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Text 101. Coral Sea (7)

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    The entire Coral Sea Battle was actually divided into three independent battlefields. In the vast Southwest Pacific, the Republican Fleet and the U.S. Fleet were engaged in the largest sea and air battle in human history in three battlefields hundreds of sea miles apart.

    The US-Japanese "bait fleet" commanded by Osawa Jisaburo was the first to break out. The battle took place in the sea area about 180 nautical miles northeast of the Kunumanu Islands. The battle here was not very fierce. After successfully luring the enemy,  Ozawa and Mitchell commanded the fleet to retreat at a high speed to the Nauru area, while Cheng Yaoheng led five aircraft ships of the Second Fleet in hot pursuit.

    In the southern Solomon Islands, there was a brief battle between the Third Fleet commanded by Admiral Chen Shiying and the US Pacific Fleet on the afternoon of November 12. Kincaid felt that he was unable to fight, so he retreated towards the US Third Fleet commanded by Halsey.  , the two fleets broke away from contact after more than half an hour of fighting.

    The most thrilling battle took place between the Fifth Fleet commanded by Fang Minghao and the US Seventh Fleet commanded by Spruance. This battle was reversed by an attack by the Republican Navy submarine force.

    The Fifth Fleet commanded by Fang Minghao is not very weak compared to Bu'an. It has two "Beihai-class" aircraft ships and two "Tianjin-class" aircraft ships, with a total of more than 560 carrier-based aircraft. However, due to the need to provide Suala Bay,  When Spruance's fleet was discovered, he actually only had more than 480 carrier-based aircraft at the time, and the number of escort fighters was insufficient.

    Spruance has six aircraft carriers at his disposal. The performance of the Essex-class aircraft with a displacement of 30,000 tons is similar to that of the Jiangsu-class aircraft carrier of the Republic Navy.  Equipped with 112 carrier-based aircraft, Spruance has a total of more than 670 carrier-based aircraft.  Moreover, the Japanese fleet in the hands of Lieutenant General Nagumo also has more than 170 carrier-based aircraft.  In this regard, Spruance has an overwhelming advantage.

    Water reconnaissance planes taking off from Tulagi Port discovered the location of the Fifth Fleet commanded by Fang Minghao very early. However, the information they sent needed to be sent to the Southwest Pacific Commander in Wellington through the communication station on Guadalcanal.  The department then forwarded it to Spruance, which was delayed for about half an hour.  When Spruance obtained the exact location of the Fifth Fleet, a reconnaissance plane dispatched from the Fifth Fleet also flew close to him.

    When the Republic Navy selects the focus of operations, the enemy's air fleet is always the first target. This is a tactical principle formulated by the Navy after realizing the importance of air ships.  After receiving the information, Fang Minghao.  The first batch of strike forces was dispatched without hesitation, and more than 300 combat aircraft were dispatched at one time, including 108 torpedo planes from all 6 squadrons. This was the largest force he could dispatch.

    Spruance was also a very decisive commander, and he also dispatched half of his strength at one time. Although the commanders of each aircraft ship still had doubts about Spruance, who was a battleship commander.  Attitude, but no doubt.  This general, who knew nothing about flying airplanes, had the most profound knowledge of aircraft ship tactics among the American and British navies.

    Aware of the huge strike capabilities of aircraft ships, Spruance was very cautious in his tactical choices. When he was at a disadvantage, he tried his best to avoid a head-on confrontation with the Republic fleet, but when he had an advantage, he would not hesitate.  The Earth Council ordered an all-out attack.  In comparison, his boss Halsey was too reckless.  Major General Fletcher lacked his courage.

    Fang Minghao is in a very difficult situation. If the first attack wave he sends cannot severely damage the enemy's aviation fleet, then he will become quite dangerous in the subsequent battles. The transport fleet that is landing at Suafa Bay needs his protection.  .  Making it impossible for him to escape first.

    He immediately ordered the transport fleet to stop unloading personnel and supplies on the beach and immediately retreat to the port of Buala.  But at the speed of the transport fleet, he needs to support it for at least four hours.

    The enemy's fleet began to approach Fang Minghao's fleet at around 11:30. Fang Minghao dispatched all the fighter jets and attack aircraft on the ship to intercept, and recalled all the fighter jets performing missions in Suafa Bay. However, these fighter jets were damaged by fuel.  It's not enough and can't last much time.

    The enemy's aircraft fleet is too large in number. It is impossible to completely prevent the enemy's attack in the air. Fang Minghao can only hope that his first batch of attack aircraft fleet can inflict heavy damage to the enemy. In this way, perhaps the enemy's subsequent attacks will be  Abort.  What made him feel a little lucky was that he had eight battleships with powerful firepower in his hands. The air defense network formed by these battleships would definitely reduce the pressure on aviation battleships in air attacks to the greatest extent.

    However, no matter how tight the air defense network was, it could not withstand the enemy carrier-based aircraft's repeated attacks. At 12:05, the cruiser "Ya'an" located on the right side of the "**" was hit by a torpedo on the starboard front. This cruiser's aviation  As soon as it descended, its firepower weakness was exposed. A group of "Dauntless" bombers over the fleet braved intensive artillery fire and concentrated on attacking the **.

    Then there was another teamThe torpedo plane also dropped torpedoes on the sea about 1,500 meters away from the **. Seven torpedoes dragged white tracks towards the ** quickly. Fang Minghao saw that four torpedoes could no longer be avoided and ordered "  "Himalaya" placed its hull across the side of "**" to protect the aircraft ship from torpedoes. At this time, he would rather sacrifice his flagship than let the aircraft ship be harmed.

    With two loud bangs, the huge explosion shocked this giant ship with a displacement of more than 70,000 tons, but then there was another loud bang. After all, the "**" did not escape its bad luck. The ship on the right  The bow was blown open, and tongues of fire mixed with seawater sprayed outward from the hull.

    While these warships were dodging torpedoes, enemy bombers also rushed down from an altitude of 3,000 meters.

    The entire battle lasted for nearly half an hour. The enemy planes that completed the bombing gradually fled the battlefield. The fighter pilots were still chasing the vicious assassins. Smoke billowed from the sea and the Fifth Fleet was severely damaged.

    In the first wave of enemy attacks, two aircraft ships, two cruisers and one battleship of the Fifth Fleet were severely damaged, one aircraft ship and one battleship were slightly damaged, and the destroyer "Luzhou" was hit by one  The torpedo hit, and the captain saw that he could not stop the flooding and ordered to abandon the ship.

    Fang Minghao was very worried about being attacked by the enemy again. Fortunately, the attacking troops in front sent a telegram back, which had severely damaged the US Seventh Fleet. The enemy was currently retreating. According to visual inspection, at least four enemy aircraft ships were severely damaged.  The submarine force's bombardment achieved great success, disrupting the enemy fleet's air defense system, making it easier for the aviation fleet to break into the enemy fleet's air defense network. This result made Fang Minghao finally breathe a sigh of relief, at least for the time being, he did not have to worry about the enemy.  The second attack.

    Fang Minghao led the severely damaged Fifth Fleet to slowly retreat towards Bougainville Island. At 1:45, the slightly damaged "Fujian" also rushed to the east of Isabel Island to join him after emergency repairs.  The flight deck of the "Fujian" was penetrated by an aerial bomb. After extinguishing the fire and emergency repairs by the ship's personnel, it did not affect the operation, so reinforcements were ordered to the Fifth Fleet.

    After receiving reinforcements from the Fujian, the unwilling Fang Minghao ordered the damaged warships to retreat to Rabaul under the protection of the 21st Destroyer Fleet. He then led the fleet southward and began to pursue the retreating United States.  Seventh Fleet.  His decision was quite correct. Since the "Bunker Hill", "Antidan", "Princeton" and the Japanese "Shoukaku" were all severely damaged, Spruance's Seventh Fleet could only  Retreating slowly at a speed of six knots, it only took Fang Minghao more than three hours to catch up with them.

    At dusk, Spruance was attacked again and was forced to abandon the Antietam and Princeton. Fortunately, it was dark, which allowed him to finally get rid of the attack.  (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian to vote for recommendations and monthly votes.
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