Chapter 446 Panama (Part 1)

In the early morning of April 17, the main force of the huge Axis Fleet gradually passed through the strait and headed towards the Panama Canal. At the same moment, all major airports and aviation bases in Florida were brightly lit, and countless ground crews were loading supplies and equipment for planes, preparing to rush to the Panama Canal Zone at dawn. According to General Jin's requirements, at least 300 anti-aircraft guns and 150 aircraft must be deployed in the Canal Zone, and all combat preparations must be completed within two days - he estimated that the Japanese army would launch an attack on the third day at the earliest.

It was too late to take a boat at such a tense moment, so the American logistics brand launched again - all by air! However, air transportation has encountered a lot of problems and troubles. Although the United States has enough C-46\C-47 medium-sized transport aircraft, it does not have a giant transport aircraft like the German Me-323, which can carry a complete 88mm gun group at a time. (including equipment and personnel), and if the US military wants to transport a complete 90mm M2 anti-aircraft gun group, it needs to be disassembled and arranged for 4 C-47 transport aircraft. After landing, it will waste another 3 hours for unloading and assembly - although the performance of the 88mm and 90mm anti-aircraft guns is close , but the former is 4 tons lighter than the latter.

In view of the limited capacity of Panama Airport and time considerations, the Joint Chiefs of Staff was finally forced to agree to transport only 12 90mmM2 anti-aircraft guns, and try to replace the rest with 40mmM1 anti-aircraft guns (the American copycat version of the Bofors anti-aircraft gun). 150 combat aircraft almost arrived at the airport Capacity limit - because some space must be reserved for transport aircraft. The U.S. Southern Command mobilized urgently and mobilized various materials and personnel. In order to prevent Japanese aircraft from damaging the canal, they also prepared to deploy smoke devices on both sides of the canal to disrupt the enemy's sight. These materials also had to be transported by air.

Neither side knew that the other side had entered the final sprint stage, and they still responded with the fastest and best method they could think of.

At 5:30 in the afternoon, the first day was coming to an end. The main force of the Axis Fleet had penetrated into the depths of the Caribbean Sea, only about 1,000 kilometers away from Panama. In the daytime battle to break the diplomatic ties, the results were still very brilliant, and the aircraft continued to attack. was dispatched to sink a fleet of 110,000-ton merchant ships in one fell swoop, clearing the entire Caribbean inland sea. If Horikichi was willing, he could even pursue shelling and bombing at the ports of a circle of small countries, but he refused this temptation. Just let the fleet aim at the final target, and at the same time let the bomber group clear all obstacles to the fleet's progress.

One after another, the sunken ships sent out distress signals, tugging at the heartstrings of the Panamanian defenders every moment - they knew that the enemy fleet was close at hand, but they did not know that it was so close, because so far So far, no ship or aircraft has had a complete glimpse of the fleet. There is no exact location and the distance is remote. Reconnaissance planes taking off from the Panama Canal Zone have not gained anything.

At 5:37, an Ar-372 reconnaissance plane flew into the canal area for close reconnaissance. It was thought that it was just a quiet glimpse, but the pilot saw an unforgettable scene - one after another American transport planes were flying over the canal area. People were circling over the airport, queuing up for landing, and the ground was full of busy figures. After quietly observing for a few minutes, the observer on board used high-powered binoculars to see a heart-rending scene: a plane veered off the scheduled runway due to a puncture during landing. It hit other planes and severely blocked the runway. If this had happened in Japan, the people would have been rescued first, and then mechanics would have been brought in to handle emergency repairs. They would have used other vehicles to tow the aircraft away, and then find ways to unload the supplies. Unexpectedly, the US military pilots had just been rescued, and other Ground crews swarmed over and used fire axes and electric saws to cut off several aircraft and push them to the side, then indifferently greeted subsequent aircraft to come in and land.

Was the flight worth millions of yen canceled like this? The observers were shocked and asked the pilots to return home quickly while sending out the telegram. The airport also noticed this uninvited guest. Four F4U fighter jets that came from the other side quickly took off to pursue the target. These fighter pilots were also shocked. , because they discovered that this Japanese water reconnaissance aircraft could actually fly at a speed of more than 450 kilometers per hour, which was not much slower than the F4F carrier-based aircraft. It was nowhere near as fast as the slow and chubby Catalina seaplane. However, no matter how fast the Ar-372 is, it cannot escape the pursuit of the F4U with a speed exceeding 650 kilometers per hour. After quickly sending the reconnaissance telegram, the observer added another one: "The US military has dispatched new fighter jets, which are faster than the Zero War Reform Even faster..."

Just when they were about to further describe the appearance of the new aircraft, the "pirates" unceremoniously shot down the bold reconnaissance aircraft.

"Sir, a water reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by the US military, but a telegram was sent before the crash."

Horikichi read the telegram three times and said thoughtfully: "It seems that the US military has completely noticed and judged our military's actions. If my guess is correct, the enemy airport in Panama should be full of planes now. "

"Then what should we do?" Caolu Renyi said anxiously, "The enemy is prepared and reinforced, and it is difficult for us to make a move. The longer it takes, the worse it will be for us. If we had known better, we should have learned from Pearl Harbor and sneaked in quietly without breaking the friendship. …”

"It's useless! There is a chain of islands around the Caribbean Sea. It is different from the situation at Pearl Harbor. No matter which direction we move covertly, we will be discovered by the enemy." Horikichi looked at the time and then looked at the chart and asked, " How far is it from Panama?”

The staff officer immediately replied after working on the chart: "The straight-line distance between this ship and the Panama Canal is about 1,015 kilometers..."

Hori Teikichi nodded, calculated for a while, and then issued an order: "The mobile formation speeds up to 27 knots, takes the shortest route, does not consider the anti-submarine Z-shaped route, and the battleships and cruisers that can keep up provide close cover. Each ship should not worry about fuel loss!"

"Sir, what do you want?"

"Since the US military is prepared, we can only take some risks. The sunrise tomorrow will be around 6:15, right?"

"Yes! To be exact, it will be around 6:10."

"Very good! It should be in time."

After the fighter reported that it had discovered and shot down the Japanese seaplane reconnaissance plane, the US military also felt that the situation was serious: on the one hand, a large number of aircraft were sent to search the nearby waters, but at this time the Axis fleet was still 1,000 kilometers away, and finally nothing was found; on the other hand, the pace of rushing supplies was further accelerated. Based on the situation, the staff officers judged that the Japanese army might launch the first wave of attacks tomorrow morning. Panama's defense time will be even shorter than Admiral King expected - not 2 days, but only 1 day.

Finally, Lieutenant General Ross, who was stationed there, made the decision to deploy air defense overnight, release smoke and strengthen alerts, keep the radar station on double duty all night, and complete the replenishment of fuel and ammunition for fighters and bombers in advance - try to release the attack aircraft group to attack the enemy fleet tomorrow morning.

In the middle of the night, since Roosevelt had landed in the Washington Command, all the senior officials gathered. Everyone was sleepless and listened to the reports from the front one by one. While determining the emergency defense policy for Panama, Admiral Ingersoll's Atlantic Fleet also went south as quickly as possible to fight. Admiral King, Marshall and other generals all had bloodshot eyes - they had been working non-stop for 30 hours to continuously mobilize troops.

"As of 11:00 local time, the 300 newly added anti-aircraft guns have been unloaded and are currently being deployed urgently. It is expected that the operation will be completed before dawn..."

"All stranded ships in the canal have been cleared, and civilians within 50 kilometers of the canal area have been urgently evacuated."

"General Ross reported that the canal area began to release smoke at 4 a.m. and it is expected to reach its maximum effect at 7 a.m."

"The Air Force base currently has 186 aircraft and more than 200 pilots (teams), of which 154 aircraft can be put into combat immediately, and the rest are in a scattered state. They are currently being supplied before the war, and will adopt the strategy of attacking the enemy first tomorrow."

"The shore defense firepower completed the live-fire test this afternoon, and the personnel are complete and the ammunition is sufficient."

"The follow-up reinforcements at the Florida base are ready, and they can set out for emergency reinforcements tomorrow."

"The Army Aviation Force reinforcements have successfully entered the Nicaragua airport, and currently have 36 P-47 fighters and 48 bombers of various types."

Roosevelt turned The leader whispered to Admiral King: "Can such a deployment resist the Japanese?"

"We are very confident." Admiral King did not say too much, "As long as we can resist the enemy's first wave of attack, we have a chance to win. As time goes by, our army will continue to receive reinforcements, but the enemy will fight less and less."

"Are the canal locks in danger?"

"It should be attacked by the focus. If a few bombs hit, the overall damage will not be too great. It is estimated that it can be repaired in a few months."

Roosevelt nodded, half relieved, and said to Admiral King, Marshall and others with concern: "You go down and rest first. We still have a long time to fight the Japanese and Germans. Even if they destroy the Panama Canal, it doesn't mean anything. At most, it will cause us more trouble. It can't change the prospect of the United States' victory. I am full of confidence in the future!"

This sentence is both encouragement and pressure relief. Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief and cast a grateful look at Roosevelt.

At 3:15 a.m. on April 18, 1943, the Axis Fleet arrived less than 600 kilometers from Panama. On the deck of the mobile fleet flagship Shokaku, pilots with white cloths with the words "Win" wrapped around their heads lined up in neat rows, watching the Z-shaped flag slowly rise on the mast and flutter in the wind.

The sea breeze blew the left sleeve of Vice Admiral Tsukahara Jishizo, the commander of the mobile fleet, and he read Hori Teikichi's instructions in a rhythmic voice: "The commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet orders..."

All pilots stood at attention and saluted.

"The rise and fall of the Empire depends on this battle. Everyone should work hard!"