In this fierce battle at night, perhaps the most unpleasant thing is Tan Renhao. After a long night's wait, the result was that the bamboo basket was empty, and by the time the bombers arrived, the battle was over. When the 3rd and 2nd task forces retreated, the American bombers did not come to cause trouble. Later, Tan Renhao learned that before dawn, the bomber group under Luo Yunchong's command bombed Saipan, Tinian Island and Guam again, and the US airfield was seriously damaged, and it was impossible to send bombers for a whole day.

In the afternoon of the same day, after the bomber group had returned to the fleet after passing through Aramagan Island, Tan Renhao received a telegram from the Navy Command that the First Task Force had returned to the anchorage at Iwo Jima Island and was waiting for a new mission. In desperation, Tan Renhao could only order the fleet to return to the anchorage of Iwo Jima at a cruising degree of 18 knots.

The anchorage at Iwo Jima was originally a temporary station for the 3rd Task Force, but now the 3rd Task Force has been defeated, and judging from the pilots' eyewitness reports, the 3rd Task Force has lost one battleship, and one is almost finished, and the other four battleships have been heavily damaged, and most of the cruisers and destroyers have been sunk, and there is hardly a single intact battleship. The Third Task Force no longer needs this anchorage, and now the First Task Force is being dispatched there, making it clear that the First Task Force will take on the task of front-line support.

"As soon as the fleet arrived at the anchorage, the replenishment was completed, and the officers and men remained on the battleship. In addition, the fleet was reorganized, and as many escort warships as possible were drawn out to form an artillery bombardment formation. Alright, go ahead! ”

The staff officer quickly recorded the commander's order, and then went to work.

"How's it going, is there any news?"

Tan Renhao glanced at his partner who had just walked into the command cabin, and when he was adjusting the fleet arrangement, Hao Dongjue went to get in touch with the command department at the anchorage of Iwo Jima.

"The damage report has not yet come out."

Hao Dongjue took out a cigarette, "However, I have received the news that the second task force will also go to the anchorage of Iwo Jima Island first." We should have arrived one step late. ”

"What is he doing over there?"

Tan Renhao was stunned, a little puzzled.

"I don't know, probably waiting for the escort warships, after all, the situation of the second task force is also very bad now, if you encounter an American submarine halfway, it will be a big trouble!"

"Okay, then we'll wait for him when we get there!"

Tan Renhao took the cigarette, "I haven't seen him for a long time." Hopefully he's still so lucky! ”

Both of them laughed, at least for now there was no news that any generals had been killed in the night battle, which was probably the best news.

At about ten o'clock in the evening, the first task force arrived at the anchorage of Iwo Jima, and Tan Renhao and Hao Dongjue handed over the affairs of the fleet to the staff officers to arrange. When the two of them returned to the First Task Force, the quality of these staff officers was very bad, but after more than a month of fierce fighting, the quality of the officers has improved a lot. The two also fine-tuned the personnel arrangements of the staff department, and promoted several staff officers with outstanding abilities but who had not been used in the past to important positions (such as sailing). Correspondence. Intelligence, guns and other senior staff officers) Now neither of them needs to worry too much about the affairs of the fleet staff, and the mission is deployed. Naturally, someone will do it.

Before the two left the flagship, a telegram was received from the command of the Navy. Originally, the two of them were going to go to the shore to find a place to have a good rub, but after seeing this telegram, they lost their appetite. Although it was not necessary for Gan Yongxing to tell the commander of the First Task Force about the losses of the other fleets, the telegram still came, and it was very "timely."

The losses of both fleets were enormous, and all but the twenty or so ships that were sunk were wounded, and most of them were heavily damaged. Both fleets lost (killed and seriously wounded) thousands of officers and men. As a result, both fleets had to go back to rest, the battleships had to be overhauled, and the officers and men had to recuperate. Even in the best-case scenario, Task Force 2 would be restored until the end of March (by then, the three damaged ones would be replaced by six new ground air defense cruisers, and three ships would be transferred to Task Force 1, and a new heavy cruiser of the first class would soon be commissioned), while Task Force 3 would not be able to regain combat capability until mid-year. And at that time, the Imperial Navy will receive the second batch of "New Provincial Capital" class battleships, and by then the Imperial Navy will have eight battleships in the Pacific theater (perhaps a task force will be reorganized) In other words, in the more than a month until the end of March, for nearly two months, only the first task force will be fighting alone on the front line. But this is not a bad thing, because relatively speaking, the US Navy was also knocked down in the night battle the night before.

The Atlantic Task Force had already reached Pearl Harbor, four battleships, eight cruisers, and more than a dozen destroyers. In addition, a large number of destroyers are coming in on fire. None of these battleships left Pearl Harbor, and there was no indication of an attack. Nimitz has temporarily halted the Mariana Islands from sending fleets. It is clear that the U.S. Navy has had to readjust its deployment in the Western Pacific theater due to the huge losses and the result of the fiasco. If those four battleships were to lose again, the U.S. Navy would lose the ability to operate in the Pacific. When the time comes, the warships of the Tang Empire will drive straight in, and to the east they can attack the Hawaiian Islands, and even the mainland of the United States, and to the south they can sweep the South Pacific, Australia Big 6.

"This is provided by the intelligence services."

Hao Dongjue turned to the last page of the telegram, "The 'Saratoga' and 'Yorktown,' which are medical places on the west coast of the United States, will be repaired by 20 March at the earliest, and counting the other preparatory work, it is already very good to arrive at Pearl Harbor at the end of March." The "Enterprise" repaired at Pearl Harbor was repaired at the beginning of next month, and the progress has been accelerated considerably, and the "Hornet" will probably not be repaired until the end of March. In other words, the US Navy will have four aircraft carriers at the end of March, the beginning of April! ”

"We'll be five by then!"

Tan Renhao sneered, "If the Second Task Force can successfully restore its combat effectiveness, we will have five aircraft carriers by then." Moreover, by June, the first four of the new aircraft carriers will be commissioned, and by that time we will have nine aircraft carriers. When will the new US aircraft carrier be able to enter service? ”

"At the end of the year, it's still the same information as before, but it seems that it may be early to serve, but it will be October at the earliest!"

Hao Dongjue leaned back in his chair, "The main thing is that the training degree of pilots in the US military has not improved. Their HNA pilots had lost almost half of their lives in the last battle. Without pilots, an aircraft carrier is not even comparable to a destroyer! ”

Tan Renhao laughed. "It seems that we can get at least four months of advantage!"

"It's up to us what we do with those four months."

Tan Renhao lowered his head and pondered. After yesterday's fierce night fighting, if the United States does not send more maritime forces, the battle situation in the Mariana Islands is basically decided. It will take about twenty days to a month for the 6th Sentai to sweep Anatahan Island, perhaps shorter, after all, the U.S. troops on Anatahan Island have lost contact with the outside world and have become alone. The third division of the 6th Sentai will be put into battle. There were also two divisions that served as reserves. What's more, through the islands of Asunción, Agrihan, the 6 Sentai has become familiar with the defense system of the US army, as well as the tactics of the US army.

After capturing Anatahan Island, Team 6's next target was Saipan to the south. It will be a decisive battle. Saipan is the most tenacious part of the Mariana Islands where the U.S. military is defended. The U.S. military operated here for more than 20 years, and in the two years before it entered the war (that is, the two years of the fierce war between the Tang Empire and Japan), the U.S. military had been strengthening the island's defenses, and had built a large number of fortifications at any cost. Underground bunkers. Concealed gun emplacements. In order to ensure the smooth capture of Saipan, Team 6 must use Anatahan Island as a springboard to strengthen the deployment of Anatahan Island as much as possible. Gather more troops, deploy more planes on the island, and stock up more ammunition. Even if Team 6 are able to take Anatahan before the end of February, it will take a month to prepare for the next phase of the attack, and attack Saipan at the end of March, or the beginning of April.

Thinking of this, Tan Renhao couldn't help but have a little headache, and at the same time understood why Nimitz no longer sent fleets. As long as the Imperial 6 Sentai does not land on Saipan before the end of March, then the US military has a chance to fight back. That said, the Imperial Navy has not yet finally sealed the victory. At the time of the fierce battle in Saipan. If the U.S. military can regain sea supremacy, then it will have the capital to counterattack and hope to drive the Tang Army out of the Mariana Islands. In the end, the key to deciding the outcome is the decisive battle between the fleets of the two sides of "sea supremacy"! It's just that the next decisive battle will not be between battleships with giant cannons, but between aircraft carriers with bombers!

Tan Renhao picked up the telegram and read it carefully again. Although there was not a single word in the telegram related to the next combat operation, Tan Renhao felt it. The return of Task Force 1 to the anchorage at this time must have been in preparation for the next phase of operations. So, in the next stage, will Task Force 1 go to deal with the US Navy, or will it go to support the 6th Sentai Fleet?

"What, do you think there's something wrong?"

Tan Renhao shook his head and said, "It's a bit of a headache, I can't see what the next phase of deployment of the Navy Command is." ”

"What do you mean?"

Hao Dongjue came over.

Tan Renhao handed the telegram to his partner. "I'm thinking about the next phase of action. It seems that there is a new deployment in the command of the Navy. ”

Hao Dongjue glanced at the message, he still didn't understand the meaning of Tan Renhao's words.

"Perhaps, we'll take the place of Task Force 3!"

Tan Renhao clasped his hands behind his head, and then leaned back in his chair. "But this is also impossible, judging from the current situation of the Imperial Navy, it is temporarily impossible to form a large fleet like the Third Task Force, but it is still possible to form an artillery fleet dominated by cruisers and destroyers. It would be overkill to put us in charge of front-line support, and any loss of task force 1 now would completely change the balance of power in the Pacific theater. Perhaps, it's me who is too careful! ”

"You're saying there's a good chance we'll have a new mission?"

Tan Renhao let out a sigh. "Forget it, why do you want to do so much, if you have a task, you can complete the task, and if there is no task, we are happy and relaxed, isn't it?"

Hao Dongjue glanced at his partner in disbelief, when did Tan Renhao become so negative? Tan Renhao in his acquaintance is the kind of person who is full of energy as soon as he steps on the battleship, otherwise, why did he give up the opportunity for promotion in the first place and desperately want to be transferred back to serve as the commander of the fleet?

"Hungry or not? Let's go get something to eat. ”

Tan Renhao stood up, then looked at his watch, "Lao Chang won't arrive until the second half of the night, let's go fill our stomachs first, and then wait for him to come, and then have a good chat." ”

"It's okay, I'll send someone to guard it, and if I have the usual news, I'll tell us immediately."

As soon as the two walked out, a staff officer approached them head-on, and his pace was very fast. "Commander, Task Force 2 has arrived."

"So fast?"

Hao Dongjue immediately asked rhetorically.

"The first to arrive were four destroyers, and those cruisers probably won't arrive until dawn."

"Has General Chang also arrived?"

Tan Renhao followed up and asked.

The staff officer immediately nodded.

"Where did they stop?"

"To the east, I've arranged for fireboats, and jeeps are parked on the beach."

Tan Renhao glanced at the captain officer appreciatively, and immediately took Hao Dongjue and ran off the commander's bridge, and then got on the fireboat. By the time the two men arrived on the beach to the east in their jeeps, four destroyers were at anchor and one fireboat had been lowered from the destroyer. They were all amazed when they saw the new fireboat with their heads wrapped in bandages, and then they all laughed. The shit luck of this kid has always been good, and if he doesn't die in this disaster, he will have a blessing!

The three friends hadn't gotten together for months, so it was natural to have some greetings and greetings after meeting.

"Lao Chang, you kid is really powerful, take a few cruisers and rush to fight the 'Z fleet', if the marshal gives you a few aircraft carriers, I'm afraid you dare to bomb Washington!"

Hao Dongjue still can't forget to make a few jokes.

Chang Zhixin smiled shyly, pulling the wound on his face, and gritting his teeth in pain.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense, haven't you eaten yet?"

Tan Renhao asked his friend, and he couldn't often recommend a new answer, "Let's go find a place to have two drinks, one is to celebrate this victory, and the other is to wash the dust for you." Let's go, Dongjue, go for a car, and then go find a restaurant, I'm in for a treat today! ”

The three of them immediately laughed, Tan Renhao would never treat guests easily!