Chapter 873 Accident (2)

Just as Crank was racking his brains to prepare to kill Spruance's TF44 formation with the incoming new troops, the latter had completed its replenishment and had two British divisions boarded, preparing to set off for reinforcements in the Indian Ocean tomorrow. . The USS Wasp, which was hit by multiple bombs, lay in a South African shipyard for maintenance. Spruance had high expectations for the repairs. However, after inspection, engineers found that the damage was too great and could not be restored with South African technical strength alone. It was necessary to It was towed back to the mainland for repairs, so TF44 can only rely on the Bunker Hill to support the scene for the time being.

In order to reverse the passive situation of shortage of troops, Spruance was forced to innovate in troop formation: 4 escort aircraft carriers and the USS Bunker Hill were formed into a combat team, and all F6F fighters and SBDs responsible for reconnaissance missions were fully arranged. On the four Casablanca-class escort aircraft carriers, all SBDs and TBFs are deployed on Bunker Hill. This will help give full play to the advantages of integration and rationally utilize each aircraft. After the reorganization, the entire fleet size reached 208 aircraft. Of course, the shortcomings are also obvious-these five aircraft carriers now become a combat unit, and Bunker Hill cannot act independently from the escort aircraft carrier formation.

After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, the staff finally adopted this plan, because this time they had to cover the Army's landing in India. From a military or political perspective, TF44 could not just care about itself. The US military, which has always been accustomed to being extravagant, finally began to learn this. Save resources to deal with problems.

Coincidentally, this strategy was also implemented after Horikichi broke the ownership of mobile fleet carrier-based aircraft: Tsunoda originally took Zuiho and Ohtaka to rob the Soviet fleet, but Ohtaka was only an escort aircraft carrier and could not take off heavy-loaded attack aircraft, so Tsunoda concentrated all fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft on the Ohtaka, and Zuiho concentrated the attack aircraft. The two could cross and land in emergency situations. The only difference was that the proportion of Japanese fighter jets was always higher than that of the US military - the US military basically remained at About 40%, while the Japanese army reached 45% or more.

As an individual, Spruance found it difficult to understand why troops were sent to India at this juncture. In his view, India was basically hopeless, and a counterattack would be possible only if the Allies could regain their maritime superiority in the Indian Ocean. Even if we succeed in regaining control of the sea, a counterattack will not be effective in 1-2 years. Even though Japan is the life-and-death enemy of the United States, it feels unreliable for the British to fight the Japanese as fiercely as possible.

As a commander, he understands the thoughts of Washington and London. It is not easy for the Indian defenders to survive until now. No matter from any angle, they must provide them with some assistance. This is the way to maintain the morale and morale of the troops. If a regional battlefield is in trouble and you just ignore it, it is tantamount to forcing the troops to die (or forcing the troops to surrender or even rebel). The reason why the situation in Southeast Asia fell apart in an instant is because there is a feeling of despair from top to bottom. Even so, London sent the Prince of Wales and the Repulse to the Far East for deterrence in the early stage. The result was very bad, and they were sunk on the second day of the war.

While thinking about his thoughts, he sighed and asked Roddick: "How will this war end?"

"I don't know, I don't even know if we can win in the end." Roddick was even more pessimistic than him, and he was not afraid of negative emotions affecting the team when the two were alone. "I feel that our stall is too big and we should shrink our defense line. "Concentrate your energy and troops."

"You mean giving up Great Britain?"

"This involves too much energy on our part and wastes necessary time." Roddick complained. "Sending two British divisions to India like now is simply sending death. In addition to delaying the fall of India, it will cause more trouble for the Japanese. I can’t see anything positive outside. I would rather give reinforcements to Australia!”

"Don't tell me, the Australians did offer to let their troops in South Africa go home, but London didn't let them go!"

"I just can't understand what these big guys are doing. Sometimes I feel like they are so paranoid that they go crazy." Roddick looked around and lowered his voice, "Think about it, we give gifts to Great Britain every month The supplies amounted to more than 2 million tons, and only about 1 million tons could be delivered to the British. The rest were either captured by the Germans or sunk at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. If these supplies were not given to Fatty Qiu but used by himself, how many troops could be armed? Even if we don't give it to ourselves, assuming we help Brazil, the supplies sent from last year to now are enough to arm one million people? Can the Germans and Argentines survive in South America? As for giving it to the Russians, it is even more of a waste..."

"In this way we will completely lose Europe."

"Then throw it away. Europe is not ours in the first place, and South America is different." Roddick thought for a while and felt that saying this was morally untenable and inconsistent with the principle of "political correctness", so he called Cunningham "British." He brought up the matter of "The British Ship" to defend himself, "Look, the British don't only care about the alliance. Don't they only care about themselves? We haven't aided the British enough and they still need to aid the four major dominions. We even haven't aided the dominions enough. Aiding the colonies of the British Empire? Let me tell you, the American taxpayers are really being screwed. Their money was wasted! This war was caused by Fatty Qiu with bad intentions. We have already fulfilled our responsibilities, and there is nothing to feel guilty about... "

Spruance was shocked that his deputy's attitude was even more radical than that of Wallace.

He pondered: "Is this your personal idea or the general idea among officers and soldiers?"

"At least it represents the thoughts of most of the officers and soldiers. In fact, everyone is not very interested in fighting the Germans to death. Everyone is most looking forward to teaching the Japanese." Roddick smiled sheepishly, "I'll tell you the reason, but don't Smile..."

"Tell me, what's so funny about this?"

"Although the Germans also killed many of us, overall it was a gentlemanly and decent war. If the president hadn't rushed to send arms to the British, how could the Germans be so disgusted with us? In the final analysis After all, the focus of the conflict between the two sides is the British issue." Roddick saw that Spruance's face was not very good, and said quickly, "Sir, this is a personal complaint. I will definitely not recognize it as a fascist Nazi. Good things, they all deserve to die! We must fight them to the end - this is the standard answer."

Spruance was deeply surprised: Wasn't the question of virtue just the point of view promoted by the European Voice on the radio all day long? That's just what ordinary soldiers say. Why does an officer like Roddick, who has become a general, still have such an attitude? It seems that they suffered too much in the defeat, their morale has begun to waver, and their will to fight has also declined severely. I wonder if the big shots in Washington understand?

After thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel upset, and finally patted the other party on the shoulder: "We are soldiers, and it is our bounden duty to obey orders! Who should be beaten and who should not be beaten is naturally decided by politicians. I hold the view on Germany. Reserve your opinion.”

"Understood, so I usually don't say this." Now it was Roddick's turn to sigh, "How you look at the Germans is not the key, but how you fight is! To win, you must find the correct strategic path and tactical means. If I had followed my Be firm in your thinking. Commander Nimitz will directly lead the main fleet to destroy the German fleet with us and then come back with reinforcements. Why are there so many things happening now? "

Spruance could only smile bitterly: Nimitz had the final say whether to turn around or not at that time? There is no greater tragedy for soldiers than this.

Just as the two were evaluating Nimitz's original decision, the evaluated Nimitz was falling into anxiety: the TF46 fleet used the night to pass through the southern tip of Greenland at high speed, and also encountered the German aircraft coming to investigate early in the morning. Just when he fully thought that the Germans would be in hot pursuit, a reconnaissance plane dispatched from the direction of Northern Ireland sent a telegram, informing him that the German main fleet not only failed to follow up, but also retreated a long way. The distance between the two was now as wide as Nearly 1,800 kilometers.

"What do the Germans mean? Do you want us to go directly to supplies?"

"Those four Veneto ships can still support us for several days. Do they think we have retreated back to the United States?" Cunningham also expressed great doubts, "Or is the other party so ambitious that they directly go to Ireland to coordinate the landing?"

But this inference is also wrong, because other reconnaissance aircraft reported that they did not find the German landing fleet within a 1,000-kilometer radius of Ireland, nor did they find two other aircraft carriers - they all disappeared like thin air.

Now it was the TF46 formation's turn to be embarrassed. They didn't dare to go back to the United States. What if the German troops came and killed them right after they returned to the United States? Returning to the Denmark Strait? That was a lot of back and forth, and it was so silly! But there is no point in waiting here. This does not guarantee that the British-Canada route will be smooth and Great Britain will be safe and sound.

"Whether the Germans come to pursue or not, we will continue to deter the relevant sea areas as originally planned." Cunningham stared at the chart carefully for a long time. "The German landing fleet must have made a big circle. They are slow. , we are fast and have a chance to get around them.”

Nimitz actually had the idea of ​​returning to the United States at this time, but he knew that Cunningham and the British would definitely go on a rampage. After careful consideration, he expressed his position: "Then go and have a look. If there is no obvious discovery, go to Northern Ireland to resupply."

"This is natural. As long as the fleet enters the Northern Ireland air defense circle, whether the Germans attack Iceland or Ireland, there will be room for maneuver."

Just when the two were surprised that the German fleet did not rush to pursue them as expected, London was even more surprised by the missing German landing fleet.

Pound slapped the table and cursed angrily: "The air force is just a loser. In such a large sea area, we have flown more than 30 sorties and still can't find the German fleet. What a damn thing! Tell them that they must be dispatched before the sun goes down today." The Germans turn it out for me!"

The German landing fleet that disappeared from their mouths is rushing towards the Canary Islands of Spain in a hurry. According to the scheduled plan, the fleet will rest on the island for a day and replenish fuel...