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Volume 1: On the Songhua River Chapter 3112: Showdown at Banda Sea (Part 2)

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    Compared with the rough sea surface, the seabed dozens of meters deep in the southwest Pacific is calm and dark. In the dark water, the only remaining submarine of the Japanese Fourth Fleet, No. 60, has just begun to follow the independent division fleet in the waters of the Solomon Islands.  It's been many days.  ¡Ñ

    The target has never been exposed, and a steady stream of valuable information has been sent back to the Combined Fleet Headquarters. Now, the names of the Lu-60 submarine and its captain Kimura have become the Combined Fleet Commander, Admiral Nagumo Tadashi, who often  The object on the lips.

    In this regard, the captain, Major Kimura, is very proud. A small submarine commander, such as Major, can have his name on the lips of the Supreme Commander of the Combined Fleet, one of the three giants of the Imperial Navy. What an honor is that?

    In addition to being complacent, Major Kimura also expressed serious doubts about the anti-submarine capabilities of the China Independent Division fleet. He even believed that if the Fourth Fleet was in the Solomon Islands naval battle, Fleet Commander Lieutenant General Inoue Narumi would be able to skillfully use submarines.  Battle tactics, final victory or defeat, or is it something that may not be known?

    Now Major Kimura feels that the submarine No. 60 under his command is like a lone hero, looking around the pack of wolves without being harmed. When waiting to return with honors, the rank of Lieutenant Colonel cannot escape.  Commander Yun Zhongyi's discernment, do you still need to worry about his future status and future in the Imperial Navy's combined fleet?

    Major Kimura's mood today was as happy as ever, and he told the operator: "Report to the fleet headquarters that the China Independent Division fleet has not changed its course and continues to sail toward the northeastern Caroline Islands! I, Lu-60 submarine  Keep following up!¡±

    The sound of the operator tapping the electric keys.  To Major Kimura's ears, it was as beautiful as music.  He smiled and looked up to see the submarine's sonar officer.  That face was so pale that there was no color in it.

    ¡°Oshima-kun, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Major Kimura asked strangely.

    "Commander, we are surrounded by submarine hunting submarines from the China Fleet!" the sonar officer, Captain Oshima, reported in a dry voice.

    "Boom, boom, boom!" A dull explosion suddenly came from the seabed dozens of meters deep, and a huge shock wave shook the hull of the Lu-60 submarine. Everyone was unsteady, and Major Kimura's expression also changed.  He turned pale instantly.  He could hear that on the sea above his head, there were at least five or six hunting submarines of the China Fleet, besieging him. The explosion just now was a depth charge attack, and the distance was very close.

    "Nani? How did the China fleet's submarine hunter discover him?" A puzzling thought came to Major Kimura's mind.  But there was no time for him to think. The space was broken and more than a dozen depth bombs hit the submarine accurately.  It tore the hull of the boat and blew the submarine into several pieces, including the Japanese submariners inside Kimura.  In an instant, it turned into a pile of scrap metal and a group of dead souls on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

    Japanese submarine Lu-60.  After this swan song information was sent out, it was like a dose of poison.  Dominating the thoughts of Admiral Nagumo Chudai, he commanded the main force of the combined fleet and continued northward without any surprises. The current position has reached the central part of the Banda Sea. At this time, the independent division fleet has begun to turn around and head to the southeast.  Going in the opposite direction to the previous one.

    After the main force of the combined fleet entered the Banda Sea, the voyage was extremely calm and undisturbed. It was like taking a walk in the back garden of your own home. It was this kind of calmness that made the fleet chief of staff, Lieutenant General Matsuda, increasingly uneasy.  The creepy feeling, sometimes too quiet, is also an abnormality.

    A few days ago, there were reconnaissance planes of the China Independent Division Aviation near the fleet, but in the past few days, they have disappeared. Chief of Staff Matsuda has experienced that the combined fleet lost more than one-third of its ships.  The three-day air battle with carrier aircraft and the powerful combat effectiveness of the independent division's land-based aircraft fleet left a deep impression on him.

    Chief of Staff Matsuda knew even more that the main force of the combined fleet had now entered the attack range of the land-based aircraft group of Le Yiqin, the commander of the independent division's Southern Flying Group, Tang Qiuli, his number one air force, and the Chinese devil Tang Qiuli.

    Looking around, there is Java Island in the back, Sulawesi Island on the left, Irian Island on the right, and Mindanao and Luzon Island in the whole area. These are all Le Yiqin's sphere of influence. His land-based aircraft fleet is right there.  On these islands, Chief of Staff Matsuda felt like he was being watched by a pack of wolves.

    According to normal circumstances, the bellicose China commander Le Yiqin saw so many main warships of the combined fleet entering the inland waters of the Banda Sea. He would have to launch a land-based fleet to carry out a harassing attack, but he  Not once, abnormal, very abnormal!

    With this kind of worry and tension, Chief of Staff Matsuda couldn't bear it anymore after a few days. It just so happened that the Lu-60 submarine that had been tracking the China Independent Division fleet lost contact for nearly a day. There was no need to explore.  Just know, ?The jade must have been broken. This was an opportunity. He decided to talk to the commander of the fleet, Admiral Nagumo Tadashi, to have a frank talk and express his concerns.

    Fortunately, it seemed that Commander Nagumo was in a good mood today. When he saw Chief of Staff Matsuda come in, a rare smile appeared on his dead-like face, he said hello, and asked about the current situation of the fleet in a seemingly casual manner.

    When Chief of Staff Matsuda mentioned that contact with the Lu-60 submarine had been lost for almost a day, Admiral Nagumo Chudai seemed slightly shocked, but then he acted as if nothing had happened and had no explanation. Maybe in his opinion  , a mere submarine lost contact, it was not a big deal, even though at that time a submarine was tracking the China Independent Division fleet, their mission had been completed.

    Seeing that Commander Nagumo didn't want to talk more about the Lu-60 submarine, Chief of Staff Matsuda didn't say any more. After talking about some military affairs in a seemingly pleasant and relaxed manner, he felt that the heat was almost over, so he said: "Commander,  The main force of the fleet has now entered the attack range of the land-based aircraft group of the Southern Flying Group of the Independent Division Aviation Force, but no enemy actions have been seen. This is very abnormal and abnormal! "

    "Looking at the current position of the fleet, surrounded by several islands, I remember that Commander Yamamoto repeatedly warned several fleet commanders, 'The stage of the combined fleet is on the vast ocean, not on the vast ocean.  Fighting against the enemy's land-based aviation forces in the inland sea is based on one's own shortcomings and the enemy's strong points!'"

    "Commander, the Ministry of Staff believes that General Yamamoto's words are very reasonable. During the period of complete victory of the Combined Fleet, Commander Yamamoto personally commanded him. In the battle with the China Independent Division Aviation Land-based Air Force, he could not gain the upper hand, let alone now.  ?¡±

    "Therefore, the Ministry of Staff recommends that the main force of the combined fleet should not go deeper into the Banda Sea. Instead, it should immediately turn around and return to northern Australia to implement the battle plan of heading westward into the eastern Indian Ocean. It is more prudent!"

    "The land-based aircraft group of the Qie China Independent Division's aviation force did not show any action when the main force of the combined fleet entered the inland waters of the Banda Sea. This cannot help but make people suspicious. The strength of that Le Yiqin is not so weak that he dare not fight.  Of course, the above is my personal opinion, Commander, please consider it!¡±

    General Nagumo Chudai was in a good mood today. Although he felt a little unhappy with Chief of Staff Matsuda's nagging and nagging, he could still listen to it in a calm mood. Anyway, what he made was just a suggestion. Whether he listened or not was up to him.  He himself, Matsuda, is the chief of staff of the combined fleet and the second most important figure, so he doesn't want to be too arrogant.

    However, Chief of Staff Matsuda brought out Yamamoto Isoroku again, repeating the old tune about the battle plan from the west to the east Indian Ocean, which made General Nagumo feel extremely disgusted in his heart, and a fire suddenly rose. Although General Yamamoto was  The naval general I admire and respect the most, but within the United Fleet, he should not be an emperor-like existence!

    The smile on General Nagumo Chuda's face suddenly disappeared, and his face turned ashen like a dead man. He looked at Chief of Staff Matsuda coldly and said a few words through his teeth, "Chief of Staff Matsuda, I remind you again,  The current commander of the combined fleet is me, Chuichi Nagumo, and no one else!"

    "Also, the battle plan to intercept the China Independent Division fleet in the waters of the Caroline Islands cannot be changed. I hope you will not say anything in the future that has nothing to do with this battle. Otherwise, I will think that you, the Chief of Staff, are not good enough.  Competent!¡±

    Having spoken to this extent, Chief of Staff Matsuda knew that his efforts had failed again. He stood up, bowed deeply, and said: "Commander, the staff is lying!" Then he turned and left, clearly  I heard the cold snort of Commander Nagumo Chuichi.

    However, although General Nagumo Chudai was very dissatisfied with Chief of Staff Matsuda, he still took his reminder very seriously and immediately ordered one-fifth of the fleet's carrier-based aircraft units to be in combat status, but that was all.  In his opinion, it was enough to deal with the Chinese land-based aircraft fleet, and the fleet did not even need to form a battle formation.

    Three days later, the main force of the Combined Fleet had reached the northern part of the Banda Sea and the waters west of Bulu Island. The reconnaissance aircraft of the Independent Division Aviation Force appeared again, circling around the Combined Fleet like flies. In response, Admiral Nagumo Tadashi  The order was, "Deport or shoot down!"

    At night, the wind picked up in the Banda Sea, and huge waves surged on the sea. In Makassar, Sulawesi, at the Southern Flight Group Headquarters of the Aviation Force, Le Yiqin looked at the intelligence sent back by the reconnaissance plane, laughed loudly, and said:  Chief of Staff He Zhijun said: "Zhijun, do you think this old Japs Nagumo Chuichi is out of his mind? When Yamamoto Isoroku was here, we beat the Japs' combined fleet with blood all over their faces!"

    "Now, we have penetrated deep into the northern waters of the Banda Sea. Our reconnaissance planes are hovering around the little devil's fleet, but they have not entered the battle state. This is the rhythm of fighting. Nagumo Chuichi??Isoroku Yamamoto is still crazy!  "

    He Zhijun said a few words, "You are emboldened, you underestimate the enemy, or you don't take our Southern Flying Group seriously at all!"

    "Really?" Le Yiqin's pupils shrank into dangerous needle shapes and said: "Go ahead and order all aircraft groups to launch an attack according to the planned plan tomorrow morning!"

    (To be continued) (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!
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