aircraft. There are 300 model aircraft, and the opponent is expected to have 400-500 remaining aircraft;

During the counterattack, our army invested a total of 179 attack aircraft and bombers of various types, sinking 1 enemy escort aircraft carrier, 1-2 cruisers, and 2-3 destroyers;

Damage 1-2 cruisers and destroyers each;

Another 2-3 warships of unknown type were damaged.

Our military aircraft suffered overall heavy losses and needed reinforcements.

After Ingram effectively "shrunk", the results were closer to the actual level, but still much higher. Fortunately, he adopted the analysis method of "overestimating and overestimating the results", and the final conclusion was more accurate - Mr. Horiti Yoshiri Hayashi There are 439 aircraft of all types in total, which falls right in the range of 400-500.

This number and the estimated enemy situation shocked everyone when they were reported to Washington. Dewey, who rushed to the Joint Chiefs of Staff after hearing the news, was even more angry. He thought that the Army Aviation had failed in its duty-why didn't such a huge fleet discover and warn in advance? Arnold couldn't tell the pain. During this period, in order to protect the outbound TF50 and the supporting transport fleet, Hawaii focused on guarding the east and south sides of Hawaii. Horikichi only entered the 900-kilometer air defense circle in the evening. The Army Aviation had nothing at all. Know.

Seeing this scale, Spruance's face became ugly: "In this way, assuming that the Japanese army still has 400-500 aircraft remaining, Hawaii's aviation power will not be enough."

He analyzed it very carefully: Hawaii had more than 1,400 aircraft before the war, more than 160 HNA aircraft were lost at the port, nearly 70 fighter jets were shot down during the Japanese raid, and they were destroyed on the ground (fuel depot) for various reasons. More than 300 aircraft were killed in bombings or directly destroyed by the Japanese army. Then more than 100 aircraft were lost in the first round of sorties. Nearly 650 aircraft were killed in one breath, and there were only just over 800 aircraft left. After deducting nearly 100 water reconnaissance, transport and reconnaissance aircraft of various types, there are still just over 700 aircraft that are truly capable of combat.

He came to a rather helpless conclusion: "The advantage of 700 vs 400-500 is not obvious. Considering the difference in pilot levels between Japan and the United States, I think that even if our entire army is lost, at least half of the Japanese army will be left!"

Arnold nodded in agreement. The Army Aviation at Pearl Harbor was originally quite elite, but the exchange of crews for tankers a while ago caused a lot of losses to the Army Aviation. The crews who could fly long distances were all skilled crews. After adding a group of novices, the quality plummeted. If you really use 700 to fight 400-500, I'm afraid it's true as Spruance said. According to the exchange ratio of 3:1, all of us will die, and Japan will still have 200 aircraft.

However, Spruance did not suggest giving up. On the contrary, he said: "This is an extremely severe test, but it is also a good opportunity. Under this situation, the huge Japanese fleet cannot retreat quietly. , in the continuous attack, the losses of its fleet will not be small. I suggest sending the Halsey fleet to cooperate with the Hawaiian defenders to annihilate the enemy. He still has more than 500 aircraft in his hands. With the addition, our army can have a 3:1 Aircraft quantity advantage.”

"How to solve the problem of fuel at Pearl Harbor?" Clark was worried. "I heard that the central fuel depot and the heavy fuel depot were all bombed. Can they still support a counterattack?"

"The 300,000 tons of various types of fuel at Pearl Harbor are indeed almost enough, but there are still some left in other island bases. It is no problem to support hundreds of aircraft to fight back, but it is not enough. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, please ask the Strategic Air Transport Force to urgently send a batch of fuel and aircraft bulk Things passed."

Arnold had no choice but to nod in agreement: Now the two presidents (Truman and Dewey) were on the verge of going berserk, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff was under heavy pressure from all aspects. The Army Aviation had no choice but to grit its teeth and endure it. Besides, Spruance said that the fleet would be sent over for reinforcements. At least it can reduce the pressure on Army Aviation.

Nimitz was hesitant when he heard this suggestion. Li Hai knew what he was worried about: he was afraid that Halsey would not be able to defeat the Japanese fleet. Now there is not only this huge fleet that suddenly appeared on the west coast, but also two fleets watching covetously next to it. , no matter how you look at it, if you rush forward and attack, you will definitely die.

He cursed in his heart: Damn it, who has the best industrial strength and shipbuilding ability in the world? How could Japan accumulate so many warships without making a fuss?

But Le Hai believed that he had to go, even if Halsey's fleet was exhausted: Hawaii is not only a U.S. territory, but also the location of the Pacific Fleet Command. It is the most important base of the Navy, and it is the Navy's unshirkable duty to defend it. If the navy always hides and always lets the army and aviation defend, attack and counterattack, the navy will lose its existence value - the United States will no longer need the navy in the future, so all funds should be given to the air force! If this situation really happens, will Li Hai be scolded to death by the navy in the future? Maybe General Jin will come to kill him from the hospital!

He winked at Nimitz, who certainly understood what he was thinking. After struggling for a long time, he finally said with difficulty: "I agree with TF50 to go to the north of Pearl Harbor to counterattack, but pay attention to safety. In addition, all submarines on the west coast, No matter where we are now, we must all gather in the direction of Hawaii to attack!”

Halsey and McCain were also shocked when they saw the size of the Japanese fleet reported by Washington and Pearl Harbor - not to mention the strength of the TF50, it was more powerful than the combined force of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, but they heard After saying that our side had destroyed nearly 300 of its opponent's aircraft and that the Japanese army still had 400-500 aircraft left, Halsey nodded solemnly: Such an attack is still somewhat convincing!

Because it was an official order from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and because he already knew that the Pearl Harbor fuel depot exploded and the whole city was in flames, McCain was also angered. He said to Halsey: "William, we should attack. Revenge for the innocent people of Pearl Harbor!"

At 9:57, Halsey ordered the fleet to change its course from due north-west to northwest, and pounce on 800 kilometers north of Pearl Harbor.

Starting at 10 o'clock, the US military attack group launched a second wave of counterattack. According to Doolittle's request, all naval aviation was temporarily transferred to the command of Army aviation and assembled at several other aviation bases - don't count on the aviation facilities at Pearl Harbor.

Now that the support fleet is getting further and further away from Hawaii, the US military's attack time has also begun to become longer. Jiang Caolongsheng's second attack wave has landed on the last four regular aircraft carriers after losing 34 aircraft - before they landed, the second attack wave The remaining nearly 50 fighter jets of the first attack wave have been replenished and taken off again, enriching the direct cover fleet, keeping the number of direct cover teams at about 120. Fighters that have also released some ammunition and excessive fuel consumption can land on several auxiliary aircraft carriers. Replenish.

The U.S. military's second wave of counterattack finally became somewhat organized. It was no longer a group of forty or fifty planes, but more than 80 planes. However, due to strength and formation problems, it was impossible to gather a large formation of more than 200 planes to press them together. About 170 aircraft were concentrated in two formations to attack. The Japanese army fought desperately to intercept, but this time the US counterattack caused considerable damage:

The Kamakura Maru escort carrier was hit by a 2,000-pound bomb and sank. The Yamataka, which was injured in the first round, was hit again and abandoned the ship, and soon sank. One escort carrier was sunk, and all the more than 6,000 tons of fuel it carried were not used much. Seeing the reimbursement, Matsuda Chiaki's mouth twitched but there was nothing he could do; an aircraft transport ship sank, but fortunately there were no planes on it, so Matsuda Chiaki had no choice but to let him go - at least it attracted firepower.

heavy cruiser Ibuki Nakaso;

The light cruiser Kawauchi was sunk;

The destroyers Umikaze, Harusame (both Shiro-class), Asashio, and Ooshio (both Asashio-class) were sunk or severely damaged and then abandoned; the Japanese army also lost 38 fighter jets, but 23 pilots died fighting on S-boats and destroyers. He was rescued under escort.

In order to achieve this result, more than 170 U.S. military aircraft launched an attack, but only 54 returned in the end! This time, the results they reported to Ingram and Doolittle were even more exaggerated:

Sunk 5-6 aircraft carriers and damaged 2-3 aircraft carriers;

Sink 1 battleship and damage 1-2;

Sunk 2-3 light and heavy cruisers, with unknown damage;

Sink more than 6 destroyers, damage 2-3 destroyers, and have 3 unknown results;

In addition, more than 100 Japanese aircraft were shot down (actually 38).

Now that Ingram has obtained the emergency photos taken by the reconnaissance plane, he is not so easily fooled, and Doolittle does not believe that the results of the battle are so brilliant - of course, it must be affirmed on the surface, otherwise up to two-thirds of the casualties of the troops Unable to hold on any longer, the two discussed how to report the results.