The battle plan was determined on the 12th, and then Tan Renhao asked Hao Dongjue to arrange the strike mission of the bomber force. It is impossible to bomb the US seaplane facilities on the islands west of the Majuro Atoll in advance, and it is necessary to ensure that the US airfields on the Majuro Atoll are paralyzed after the first round of bombing, so the fleet cannot be exposed in advance.

"We've calculated it, and it's difficult, but it's not a big problem." Hao Dongjue took a cigarette in his mouth and looked anxious, "It would be nice if there could be one more aircraft carrier, the two air groups are indeed a little small, and the bombing targets are a bit too many, and some fighters have to be sent to carry out bombing missions." ”

"Other aircraft carriers, don't think about it for the time being." Tan Renhao also knows that even if he applies for a new aircraft carrier now, he will have to wait until next year. "Let's arrange it like this, reduce some of the air defense fighters, and if the sneak attack is successful, we won't need air defense fighters."

"By the way, tomorrow the fleet will do the last fuel replenishment, and General Liao Hanxiang also sent a few cruisers, saying that they will support us and expand the artillery formation."

Tan Renhao was stunned for a moment, and then laughed. "It's better than nothing, Shaoqing and they have been expanded, and it's time to give us some benefits."

"Then I'll put these cruisers into the shelling formation, and let them train together first."

"You first arrange those captains to carry out some activities, the scale does not need to be very large, let them be familiar with the situation of the fleet, which will be beneficial to the future cooperation and operation."

"I will arrange this, let all the senior officers in the fleet participate, and when it comes to replenishment, it will be arranged on the flagship, which is just so good that everyone can relax."

"That's it, I'll be there!" Tan Renhao smiled and patted his partner's shoulder, "Engaging in these activities is your strength, if you want to become the commander of the fleet, you must first be familiar with these officers, they are the backbone of the navy." ”

Hao Dongjue smiled shyly. Although he has always wanted to become the commander of the fleet, but now that he is working under Tan Renhao, he also thinks it is good, at least there is someone on it.

The next day, the flotilla supplying the 1st Task Force arrived at the Pohnpei anchorage, where it was reinforced to the 1st Task Force with four heavy cruisers and six destroyers. Hao Dongjue promoted all the captains and the first mate on the battleship (most of the first officers of the battleship were promoted to colonel). In addition, all the high-ranking officers of the fleet staff invited the flagship "Xingkaihu" to the flagship, and held a banquet for these officers, which was not large-scale, but was definitely rare in the theater of operations. The venue of the banquet was on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, and for this reason, Hao Dongjue also asked people to set up a huge tent. In addition, the aviation operations center on the lowest floor of the island was also vacated as a place for Tan Renhao to chat with senior officers alone.

The atmosphere of the banquet was very warm, and in order to allow ordinary officers and men to enjoy a little of the benefits of the banquet, the fleet also increased the food and allowed the officers and men who did not have supply work to move freely on the battleship. Of course, this is just a few hours of free time.

"See? In fact, it is possible that these officers will continue to be promoted. Tan Renhao basically chatted with each captain individually. Then he called Hao Dongjue aside, "Most of the captains are from the grassroots level, and there are many military cadets. They are all fleets.

Tebi is the most knowledgeable officer and soldier in the fleet. Although the flexibility of the captains in fleet operations was limited, they were certainly the backbone of the Imperial Navy, and most of them had the hope of entering the fleet staff, or going to the rear to further their studies, and then becoming the chief of staff and commander of the fleet. As the fleet grows in size in the future, they will have more room to play. “

Hao Dongjue nodded, neither he nor Tan Renhao had ever been captains, and they had bypassed this hurdle and came up.

"I really admire those former fleet commanders." Tan Renhao pulled a chair over.

"In the past hundreds of years, every fleet commander would have been familiar with every captain under them, whether it was in the age of sails, ironclads, dreadnoughts, or later the age of giant guns, fleet commanders knew the abilities and characteristics of each captain under them. What now? I can only remember the names of each captain, and what they are capable of. I don't know. ”

"Times are different, tactics have changed a lot, and no one is to blame for that."

Tan Renhao shook his head. "To be honest, I always felt like I wasn't a good commander. Okay, let's go chat with everyone, and when the supply is over, send them back to their battleship, and the fleet will be ready to leave. ”

Hao Dongjue watched Tan Renhao walk into the small door under the shipyard, and he felt that his partner was a little breathless.

The fleet was replenished with oil and water in the evening, some of the food was replenished, and some small equipment was replaced for several warships, after which the supply fleet left the anchorage first. Task Force 1 left the anchorage after dark and set out on its way. The happy times of the officers and men of the fleet also passed, and Tan Renhao ordered to enter the combat state after the fleet had accelerated. It would take a day to sail from the anchorage of Pohnpei Island to the combat zone, and the fleet would pass through the patrol area of the American seaplanes on the islands east of Majuro Atoll that night, and launch an attack the morning after tomorrow.

"Task Force 2 left Wake Island anchorage in the evening and is expected to bombard Kwajalein Atoll at about 7 a.m. the day after tomorrow." At this time, Hao Dongjue sent a telegram he had just received, "In addition, the bombers of the Strategic Strike Force will first bomb Kwajalein Atoll tomorrow to distract the attention of the US military, and if everything is normal, we will probably enter the attack area in the second half of tomorrow night, let the bombers take off at about half past five, and launch a bombing operation at the same time as the second task force." ”

"Keep an eye on the destroyers at night, and this is the area where American submarines are active."

Tan Renhao yawned, "Before dawn, arrange for air defense fighters to take off, and we must not relax during the day." We can't start the radar now, we have to rely on air defense fighters. ”

"No problem, I've already arranged all of this." Hao Dongjue patted his partner's shoulder, "You go to rest first, and then come back to change me in the morning." ”

Tan Renhao nodded and left the command cabin. He always had a feeling that he hadn't slept enough these days, which was also related to the fact that he couldn't sleep soundly on the battleship.

During the night, nothing major happened, and the number of destroyers in the fleet increased to eighteen, and these destroyers were divided into two groups, one group to carry out patrol duties on the periphery of the fleet. The other group carried out patrol duties in the inner circle close to the aircraft carrier and cruiser. These destroyers are the only anti-submarine forces in the fleet. Before dawn, the air defense planes took off one after another, because they had already entered the range of activities of the US patrol planes, and the distance from the Majuro Atoll was getting closer and closer, and the US ground reconnaissance planes could appear at any time, followed by the arrival of US bombers. Therefore, Hao Dongjue arranged for three squads of fighters to patrol the sky over the fleet, and the fighters of the other two squads were on standby on the deck, ready to take off at any time. No one wants these fighters to take off to meet the enemy. Covert proximity is the key to the campaign. If the whereabouts of the First Task Force are exposed, it is certain that it will be attacked, and this will also expose the intentions of the Tang Army and affect the actions of the Second Task Force.

Tan Renhao came to replace Hao Dongjue at eight o'clock in the morning, and Hao Dongjue was also very tired, so he ran back to sleep after explaining the night's work. Tan Renhao doesn't have much spirit, he will have a feeling of boredom after living at sea for a long time, and this is probably the first general in the Imperial Navy to have this feeling.

There were several thrills during the day, and the lookouts on the battleship mistook the seabirds in the sky for enemy aircraft. As a result, there were several false alarms. This made the people in the fleet panic, and the officers and men also became nervous. This operation can be said to go deep into the tiger's den. The fleet has penetrated deep into the waters controlled by the US military, and there are US seaplane bases on several surrounding islands. Those "Katerina"

The seaplane can fly up to 700 nautical miles away to carry out reconnaissance missions, and it is also the main anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the US Navy. Although the fleet had been hiding under the clouds, and air defense fighters were patrolling nearby, no one could guarantee when a seaplane would emerge from the clouds and send a telegram.

Accidents are inevitable, and in the sea area where dozens of US patrol planes are active, the chances of passing through the US patrol network safely are very slim.

"Commander, a seaplane has been spotted in the southwest direction!"

Tan Renhao was taken aback. He immediately stood up, and at the same time looked at the nautical clock, where the hour hand was already pointing to twelve. "Did you send a telegram?"

"Not yet, about 20 nautical miles from the fleet, it was discovered by a destroyer, and now fighter jets are rushing over. General, do you want to shoot down this seaplane? ”

Tan Renhao hesitated, apparently the seaplane did not find the fleet, but. At such a close distance, the chances of the fleet being exposed are great, if not to shoot down that seaplane......

"Commander, the enemy plane is turning and flying towards us, at most two minutes, we will be spotted!"

"Let the fighters do it immediately, and the fleet can't be exposed!" Tan Renhao immediately made a decision, maybe the US side will not notice the seaplane that has not returned.

The staff officer did not hesitate and immediately went to give the order. Two minutes later, he came to report that the fighter had shot down the American reconnaissance plane, and the American plane did not emit a radio signal, that is, the position of the fleet was not revealed.

"Let the fleet speed up and move as fast as it can." Tan Renhao sighed, "After arriving at the predetermined sea area, immediately do a large-scale maneuver voyage, and after dark, let the chief of staff arrange the bombing mission." ”

The officers and men on the battleship were very nervous, and if it had not been for the fighter planes that intercepted the US reconnaissance plane in time, I am afraid that hundreds of US bombers would have flown over the fleet before dark. Now the fleet has escaped a catastrophe, but the Yankees will certainly find out that a reconnaissance plane has not returned, and then they will become suspicious, and sooner or later they will find that the first task force has appeared to the west of the Majuro Atoll. Now, the only thing that can be counted on is that the US military will not react so quickly, delay for more than ten hours, and wait for the fleet to bomb the Majuro Atoll, then it will be useless for the US military to make any judgment.

Hao Dongjue rushed over in the afternoon, and he knew what happened at noon before he came to the command cabin.

"I have a bad feeling that it's not so good." Tan Renhao had been in the command cabin for a few hours, and most of the time he was at the chart table, "You come and take a look." This time, not only did we have to penetrate the US patrol area, but if Task Force 2 wanted to bomb Kwajalein Atoll, it would have to go 200 nautical miles deep into the search area of the US patrol planes before sending bombers. Task Force 2 is also at risk of exposure. We are in a dangerous situation now, maybe there will be no trouble today, but who can guarantee that the US military will not be alert and send more reconnaissance planes before dawn tomorrow? ”

Hao Dongjue nodded. "Then it depends on Lao Lei's luck."

"Luck is equal for both of us, we were almost spotted today, and now that Wake Island is in our hands, the U.S. military will definitely step up patrols in the waters north of the Marshall Islands." Tan Renhao sighed, "1 The bombing plan must be revised, and we can't disperse our forces. ”

"You mean, concentrate all the bombers and bomb the Majuro Atoll?"

"That's right, leave one squadron of fighters, and all the other fighters, divided into two batches, to bomb Majuro Atoll in an all-out way, and let the escort fighters bring auxiliary fuel tanks to provide cover for the two batches of bombers." Tan Renhao grabbed his partner's shoulder, "Let the pilots assemble at half past four, and if the whereabouts of the second task force are exposed, the second set of plans will be adopted, the first round of bombing will be carried out before half past six, and the second round of bombing will be arranged at about six forty o'clock." The Yankees' bombers must not be allowed to take off, and the American forces on the Majuro Atoll must be suppressed before the American forces take action! ”

"Okay, I'll make arrangements immediately for the pilot to take a break and it seems that I'll have to get some sleeping pills from the medical officer."

"Go ahead, and keep the communications staff on the lookout for new news."

Hao Dongjue nodded, and went to the staff officer to give an order, and at the same time began to adjust the bombing plan1.

Tan Renhao was not in a hurry to go to sleep, he always had a feeling of uneasiness, if two fleets were adventuring at the same time, then the chances of their whereabouts being exposed doubled. The activities of the Second Task Force are more obvious and more likely to be exposed, at least the US military still believes that the First Task Force is operating near the Bismarck Islands. It wasn't until after dark that Tan Renhao returned to his cabin, and he also needed time to regain his energy.