Chapter 924: Still Defeat 16

Ugaki Matoi's opinion was quickly supported by all the senior Japanese naval officials in power, including Yamamoto Isoroku, Nagano Osamu, and Ito Seiichi.

Because Japan is indeed unable to resist the injurious attrition tactics adopted by the Americans... Even in this war of attrition, the price paid by the United States far exceeds Japan's losses, and Japan cannot persist.

So Japan must fight to the death!

Hawaii time, on October 3, 1943, the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet met with the Japanese First Mobile Fleet in the Pacific between Midway Island and Palmyra Atoll.

Immediately, a force with the aircraft carrier Shokaku as its flagship included the aircraft carrier Zuikaku, the aircraft carrier Taiho, the heavy cruiser Kaohsiung, the heavy cruiser Atago, and the heavy cruiser Chokai. The cruiser, the heavy cruiser "Maya", the light cruiser "Oyodo", the light cruiser "Niyodo" (the No. 2 ship of the "Oyodo" class, was built in this time and space), and ten other destroyers formed a new first The mobile fleet headed for Wake Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at a high speed of 25 knots!

Just one day before the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet and the First Mobile Fleet joined forces, the U.S. 58th Breakthrough Fleet launched an air attack on Kwajalein Atoll, which Japan has operated for many years (it was originally a German protectorate and was acquired by Japan after World War I). However, no Japanese aircraft or pilots were damaged this time. Because it was expected that Kwajalein Atoll would be attacked, the Japanese army transferred the aviation troops stationed there in advance.

However, this kind of passive avoidance of war is not a good way to deal with the US break-up fleet! Since there was no resistance from Japanese fighter planes and Japan's anti-aircraft firepower on the island was too weak, American planes carried out several waves of air raids, not only blowing up the airport but also destroying many warehouses and barracks, destroying the Japanese's years of hard work. The business was in ruins.

After the bombing of Kwajalein Atoll, Japanese naval officials estimated that Wake Island, north of Kwajalein Atoll, would be bombed next, so they ordered the First Mobile Fleet to rush to Wake Island at full speed.

However, after more than 60 hours of running, Ozawa Jisaburo received news that Guam and Saipan had been bombed. Because the planes there were not transferred in advance, dozens more were lost (transferred from Wake Island). The plane is also on Saipan).

…

Furumura Keizo drew a half circle on the chart, and then said to the commander of the First Mobile Fleet, Ozawa Jisaburo, "The approximate position of the U.S. fleet can now be determined...it is about 1,000 nautical miles away from us!"

"We'll catch up soon!" Ozawa Jisaburo didn't show any joy when he spoke. Because he knew that catching up with the American fleet would mean another great loss of carrier-based pilots' lives!

"That's right!" Furumura said, "It is estimated that the U.S. fleet will maneuver back north, pass through the waters between the Japanese archipelago and Wake Island, and then turn northeast and break into the North Pacific... It is estimated that there will be a tanker formation and another U.S. aircraft carrier. The formation met them in the North Pacific."

The North Pacific has always been the channel for American aircraft carriers to move westward and return eastward, and the Americans often use aircraft carriers to escort oil tankers in the North Pacific to welcome returning enemy formations. This is why Furumura Keizang made such a judgment.

"We can't let them converge, otherwise we will be in big trouble!" Ozawa Jisaburo paused, and then said: "The question now is not whether we can catch up, but whether we can determine the position of the U.S. fleet. As long as it can be determined, then There will definitely be a chance to attack, and... the certainty is very high!”

Ozawa is not entirely bragging when he says he is "very confident." He has three large fleet aircraft carriers and a sufficient number of carrier-based aircraft.

The losses of Shokaku and Zuikaku in the Battle of Christmas Island were made up by diverting aircraft from Oahu and other carriers. There are currently 144 commonly used aircraft on the "Shuanghe aircraft carrier", including 36 Zero fighters, 54 "Comet" dive bombers and "Meteor" torpedo bombers.

The Taiho has 60 commonly used carrier-based aircraft, including 19 Zero fighters, 21 "Comets" and "Meteors" each.

The three aircraft carriers have a total of 204 carrier-based aircraft, and their combat effectiveness is quite impressive.

"Let bases in the Western Pacific region, including the mainland, dispatch Type 1 land attack boats, Type 97 large boats, and Type 2 large boats to search, and the location of the US aircraft carrier must be found no matter what." Ozawa Jisaburo said, "We also dispatched seaplanes Find it with the reconnaissance plane!”

Ozawa gritted his teeth, "Once the target is discovered...send all the carrier-based aircraft out at once, and not a single direct cover aircraft will be left behind!"

"No direct cover?" Furumura looked at Ozawa, "Are you going to make a desperate move?"

Ozawa nodded and said: "It must be like this, otherwise the air attack formation is likely to be defeated by the fighter jets on the American aircraft carrier... In that case, we will be the biggest sinners of the Japanese Empire."

"Hai!" Furumura nodded hard at Ozawa and turned around to arrange the battle according to Ozawa's instructions.

In fact, he completely understood Ozawa Jisaburo's thoughts. The aircraft carrier itself has little attack power. Its combat effectiveness is based on having a powerful carrier-based aircraft formation.

The elite pilots of the Japanese Navy have suffered heavy losses in the current war of attrition. Even if they can sink two more American aircraft carriers, the price paid is enough to make Japan lose even though it wins.

If calculated according to the previous sea and air exchange ratio, after sinking 2-3 Essex-class aircraft carriers, Japan's pilot losses are likely to exceed 800, or even close to 900!

This means that in less than a month, Japan lost 10% of its pilots (captains), and most of them were experienced naval aviation veterans.

After such a serious loss of blood, it is hard to say whether Japan's 19 aircraft carriers can still have enough carrier-based pilots - carrier-based pilots are not as easy to train as shore-based pilots. Without hundreds of hours of flying experience, the threat to Japanese lives on aircraft carriers is definitely greater than the threat to American lives!

So aircraft carriers are no longer so important to Japan...

...

Because they are already in the Western Pacific surrounded by islands controlled by Japan, the whereabouts of the 58th commerce-breaking fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Fletcher were soon exposed.

At 8 pm on October 8, Tokyo time, the sound of air defense alarms suddenly sounded on the "Hornet" aircraft carrier sailing on the Pacific Ocean northeast of the Mariana Islands.

"Sir, the radar detected enemy aircraft, number 1, azimuth 230, distance 120, altitude 5000."

After listening to the radar officer's report, Colonel Arleigh Burke, the chief of staff of the 58th commerce-breaking fleet (the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named after him), said to his superior, Rear Admiral Mark Mitchell: "Sir, it seems that the time for turkey hunting will soon come."

"Hunting turkeys in the Japanese backyard... It's really exciting!" Mark Mitchell, holding a pipe, looked very old, 10 years older than his actual age. The 59-year-old US Navy Rear Admiral looked as if he was 69 years old.

However, Rear Admiral Mitchell, who looked very old, was a naval general who kept up with the times. He was actually the first generation of carrier-based aircraft pilots in the United States. He flew seaplanes during World War I. In addition to racing (Schneider Racing) between the two world wars, he had been serving in the US Navy Air Force. He had been the captain of a seaplane carrier and an aircraft carrier and was an expert in the US Navy Air Force.

"Allie," Mitchell asked, "Do you have any good ideas? Tell me about it."

"We can drive slower," Arleigh Burke said, "and then send fighter planes to shoot down the Japanese reconnaissance planes at dawn, and then turn east, and send seaplanes to search for traces of the Japanese fleet."

"You want to engage in an artillery battle with the Japanese?" Mitchell took two puffs of his cigarette, "Aren't you worried about hitting the Yamato class?"

"No," Arleigh Burke said, "The Yamato's speed is at most 26-27 knots, and it is impossible to use it to chase us. The Japanese must have used fast aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers, and we can scare them so that they don't chase too closely. And... we can also determine the position of the main force of the Japanese fleet by the direction of the Japanese fleet's retreat."

Arleigh Burke estimated that after being frightened, the Japanese fast aircraft carrier formation would definitely move closer to the main fleet. As long as the direction of their escape was determined, the 58th commerce-breaking fleet would know which route to retreat from.

"Okay, we'll do what you said."

...

"We found them!"

In the meeting room of the Japanese Navy Ministry in Tokyo, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The damn American commerce raiding fleet was finally discovered by a Type 2 large boat equipped with German radar. Now this aircraft with a long range is following the American fleet from a distance - the American fleet should not be able to escape now!

"Marshal, we finally caught them!" Ito Seiichi, who was on duty, immediately called Yamamoto Isoroku, who was resting at home.

"How many ships are there?" Yamamoto asked anxiously on the other end of the phone line.

"There are more than 10 on the radar," Ito Seiichi replied, "We will definitely wipe out the enemy this time."

"We must wipe them out!" Yamamoto Isoroku said firmly, "We must do it at all costs! In addition, Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines must also be tightly blocked to prevent the US fleet from breaking through and escaping to China."

China is still maintaining a superficial neutrality, but its relationship with Japan is tense, and it is very close to the Soviet Union. It may become the target of the desperate US fleet.

Ito Seiichi replied: "We have already made arrangements. Army aircraft have been deployed in Taiwan and Okinawa, and our 11th Air Fleet (also a fleet without ships) has aircraft in the Philippines. It is absolutely foolproof! The Americans will definitely not be able to escape this time!"

"Send all escort aircraft carriers and block the route to China!" Yamamoto thought for a while and said, "It is also necessary to prohibit merchant ships of any nationality from passing through the Ryukyu Islands-Taiwan-Philippine Islands chain! To prevent the US fleet from getting supplies."

"Hai!"