When Halsey was anxious about the Enterprise, the skies above the Nagumo fleet were not calm.

Guided by Katerina's seaplane, the attack aircraft group of the Enterprise successfully found the location of Nagumo's fleet.

However, since the launch of the third wave of attacks, Nagumo Tadaichi had already known that the fleet would be in danger of being attacked, and he clearly knew that the enemy would attack from the direction of Pearl Harbor or the USS Enterprise, and these two directions became the key monitoring directions of the fleet.

As soon as the attack aircraft group of the Enterprise emerged in the sky, the escort fighters directly under the Nagumo fleet quickly met it, and the anti-aircraft guns of the surface ships also joined the battle group.

On the blue sky, countless large and small black-gray smoke appeared in an instant, and hundreds of fighters shuttled among them, chasing and biting each other.

Ignoring the harassment of the F4F Wildcat fighters, the Zero fighters stubbornly bit the SBD Dreadnought bombers and TBD Destroyer torpedo attack planes in the US fleet.

The first to be unlucky were the slow TBD Devastator torpedo machines.

Its speed is unusually slow, its handling is poor, and its fragile armor is not worth mentioning.

When bombing at ultra-low altitudes, the US tactical regulations stipulate that the speed limit for the destroyer is only 320 kilometers per hour, and when dropping torpedoes in the air, the speed must be reduced to 185 kilometers per hour, and the torpedo targeting requires a very long, almost straight route. All this makes it a live target for the Zero fighter with a speed of more than 500 kilometers per hour.

In addition to the fright, the 18 Destroyer torpedo planes did not cause any damage to the Japanese warships, 16 of them were shot down by the Zero fighters and anti-aircraft guns before they could even release the torpedoes, and the pilots of the other two violated the tactical regulations in panic and dropped the torpedoes casually, but they still did not escape the pursuit of the Zero fighters, enriching the combat experience of the Japanese pilots with their lives.

The real threat to the Nagumo fleet came from the SBD dreadnought dive bombers, and the US pilots, with fearless courage, allowed the Zero fighters to chase after the rear and strafe them, and launched a dive attack in the face of the anti-aircraft shells fired by the aircraft carriers.

Twenty-seven dreadnought dive bombers split into two groups to attack the aircraft carriers Akagi and Kaga.

The Akagi served as the flagship of the mobile fleet. It was the most heavily protected, with only seven of the eighteen dreadnought dive bombers attacking it dropping bombs, none of which hit, except for minor damage to the Akagi with shock waves and shrapnel in the sea.

The aircraft carrier Kaga was much less lucky. Although there were only nine Dreadnoughts attacking it, one of the Dreadnought dive bombers rushed down at an angle of nearly 90 degrees in order to improve the hit rate, and rushed straight to a distance of about 300 meters close to the Kaga before pulling up.

The 500-pound aerial bomb easily pierced the bow deck of the Kaga, hitting the leading edge of the red sunburst sign on the deck. The loud explosion and the flames that erupted even attracted the attention of Nagumo on the Akagi.

"This is the consequence of greed, and if we do not launch the third and fourth waves of the offensive, we will not suffer such losses." Nagumo said as he looked at the black smoke billowing from the Kaga.

"The sacrifices necessary to achieve greater results are acceptable." Staff officer Genda said.

The Kaga soon sent a telegram announcing its safety, and the damage was not fatal, and even because the explosion point was relatively close to the bow of the ship, it did not affect the landing of the fighter on the deck.

Nagumo calmly glanced at the battle in the sky that was nearing its end, most of the incoming American planes were shot down, and only a few three or four fighters escaped.

Intelligence staff officer Ono Shosa broke into the bridge and shouted: "The fourth attack wave is returning, and they have severely damaged the Enterprise, Maryland and Pennsylvania. ”

Nagumo's brow, which had just been soothed, instantly twisted into a ball again. Just a hard hit? Didn't sink? Didn't the mobile fleet take the risk of stopping in vain this time, and didn't the Kaga suffer that bomb in vain?

In Nagumo's old-fashioned thinking, it didn't make much sense to bomb the U.S. oil depot and naval factory, and sinking the enemy's capital ship was the real victory.

As the fighters of the fourth attack group landed on the deck one by one, Nagumo sent light cruisers to search the nearby sea, rescued the seven surviving American pilots, and then ordered the mobile fleet to retreat to the northwest and burrow into the thickening darkness of night

On the southeast side of the entrance to Pearl Harbor Fjord, two battleships of the Eighth Task Force, as well as other large and small cruisers and destroyers. Gather in a group and watch the slowly sinking aircraft carrier Enterprise at the entrance to the fjord.

It does not explode on the way back, does not explode at the entrance to the fjord, and does not explode when the USS Enterprise makes an emergency stop in the fjord. Just as he was reversing and preparing to leave the fjord, an explosion shook the Eighth Task Force like a hammer in Halsey's heart.

Through the high-powered telescopes set up on the bridge, Halsey clearly saw that the Enterprise was cut in two by the explosion. The hull spews flames and black smoke, as well as various parts that dot the sky, disappear into the fjord sea.

Halsey straightened up. Empathize with the pain that the Enterprise has suffered. He silently pulled out the revolver on his waist and pulled the safety open.

"General, what are you going to do?" One of the staff officers exclaimed and grabbed Halsey's arm, and the other snatched Halsey's revolver from his hand.

"Let go of me, let me go." Halsey struggled, but was still held down by the staff officers.

It was only after seven or eight minutes that Halsey stopped crying amid the persuasion of the staff officers.

"Why didn't it sink earlier, but at this time? In this location again? Halsey silently wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

The staff officers stood solemnly around Halsey, looking at the old tearful Halsey with deep sorrow, they knew why Halsey was crying, and they knew why Halsey chose to commit suicide in a cowardly manner, all because the location of the sinking of the Enterprise was too embarrassing, just blocking the entrance to the fjord in and out of Pearl Harbor, turning the fjord into a forbidden place for large warships.

"The Enterprise is a sinner, I'm a sinner, and we're all sinners in the United States of America." Halsey looked at the black plume of smoke at the entrance to the fjord, muttering mechanically to himself

On the east coast of the United States, due to the time difference, when the Nagumo Mobile Fleet launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, it was already 1 p.m. on December 25.

Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of State, Secretary of State Hull's office.

According to Yamamoto's suggestion, Nomura, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, should submit a war letter to the United States half an hour before the offensive was launched.

"A surprise military attack should not become a sneak attack on politics and strategy, and the war should be conducted in an upright manner." The initiator of the Pearl Harbor operation and the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Isorochi Yamamoto, has always taken this sentence as his creed. And pay special attention to it.

Although Japan deliberately fired the first shot at Pearl Harbor, and it was extremely successful, the Japanese navy did not want this surprise attack to turn into a surprise attack, nor did it want to stain Japan with an undeclared war.

However, it backfired. Because the declaration of war sent to Nomura by the Japanese mainland was too lengthy, a lot of time was wasted to make a formal war letter, and it was Christmas Day, and Hull had not finished the holiday.

When Hull met Nomura, the battle for Pearl Harbor had been going on for nearly three hours.

It's not just Hull at this time. Roosevelt and the top leaders of the US and political circles already knew that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor without declaring war.

When Ambassador Nomura arrived at Hull's office, U.S. Secretary of State Hull happened to pick up a call from Roosevelt.

Although Roosevelt had already taken care of Hull and told him not to embarrass the Japanese diplomats, Hull still could not control his emotions and angrily said to Nomura, who had submitted the war papers: "In my past 50 years of public office, I have never seen such a shameless hypocrisy and distorted document." I never dreamed that there could be such a posturing and lying country on this planet! ”

Nomura, like Hull, was a victim of Pearl Harbor.

Nomura knew that nothing at this time would save the image of himself and Japan in Hull's heart. He silently greeted Hull with a chin of his head, and then walked out of Hull's office with heavy steps.

The moment the door was closed, the muscles on Nomura's round face couldn't help twitching a few times, and he vaguely heard Hull's curse coming from inside the door: "Scoundrel, maggot." ”

Nomura depressedly pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, pretended not to hear, and bowed his head to meet the angry or contemptuous gazes of the American public servants around him

Also because of the time difference, when Nagumo launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The time was the early morning of December 26, local time in Japan.

On the radio in mainland Japan, the Japanese people were surprised to hear a radio from the Admiralty, the headquarters of Japan.

The content of the broadcast was concise and to the point: "From this day onwards, the army and navy of the Imperial Japan will enter a state of all-out war with the United States. ”

Except for some high-ranking Japanese military and political circles who know the inside story, as well as naval personnel who participated in the war. The vast majority of Japanese people believe that they are hallucinating.

However, at one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the Japanese Admiralty issued another announcement: "The Mobile Fleet of the Imperial Navy under the command of Admiral Nagumo Tadaichi has successfully carried out a deadly air attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. ”

At nine o'clock in the evening of the same day, the Japanese people heard the radio again: "During the day today, the Imperial Navy successfully attacked the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy at Pearl Harbor, and now the results are as follows." Two aircraft carriers were sunk and four battleships were sunk. Four battleships and eleven light ships were damaged, and nearly 400 enemy planes were destroyed. The Imperial Navy lost only fifty-seven warplanes, and two aircraft carriers were slightly damaged. ”

Only then did the Japanese people realize the reality that they had entered a state of war with the United States

On the morning of December 26, US time, at the US Capitol, US President Roosevelt's wheelchair was pushed behind the podium.

Roosevelt stretched out his right hand to the secretary beside him, and then, with the assistance of the secretary, he resolutely stood up, faced the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and said sadly: "Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, yesterday, December 25, 1941, Christmas Day, was supposed to be a day when the American people were immersed in happiness and joy, but because of the appearance of a shameless man, yesterday was destined to be a day in the history of the United States of America that will be remembered for 10,000 years.

During the day yesterday, the United States of America was attacked by Japan's undeclared war and shamelessness; Last night, Japanese troops attacked Guam; Last night, Japanese troops attacked the Philippine Islands; Last night, Japanese troops attacked Wake Island.

Hostilities have already existed, and it goes without saying that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. I ask Congress to declare that the United States of America and the Empire of Japan are in a state of war as of December 25, 1941, Christmas Day, the date of Japan's despicable and cowardly sneak attack on the United States for no reason. ”

As soon as Roosevelt finished speaking, the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the seats stood up one after another, scrambled to raise their right hands, and expressed their attitude and determination to Roosevelt.

"Agreed."

"War."

"Kill those Japs."

"Whoever is against it deserves to sit and pee."

The shouts and strange screams came one after another, triggering a wave of condemnation of Japan, and the phrase "sitting and peeing" caused a burst of laughter among the parliamentarians.

The results of the vote were quickly made public.

The Senate voted 82 to 0 to approve Roosevelt's request for a declaration of war, and the House of Representatives passed the request for a declaration of war on Japan by an absolute majority of 388 votes to 1.

Voting against it was U.S. Congressman Janet. Rankin, a congresswoman.

Rankin is a pacifist, and her reasons are simple.

As a woman, I can't go to war, and I'm against sending anyone else to war, it's not necessary. I voted against it.

One can imagine how much of a shock Congressman Rankin's opposition vote caused among lawmakers.

Seeing the congressmen who were attacking Rankin, Roosevelt was very understanding and sent someone to escort her home.

Resolving this little episode, Roosevelt then made an official announcement.

The United States declared war on Japan.

Radio waves are like an invisible net, enveloping every country on the planet.

In the mountain city of Chongqing, China, after receiving the news of the United States' declaration of war against Japan, a certain bald chairman of the National People's Congress was in great spirits and immediately ordered the drafting of a war document.

On December 27, the day after the United States declared war on Japan.

The Nationalist Government immediately issued the "Proclamation of the Government of the Republic of China Declaring War on Japan," officially declaring war on Japan.

On July 7, 1937, Japan launched a full-scale war of aggression against China, and China launched a full-scale war of resistance, and China and Japan were completely at war, but the Nationalist Government only issued the "Declaration of Self-Defense and War of Resistance", and did not formally declare war on Japan.

After nearly four and a half years, under the tremendous momentum of the United States' declaration of war against Japan, the bold bald chairman of the NPC National Committee finally issued a long-overdue call for justice

On the night of the day the United States declared war on Japan, 10 Downing Street, London, England.

Hearing the news of the United States' declaration of war on Japan, British Prime Minister Attlee first ordered the British Foreign Office to issue a notice expressing solidarity with the United States and denouncing Japan.

That night, he slept very deeply and soundly

On the same night, in an antique manor on the outskirts of London, Churchill's wife Clementina walked up to Churchill, who had crooked eyes, squatted on the bedside and whispered with red eyes that the United States had declared war on Japan and that the United States and Britain would join forces to fight.

Churchill twitched the crooked corners of his mouth, drooling, and muttered inarticulately.

Clementina leaned her ear to Churchill's mouth, struggling to discern what Churchill was trying to say.

Churchill's words kept his usual way of thinking.

Beware of Germany. (To be continued.) )