"If you want me to say, it's better to go back to the aircraft carrier and be comfortable."

"Where does all this nonsense come from?"

was glared at by Bai Zhizhan, and Zhou Yongtao closed his mouth.

"It's almost time for lunch, let's go to the restaurant first." Li Mingbo hurriedly stood up for the round, and he also felt that Zhou Yongtao was a little poor.

Bai Zhizhan didn't say much, and he was indeed hungry.

Besides, just to return to the fleet, it will take some time to understand the situation. According to the unwritten rule, it is generally done in passing during the meal.

If anything, it's the Navy's dining culture.

In the days when warships were still powered by sails, captains liked to consolidate and strengthen their dominance on battleships by inviting their men to dine together.

Up to now, on many warships, the officer's canteen has been used as a conference room.

In fact, the change in the fleet is not very large, the main forces are still "Accompany Beijing" and "Longjiang", but the "Yuejiang" is replaced by 2 "Xuhai" class.

In addition, 2 cruiser detachments and 2 destroyer detachments were added.

However, the addition of warships had little to do with Task Force 11.

According to the arrangement of the Navy Command, the 11th Task Force is actually temporarily assigned to the First Fleet, and it is mainly for the purpose of secrecy.

After the battle for the assault on Shiquan began, two cruiser detachments and one destroyer detachment had to be sent out to support the landing force. Based on the experience of attacking the island, it was necessary to arrange at least two fire support fleets and provide direct cover for the landing fleet.

In other words, apart from the reinforcement of 2 "Asahimi" class, to be precise, 1 more fast battleship, the 11th Task Force has not changed much.

To say, that is, adjustments have been made in the compilation system.

The current 11.1 detachment refers to the "Companion Beijing" battle group, including the "Companion Beijing" and "Yanhai", as well as 3 large destroyers. The 11.2nd detachment refers to the "Longxing" battle group, which contains "Longxing", "Xuhai" and 3 large destroyers. The 11.3rd detachment consisted of 4 heavy cruisers, the 11.4th detachment consisted of 4 light cruisers, and the 11.5th detachment consisted of 6 destroyers and 2 fleet tankers.

In addition, there are three provisional detachments from the 11.6th to the 11.9th.

This establishment can be regarded as normal.

The only thing that disappointed Bai Zhizhan a little was that he did not get the ocean-going cruisers, that is, the second batch of 8 ships of the "Guangcheng" class, were trained in the Asahihi.

According to the Navy command, the eight warships were delivered in late December last year, and none of them completed training.

However, the key is related to the four large aircraft carriers that will soon be commissioned.

The Imperial Navy's post-treaty heavy cruisers had not yet been delivered in large quantities, so the only ones suitable for serving as the close bodyguards of aircraft carriers were ocean-going cruisers, except for fast battleships. It has long been proven in real combat that a fast battleship cannot provide all-round air defense cover for an aircraft carrier.

To say, at least one additional ocean-going cruiser is needed.

It would be perfect if it could add 2 ships.

Because all the heavy cruisers that could be dispatched were assigned to the 11th Task Force or were sent to support the landing operation, the ocean-going cruisers could only be left behind.

Such an arrangement may not be Liu Changxun's idea

According to the previous discussion, after the 4 "provincial" ships are put into service, priority will be given to the needs of the direction of Fanyanyang, that is, the first choice will be made by Bai Zhizhan.

In this way, it doesn't really matter how to arrange 8 ocean-going cruisers.

Behind the scenes, there are other people.

Li Mingbo didn't say who it was, but he didn't have to say it too thoroughly.

One way or another, he was also from the 21st Squadron.

Of course, it's not all bad news.

"The commander-in-chief has made a guarantee that the 'Beihe' and 'Nanjiang' will be sent over as soon as possible and temporarily organized in the fire support formation of the landing fleet. We can call on these 2 warships directly as long as necessary, and we don't need to ask the Navy Command for instructions in advance. ”

Bai Zhizhan only nodded and didn't say much.

Liu Changxun had long appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the fleet for the "Assault Fanyanyang Combat Operation," and nominally, even the landing fleet was under his command. The key point is that Liu Changxun also let Li Jie go to the landing fleet and serve as the commander of the landing fleet and the commander-in-chief of the fleet for the landing operation in Shiquan City.

In addition, the 4th Marine Division and the 6th Marine Division were responsible for directing the landing operation, and the commander was Major General Yang Weiguo, who was sent by Liu Xiangdong.

On the side of the army, not to mention much.

Although the Marine Corps was responsible for the beach-rushing landing, it had to rely on the army in the later stage, and Lian Xusheng served as the commander-in-chief.

It can be seen that in the entire command system, the command is either Bai Zhizhan's subordinates, or they are like-minded with him.

"When will those 2 battleships arrive?"

"It's only for a few days."

"You're all done, aren't you? Nothing else, that's all. I'll go up there and look for me on the flight deck if there's something going on. ”

Is he full?

I ate a small half of that simple meal.

Although Bai Zhizhan is not the kind of person who can eat, he has been bumpy on the plane for a morning, and it is impossible to eat such a thing at noon.

Besides, he doesn't look like he's sick.

There must be something on mind!

When Li Mingbo was thinking about this, Bai Zhizhan had already left the officer's cafeteria.

Although the situation of carrier-based aviation has not yet been introduced, there is no rush for a while, after all, it will be three days at the earliest before the 11th task force can show its strength.

"You're all right, are you?" Li Mingbo stopped Zhou Yongtao, who was about to leave.

"Lao Bai's mood is not very good, it has something to do with the current war situation."

"Our side?"

Zhou Yongtao let out a long sigh and said, "So far, the three fleet aircraft carriers and two fast battleships of the Bran Royal Navy, and even the two battle cruisers, are still not heard from. In terms of time, I am afraid that the three fleet aircraft carriers have already been killed. ”

"The Commander of the Naval Command is not ......"

"Can the speculation be taken seriously, does this battle still need to be fought?"

Li Mingbo was stunned for a moment, but then sighed.

Although Li Mingbo was always in command of the fleet when Bai Zhizhan was away, he was never the commander of the fleet and never commanded the task force.

The only thing Li Mingbo can boast about is that before the war with the Bran Kingdom, he went to Fanyan Ocean to pick up 3 armored cruisers.

That operation was only an operation, and there was no fighting in the whole process.

In addition, after joining up with the three Homan armored cruisers, Li Mingbo returned with the fleet and did not stay on the Fanyan Ocean.

It was this not difficult operation that allowed Li Mingbo to be promoted to commodore general.

Speaking of it afterwards, Li Mingbo was a little embarrassed.

To put it bluntly, Liu Changxun gave him the opportunity because of his relationship with Bai Zhizhan, which was to give Bai Zhizhan face.

Having never commanded a fleet battle, Li Mingbo was rarely as anxious as Bai Zhizhan.

Zhou Yongtao didn't say much, after all, compared to it, Li Mingbo is Bai Zhizhan's most trusted subordinate, and Li Mingbo knows Bai Zhizhan better than anyone else.

To use joking words, when Zhou Yongtao was playing with mud in open crotch pants, Bai Zhizhan and Li Mingbo were already sitting at the same table eating.

Thinking about it, Li Mingbo is still not very relieved.

Not to mention that he didn't return to the fleet, now that he has returned to the fleet, Bai Zhizhan has to put down his burden and enter the battle realm without distractions.

Helping the commander solve problems is in itself a matter for the chief of staff.

If the staff officer doesn't do this, what's the use of keeping it?