Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> Beiyang world

Text 98. Coral Sea (4)

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    After receiving a telegram from the submarine force, Chen Shiying decisively ordered the Third Fleet to intercept the enemy fleet. Due to the dense coral reefs in the Solomon Islands, he needed to lead the fleet from the west of the Solomon Islands into the southern Coral Sea.  Admiral Cheng Yaoheng led the Second Fleet to cruise in the eastern waters of the Solomon Islands.

    Fang Minghao led the fleet to rendezvous with the transport fleet protected only by the destroyer fleet in the eastern part of Bougainville Island, and then continued sailing south. According to the plan, the 5th Marine Division would first land at Jinh¨¢ng, Malaita Island, followed by the 13th Marine Division.  "Only on Florida Island" "Please search Piao Tian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!"

    In the Southern Solomon Islands, the US-Australian coalition forces are mainly stationed on Guadalcanal Island. According to reconnaissance intelligence, there is only one regiment of defenders on Malaita Island, and the resistance encountered by the landing troops should not be very strong.

    The fleet discovered by the submarine force is the main force of the Southwest Pacific Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Kincaid. This fleet includes four "Exess class" aircraft ships and two "** class" aircraft ships.  After the Southwest Pacific Fleet received news of the dispatch of the Republican Navy, Admiral Golim judged that the Republican Army would launch an attack on the Southern Solomon Islands, and immediately ordered Lieutenant General Kincaid to lead the main force of the Southwest Pacific Fleet to reinforce Guadalcanal Island.  Admiral Nimitz was asked to send Halsey's Third Fleet and Spruance's Seventh Fleet to support the southern Solomon Islands.

    Admiral Halsey immediately led the fleet from Menua after receiving the order. He was about 120 nautical miles behind Kincaid's fleet.  Vice Admiral Spruance seemed very capable and continued to lead the fleet near the Santa Cruz waters.  The cautious Spruance determined that Ruguo would go directly to the Southern Solomon Islands, and his opponent would definitely have a fleet to intercept him.  Because the situation was more exposed and risky, he decided to stay put until he determined the situation of the Republic Fleet.

    In terms of strength, Halsey's Third Fleet is the strongest. This fleet has eight "Essex-class" aircraft ships and two cutting-edge battleships, the "Iowa" and the "New Jersey". Spook  Runes has 6 "Essex-class" ships and two "Ser-class" auxiliary aircraft ships, which are slightly weaker than the Third Fleet.

    In the Pacific Ocean, both the Republican Navy and the United States Navy have deployed a large number of submarines.  Due to the actual situation in the Pacific battlefield.  U.S. submarines and Republican Navy submarines have higher displacement and endurance than German submarines. The two sides of the Pacific Ocean are 6,000 nautical miles apart. Even a round trip has a range of 12,000 nautical miles. Although in fact, the forward bases of submarines on both sides will definitely not be set up.  near the coast.

    Because it is difficult for surface ships to enter the Western Pacific or the Indian Ocean.  Therefore, the submarine force has become the only weapon that can cause trouble to the Republic of China in these sea areas.  In this time and space.  The size and number of the U.S. submarine force far exceed that of another time and space.

    Due to the rapid development of detection technologies such as radar, sonar and magnetic anomalies, it is difficult for submarines to approach large fleets with strict anti-submarine networks, but they will still perform important tasks of reconnaissance and early warning during naval battles.  at present.  The U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force has more than 480 submarines of various types, of which about 150 are deployed in the Southwest Pacific.  In this sea area, the Republican Navy also deployed roughly the same number of submarines.

    The little-known Spruance, who was born as a convoy commander, accidentally became the U.S. naval admiral with the most encounters with the Republic Navy by accidentally collaborating with Vice Admiral Fletcher. Instead, it was his boss, Admiral Halsey.  Will only fight the Republic Navy once in the Solomon Sea.

    Contrary to the unlucky Lieutenant General Fletcher, Lieutenant General Spruance gained the upper hand every time he fought against the Republic Navy, thanks to his calm judgment and "luck." After winning,  I get away with it every time.  However, Lieutenant General Fletcher did not have his "good luck". So far, he has become the fleet commander with the most aircraft losses in the U.S. Navy, which made the Navy Department and Admiral King very doubtful of his ability.  If Nimitz had not vigorously defended Fletcher, the Navy Commander-in-Chief might have ordered the dismissal of Fletcher.

    Vice Admiral Spruance, who was a battleship commander and claimed to know nothing about aviation tactics, had a very good analysis of the combat capabilities of Chinese and American naval battleships. According to his assessment, there are still some deficiencies in the performance and configuration of carrier-based aircraft.  Due to the technical gap, two "Essex-class" aircraft ships can offset one "North Sea-class" aircraft ship of the Republic Navy.  Although his judgment is difficult to be recognized by his naval colleagues, he has always conducted combat analysis based on this power balance. Although a considerable number of people criticized his "cowardice" during the Battle of Midway, which ultimately caused the heavy damage to the Republic Fleet.  He was able to escape unscathed, but his caution also prevented the Fifth Fleet from suffering a full blow from General Cheng Yaoheng.

    After receiving the order to reinforce the Solomon Sea, Spruance was leading the 7thThe fleet was resupplying in the Tuvalu Islands, but his intuition told him that the prospect was not optimistic, because according to intelligence, the Republican Navy had gathered eighteen main aviation warships in this area.

    The opponent Yijing is ready for an unprecedented naval decisive battle with the Americans. It seems that the U.S. Navy has an advantage in the number of aircraft ships, but according to Spruance's judgment, the gap between the two sides is at least one-third.  In terms of the number of carrier-based aircraft, the US military only has more than 1,800 aircraft, while its opponents have more than 2,700 aircraft. This is a huge gap.

    Spruance was pessimistic about the prospects of naval battles, which was one of the reasons why he was reluctant to take action. He had to wait until the Japanese fleet in Fiji met him before taking action. Ruguo could not implement some effective deception tactics.  It will be difficult to win in this naval battle.

    According to his analysis, the Republican Navy will definitely have a main fleet waiting for him in the north of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Republican Army¡¯s preferred landing location will be the weakly defended Malaita Island.  He needed to let the Japanese fleet divert the main fleet blocking him, and then he would lead the main force of the Seventh Fleet to attack the enemy's transport fleet.

    In the early morning of November 11, the Seventh Fleet rendezvoused with the Japanese fleet commanded by Ozawa Jisaburo in the northern part of Rotuma Island. Spruance took a transport boat to the Japanese flagship. In the headquarters of the Yamato,  He and Ozawa finally discussed and completed the battle plan: Ozawa's fleet would lead the Republican Navy's Second Fleet to the north, and then Spruance would lead the main force of the Seventh Fleet to attack the Republican Army on Malaita Island.

    This plan looks very much like one made by Orientals. In fact, there are also cunning people among white people.

    Shortly after Spruance returned to the "Yorktown", Ozawa Jisaburo sent a signal on the "Yamato". On the sea surface illuminated by a crescent moon, the Japanese fleet flashed signals toward the northern waters.  Drive away.  Spruance stayed where he was, waiting for news from Ozawa.

    Now in the Coral Sea, both Chen Shiying and Jin Kaide have entered the opponent's attack range. The two sides are currently about 300 nautical miles apart, and their opponents may be discovered at any time.  (To be continued.)
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report