When Tan Renhao said that the First Task Force was transferred back to Naha and that he would rush back to Zhoushan, Huang Xiaotian understood that only the Fourth Task Force would be left in the Southwest Pacific Theater, and he quickly thought about the deployment of other aspects.

"Task Force 5 is going to the South Atlantic theater of operations?" Huang Xiaotian did not ask about the situation of the Third Task Force, which has basically lost its combat capability, and it is certain that it will return to China for a few months to recuperate.

"Yes, now Jiang Zhongmin is leading the Fifth Task Force to the Lion City, which will probably arrive in Cape Town at the end of next month and be incorporated into the South Atlantic Theater under the command of Admiral Weng Yiming." Tan Renhao leaned on the door of the jeep, "The main fleet of the British Navy has left Pontsmouth, and it is very likely that it is heading south, and it is expected to reach the South Atlantic next month." The Fifth Task Force may not be able to get over in time, and perhaps Admiral Weng Yiming will have to find a way to slow down the British Navy's southward movement. These are all my own guesses. And now, Task Force 3 will definitely not be able to participate in combat operations, and even if Task Force 2 acquires an aircraft carrier immediately, it will take time to put things in order, and the Chief of General Staff transferred Task Force 1 back to Naha, presumably in preparation for a counterattack in the Central Pacific. As a result, only Task Force 4 remained in the Southwest Pacific Theater to assist General Ngan Kuo-chung in advancing offensive operations. ”

Huang Xiaotian took out the cigarette, then shook his head with a wry smile, he also thought of these.

"I talked to General Yan Guozhong, after the First Task Force returns to Naha, you will be fully responsible for the combat operations of the fleet here." Tan Renhao glanced at Huang Xiaotian, who was lighting a cigarette, "Now." The U.S. Third Fleet has been defeated, and at least for the next six months, the U.S. military will not be able to challenge our sea supremacy. Nimitz has yet to take Wake Island.

Surely we would not dare to let Spruance lead the Fifth Fleet south, and after we have finalized a plan for a counterattack in the Central Pacific. The attack will be launched immediately to hold back the Fifth Fleet, so the main task on this side of the Southwest Pacific is to support the Marines in taking Port Moresby and the New Hebrides as soon as possible. ”

"I haven't talked to General Yan in detail, does he have any plans?" Huang Xiaotian spat out the tobacco. Now he was a little more open in front of Tan Renhao, at least not like he was when he sat in the position of commander of the Fourth Task Force.

"General Gan Guozhong originally planned to launch an attack on Port Moresby and the New Hebrides at the same time, but now, only Task Force 4 is operating in the southwest Pacific, so he decided to capture Port Moresby first." Tan Renhao thought for a moment, and then said, "The fleet first supports the Marines to take Port Moresby, so that the Marines have enough time to restore the infrastructure of Port Moresby and prepare for landing in Australia. Subsequently. The fleet will move to the New Hebrides and cooperate with the Navy and the Strategic Strike Force to seize air and sea supremacy. Finally, cover and support the Marines in the capture of the New Hebrides. ”

"How long will the combat operation last?"

"At least three months, up to six months." Tan Renhao was very clear about the reason why Huang Xiaotian asked this question, "It is difficult for Task Force 4 to get enough rest time during this period, and it is impossible to return to its home port. So. Attention should be paid to the morale of the officers and men, as well as the maintenance of the battleship itself. ”

"We'll take care of it, just send more beer, and if fresh vegetables come, that's better."

Tan Renhao immediately laughed. "You can rest assured that the combat effectiveness of the fleet will be guaranteed, which has always been the focus of the logistics department, and besides, after the Port Moresby is captured, the small warships can be repaired, and if the Port Vila is captured, the Fourth Task Force can be better repaired here."

"And when can you get here?"

"We?" Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment, "It depends on the situation, now I don't know the specific plan of the Navy Command very well, so I can't give you a positive answer." But what is certain is that as long as the US Fifth Fleet is annihilated, the Second Task Force will definitely replace the First Task Force at that time, and then we can rush over. ”

"That's good, if the offensive can be completed as soon as possible, then landing in Australia is just around the corner."

Tan Renhao smiled and didn't speak, when he was writing the battle damage report, he had already thought that although the U.S. Navy had been knocked down, the United States had not been beaten down. The industrial potential of the United States, as well as shipbuilding capabilities, was very terrible, and in some respects even surpassed the Don Empire. And as the US Navy regains its strength, there will certainly be a monstrous wave in the Pacific Ocean again, and whether it can defeat the United States and win the final victory depends on whether it can continue to defeat the enemy in future battles and whether it can continue to push the front forward!

At this time, an officer ran over, Tan Renhao and Huang Xiaotian immediately recognized him as a staff officer of the theater command, the two glanced at each other, and immediately walked over to the officer.

"Two generals, Commander Yan asked you to go to the theater headquarters immediately."

Huang Xiaotian frowned and glanced at Tan Renhao, something big must have happened.

Tan Renhao also thought immediately. "What's going on?"

"I just received the information, General, please come here." The officer made a gesture of please, "A fleet of U.S. troops has left the port of Brisbane, and the intelligence has judged that it is heading for Port Moresby, and General Yan has asked you to go over immediately!" ”

Now, Tan Renhao and Huang Xiaotian both understood. MacArthur was indeed desperate, and what was sent to Port Moresby this time was definitely the most needed supplies for the American army, and even a large number of reinforcements.

The importance of Port Moresby is needless to mention, and after losing sea supremacy, air supremacy will certainly soon fall into the hands of the Tang Imperial army, and MacArthur will not be able to provide support to Port Moresby. Therefore, shortly after the end of the "Battle of the Coral Sea," MacArthur organized a convoy of convoys, which is enough to prove that the US military wants to hold on to Port Moresby and delay the Tang Army's offensive; if it can drag on Port Moresby for a few months, then the US Navy will have another opportunity to launch a counterattack, and then the victory or defeat of the naval battle will again determine the victory or defeat in the southwest Pacific theater. Standing in Yan Guozhong's position. He would certainly not have allowed the fleet to reach Port Moresby.

When the two came to the theater command, hundreds of staff officers were mobilized, and the two were immediately discovered. Yan Guozhong is not only mobilizing the fleet, but also the navy. The Strategic Strike Force, even the Marine Corps, he was going to use any means to take out MacArthur's reinforcement fleet.

"You've come just in time." Yan Guozhong looked a little tired, "The U.S. military transport fleet left the port of Brisbane last night, and I only received the second piece of information. The size of this transport fleet is extremely large, probably more than 20 fast carriers, more than 50 10,000-ton freighters, and more than 10 destroyers to cover it. The fleet's destination is Port Moresby, which is expected to arrive on the 30th, or the 1st of the following month.

"Two days to go." Tan Renhao frowned, "The Fourth Task Force must set off immediately, otherwise it won't be able to catch up." ”

"General Huang, when can you leave?"

"It depends on the supply work, and the fleet mobilization can be completed tonight."

"I'll promise to send you all the supplies tonight." Yan Guozhong sighed. "The fleet must depart before dawn to-morrow, and this fleet must not be allowed to reach Port Moresby."

"Does that require Task Force 1 to go to war?" Tan Renhao felt that this question was not much necessary.

"No, Task Force 4 is enough."

Huang Xiaotian also nodded at Tan Renhao. This is just a convoy, not a fleet of American troops.

"This time, MacArthur arranged for at least three army divisions and hundreds of thousands of tons of supplies to go to Port Moresby. If these troops and supplies are allowed to arrive, it will be difficult for us to complete the task of capturing Port Moresby by mid-September. Yan Guozhong walked to Huang Xiaotian's side, "General Huang, no matter what method you use, you have to intercept this fleet, and not even a single bullet can fall into the hands of the US military." ”

"No problem, then I'll go back to the fleet immediately." Huang Xiaotian nodded slightly, intercepting the convoy was not a big problem.

"General Tan, you wait a minute."

Tan Renhao glanced at Yan Guozhong, and then said to Huang Xiaotian: "You wait for me outside, and we will go back together." ”

Huang Xiaotian didn't ask anything, and immediately left Yan Guozhong's office.

"Sit down, there shouldn't be much of a problem on the Port Moresby side, there is Task Force 4 heading south, and the American ships don't want to reach Port Moresby."

"I'm not worried about this, then I'll go back to the fleet first."

"The command of the Navy just sent a message." Yan Guozhong glanced at Tan Renhao.

Tan Renhao was slightly stunned, he didn't rush to stand up, there must be some bad news.

"Wake Island was completely captured by the U.S. forces four hours ago, and all the officers and soldiers defending the island were killed, and the last telegram was in ......"

Tan Renhao felt a buzz in his head, he looked at Yan Guozhong in disbelief, and then forced himself to calm down. It took the U.S. military more than ten days to capture Wake Island, and judging from the battle reports received before, the U.S. Army lost nearly 20,000 officers and soldiers in order to capture Wake Island, which is four times the size of the Imperial Marines on the island! But the problem is that all the Marines on Wake Island must have died, and there will definitely not be a few who surrender. More importantly, after the fall of Wake Island, there was a huge gap in the defense line in the Central Pacific, although the ability of the US military to continue the offensive was insufficient, but the problem was that the US military now has many options, which is obviously not conducive to the future combat operations of the Imperial Navy in the Central Pacific!

"In addition, the specific casualty results of Task Force 2 are out." Yan Guozhong hesitated for a moment, "Deng Zichao, do you know each other?" ”

Tan Renhao nodded, and then looked at Yan Guozhong. "What's wrong with him?"

"It has been confirmed that Deng Zichao died during the attack on the Fifth Fleet."

"What!? It's impossible, absolutely impossible, he's our best pilot, he's not going to die, there's definitely a problem, is there a search of all the seas, and, is there a confirmation? Tan Renhao jumped up immediately, Deng Zichao was one of the first pilots he knew, and there was no first task force at that time, only the fifth fleet.

"These have been confirmed, one of our submarines found his partner Liu Jinsong, and at the same time found Deng Zichao's body, among their group of pilots, only Liu Jinsong survived, and the other 49 pilots were all killed!"

"No, it can't be!" Tan Renhao touched his forehead and sat down dejectedly.

"Deng Zichao is just one of the hundreds of pilots lost by the Second Air Wing." Yan Guozhong's expression also became serious, "Originally, I shouldn't have told you these things, but ......"

"General Yan, I know, but ......" Tan Renhao hesitated, "Please don't tell Hao Dongjue for the time being, he is very good friends with Deng Zichao, I'm afraid he ......"

"I know, I won't tell him." Yan Guozhong nodded understandingly.

"I'll tell him myself, and I also believe that Hao Dongjue should be able to understand." Tan Renhao knew that he would definitely not be able to hide this from Hao Dongjue, if he didn't hide it now, Hao Dongjue would resent him for the rest of his life, so it was better to say it directly.

"Then you should go back to the fleet first." Yan Guozhong stood up, "I have already prepared the plane for you, and I will leave early tomorrow morning." I'll help you get in touch with the Navy Command, and they'll make the relevant arrangements. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, and walked out of Yan Guozhong's office a little numbly.

When Huang Xiaotian, who was outside, saw Tan Renhao come out, he found that Tan Renhao's expression was very wrong.

"What's going on?" Huang Xiaotian also guessed that something bad was happening.

"Deng Zichao sacrificed." Tan Renhao leaned against the wall, "The 25 bombers he led attacked the US Fifth Fleet, only Liu Jinsong survived, and the other 49 pilots were all killed!" ”

Huang Xiaotian was also shocked, and then took out a cigarette in a trembling manner, and struck several matches without igniting them. He and Deng Zichao have known each other for a long time. At that time, Hao Dongjue was in charge of aviation operations in the Fifth Fleet, and Huang Xiaotian was one of Hao Dongjue's main assistants, and it was at this time that he met Deng Zichao, who was serving in the Fifth Air Wing at that time. He never thought that Deng Zichao, who had escaped death countless times, would be sacrificed on the battlefield!

Five minutes later, the two silently left the theater headquarters, at this time, no one was in a good mood, and Tan Renhao had to think about how to talk to Hao Dongjue about this matter.