The fleet was prepared quickly, and after dark, the last two ships were resupplyed, and the fleet left the anchorage and began the front line. According to the order issued by the Navy Command, before the 6th Squadron landed on the 6th, that is, before dawn on the 23rd, the 1st Task Force and the shore-based aviation units of the Navy had to carry out at least 48 hours of artillery bombardment and bombardment of the US troops on Saipan, especially the US fortifications near the 6th Squadron. Therefore, Task Force 1 had to carry out the first round of bombardment before dawn, and its artillery formation had to arrive in time for about noon the next day.

"The artillery formation is placed here, and the planes are used to observe the movement and deployment of the US troops, and the shelling must be accurate and sharp, and do not give the enemy any chance."

Tan Renhao clearly marked the sea area of the artillery bombardment formation on the chart, "Within a day and a half, all the shells were fired, and then the supplies were carried out on the night of the 22nd, and after dawn, they were transferred to the southern sea area to support the 6th team to go ashore." When the time comes, the bombers will be responsible for suppressing the enemy artillery positions! ”

"Isn't this a little too risky, and what's the use of shelling the airfield?"

"This is arranged by the command, and I don't know what the specific role is."

Tan Renhao glanced at his partner, "Let's arrange it as soon as possible, Team 6 is probably already making preparations, and we can't hold back." ”

Hao Dongjue was still a little puzzled, but didn't ask again. The Navy Command was specifically responsible for planning the Deng-6 operation, and each unit was only given its own operational tasks, that is to say, the Navy Command directly commanded the Deng-6 operation, and even Yan Guozhong could only stand aside. This can be said to be a little change in the command system of the Imperial Navy.

Beginning on 21 July, Task Force 1 and shore-based units of naval aviation once again intensified their bombardment of Saipan. Previously, bombers mainly hit US airfields, anti-aircraft artillery positions, material hoarding warehouses, barracks, artillery positions and other large targets. And from this day on, bombers, in addition to continuing to drop bombs over these targets. Bombardment of such tactical targets as beach fortifications, exposed bunkers, tunnel systems was also intensified.

At noon, the shelling formation of the 1st Task Force reached the waters north of Saipan. At this time, the air supremacy over the battlefield was firmly grasped by the Tang Army, and at least two fighter squadrons were patrolling the southern part of the island at any time. Shelling battleships did not need to worry about being attacked by American bombers, and the range of naval guns was far above that of ground artillery. The shelling began at 1 p.m., and the focus of the shelling was the field airfield on the north side of the island.

In the continuous bombing and artillery bombardment, the US troops did not even have a chance to show their heads. The skies of the islands were ruled by the war eagles of the Don Empire. On the sea were the warships of the Tang Empire, which were falling bombs and shells one after another, and there were more than a dozen reconnaissance planes hovering over the islands. The U.S. military could only hide in underground fortifications, and it was difficult to even breathe fresh air. This is the heaviest bombardment and shelling of Saipan in a month.

The Don army suddenly intensified the bombardment, and Nimitz immediately sniffed out the breath before the vicious war. The Don Army is ready to land on 6 Saipan, otherwise why suddenly increase the bombing force? Nimitz also judged. The date of the 6th must be between the 23rd and the 25th. Because in the first few Deng-6 operations, the early firepower of the Tang Army was prepared within two to five days. This time for preparing for fire is actually limited by the ability to replenish and the amount of material hoarded on the front line. Judging by the current situation of the Tang Army. The time of fire preparation is most likely two days, that is, the date of the 6th of the Tang Army is most likely the 23rd.

Nimitz's judgment is accurate, but accurate judgment does not mean that there is an appropriate response. Outside of ordering the defenders on the island to prepare for battle as soon as possible, and letting the ground air forces on Tinian Island and Guam be prepared as much as possible on the 23rd, Nimitz now had not many ground support options he could think of.

The maintenance work of the aircraft carrier "Saratoga" will continue until the 25th, even if the post-repair test is done during the crossing, and if there is a problem to be repaired at Pearl Harbor, then. The USS Saratoga will also be able to reach Pearl Harbor only on 30 days at most. The progress of the maintenance of the "Yorktown" was a little slower, probably completed on the night of the 25th, the replenishment work was completed on the 26th, and the test was still being done while sailing, so it could only reach Pearl Harbor on the 31st. The "Enterprise" has completed its repair work and is doing tests, and it will be able to form combat effectiveness in about 26 days. The "Hornet" will not be able to form combat effectiveness until the 30th. In other words, it was not until the 31st that Nimitz could get four aircraft carriers. Even if the formation of the fleet (arranging escort warships, etc.) is completed in the early stage, and the four aircraft carriers arrive immediately after the arrival, it will not be until the beginning of April. And if the Tang Army landed on the 6 on the 23rd, it would have nearly ten days to complete the preliminary offensive operations, and by then, even if the fleet arrived, the 6 Tang Army had already gained a firm foothold on the island, and it would be too difficult to fight.

There are also many other problems, in addition to the difficulty of the aircraft carrier to return in time, the arrangement of escort warships also gives Nimitz a headache. Nimitz himself didn't know much about aircraft carrier tactics, but he had a good "staff officer" and that was Halsey. After questioning Halsey, who was lying in the hospital bed, Nimitz also knew that an aircraft carrier formation needed at least one heavy cruiser, and two destroyers (the lowest, the lowest establishment) If you want to ensure the safety of the aircraft carrier, this number must be at least doubled, that is, two heavy cruisers and four destroyers to protect one aircraft carrier. Now there are four aircraft carriers, which should be eight heavy cruisers and sixteen destroyers. But the problem was that there weren't so many cruisers and destroyers in Pearl Harbor combined!

Nimitz originally wanted to fight the idea of the four battleships, but the maximum degree of the three "New Mexico" class and the "Colorado" was below 22 knots, while the degree of the aircraft carrier was above 33 knots, and the cruising degree of the two was not small. Obviously, it is impossible to integrate four battleships into the aircraft carrier fleet, and when the fight starts, the battleship has to drag the aircraft carrier back, and the aircraft carrier has to dodge bombs and torpedoes, and the most important thing is the degree. Aircraft carriers will sail as fast as possible when evading attacks, and battleships simply can't keep up and will soon be thrown off, so when the time comes, how to protect the battleships?

When the battle came to this point, Nimitz also knew that he was suffering. He had to send another telegram to Admiral King, hoping to get a batch of escort warships. King's reply was also quick, and he would do everything in his power to mobilize the West Coast warships to Pearl Harbor. Support the Pacific Fleet in operations. Nimitz didn't have much hope for those warships on the west coast, very simply, most of these battleships were destroyers, and they were all honest destroyers, which were used for escort operations in the North Pacific, although the degree was enough, but otherwise it would not be much better. Still, it's better than nothing.

There is another problem. That is, who will command these aircraft carriers to fight. Halsey and Fletcher were still lying in the hospital bed, although the "wild bull" had repeatedly asked for early discharge, but the doctor did not agree at all, the large area of wounds had not yet healed, and it was very likely that the condition would be serious when they arrived on the warship, and if they were not treated in time, the rear admiral would die. Fletcher's situation is not much better, the whole person is bandaged like a mummy, and even and pee have to be served, how can he command the fleet to fight?

At that time, a group of aircraft carrier officers of the Young Zhuang faction had emerged in the navy. But the qualifications are too shallow. Not very suitable to be a fleet commander, and a fleet commander who commands four aircraft carriers to fight. Nimitz also wanted to take command himself, but according to the orders of the US military. As the commander of the theater and the commander of the Pacific Fleet, it is impossible for him to command a task force to fight. Perhaps, this fleet commander itself is more important than the fleet, if there is no good fleet commander, then the fleet will be sent to death, Nimitz is well aware of the ability of the rear admiral of the Tang Empire who destroyed the 17th task force, and he is now commanding the 1st task force, like a shark, operating in the waters near the Mariana Islands. Waiting for the American aircraft carrier to pass!

In desperation, Nimitz could only consult Halsey. Halsey was the only person he could trust at the time, a friend of the president, and a hero in the last naval battle. Perhaps, Halsey can recommend a good candidate, after all, Halsey is more familiar with the officers of Task Force 16 and knows a little better.

When Nimitz deployed troops, the Tang Empire's combat operations were also increasing. The two days of continuous bombing and artillery bombardment have made the US military on Saipan understand what a "firepower strike" is and what real "artillery fire" is, just like every time the Diden 6 operation is conducted. The Tang Imperial Navy spared no effort in supporting the 6 Sentai Corps. This is also a major feature of the Tang Imperial Navy's 6-th operation, before the 6th team went ashore, the beach was ploughed with shells and bombs, and then the 6th team was allowed to go ashore. It can be said that the fire strike and support will not stop at all, from before the 6th team goes ashore to after the consolidation of the 6th game, the fire strike will continue to arrive until the enemy's defense line is destroyed, **, and spirit!

Before dawn on the 23rd, the heaviest round of shelling and bombardment began. This time, all the shells and bombs were concentrated on Galapan Beach. Now, the U.S. military has been fooled. In the bombing and artillery bombardment of the previous two days, the US military judged that the most likely place for the Tang Army to land on the 6th was Cape Sabanetta in the north of the island, where the terrain was flat and there were not many natural defensive barriers, and after the Tang Army went ashore, it could immediately attack the northern field airfield, just like on Anatahan Island, through the battle for the airport to consume the US troops, and finally flattened the entire Saipan Island.

In response to the possibility of such an offensive by the Tang Army, the US army adjusted its deployment, arranged an infantry unit of 5ooo people at the northern field airfield, and at the same time concentrated artillery to the north of Mount Tapocho and used artillery to cover the airfield. At the same time, a large number of defensive positions were built to the south of the airport, preparing to fight a protracted battle with the Tang army at the airport and drag down the Tang army. That is, at that time, the defense of the US military was focused on the north side of the island, not on the west side!

When the Don army came ashore, it met with only slight resistance. At ten o'clock, the American artillery shifted its position (through the underground tunnels of Mount Tapocho) and began to bombard the Don Army for 6 times. The counterattack of the Don Army was also very rapid, and the bombers and artillery formations suppressed the American artillery positions almost simultaneously. The battle was fierce, but the disadvantage of the US military was still obvious. The first three regiments to go ashore had already deployed their defensive lines to the northeast, east, and south of the 6th Field. At twelve o'clock, the three regiments of the second batch successfully went ashore, and two artillery battalions were also delivered. By four o'clock in the afternoon, with a large number of supplies sent to the beach, the 6th team had quickly consolidated the 6th game, and also expanded the depth of the 6th game.

In just the first ten hours of fighting, the Imperial 6 Sentai had already established a dominant position in the vicinity of the 6th Battle, both in terms of strength and firepower, the 6th Sentai had the upper hand, and was still expanding the 6th Battle. The situation of the US military is also locked, although there are more than 30,000 US troops on the island, but in the narrow landing 6 fields, these US troops cannot be used all. That is, without support, especially the support of the naval fleet, the US troops on the island simply could not be the opponent of the 6 warbands of the Tang Empire.

By the 25th, the 6th Brigade had taken control of a piece of land that was five kilometers wide from north to south and two kilometers deep, and the 6th Brigade had reached two divisions and more than 25ooo men, and a large number of supplies had been sent to the beach. The engineers set up an improvised dock on the beach, speeding up the unloading of supplies, and more heavy equipment, especially tanks and other combat vehicles, which were the most important for attacking the US defense line, were also quickly sent to the beach.

Task Force 1 had been supporting the 6th Sentai until the afternoon of the 25th.

"I just received a telegram that the Saratoga had left the West Coast of the United States and was heading for Pearl Harbor. The Yorktown's has also completed repairs and will leave for Pearl Harbor in about the next two days. ”

Hao Dongjue's spirit immediately became excited, "The 'Enterprise' that was repaired at Pearl Harbor is also about to be repaired, and the 'Hornet' is probably a few days late. According to the estimates of the intelligence services, the US aircraft carrier fleet will be able to regain combat effectiveness by April 1! ”

"In other words, we have a new mission!"

Tan Renhao also immediately laughed, he was also tired of doing fire support tasks for more than a month.

Thinking that the US aircraft carrier fleet would go to war, the two were not only not nervous, but excited!