The next day, early on the morning of the 16th, the fleet left Port Vila after completing its replenishment work. Task Force 2 departed before dawn, about four hours before Task Force 1. Tan Renhao was not in a hurry to rest, after the fleet set off, he first arranged the tasks of fleet navigation, and then returned to his cabin. Before the fleet set off, Tan Renhao got a list of targets that the fleet needed to destroy by the bombers dispatched by the fleet in this campaign.

Setting up a list of targets was also an experience that the Imperial Navy summed up during the war, and originally, the newly formed Strategic Strike Force of the Navy came up with this method when carrying out strategic bombing missions against Japan. Before that, because the combat scope of the HNA was relatively limited, and most of the targets hit were ports, fleets, etc., the combat difficulty was relatively small, and it was not very complicated, so no one thought of classifying the targets, and separating the order, the order of light and heavy, and then destroying the targets in this order. Mobile station ap.. cn

The strategic bombing of Japan can be said to be a major turning point in the war, and it is also the first large-scale strategic bombing in the history of human warfare, and it is the first time that a country is destroyed through strategic bombing. At that time, apart from the publication of Du Hei's "Theory of Air Dominance," there was no relevant experience and tactics, and almost all strategic bombing tactics had to be summed up from actual combat. In the early days of the bombing, the bombing targets were limited and all of them were concentrated on the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, so the scale was not very large, and many problems were not yet exposed. As the Strategic Strike Force moved to Iwo Jima and began a full-scale bombardment of Honshu Island, problems in target selection became apparent. It was also at this time that the Imperial Navy proposed for the first time to distinguish between various targets and bomb them one by one according to their importance, destroying the most important ones first, and then the secondary, so as to be able to make the most effective use of bombers and give full play to the destructive power of strategic bombing.

After the success of the strategic bombing of Japan. This experience was quickly transferred to other combat operations, and the target was treated differently. It has also been adopted by many other troops. Of course, strategic bombing is fundamentally different from campaign bombing, so it is not exactly the same when determining the order of bombing targets. In strategic bombing, the first category of targets must be industry, especially heavy industry and military industry, as well as transportation hubs and infrastructure. Command centers, airfields, and so on fall into one category of targets. In campaign bombing operations, there will be changes in the order of bombing because the objectives that need to be achieved in the campaign are different. For example, in the seizure of sea supremacy, the first thing to ensure is that the enemy's fleet is destroyed. In the battle for air supremacy, the first thing to be destroyed is the enemy's airfield. And in combat operations of the landing class, in addition to the enemy's fleet, airfields. Artillery emplacements, permanent fire points, front-line command centers, front-line military stations, material assembly areas, etc., in the enemy's defensive positions on the beach, all belong to the first category of bombing targets.

In the list that Tan Renhao obtained, the targets were divided into two categories, one was the target near the landing site. The second was the target near the port of Brisbane, where Ngan chose the landing site on a beach north of Sydney, about 20 to 50 kilometers from the town of Tary. This is one of the best places to land in the neighborhood and is about 500 kilometres from Brisbane. The shortest distance of the land line is about 700 km, the distance from Sydney is about 220 km, and the shortest distance of the land line is about 300 km. This is the middle of the Brisbane and Sydney defensive circles, and it is difficult for US troops in both directions to come quickly. What's more, Tari is one of the most important transport hubs in the vicinity with two highways connecting Sydney from Brisbane to Sydney by rail. As long as Tari is captured, ground forces can quickly advance along the land lines of communication in Sydney, and there is no need to worry about a fierce counterattack by American forces in the first few dozen hours of landing.

In order to ensure the smooth conduct of the landing operation, there are more than 1,200 US targets that need to be guaranteed to be destroyed in the vicinity of the landing site alone, and if a target requires an average of three bomber sorties. And at least 80% of the targets must be destroyed, then in two days. To be precise, in two days and 24 hours, the First Task Force and the Second Task Force had to launch nearly 3,000 sorties of bombers, leaving a margin of 20 percent, so they had to be prepared to make at least 3,500 sorties within 24 hours. The First Task Force and the Second Task Force can only send up to 300 bombers each to carry out missions after deducting the necessary reconnaissance planes and air defense fighters, that is, each bomber needs to make an average of six sorties, that is, one flight in four hours and three sorties in a day. If the losses incurred in the operation are taken into account, then at least more than 20% of the bombers must be prepared to fly four sorties in 12 hours!

If this is taken into account, then both fleets must exert their most powerful strike capabilities to be able to accomplish this task, and their aviation units must operate with the highest combat efficiency, which is not only a test of the capabilities of fleet commanders, pilots, and aviation service personnel, but also a test of the overall capabilities of the fleets. Under the circumstances at that time, I am afraid that only Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue dared to take on this important task, which is why Tan Renhao did not let the Fifth Task Force come over, with the current quality of the officers and men of the Fifth Task Force, it was simply impossible to replace the Second Task Force, let alone the First Task Force.

Zheng Guanhua was responsible for the detailed bombing arrangements, and what Tan Renhao needed to do was only to clarify how powerful the First Task Force was and how many tasks it could undertake. He had another job to do, which was how to work with Task Force 2. In order to bring into full play the aviation strike capability of the two task forces, it is necessary to assign tasks very rationally and effectively, and there must be no phenomenon of repeated bombing of the same target. This can be regarded as a major test for Tan Renhao, and it is also a major test for Lei Shaoqing, who is responsible for arranging the combat missions of various fleets in the rear.

On the morning of 17 July, Lei Shaoqing sent over a list of specific tasks for each fleet. In addition, some coastal targets were assigned to the Third Task Force, and in particular, the strike missions of the solid point targets on the US coastal defense positions were assigned to the Third Task Force, which also appropriately reduced the pressure on the First Task Force and the Second Task Force. Lei Shaoqing did not arrange specific actions for the fleet, which did not fall within his purview. He only needs to hand over the list of targets to the fleet commander, who then decides for himself what to do. in order to be able to complete the combat mission within the specified time.

In Lei Shaoqing's arrangement, the First Task Force is mainly responsible for dealing with targets in depth, that is, targets located within 50 km to 250 km behind the US defense line. Task Force 2 is responsible for dealing with shallow, deep and forward targets, i.e., U.S. targets within 50 kilometers of the coastline. Lei Shaoqing's arrangement was made after taking into account the actual situation of the First Task Force and the Second Task Force. To put it bluntly, the 1st Task Force had a separate artillery formation, while the 2nd Task Force did not. As a result, Task Force 1 can be deployed forward. Task Force 2 remained open and did not need to be too close to the coast.

This gave Tan Renhao another problem, that is, the first task force could only be 200 nautical miles away from the coastline at most, so that carrier-based bombers could deal with targets 250 kilometers away from the coastline. In this way, the First Task Force will be completely exposed to the strike range of US shore-based bombers, so the First Task Force will be thinking about bombing the enemy. You also have to consider your own safety issues. Then, many fighters that could be used to carry out bombing missions had to be used to carry out fleet air defense missions, which actually weakened the aviation strike capability of the first task force in disguise! The most important thing is the safety of the fleet itself, if the US military frantically counterattacks, then the first task force will be in danger.

"I have already contacted General Hao Dongjue, and he has promised to destroy the three forward field airfields first, and will suppress them while we carry out bombing missions." Zheng Guanhua circled the locations of the three airports on the chart. "Judging by the air threat to Task Force 2 in the early stages of operations, we have to ensure that there are at least two squadrons of air defense fighters, one of which is on air patrol and the other is on standby on the aircraft carrier. If you take into account the take-off and landing time occupied by bombers, then there will be a lot of problems in arranging air defense fighters. ”

Tan Renhao had been pondering, this time he did not expect the team to be able to operate covertly, after dispatching a large number of bombers, the fleet had to keep in touch with the bomber group. It would have to be done by radio, so it was impossible for the fleet to be hidden. Of course, being so close to the coast, even if the radio is silent, it is very likely that it will be discovered by US patrol planes and reconnaissance planes. If the U.S. forces are determined to attack Task Force 1, then they have many opportunities, and the only hope is that the fleet's air defense network is strong enough.

"In addition, we will first attack the deep airfields of the US military. The first three rounds of ground bombing missions were all aimed at airfields, but ......" Zheng Guanhua hesitated. "If we want to ensure that we are not attacked by US bombers during these two days, in addition to the daytime bombing, we will definitely organize nighttime supplementary bombing on the night of the 18th and 19th. In addition, during the day of the 19th and the 20th, the bombing had to be replenished again. ”

"You arrange this, now we only need to undertake forty percent of the bombing mission, even if we leave two squadrons of air defense fighters, our bombing capacity is still somewhat left," Tan Renhao touched his forehead, "In addition, can Hainan Airlines provide us with cover?" ”

"You mean the shore-based fighters deployed on Lord Howe Island and Borspiramide Island?"

Tan Renhao nodded, in the case of the fleet's own insufficient air defense capability, he could only find a way to use other forces to strengthen the fleet's air defense capability.

"I've already contacted the airfields on the two islands, which have a lot of logistical tasks, and can only provide us with a squadron of air defense fighters at most, and they can only patrol for a maximum of two hours a day in the morning and afternoon."

"Then try to arrange these fighters in the most likely time period to be attacked to strengthen the air defense of the fleet." Tan Renhao sighed, "In addition, the air defense circle must be expanded. US bombers are most likely to arrive from the southwest, west, and northwest directions, and each aircraft carrier battle group will dispatch a destroyer equipped with radar to take up air defense alert tasks in these three directions, so that it can maintain a distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the fleet, so that our air defense range can be expanded by at least 30 to 40 nautical miles, and we will be able to obtain an additional 15 to 20 minutes of air defense warning time, so that the fighters on standby on the aircraft carrier will have enough time to take off. In addition, at the time of the handover of air defense fighters, the fleet maneuvered eastward to avoid a 50 nautical mile to avoid a surprise strike at the most vulnerable. ”

Zheng Guanhua wrote down all these orders, which can be regarded as him learning combat experience from Tan Renhao.

"Tomorrow's bombing is the most important, you have to arrange detailed bombing missions for Yang Qinkai and Qiu Gengbo, and you must ensure that the four airfields deployed by the US military in depth are destroyed in the first two rounds of bombing on the first day, and there must be no mistakes." Tan Renhao said while thinking, "In addition, let Ansler and Yao Boyan stay, and the two of them will take turns to carry out fleet air defense tasks, and only after it is determined that all US airfields within 300 nautical miles of the fleet have been destroyed, then let them take turns to carry out escort and bombing missions." If we can destroy the US airfield in the shortest possible time, then the threat to the fleet will be much lower, and if we can't, I am afraid we will have to find a way to withstand the attack of the US bombers. ”

"Then I'll arrange it right away."

"Xiao Zheng, remember to let the officers and soldiers recuperate tonight, let the kitchen add a few more dishes, starting from the early hours of tomorrow morning, the fleet will enter a combat state, and all personnel must be at their posts!"

Zheng Guanhua nodded, and immediately went to issue and deploy the task.

The fleet still continues to sail westward. In the afternoon, the fleet passed about 40 nautical miles north of Lord Howe Island, and the first round of bombardment was scheduled to begin tomorrow, between 7 and 7 o'clock in the morning of the 18th, and half past one, so that the fleet would maneuver to the attack area at night and be ready for attack!