By the last day of November, the Marines had largely taken control of the landing grounds, and a field airfield had been built on the beach for fighter jets to take off and land.

So far, the number of officers and soldiers ashore has exceeded 5,000, and the number is increasing at a rate of 1,000 per day.

In addition, the Marines built a temporary dock.

In order to support the landing operation and reduce the burden on Task Force 41, the Marine Corps also sent a unit to Atta Island to the north on the 30th.

Fortunately, there are no enemies on the island.

In addition, the indigenous tribes of the island were not very large, numbering only a few hundred people, and were friendly to the officers and soldiers of the empire. The tribal chieftain was blessed by the imperial army as a child. Speaking of which, it was the pox that went to the imperial garrison and survived the plague that broke out ensuing.

It was not until 6 December that Task Force 41 received the order to retreat.

The field airfield on Atta Island has been built, and the Marine Corps engineering unit is already constructing a temporary pier pier, which will be completed in a few days.

With the airfield terminal, shore-based air forces deployed on the island will be able to replace the carrier-based aircraft of Task Force 41.

At this time, the Marines also figured out the situation on the island.

The Nuland army must have received the news in advance, or accurately judged the strategic movements of the Imperial Navy, knowing that the Imperial Navy would capture the island before attacking the island, so in the past few months, under the cover of night, it has used the cover of night to transport combat troops to the island with small ships, especially fast destroyers. Not only did the Nuland army take over the island, but they also secretly deployed its defenses, without the knowledge of the Imperial Navy.

During this period, the Nuland army, assisted by the Narrow Army stationed on the island, built a large number of fortifications, including complete underground bunkers.

According to the captured prisoners, the Nuland army on the island was the 1st Marine Division, with a total strength of more than 15,000 troops, and possibly even 18,000 men.

Fortunately, the Nuland army did not have time to send tanks and heavy artillery to the island.

It's not that it's unprepared, it's that it's very difficult to deliver.

Before the Imperial Navy attacked, the Nuland Navy delivered more than 100 mortars to the island, as well as enough supplies to consume three months.

In addition, the other islands of the North Malaysia Islands are all stationed on the island, about 3,000 people.

In fact, it was only after receiving this information that the Marine Corps sent engineering troops to Atta Island, where a field airfield and dock were built.

On 7 December, the Navy deployed its first shore-based air force to Atta Island.

On the same day, the unit provided support to the Marines fighting on the island.

In the evening, the 1st Fire Support Fleet, which was responsible for covering the landing grounds, encountered several cruisers of the Nuland Navy south of the island, northeast of Tyny.

After the start of the Battle of the Islands, the first naval battle began.

Both sides had 6 cruisers, but the 1st Fire Support Fleet had 2 heavy cruisers, and the Nuland fleet was all light cruisers.

The next morning, Bai Zhizhan received the news.

In fact, the naval battle that took place northeast of Tinny Island lasted less than three hours, and both sides turned to retreat almost at the same time.

On the side of the Imperial Navy, the main fear was torpedo, and the task of the 1st Fire Support Fleet was to provide artillery support for the landing force.

If the two heavy cruisers were damaged, the Marines would have to stop their offensive operations on the island in the next few days.

The Nuland Navy, on its part, was worried about being bombed after dawn.

Because it was carried out at night, the combat distance was not close, and the warships on both sides did not have the magic weapon of night fighting, that is, the gun-sighting radar, so neither battleship sank.

According to the battle report of the Imperial Navy, all six cruisers were shelled, but all of them were insignificant.

Of course, the Nuland Navy, as always, declared victory in the Battle of 127 Tini Island, claiming to have sunk four cruisers of the Imperial Navy.

As a result, the 1st Fire Support Fleet and the 2nd Fire Support Fleet exchanged positions on the afternoon of 8 December.

With the "Yuejiang" in front, there is no need to worry about being attacked by the Nuland fleet.

The "Yuejiang" not only has 350 mm naval guns capable of killing cruisers in an instant, but also has a gun-sighting radar, which can accurately shell enemy ships at a distance of 20 kilometers at night.

The point is that on the Guia side, the Nuland Navy did not have battleships capable of challenging the "Yuejiang".

The five battleships Nuland that escaped the Battle of the Guia in the Northwest and the battered "Mali" have returned to the shipyards on the east coast, and I am afraid that they may not be able to be completely repaired next year. The other 4 ships are all in Jumbo Harbor, and they have no intention of coming out for activities.

"Yuejiang" was the only battleship near the island, and it was also a fast battleship.

Even if the four Newland battleships in Treasure Harbor were killed, because the speed was not fast enough, they might not be able to take the "Yuejiang".

During the insurance period, the island was only a few hundred kilometers away from Guan Dao, and within the strike range of the shore-based air force, the "Yuejiang" went to the waters northeast of Tinny Island at night to block the northward passage of the Nuland fleet, and before dawn it headed north and returned to the sea area covered by its own fighters.

This also gives full play to the value of a fast battleship.

More importantly, the Imperial Navy intensified its surveillance of Guandao and dispatched long-range fighters such as the "Chitu" to carry out reconnaissance missions.

Only when it was discovered that the Nuland Navy was ready to take action did it need to let the "Yuejiang" go south.

In addition, the Imperial Navy reorganized the 42nd Task Force, and on the night of December 8, the fleet was sent south from the Satsui Empire to fight on the island.

Four battleships of the "Longxing" class, accompanied by four heavy cruisers, and more than a dozen other warships, under the cover of shore-based aviation on Atta Island, were enough to control the sea areas near the island. It was also able to support the marines on the island with ferocious artillery fire if needed.

The key is 4 heavy cruisers.

After arriving at the battlefield, these four heavy cruisers were assigned to the Second Fire Support Fleet, replaced by the four heavy cruisers of the 41.3rd Detachment, and accompanied the "Yuejiang" to the south to blockade the island at night to deal with the Nuland warships that used the cover of night to transport troops and supplies to the island.

Because the fastest speed is only 25 knots, and the four "Longxing" class ships have not undergone routine maintenance for more than one year, and their condition is not very good, so according to the arrangement of the naval headquarters, that is, to go to the town yard and cheer for the "Yuejiang" in the rear, so that the Nuland Navy does not dare to act rashly.

If all goes well, 4 "Longxing" class ships will be replaced by repaired battleships before the Spring Festival.

According to the original plan, before the Spring Festival, the Marines would be able to capture the island, and even land on the island.

It's just that now it seems that this is obviously impossible.

Not to mention attacking Guan Island, it would be very good to be able to occupy the island before the Spring Festival, to be precise, to control the situation and enter the sweeping stage.

According to the revised plan, the occupation of the island has been postponed until next year's Qingming Festival.

Even if the next battle goes smoothly, the combat operation of attacking Guan Island will not be considered until after the Qingming Festival.

Not only because the enemy is strong, but also because the Imperial Navy and the Marine Corps are not fully prepared, that is, the landing force sent by the Marine Corps is only one Marine Division.

The Imperial Marine Corps is a small formation, with a full division of more than 13,000 officers and men.

Even with the support of the fleet, it would take at least 2 Marine Divisions to take the island. If you want to attack Guan Island, you have to prepare the third marine division.

It can be seen that the island has become a bloody battlefield that consumes the forces of both sides!