Chapter 530: The First Battle of Hawaii 3

"boom……"

The earth-shattering roar of naval guns began to echo in the Pacific south of Oahu as the naval guns and 1st naval gun fired the first salvo. Walter Short, who had just been promoted to general and governor by Roosevelt, could not avoid it. As soon as the Yamato appeared this afternoon, he went to the fortress on Diamond Head to supervise the battle.

But until dark, the Yamato and the other two Nagato-class battleships were wandering on the sea 40 kilometers away from the south coast of Oahu. When it got dark, the three battleships drove to a distance of 30,000 meters from the Williston Fort under the cover of darkness, and then started shooting.

At the same time, several Zero Water Scouts and Zero Water Observers flew above the Williston Fort, dropping illumination bombs and correcting the impact of the shells despite the intensive anti-aircraft fire.

"God, is that... is that a 17-inch or 18-inch cannon?"

In the distance, the muzzle flames that were extremely huge compared to the muzzle flash fired by the 1st cannon stunned General Walter Short and his staff, although this was the first time they had seen a 460mm-caliber super cannon in action. Roaring, but each of them knew very well that the armor protection of the Williston Fort could not withstand the bombardment of this level of artillery - because the imaginary enemy of the Williston Fort was only the Nagato class with a 410mm caliber main gun...

Just when Walter Short and others were shocked by the huge momentum of the Yamato's main gun. Several fireballs have risen from around the Williston Fort. The huge orange-red fireball has made everyone on the Williston Fort shudder. They have never seen such a huge fireball.

"Artillery parameters! Quick, tell me the parameters!"

Major Cook, the commander of the fort, ignored his fear and quickly shouted questions. Of course, there is no high-tech thing like fire control radar on the Williston Fort, and various bombardment elements can only rely on visual observation and calculation. And now it's night again. Who can see clearly something 30 kilometers away in the dark? Let alone an American soldier, even a Japanese cat-eye soldier wouldn't be able to see clearly.

Moreover, there are not many flying aircraft on Oahu. The only aircraft that can be used for artillery observation are big ones like the Catalina seaplane. If it really flies to the Yamato, it will probably be shot down by anti-aircraft artillery—— The Yamato is equipped with a FuMo23 radar imported from Germany, which can detect the general direction of the Catalina seaplane.

Therefore, the American artillery observers at the Williston Fort this evening could only rely on the gunfire from the Japanese battleships to estimate the bombardment of Moromoto.

"Commander, the Americans have begun to fight back."

In fact, Ugaki Matoi didn't say anything, Yamamoto Isoroku had also seen the Williston fort and the light of gunfire flashing near the fort. This should be the armored turrets of Williston Battery and the two beached American battleships near the battery firing. But the shells they fired were so deflected that they didn't know where they landed.

But this scene still made him frown slightly. He knew it was impossible to win, but he still fought to the end. This fighting spirit coupled with the strong industrial strength of the United States cast a shadow over Yamamoto Isoroku. Just when he thought of this, he suddenly heard people around him cheering.

"Onboard!"

"Hit!"

After 10 rounds of adjustments, the 410mm main gun of the battleship Nagato made its first success. A 1,020-kilogram Type 91 armor-piercing projectile hit the top of the armored turret of the Williston Fort, although it did not penetrate the thick steel armor. , but it still boosted the morale of the people in the Yamato command tower.

Because now the Yamato, Nagato and Mutsu ships are aiming uniformly, and they all shoot based on the same parameters. Since the 410mm shell hit the target, it is only a matter of time before the 460mm shell hits the target.

"It seems that the Williston Battery and the two stranded Colorado-class battleships can be dealt with tonight." Yamamoto Isoroku closed his eyelids, as if talking to himself, "Tomorrow night, the Hatch Battery and the Kaiser Mehameha Fort, Randolph Fort, Fort Ruger and Clozon Fort the night after tomorrow. These three forts may require some effort, and may take an extra night, so that the landing can begin on the 22nd at the latest. "..." He suddenly opened his eyes and said to Ugaki Matou: "Go and give Nagumo Tadashi an order to return to the waters near Kauai on the night of the 21st."

Ugaki Matoi was stunned and said: "Commander, Nagumo-kun is pursuing the American aircraft carrier with all his strength."

"If you can't catch up, there is no need to chase." Yamamoto Isoroku shook his head, "Let the mobile fleet rest in the waters near Kauai and add supplies, fuel and ammunition. A group of supplementary aircraft and pilots will arrive soon. , we have to get on the ship in time so that we can catch up with the next battle. "

"The next battle?" Ugaki asked, "Where will it be?"

"Of course it's the Pacific!" Yamamoto glanced at Ugaki, "Ugaki-kun, you don't think that the Battle of Hawaii will be over soon and the Americans are ready to give up, right?"

"Commander, do you think the Americans will counterattack soon?"

Yamamoto Isoroku's eyes showed solemnity and he nodded: "That's for sure. No one will be willing to give up the key stronghold of Hawaii. Therefore, the mobile fleet must be ready to attack at any time!"

At this time, Yamamoto Isoroku had not yet thought about occupying Australia, and in fact, other Japanese soldiers had not thought about it either. In terms of strategic vision, American military and political leaders are indeed smarter. They see further than the Japanese.

Just as he finished speaking, cheers rang out again in the Yamato's bridge. This time, the armor-piercing shells fired by the Yamato's 460mm caliber cannon penetrated the top of the Williston Battery's armored turret...

...

"Admiral, Williston Battery and the USS Maryland were destroyed by the Japanese super battleship last night!"

On Admiral Chester Nimitz's first day as commander of the Pacific Fleet, his chief of staff, Rear Admiral Milo Frederick, brought him very bad news.

The Williston Battery, the most important battery on Oahu Island, had been destroyed, and the USS Maryland, which was stranded near the Williston Battery, was also finished, as a 460mm Japanese shell hit a major ammunition depot!

"Admiral Short said that if that damn Japanese super battleship continues to be so arrogant, in three days at most, all the artillery positions on Oahu will be destroyed, and the West Virginia battleship will also be destroyed. Then the Japanese will land."

"Can only hold on for another three days? That means the 22nd..." Nimitz frowned, "How many days can Pearl Harbor be defended?"

"At most two weeks."

"What about Oahu?"

"Maybe one month, maybe longer," said Major General Milo Frederick, "It depends on our reinforcements."

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff Marshall gave Admiral Walter Short an order to defend Oahu for at least three months. However, Admiral Short said that he could only hold on for a month at most, and he would have to meet the founding father, former President Washington.

"Then it's in time. One month is enough." Nimitz asked again, "Where is Halsey? Where is his fleet now? Are the Japanese still chasing?"

"Vice Admiral Halsey's fleet is returning and will be back to San Diego in 7 days. As for whether the Japanese are chasing, Vice Admiral Halsey is not sure because his fleet had shaken off the Japanese a day ago."

Because he was scared by the previous V3 special attack, Halsey has been playing hide-and-seek with Chuichi Nagumo in the Pacific these days, and he is quite good at hiding. Chuichi Nagumo lost Halsey before he received the return order from Isoroku Yamamoto yesterday. Now Halsey is leading the fleet back to San Diego.

"Great, this is good news." Nimitz smiled, "North Carolina and Washington will arrive in San Diego in 8 days, and then we can start the operation!"

"Action? To reinforce Hawaii?"

"Not only Hawaii, but also Australia." Nimitz said to the Chief of Staff of the Pacific Fleet, "Mello, we are going to carry out an unprecedented operation!"

Before the start of an unprecedented operation, there will generally be an unprecedented mobilization of troops and materials. This time is no exception. As early as when Hawaii was attacked, the transportation system of the industrial giant of the United States began to operate at full capacity, transporting a large amount of materials and personnel to the west coast of the United States.

The three most valuable battleships in the Atlantic Fleet, the battleship North Carolina, the battleship Washington and the aircraft carrier Wasp, began to be quickly transferred to the Pacific. And with them, in addition to the escorting cruisers and destroyers, there are all the fast cruise ships (no more than 33 meters wide) that can pass through the Panama Canal that can be collected on the East Coast.

Of course, the only purpose of mobilizing these fast cruise ships is to transport troops. Cruise ships are fast and comfortable means of transportation, very suitable for transporting soldiers. When these cruise ships arrive in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other places, a large number of US Army and Marine Corps will also arrive and board the ships from the public docks.

The transport ships and tankers that failed to reinforce Hawaii not long ago have also returned to the ports on the West Coast with the cruisers and destroyers of the Pacific Fleet in the past few days. These transport ships and tankers, together with the fast cruise ships that just came from the East Coast, filled the ports of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Now everyone, including German spies lurking in cities on the West Coast of the United States, took it for granted that the US Pacific Fleet would soon escort more troops and supplies to reinforce Hawaii.