The battlefield commanders on both sides invariably forgot or omitted another important figure when planning and arranging the battle, that is, Huang Xiaotian, commander of the Fourth Task Force.

Tan Renhao did not contact the Fourth Task Force when he turned the 1st Task Force.

It's not that he doesn't want to contact Huang Xiaotian to act together, but he doesn't know where Huang Xiaotian has gone. At this time, Task Force 1 was more than 300 nautical miles from Rennell Island and more than 200 nautical miles from Tagura. Therefore, while Tan Renhao was busy deploying the operations of the First Task Force, there was no way to immediately contact the Fourth Task Force. From another point of view, the number one task of the Fourth Task Force at that time was to lure the enemy into the ambush circle of the First Task Force, and Huang Xiaotian was doing this, so there was no need for Tan Renhao to let Huang Xiaotian change the mission goal at this time.

Halsey also did not take into account the possible actions of Task Force IV. One is that he didn't know much about Huang Xiaotian, the Fourth Task Force had not done much in the Southwest Pacific before, and the only large-scale naval battle was also completed under the leadership of the First Task Force, so Halsey did not attach great importance to and understand the situation of the young commander of the Fourth Task Force. The second is that the strength of the Fourth Task Force is not as good as that of the First Task Force, and it obviously plays a supporting role, so Halsey does not regard the Fourth Task Force as a threat. Finally, and most importantly, Task Force 4 was on the run, so Halsey believed that Task Force 4 would remain on the run and not take on the main attack mission, and that Task Force 1 in ambush was the real threat.

Because of this. Tan Renhao and Halsey did not take into account the Fourth Task Force when adjusting the fleet's movements.

But the problem is that Huang Xiaotian is by no means the kind of mediocre commander. And he is by no means willing to be just an insignificant supporting role on this battlefield. The role of the fourth task force is definitely not to be underestimated. This is the actual situation, and Huang Xiaotiandi thinks the same way, so it is impossible for him to easily put the Fourth Task Force outside the battlefield!

When Tan Renhao asked the Fourth Task Force to retreat, Huang Xiaotian was still a little confused. Then he discovered the US reconnaissance plane, and then the news that the 33rd Task Force was heading north. At this point, Huang Xiaotian understood, although his reconnaissance plane did not find the US aircraft carrier task force, and even found the 33rd task force at the last hurdle, but since the 33rd task force has appeared and is pursuing the fourth task force at full speed, will the US aircraft carrier task force be far away? Huang Xiaotian didn't hesitate any longer, immediately spread his legs and ran, and ran behind the ass of the third task force in one breath. He hid in the south side of the Sea of Solomon. When he received a telegram from Tagura, he learned that Task Force 33 was heading for Tagura. Huang Xiaotian had an idea.

Standing in Huang Xiaotian's position, what he saw was obviously different from what Tan Renhao saw.

When he was chased by Kincaid, Huang Xiaotian found a problem. The speed of the 33rd Task Force was only 27 knots, while the speed of the 4th Task Force was 33 knots. The speed difference between the two sides is 6 knots, even if they sail in the same direction, they will have to open 6 nautical miles in an hour, and the distance between the two sides is not shortening, but increasing, and Kincaid can't catch up at all, so why does he still chase?

Previously, Huang Xiaotian judged that Kincaid thought that Task Force 4 would stop in the middle of the night, so he kept chasing, but when he received the news from Tagura, he immediately didn't think so. Kincaid's purpose is not to pursue Task Force 4, but to shell Tagura Island and destroy the island's airfield!

This speculation is very reasonable, if the airfield on Tagura Island is not destroyed, even if the threat of shore-based tactical bombers is not considered, the nearly 100 long-range reconnaissance aircraft and long-range patrol planes deployed on Tagura Island will also be of great help to the fleet, which will make Halsey's aircraft carrier task force be discovered first, therefore, Halsey will definitely want to destroy the airfield on the island!

Using carrier-based bombers to bomb airfields is the most effective means of attack, but Halsey has so little aviation strike force in his hands, and he has to deal with the two Tang Empire aircraft carrier task forces that are not under his strength, so Halsey will definitely not use aviation to attack the airfield, but let the 33rd task force go north overnight and destroy the airfield with heavy artillery at night, so that his aircraft carrier task force can concentrate on killing the first task force and the second task force during the day.

Thinking of this, Huang Xiaotian found a problem, that is, Halsey "forgot" about the Third Task Force, or did not know that the Third Task Force had arrived on the battlefield. Huang Xiaotian is more willing to believe in the latter possibility, if Halsey knows that the third task force is operating on the battlefield, then he will definitely let the 33rd task force go north during the day, and then send bombers to destroy the airfield on Tagura Island, and let the aircraft carrier task force retreat outside the strike range of the other party's carrier-based bombers before the fourth task force and the first task force react, and at that time, both sides can only kill the other party's battleship task force first, and the decisive battle between the aircraft carrier task force will definitely be delayed. In this way, Halsey can use the 33rd Task Force to replace the 3rd Task Force with the Tang Imperial airfield on Tagura Island, and the battle situation can at least be leveled, not as it is now, which is not good for Halsey.

Thinking of this, Huang Xiaotian also had an idea, if Halsey didn't know that the Third Task Force had arrived at the battlefield, then the 33rd Task Force would definitely not be able to successfully shell Tagura Island, and then Halsey would definitely bombard Tagura Island during the day to ensure that the aircraft carrier task force would not be hit.

At this time, Halsey would certainly not be able to concentrate all his forces against Task Force 1 and Task Force 4. If Halsey continues to attack, then Task Force 4 has a chance!

Huang Xiaotian did not rush to make a decision, but stopped the fleet from retreating to the northeast at about half past nine, by which time the Fourth Task Force was already about 80 nautical miles southwest of Tagula Island, less than 70 nautical miles from the Third Task Force, which was moving at full speed to the west, and about 250 nautical miles from the 33rd Task Force. Before Huang Xiaotian could make a decision, he had to know the actions of the First Task Force first, but he knew ten o'clock. He still had not heard from Task Force 1, nor had the seaplanes of Task Force 1 come over. At this time, Huang Xiaotian had a little headache.

Tan Renhao must have gone south. This is Huang Xiaotian's first judgment. Huang Xiaotian would never doubt Tan Renhao's ability, since he could see that the Halsidi aircraft carrier task force was still approaching.

And knowing what will happen tomorrow morning, then Tan Renhao has no reason not to judge the battle situation. The best option for Task Force 1 was to sail southwest, into the central part of the Coral Sea, and try to maneuver to the south of Halsey at dawn. When Halsey bombed Tagura, or even the Fourth Task Force, Task Force 1 could launch an attack from a direction that Halsey could not have imagined, destroying the U.S. aircraft carrier task force with all the bombers on the three aircraft carriers in one fell swoop.

But the biggest problem was that the First Task Force did not send news, so Huang Xiaotian could only guess the actions of the First Task Force. Of course, he will not forget one point, that is, the main purpose of this battle is to take out the US aircraft carriers, and Tan Renhao will definitely work towards this goal, and the First Task Force will definitely go south to find fighters. Instead of standing in the way of Task Force 4 and acting as a shield for Task Force 4, it is not behind Task Force 3. Provide cover for Task Force 3 and bomb Task Force 33.

After ten o'clock, Huang Xiaotian made a decision, since the First Task Force was heading south to look for opportunities. Then Task Force 4 had to seize the opportunity during the day, and while attracting most of Halsey's strike force, it also had to slap Halsey in the face, knock Halsey unconscious, and then let Task Force 1 do it. After clarifying this idea, Huang Xiaotian also knew what to do.

At 10:20, the Fourth Task Force began to move south at a speed of 22 knots, Huang Xiaotian only arranged a general route, and then began to deploy reconnaissance operations in the early morning, and he had to find Halsey's whereabouts as soon as possible after dawn, and at the same time send his own bombers, he could also want the First Task Force to provide targets.

Huang Xiaotian's reconnaissance arrangements were to focus on searching the waters within 150 nautical miles to 250 nautical miles southwest and south of Tagula Island. Huang Xiaotiandi's arrangement was based on his judgment, if Halsey wanted to bomb Tagula Island, then he would have to go within 25 nautical miles. And the 3rd Task Force will definitely intercept the 33rd Task Force, considering that both sides are active during the artillery battle, the naval battle will be fought in the sea area 50 nautical miles to 100 nautical miles south of Tagura, because of the fragility of the aircraft carrier fleet."

weak, so Halsey would not let his aircraft carrier task force get too close to the artillery battlefield, so it would be more appropriate to set 150 nautical miles as the bottom line.

The problem is that Huang Xiaotian must reconnoiter hundreds of thousands of square nautical miles, and his reconnaissance plane will fly 300 nautical miles, and if it wants to take care of the westernmost sea area, then the Fourth Task Force must appear in the sea area 40 degrees south-west of Tagula Island, 180 nautical miles away, and must use all the reconnaissance planes of the fleet, even seaplanes, otherwise, it will not be able to ensure the search of the entire sea area.

Fortunately, Huang Xiaotian was born in the aviation corps, and he has served as an aviation combat staff officer for many years, so his ability in aviation reconnaissance is very strong. It took him just over an hour to set up the reconnaissance operation, and at about half past eleven, new news arrived.

While Huang Xiaotian was planning the early morning reconnaissance operation, Chang Zhixin led the Third Task Force to the west at the fastest speed of 31 knots.

Information is still coming every ten minutes, and it has been more than two hours, and Task Force 33 is still continuing to approach in the direction of Tagura. Task Force 3 could only intercept it at most 50 nautical miles south of Tagura, and the two sides would be very close, even within 10 nautical miles. After the artillery battle starts, both sides will enter the range of visual shelling, and it will depend on luck.

"The latest information, Task Force 33 is divided into two formations."

"Two formations?" Chang Jianxin was stunned for a moment, and immediately said, "What does Kincaid want to do?" Didn't he know we were approaching? ”

"Looks like he didn't know we were coming, or he wouldn't have split the seven battleships in two." Gu Zhenyun put down the telegram, "There are three battleships in the west formation, four in the east, all accompanied by destroyers, and the distance is about 5 nautical miles, and the cruiser formation is about 8 nautical miles behind. ”

"Shelling formations!" Chang Jiexin immediately reacted, "He is preparing for the shelling of Tagula Island, not for an artillery battle at sea." ”

Gu Zhenyun nodded. "If Kincaid had known our whereabouts, he would have put the seven battleships together instead of spreading them out into two."

"Then let's knock out the four 'Iowa'-class battleships in the east that pose the biggest threat to us." Chang Jianxin hit the chart table with a fist, "Concentrate the firepower of six battleships, fight in a two-on-one manner, make sure to kill one or three of them first, and by the time Kincaid reacts, he will no longer have an advantage in strength." ”

"Then we have to readjust the formation, putting the 'Guangzhou' and 'Guiyang' in the front, and the other four in the middle, and the flagship in third place."

"Immediately, in addition, the radar was turned on at eleven o'clock, and after discovering the enemy fleet, the fleet slowed down to 18 knots, and immediately began shelling, pulling to within ten nautical miles to fight, so that Kincaid could see how powerful we were!"

The order was immediately delivered, and it was 10:45 a.m. The fleet is still sailing westward at a speed of 31 knots. The officers and men on the battleship also quickly entered their respective posts.

At 10:55 a.m., the search radar on the "Nanning" was activated first, followed by the radars on the other five battleships. During the overhaul, both the "Guangzhou" and the "Guiyang" were replaced with the latest radars, and the most important improvement of the new radar is that it can be started quickly, unlike in the past, which requires half an hour of residual heat before it can be started. This can be very useful in the heat of battle. In addition, the applauding rate of the new radar has been reduced a lot, and the detection accuracy has also improved a lot, but the detection range of the radar has not increased much.

At this time, Kincaid still did not know that on the sea less than 50 nautical miles to the northeast of him, a huge fleet was approaching at full speed!