The Japanese Navy is adjusting its formation, and the U.S. Navy is trying to close the distance between the warships of both sides.

After all, after securing several US airfields in the Solomon Islands, Halsey's combat goal was set on a showdown with the Japanese Navy.

Now the advantage he has in his hands is not small, and he can completely find a wave of trouble for the Japanese Navy. So standing on the bridge of the aircraft carrier Sangamon, Halsey also gave his own combat order: "Continue the search to the northwest!" Find a way to find the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet! ”

"Yes! Sir! The U.S. Navy officer, who received the order, stood up and saluted, and then left the bridge command with the order.

Admiral Spruance, who led the decoy fleet south, was trying to close the distance between himself and the Japanese fleet.

His fleet was fast and mostly up-and-coming, so he quickly entered the battle circle that could threaten the Japanese landing force.

The Japanese army had not yet found a chance to land, so the Japanese fleet at this time was very vulnerable and was most afraid of an attack by American warships.

As soon as the U.S. fleet appeared, it showed an aggressive posture, which made the commander of the Japanese Navy's combined fleet, Isoroku Yamamoto, very uncomfortable.

At this very moment, the Japanese had two fleets to protect, a landing fleet full of landing infantry, and the 1st Air Fleet, which was still transferring its position.

In a short time, the landing force could not cut into the Solomon Islands landing site: at least two American battleships were spotted in the inner ring of the archipelago before the planes attacking the airfield were driven away by American land-based fighters.

These battleships threatened the landing operations of the Japanese Navy, and if they approached rashly, the guns of more than 300 mm caliber on these battleships were not vegetarian.

Without air supremacy, it was not a safe thing to rashly let the Japanese army's own battleships enter the battle circle and engage in an artillery battle with the American battleships.

Although the firepower of the Japanese warships was superior, and the Japanese sailors had superb gunnery skills, the American planes overhead were always a difficult problem that could not be solved.

"Did they hide a large number of attack aircraft? Is there any? Yamamoto Fifty-Six, who didn't have much bottom in his heart, frowned and kept speculating in his heart.

At this time, the problem of the protection of the existing Japanese battleships became apparent: the Japanese battleships emphasized speed and firepower, and did not pay much attention to protection.

It all has to do with the beliefs of the Japanese people: they worship sacrifice and are good at attacking. Under this belief, the weapon design also highlights certain qualities.

Compared with similar weapons in other countries, Japan's Zero fighters, battleships, and tanks are all vulnerable - except for the Yamato-class battleships......

"I knew that the U.S. military really dared to fight with us here, so I brought out the 2nd Sentai of the 1st Fleet!" Yamamoto's heart was full of remorse, and he stood at the window in silence.

The four battleships of the second Sentai team, Fuso, Hyuga, Ise, and Yamashiro, did not participate in this battle because of their speed, which put the Japanese Navy at a disadvantage in terms of strength.

However, even counting these four battleships, the Japanese Navy, which had an absolute superiority in strength, did not dare to risk sinking the battleship and storming the US military positions in the Solomon Islands protected by battleships.

Compared to the inexperienced Battle of Midway, the U.S. Navy is clearly stronger and more mature than before.

The depressed Yamamoto did not dare to act rashly at this moment, after all, air supremacy was not in his own hands until now.

Without air supremacy, it would be impossible to reconnoiter the Solomon Islands, and I don't know what kind of "welcome ceremony" the US military had arranged inside.

In the event that hundreds of US attack planes poured out, even if they could not sink the Japanese warships, they would definitely be enough to make the Japanese Navy's combined fleet retreat.

The more terrifying question is, is the United States the only fleet near the Solomons in front of it? What if there was a second American fleet?

"Order the landing fleet to return first! Stand by for Rabaul! Seeing that his side couldn't take advantage, Yamamoto Fifty-six felt that the battle situation had lost his control.

"The information provided by the Germans is still accurate, and the United States does have a fleet ......" admiring the accuracy of the Germans' intelligence in his heart, Yamamoto Isoroku regarded the US Second Fleet in the Solomon Islands as the main force of the US fleet.

Up to now, the Japanese army still has not discovered the decoy of the US Third Fleet, which is moving southward, which makes Yamamoto 56 make this incorrect judgment.

But even if he only found the American battleship fleet in front of him, Yamamoto 56 retreated a little: he was unwilling to expend troops here and give the United States a chance to breathe.

In his view, if the U.S. fleet was in Australia, his fleet could sail to San Francisco or Los Angeles and put more pressure on the U.S. mainland with an air strike — a more secure option.

You must know that the Japanese Zero fighter has an ultra-long range, which can completely guarantee that the Japanese aircraft carrier will launch a surprise attack outside the combat radius of the shore-based American fighter!

"Is it a retreat, or is it a complete annihilation of the American fleet here?" Standing in front of the window of the bridge, Yamamoto Isoroku was still wobbly.

At the same moment when he wavered, the Japanese Navy reconnaissance plane sent northward flew slowly in the sky.

The navigator is sitting in his place and checking his course. The pilot sitting in front of him saw through the clouds under his feet a long white track tumbling on the sea.

"Furumura-kun! Furumura-kun! American fleet! American fleet! Piloting his own seaplane, the Japanese pilot shouted loudly to the navigator behind him.

When the navigator saw the two huge American battleships, he hurriedly used the radio in front of him to send the most important information.

"The American fleet! Discover the American fleet! Two battleships! On the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet, a communications officer tore off a piece of sticky note paper, pinched it in his hand, and quickly ran out of the telegraph room and shouted: "A new American fleet has been discovered in the northeast of the fleet!" ”

"Nani?" Hearing the news, Yamamoto Fifty-six was also shocked. Although there is no news of the US Navy aircraft carriers in the news, the Americans have 4 battleships in the fleet that has been discovered!

This made Yamamoto very depressed and annoyed - he had worked hard to sink 4 American battleships at Pearl Harbor, but in an instant, the United States had 4 more battleships......

----------

Another chapter is updated later, so let's watch it tomorrow morning......