"It's ...... Straight to Christmas Island? ”

On the afternoon of September 25, Tokyo time (late at night on the 24th, Hawaiian time), Admiral Koga Mine, who had just led the main force of the Combined Fleet from the anchorage of Pillar Island near Kuregun Port, received another report on the whereabouts of the American fleet. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

The Americans' previous advance to the island of Hawaii was indeed a feint, and when they advanced to more than 800 nautical miles from the island of Hawaii, they turned southwest and headed straight for Christmas Island.

"It's supposed to be Christmas Island!" Ugaki stood in front of the chart table with his arms folded, his brow furrowed slightly, "According to the latest seaplane reconnaissance report, the U.S. fleet is still about 900 nautical miles away from Christmas Island, but their speed seems to be a bit slow, about 10-15 knots. ”

"It should speed up." "They may have brought together the landing force and the supply group...... It is estimated that they will be separated tomorrow, the main formation will accelerate, and there may be air raids in the early morning of the 26th, Hawaii time. There won't be a problem with the air defense of Christmas Island, right? ”

"There is no problem on Christmas Island," Ugaki laughed, "There are more than 1,000 planes on the island, including as many as 380 Hurricane and Zero fighters...... Now we can teach the United States a hard lesson. ”

Koga nodded, he was also very confident in the air defense of Christmas Island.

"Let's hurry," said Koga, "there are still more than 4,000 nautical miles, and if we want to take part of the anti-submarine route, it will be nearly 5,000 nautical miles, and we will have to walk 250 hours at 20 knots." ”

"It's definitely in time," Ugaki said, "that the Americans won't be able to take Christmas Island in ten days." ”

……

"What? Christmas Island hasn't been hit by air strikes yet? ”

At 4 p.m. Tokyo time on September 27 (11 a.m. Hawaii time on the 26th), Mine Koga, commander of the Combined Fleet aboard the battleship Yamato, discovered that the situation was unexpected.

The air battle, which was supposed to take place early in the morning, showed no signs of happening until 11 a.m.

"Where is the American fleet?" He then asked.

"It's 600 nautical miles from Christmas Island...... Only about 300 nautical miles were walked in more than 30 hours. ”

"So slow?" Koga was stunned for a moment, "What the reconnaissance plane found wouldn't be the supply formation and the landing formation, right?" ”

"It's possible," Ugaki said, "but the reconnaissance planes didn't spot any other U.S. ship formations." ”

"Didn't find it?" Koga Mine shook his head, "Could it be that the Americans just formed a large formation and sailed slowly to Christmas Island?" ”

"It's also possible......," Ugaki smiled, "It's a little strange how the Americans fight wars. ”

Strange indeed!

The navy is not fighting like this, the navy is about speed! In this era, it is not uncommon for aircraft carrier task forces to run more than 30 knots at top speed, but where is there 10 knots and 12 knots that are slowly grinding down within the strike range of local shore-based aviation?

"Why don't we send shore-based planes to carry out airstrikes?" Ugaki suggested.

"600 nautical miles is still a bit far," Koga Mine looked at the charts, "and suggest that the 10th Fleet wait." ”

600 nautical miles is equivalent to 1,110 kilometers, while Japan's latest Hurricane fighter has a rated range of only 1,745 kilometers, and the combat radius is almost 700 kilometers and a maximum of 800 kilometers. The range of the comet dive bomber is only more than 1,000 kilometers, and the range of the Meteor torpedo bomber is larger, but it is difficult to reach the target at a distance of 1,110 kilometers.

So Koga Mineichi's suggestion was quickly adopted by the commander of the 10th Fleet, Onishi Takijiro. But contrary to Koga and Onishi's expectations, they waited 24 hours!

The Americans' Grand Fleet moved slowly, traveling only 300 nautical miles in 24 hours, and by the time it was almost noon on September 26, Hawaiian time, the fleet was still 300 nautical miles northeast of Christmas Island.

And what is even more strange is that the Americans never launched air strikes.

"Baga! Did you forget to bring a bomb when you left the port? ”

On Christmas Island, Vice Admiral Takijiro, commander of the 10th Fleet, only felt that he had fallen into the fog.

300 nautical miles is only 555 km, and the carrier-based bombers of the Americans will definitely be able to get it!

Therefore, from early in the morning, the Japanese troops on Christmas Island were like facing a great enemy, all the anti-aircraft guns were pointed at the sky, and the planes were lifted into the air, and the rest of the fighter pilots were always on standby. Just waiting to beat the American plane that came to the door.

But wait and wait, the American plane just won't come!

"Commander, the Americans probably want to shell Christmas Island, right?" The chief of staff of the 10th Fleet was the Immortal Staff Officer Kuroshima Kameto, and this stinky Japanese rear admiral crossed his arms and looked at the charts for a long time, and came up with the most unreasonable, but the only possibility.

"But...... Why didn't they carry out air strikes? Onishi Takijiro asked, "Now is the era of airplanes, and the Americans have very good carrier-based aircraft!" ”

The Black Island Turtle Man thought for a moment and said very seriously: "They didn't bring bombs!" ”

"Huh?"

Kuroshima shrugged: "It's unreasonable, but it's the only explanation!" ”

"So...... So they're going to shell Christmas Island? ”

The Black Island Turtle Man nodded and said, "According to intelligence, the U.S. fleet should have 10 battleships, including 3 super battleships with 406mm main guns. The fortifications on Christmas Island were unstoppable, and there were no armoured batteries to bombard the battleships. So we can't let the American fleet break through to a distance where it can be shelled, otherwise the airfields on the island will be destroyed. ”

Onishi Takijiro was stunned for a moment, then thought about it carefully, and nodded. Christmas Island is very important, but it is a very flat and narrow coral island, and it is not very large in size, and it is impossible to defend it like the Hawaiian Islands. And...... Japan also doesn't have the resources to make Christmas Island as impregnable as Oahu.

Therefore, the defense of Christmas Island is very dependent on the support of aviation and fleet, and the airfield on the island is the key to the decisive battle. Because Christmas Island is only 2,080 kilometers from Hawaii, most Japanese shore-based aircraft can be transferred directly. Therefore, after occupying Christmas Island, Japan built a large number of airfields, large oil depots, and ammunition depots, so that it could transfer shore-based planes to Christmas Island as soon as it discovered that the US fleet was approaching.

"Baga!" Onishi Takijiro, the fleet faction, couldn't help but scold, "Are the U.S. Navy all stupid fleet factions?" If you don't use a good plane, you have to use a battleship to shell! It's too stupid to fight. ”

"Commander, send planes to bomb." "Considering that the U.S. fleet has very strong air defense, we should send as many large aircraft groups as possible to overwhelm the enemy with numerical superiority." In addition to the fighters and reconnaissance planes covering the airfield and a land attack, let's launch a surprise attack! ”

"Of course!" Onishi Takijiro's expression suddenly became extremely serious, "Now give the order, the 14th Air Fleet (actually shore-based air force, with Onishi Takijiro also serving as the commander), all assault!" Army aviation also launched air strikes at the same time! In this battle, more than 10 American aircraft carriers must be sunk! ”

"Hay! The emperor is onboard! Great Japanese Empire, onboard! ”

With the order of Takijiro Onishi, the Japanese 14th Air Fleet and Army Air Corps stationed on Christmas Island immediately entered combat status. On the island's six large airfields, various types of fighters that had long been ready for a long time took to the air one after another.

At 12:15, the first attack wave sent by Christmas Island had been assembled. A total of 336 planes, including 55 Hurricane fighters, 58 Zero fighters, 86 Comet dive bombers, 67 Tien Shan torpedo bombers, and 80 Meteor torpedo bombers (all torpedo planes were loaded with bombs), formed several large formations and swooped down on the US fleet less than 300 nautical miles away.

Subsequently, a second attack wave, consisting of about the same number of aircraft, assembled one hour after the departure of the first attack wave, also roared towards the American fleet. Takijiro Onishi and Kameto Kuroshima only left less than 100 fighters on Christmas Island for air defense missions, and in order to expand the results of the first and second attacks, Onishi ordered a land attack on Christmas Island to be on standby, ready to be sent out to "mend the knife" for the wounded American ships.

Seeing the huge fleet leaving, Onishi Takijiro asked with a solemn face, "When can the mobile fleet attack?" ”

Ozawa's mobile fleet, which had previously been hidden near Palmyra Atoll, immediately made a surprise attack to the east to prepare for an air attack after confirming that the U.S. fleet was approaching Christmas Island.

"2 attack waves can be sent before 3:30 p.m." "Then the mobile fleet will retreat westward, and the planes sent from the aircraft carrier will return to Christmas Island. ”

"Hehe, it's shuttle bombing again, and the timing of departure is also very good." Onishi Takijiro nodded in admiration, "It's really Admiral Ozawa!" ”

Jizaburo Ozawa's deployment was indeed very clever, and the attack wave sent before 3:30 a.m. could find the U.S. fleet at about 5 o'clock. At this time, it was almost dusk on the battlefield near the equator, and it was almost dark after the bombing. It is simply impossible for the Americans to launch a counterattack. Moreover, the carrier-based planes sent by Ozawa fought shuttle bombing, and immediately retreated after sending the planes, giving the Americans the slightest chance at all.

Carrier-based aircraft that land on Christmas Island can fly to aircraft carriers that are already far away from the battlefield after filling up with fuel at night in order to launch a new attack the next day.

In other words, Ozawa's fleet has always been in a very safe position, and it can be said that it is invincible.