In terms of scale, the Port Moresby landing operation was actually an ordinary landing operation in the southwest Pacific, and the landing operations of the Imperial Marines on Kuah Island, New Britain Island, and even Lae exceeded the Port Moresby landing operation. In terms of the degree of tragedy, I am afraid that apart from the landing battle on Kuah Island, in the more than a year of fighting in the entire southwest Pacific theater, there is no landing operation that can be compared.

After fierce fighting during the day and night on the 18th, on the 19th, the two marine divisions that had successfully landed took turns advancing inland. In order to slow down the advance of the Imperial Marines, when the US troops counterattacked on the night of 18 July, they also planted thousands of mines on the periphery of the landing ground, with the result that several tanks participating in the first round of counterattack were all blown up by mines, and more than 100 officers and men of the Marine Corps were killed, and more than 300 were wounded. In order to be able to rapidly expand the landing grounds, the HNA carried out repeated bombardment of the minefields laid by the US troops on the same day, and the Marine Corps also urgently transferred several tanks equipped with mine-sweeping shovels to open up three passages, and the US artillery also carried out a fierce artillery bombardment of the attacking troops of the Marine Corps during the day.

The battlefield during the day belonged to the Imperial Marines, and under the fierce blows of the naval aviation and carrier-based aviation, the counterattack of the American army was a little pale. During the daytime for more than 10 hours, the officers and men of the Marine Corps pushed the front one kilometer to two kilometers outward, finally stabilized the landing field, re-established two defensive lines, and built a large number of machine-gun fire points before dark. At the same time, on the landing beach, the engineers repaired the first improvised deep-water pier, and the large transport ships carrying heavy artillery and large quantities of ammunition could bring the goods to the beach. Two other cargo ships carrying tanks and armoured vehicles were unloaded, and large quantities of heavy equipment, especially artillery, were delivered to the beach. The Marine Corps' artillery urgently set up several artillery positions, so that even without the artillery support of the naval fleet, the Marine Corps could still rely on its own artillery to hold the landing ground.

On the night of the 19th, Task Force 1 returned to the battlefield again and provided the Marines with a night of artillery bombardment, and almost every battleship ran out of ammunition reserves. The barrels of the main guns of several cruisers were knocked out. Before daybreak, Task Force 2 (in fact, a small fleet of escort ships) came to take over from Task Force 1, providing artillery support to the Marines during the day, and in the afternoon went to shell the city of Port Moresby, forcing the Americans to mobilize some heavy artillery for the defense of the port and the city. 16K. Computer Station.

On the 20th, the Marines advanced to the periphery of the U.S. military airfield southeast of Port Moresby. This is the main battleground for the two sides. For the Marines to consolidate the landing grounds, they had to seize the airfield, and the U.S. forces had to keep the Marines at the perimeter of their defenses. The airport must be guarded.

According to Tan Renhao's plan, the capture of Port Moresby would not end quickly, and the fleet would certainly withdraw from the battle soon after. At that time, the local marines will not be supported by the fleet, and at most they will have to be helped by the shore-based aviation of the HNA at most. Therefore, it is crucial to seize the airfield, not only to send supplies and reinforcements to the Marine Corps by air, but also to send aviation troops to strengthen the defenses on this side. Such. Even if the fleet withdrew from the battle. The Marines are still capable of holding out. In addition, after seizing the airfield, the marines did not need to stick to the landing field. It is entirely possible to rely on the terrain near the airport to build a stronger defensive line and fight a war of attrition with the US military. As long as the Marine artillery is deployed to the airfield, then the urban area of Port Moresby will be within the range of shelling, and at that time, the US military will have to continue to support Port Moresby, and will not be able to send additional troops to the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides.

The capture of the U.S. military airfield southeast of Port Moresby was the final and most crucial, decisive step in the battle. If the airport could not be reached, Tan Renhao's plan would not succeed, and the Marines would not be able to divide their forces to sweep the Solomon Islands. The U.S. military also quickly realized this. From the afternoon of the 20th. Both sides have sent heavy troops to fight for control of the airport.

The battle heated that night, with the Marines committing one and a half divisions, leaving less than two regiments behind to hold the landing ground, and mobilizing two-thirds of their artillery to storm the airfield. The U.S. military deployed nearly 10,000 defensive troops at the airport by the evening of the same day. Battles were fought from dark to dawn and from dawn to dark. On the sea, the 1st Task Force had already made two round-trips, and the 2nd Task Force shelling formation had also made two round-trips. HNA bombers made continuous high-intensity sorties and dropped more than 3,000 tons of bombs on the US military in less than 40 hours. During this period, the bombers of the Strategic Strike Force also carried out at least five large-scale bombardments of US rear positions, dropping thousands of tons of bombs.

The battle lasted until the night of the 21st. The last group of American troops raised the white flag and surrendered to the Imperial Marines, who had already surrounded it. In the battle, which lasted two days, the Imperial Marines suffered more than 5,000 casualties, most of whom fell to the ground in the gradual battle. Only more than 1,000 U.S. troops guarding the airport escaped, more than 6,000 were annihilated, and more than 2,000 officers and men, mostly wounded, were taken prisoner.

Early in the morning of the 22nd, Tan Renhao had just eaten breakfast and came to the command cabin, and the fleet was still rushing to the supply sea area. Yan Guozhong's telegram was sent that the Marine Corps had taken control of the airfield and set up a defensive line overnight, and that the HNA would be responsible for providing support to the Marine Corps during the day, and the fleet's combat mission had been completed. Then the front commander of the Marine Corps also sent a telegram of gratitude, and repeatedly claimed that it was not just a victory for the Marine Corps, but a collective victory for the Navy, of which the fleet had the greatest credit.

"It seems that there are still many people who have not been affected by Yan Guozhong." Hao Dongjue didn't rush to sleep, "At least some people know that without a fleet, the marines can't fight." ”

"Don't be proud, there are no marines, do you use battleships as tanks?" Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, "Contact the supply fleet, don't wait for us, modify the route, the fleet will return to Lae, we should also go back and take a breath." ”

From the night of 17 July to the morning of 22 July, the landing at Port Moresby lasted four and a half days, and the Marine Corps occupied the US military airfield southeast of Port Moresby at the cost of more than 6,000 officers and men, and completed the landing operation. At this time, the Marines were not capable of attacking Port Moresby, at least without a clear superiority in numbers. Without strong fleet support and insufficient air support, it is difficult for the Marines to capture Port Moresby, and their mission is not to capture Port Moresby, but to nail it out of Port Moresby like a nail, so that the American troops can not sleep.

U.S. casualties were even heavier, with more than 12,000 U.S. troops killed or captured during the four-and-a-half-day battle. More than 7,000 U.S. troops were disabled, and only more than 14,000 U.S. troops remaining in Port Moresby at this time were still combat-ready, and even if all non-combatants were counted, it was only more than 20,000 troops. This group of American troops was more than defended, but not enough offensive, and it was impossible to drive the Imperial Marines away.

The battle lines were stalemate, and most crucially, the Imperial Marines took control of the airfield, so they could get the supplies and troops that came in by air. In addition, the first batch of combat supplies sent was enough for the Marine Corps for more than a month. And in the days that followed. Yan Guozhong also organized more than 200 transport planes. Three infantry regiments were sent to Port Moresby to strengthen the defenses.

On the way back, Tan Renhao made contact with the artillery bombardment formation of the Second Task Force. Lei Shaoqing returned with the "Bear Lake" aircraft carrier. And before he left, he confessed that the artillery formation obeyed Tan Renhao's direct command. Now, this small fleet of more than a dozen warships is also returning to Lae. Then, Tan Renhao got in touch with the Fourth Task Force. Huang Xiaotian had already returned to Lae ahead of schedule.

"At least, we've achieved our goal." In the afternoon, Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue, who had recovered his energy, went to the back deck of the battleship, "The Marines have been nailed to the outside of Port Moresby, and the American troops are like a man, I'm afraid MacArthur will not be able to sleep." ”

"The question now is, will MacArthur see through our tricks?"

Tan Renhao pondered. He walked back and forth on the deck for a few steps, and then stopped in front of Hao Dongjue. "Definitely, it's just a matter of time. The key now is how quickly we can take Kuah and then capture Rennell and force the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Solomon Islands. As long as we are fast enough, even if MacArthur reacts, he will not have time to save the situation on the Solomon Islands side. ”

"The three Marine Divisions that have come in reinforcements will arrive the day after tomorrow, it seems. Yan Guozhong will send this group of troops directly to Kuah Island. "Hao Dongjue has been impregnated for so long, and his analysis of campaigns and strategies has also improved." If all three divisions are thrown into the Kuah Island battlefield, combined with our superiority in sea and air, the battle on Kuah Island will probably end this month. ”

"It's hard, at least until next month." Tan Renhao leaned on the railing next to him, "The U.S. military's material reserves on Kuah Island can last at least ten days, and the terrain of Kuah Island is very complicated, it is difficult to solve the problem by increasing troops alone, many places are small-scale battles, and the benefits of too many troops are not obvious." And the only way to really force the U.S. military to abandon Kuah Island is to wait until they consume all the supplies. Otherwise, the U.S. military would have been able to hold out in the mountains. ”

"Then the fleet will have to continue its operations."

"We can't be idle, do you think Yan Guozhong will let us go back easily?" Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, "I bet with you, after we go back this time, Yan Guozhong will definitely let us rush to the battlefield on Kuah Island immediately." ”

Hao Dongjue also laughed. "I won't make this bet with you, if Yan Guozhong doesn't let us go, it will be a strange thing."

"However, stepping up the offensive on the Kuah Island is not the only option." Tan Renhao thought for a while, "There are too many troops in three divisions, and there is no need for reinforcements on Kuah Island. If Rennell Island can be attacked at the same time, then the US military may be forced to abandon Kuah Island. ”

"Then it depends on how Yan Guozhong chooses."

While the two were chatting, the communications staff officer ran over and delivered a telegram from the theater command.

"What's the matter, as I said, Yan Guozhong simply treats us as slaves and doesn't give us a chance to breathe at all."

Tan Renhao took the telegram and laughed after just one glance. "It seems that Yan Guozhong is even more anxious than us."

The telegram demanded that the 1st Task Force rendezvous with the 2nd Task Force shelling formation and rush to the waters off Kuah Island as soon as possible, and at the same time Tan Renhao should go to Lae City to discuss the next combat action, and the command of the fleet was naturally handed over to Hao Dongjue.

"Leaving now?" Hao Dongjue was a little depressed, he still wanted to go back and get a good night's sleep, and he didn't send several letters to his girlfriend.

"Let the seaplane prepare, it seems that I can't go back."

"Then you wait a minute, help me bring a few letters back." Hao Dongjue glanced at Tan Renhao, then turned around and ran away.

Seeing that his partner was so positive, Tan Renhao smiled and shook his head, and then asked the staff officer to inform the aviation on the battleship and let the seaplane prepare for takeoff.

Half an hour later, Tan Renhao took Hao Dongjue's letters to Tan Qinglian and got on the plane.

Soon after the seaplane took off, several fighter planes flew over, this is the fighter plane that came to escort Tan Renhao, Yan Guozhong's arrangement is quite thoughtful, and now the fleet is still active in the theater of operations, although the possibility of American fighter planes appearing in this vicinity is very small, but it is always much safer to send a few escorts to fight.

Four hours later, Tan Renhao came to Yan Guozhong's theater headquarters. This time, the expressions of those officers of the theater headquarters were much better-looking, Yan Guozhong definitely didn't scold his mother, and he was in a good mood, otherwise these officers wouldn't dare to steal fun. In addition, all the officers greeted Tan Renhao with very admiring eyes, as if in their minds, Tan Renhao's status instantly improved a lot. This made Tan Renhao feel a little weird.

"These letters of trust are sent back by the nearest postal plane, don't lose them!" Tan Renhao first found a staff officer in charge of logistics, "If there is a letter to us, you can send it later, and I will bring it back." ”

"General, don't worry, we won't be mistaken."

Tan Renhao smiled and nodded, and then saw Yan Guozhong standing by the door of the office waving to him, it seemed that Yan Guozhong had been waiting for him.