The defeat of Anatahan Island is already doomed. Although Nimitz did not visit the front line in person, he judged from the battle reports he received that Anatahan Island might not hold out until the end of the month and would fall by the middle of the month. When the battle to defend the airfield in the northwest of the island failed, Nimitz was also disappointed, losing tens of thousands of officers and soldiers in only six days, and the offensive ability of the Don army was far beyond his imagination. There is little point in continuing to defend Anatahan Island, and it is worthless to lose nearly 10,000 other officers and soldiers.

The order to retreat was given directly by Nimitz and sent to the front command on Anatahan Island (at this time, the top commander of the US army was only a lieutenant colonel), it was already the morning of the 14th. The U.S. troops began their retreat to the eastern field airfield eight hours before the telegram arrived. The order given at that time was not to retreat, but to go and guard the eastern airfield. The US military is not wrong in what it does, the sea control is in the hands of the enemy, and if even the airport is lost, then it can only swim back to Saipan.

The order to retreat was given, but the question was how? The bombing of Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam by heavy bombers of the Tang Empire never stopped. Moreover, these heavy bombers were covered by fighters (in order to cover these bombers, all fighters were deployed on the field airfield on Aramagan Island, which also limited the support force provided by HNA to the 6th team) The interception efficiency of the US fighters was reduced a lot, and the breakthrough rate of the bombers of the Tang Empire, the accuracy of bombing was improved a lot, and the loss rate was reduced a lot. During the days and nights of bombing, the airfields on these four islands were the focus of the attack.

The American soldiers couldn't figure it out, where did the bombers of the Tang Empire get so many bombs? Moreover, there were so many time bombs dropped that it was impossible to count. After the airport was paralyzed, the US military lost air supremacy. Although there are not many Don fighters that can fly to the south of the archipelago, these fighters dominate the skies on the four islands.

Now, the U.S. military is no longer able to evacuate the officers and soldiers on Anatahan Island by sea, and the only way is by air. But the airport was paralyzed, and the planes were hiding in bunkers or in nearby coconut groves. It was difficult to even take off, and how to transport the officers and soldiers on Anatahan Island.

The only way was to transport it by air, especially after the appearance of Task Force 1, and there was no way for ships to go north. Beginning on 14 July, the US military gathered all the planes that could be collected and could carry people, and prepared to pick up the officers and men who had retreated to the field airfield in the eastern part of Anatahan Island. In order to provide cover for these aircraft, the US military also cobbled together four islands. A convoy of more than a hundred fighters was pulled up. The next day, another group of fighters arrived from the Caroline. Then, a group of transport planes from the Hawaiian Islands arrived on Guam in the afternoon of the same day and joined the evacuation of American officers and soldiers on Anatahan Island.

Tan Renhao's mission was to intercept these transport planes, and HNA dispatched night fighters (HNA ordered them from manufacturers that produced night fighters for 6 airlines. Before the war, the Imperial Navy did not have night fighters, and only after the outbreak of the war did a small night fighter unit be organized, but there were few opportunities to put it into actual combat) was responsible for night interception operations. The 6th Sentai team invested troops to encircle and suppress the remnants of the American army on the ground.

The battle began on the 14th day, with bombers and fighters dispatched by the 1st Task Force. The bombers were responsible for bombing the airfield, making it impossible for the US transport planes to land. Fighters are responsible for seizing air supremacy. Take out those U.S. military transport planes.

This is no longer a battle, the US army is trying to save people, and the Tang army cannot let those American troops escape. The reason is simple. Those thousands of U.S. troops are thousands of soldiers, and these soldiers can quickly arm themselves and fight against the Tang army as if they have fled to Saipan or other islands. By letting go of the enemy, you are actually causing trouble for yourself!

The first day of air combat was the most intense. The best fighters and the best pilots were dispatched by both warring parties. There is not much difference between the performance of the "Falcon" and the F4u, and the US pilots who can survive until now have become old fritters. Fighters on both sides are desperate. But the real advantage is not in the hands of the US military, the reason is very simple, the place of air combat is under the control of the Tang Army. And not under the control of the US military.

In previous air battles, the fighters of the Tang Empire generally fought deep into the areas controlled by the US military, and even if the pilots parachuted (in this case, few pilots would parachute over the enemy-controlled area, and would generally insist on parachuting until flying out of the enemy-controlled area, which reduced the success rate of parachuting) would fall into the hands of the US military, and they would either be secretly executed or taken prisoner. The result is basically the same, the loss of one plane will cost several pilots (bombers are the majority) Now the positions of the two sides are reversed, the fighters of the Tang Empire are fighting in the skies over the areas under their control, and the pilots can parachute at the most favorable time, and the chances of survival are much greater. Moreover, the Tang Army's seaplanes will rescue the pilots in time, as long as they are not seriously injured, these pilots can immediately take off in new fighters (in fact, this is not allowed, in the situation at that time, there were really many pilots who did this) Relatively speaking, it is much easier to provide planes than to provide pilots!

During the first day, the fighters of both sides fought for five rounds, and two squadrons of fighters from Task Force 1 took turns participating in each round of fighting. Among them, the noon one, which lasted for an hour and a half, and the two sides engaged three groups of fighter planes in six consecutive air battles were the most intense.

"Squadron Leader, behind the ass!"

"See, son of a bitch, dare to sneak attack me!"

"Okay, it's the fourth, squadron leader, you killed four today!"

"It's still early, son of a bitch, how much comes, how much we clean up!" ……

Hearing the pilot's cursing and roaring, Tan Renhao couldn't help laughing.

"This must be Ellsler, only he is that crazy!"

Hao Dongjue couldn't help but laugh, he was familiar with every pilot in the First Air Wing, especially those fighter pilots, because Hao Dongjue himself was also a fighter pilot, but he lost the opportunity to fly a fighter into the air, so he was particularly envious of those fighter pilots who could fly a war eagle, soar in the sky, and annihilate the enemy.

Tan Renhao let out a sigh, the air battle was almost over. He glanced at the sailing clock and asked, "When will the group return?" How many fighters have we lost now? ”

"Commander, the group left the battle in ten minutes, and by now, we have lost a total of five fighters, four pilots have parachuted, and the seaplanes that went to the rescue have been out."

"What's the result?"

Hao Dongjue followed and asked.

"According to preliminary statistics, about 29 enemy aircraft were shot down, but there should be a repeat of the results in the middle (by two. Or two or more fighters shoot down one enemy plane at the same time, then this result will be counted twice) When the fleet returns, we will have the exact result! ”

The staff officer in charge of aviation operations immediately replied.

"Looking at the situation in the morning, the fourth batch of US fighter jets should arrive in an hour and a half, and let Yao Baiyan and them take off immediately."

Tan Renhao turned around and said to the communications staff officer, "Contact HNA and ask when their fleet will arrive." ”

"Do you want to send another batch of bombers?"

Hao Dongjue was a little excited, those US troops concentrated on the airport were the best targets for bombing.

"Not for now. One last bombardment before evening will suffice. ”

Tan Renhao didn't want to do his best yet. It stands to reason that it was the mission of the 6th Sentai team, and it was after dark. The vanguard of the 6th Sentai should have rushed over, and when the time came, it would be much better to send an artillery formation up, and the effect would be much better than that of bombers.

In the afternoon, the US military dispatched two more groups of fighter planes to escort the transport planes that came to meet the US troops. The fighters of the 1st Task Force arrived almost simultaneously with the shore-based fighters of the HNA Navy. This round of fighting was not too intense, but the results were the greatest. Of the 1O2 transport planes participating in the evacuation operation, 38 were shot down, 14 were forced to land on the sea and on the beach, and less than 3O successfully landed, and the rest fled in a hurry. The transport planes were also unable to fly, and the HNA bombers quickly blew them up on the ground.

At dusk. Two bomber squadrons of the 1st Task Force carried out a final round of bombing of the airfield, destroying more than 10 US transport planes in the fifth batch. Before dark, the bomber group of the HNA arrived again, and the vanguard of the 6th Squad also rushed over at this time, and the ground battle began.

At night, US military transport planes flew back and forth between Anatahan Island and Saipan even more frantically. Almost all of the HNA night fighters (these fighters are deployed on Agrihan Island and have a much longer range than day fighters) are not very effective at interception.

The next day, U.S. troops abandoned their daytime evacuation operations. The air superiority of the Don Army was too obvious. Such a transport plane, which is slow, has poor maneuverability, has a fragile fuselage, and has no self-defense power, is simply going to add a trump card to the fighter unit of the Tang Army. After learning the lessons of the first day, the American troops scheduled their retreat for the night. During the day, the US troops desperately resisted the 6th Brigade of the Tang Empire, and at night, they left Anatahan Island on transport planes, seaplanes and everything else that could fly.

The mission of Task Force 1 has also changed. There was no longer a shadow of US planes in the sky during the day, and all the fighters of the First Air Wing, including the "Falcon" fighters, hung up bombs and went on bombing missions. HNA also quickly strengthened the investment of bombers, since it could not completely prevent the retreat of the American troops at night, it could only destroy the enemy on the ground!

At this time, the most anxious person is Yan Guozhong, the general of the 6th team. The mission of the 6th Sentai was to annihilate the American troops on the island, and he did not commit troops in the direction of the airfield in the east of the island, nor did he establish a defensive line, and as a result, the American troops escaped. If this group of American troops escapes, he will bear the first responsibility. On the night of the 15th, Yan Guozhong personally led two regiments of vanguard troops into the US position, fought fiercely with the US troops for a night, and retreated, and he was slightly wounded.

On the night of the sixteenth, Yan Guozhong still wanted to continue to lead the army to charge, and received a telegram from Nie Renfeng, who received the news, and asked him to stay behind obediently. The dignified general of the 6th Sentai of the Empire actually charged like a soldier, what kind of system did this become? If any American GI had better luck and killed Yan Guozhong with one shot, then Yan Guozhong would definitely set a record, that is, he would become the highest-ranking general killed in this war!

In order to prevent the US troops from escaping, the first three regiments (a new regiment, the first two regiments have been reduced by forty percent) a total of 38oo officers and soldiers of the Imperial 6th Sentai Corps entered the battle (Yan Guozhong only left a squad of guards and sent his guard company up) The battle lasted from after dark until dawn, although the Tang Army was not able to finally break through the American defense line, but in the battle that night, the last bit of sharpness of the American army was also consumed. The frenzied attack of the 6th Sentai delayed the retreat of the American troops. Among the US troops who withdrew that night, except for a group of officers, most of them were wounded, especially the seriously wounded, and a few who were really combat-ready did not escape!

The 17th was also the night of the decisive battle. At this time, the U.S. army had reached the point of running out of ammunition and food, and the other three regiments of the 6th Brigade of the Tang Empire also rushed over. For the American army, if they could not escape that night, then after dawn, the general offensive of the Tang army began, and they would be completely finished. And on this night, Team 6 also stepped up its attack. As a result, some U.S. troops rushed to catch the transport plane, and they almost mutinied!

At dawn, there were still at least 5ooo American troops who had not withdrawn, and the offensive of the 6 team did not stop. Six regiments, more than 9oo officers and soldiers of the 6th Squadron launched a general attack. With the bombers of the Navy and the 1st Task Force, as well as the artillery formation, the 6th Sentai artillery was added. This group of American troops only resisted until noon, then raised the white flag and surrendered to the Imperial 6 Sentai Force. In the end, more than 35oo American officers and soldiers surrendered.

The campaign to attack Anatahan Island ended there. After more than 10 days of fierce fighting, less than 3OOOO of the US troops guarding the island escaped, and the remaining 32OOOO US troops were either eliminated or taken prisoner. The 6th team of the Tang Empire suffered more than 13ooo casualties from Yan Guozhong and below.

It can be said that the outcome of the Battle of Anatahan Island was extremely unfavorable for the US military. According to Nimitz's plan, the troops defending the island were to be delayed until at least the end of February, so as to buy enough time for the naval fleet. Now, the Tang Army completed the capture operation on the 17th and could free up forces to prepare for the combat operation of landing on the 6th Saipan Island. That is, the Don Army could attack Saipan in mid-March, and not in the second half of March, when the Pacific Fleet had not yet regained its combat effectiveness! The impact of this time difference on the US military can be said to be fatal!