In addition to aircraft carriers, the Daming Navy also deployed a large number of cruisers, destroyers, minelayers, minesweepers, logistics supply ships, patrol ships and many other naval ships in Pearl Harbor. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 In addition, HNA has deployed a large number of various types of fighters at airports on various islands.

The Daming Navy also built large long-range seaplane bases on the islands of Big Island and Maui. Large submarine bases have been built on the islands of Kauai and Niihau. These wartime forces were able to effectively defend the strategically located archipelago.

At this moment, when the US Navy is attacking in a big way, there are no strategic secrets between the two sides, and everyone knows what the other side is doing. Now the main reconnaissance is to understand the tactical intentions of the enemy.

For this reason, many ocean-going submarines of the Pacific Fleet of the Ming Navy have been following the Americans from afar since their fleets went to sea. After reconnaissance, it was found that the various fleets of the Americans were basically swinging in the depths of the ocean far from Hawaii, and there was no sign of directly killing Hawaii.

As the Americans intensified their search for the Ming submarines and the weather conditions began to turn bad, the Ming army's surveillance operations were gradually weakening, and the movements of the American fleet became more and more uninformed.

It's just that the Pacific Fleet of the Ming Navy is still full of confidence. They believe that the Americans are just a long way away, and that if they dare to approach Hawaii, they will inevitably be closely watched. The fleet, which had already made all the preparations, had been waiting for the Americans to come to their door and die.

"Where do you think the Americans will come from?" The imperial capital, Zhang Cheng's official residence. Zhang Cheng, who had just accompanied his wife to Xiangshan to see the red leaves, returned to his official residence and met Xiao Hongbao, who came to report on his work. After a brief understanding, Zhang Cheng invited Xiao Hongbao to sit down for tea and asked him what he thought of the upcoming fierce battle in Hawaii. The battlefields are now relatively calm, and the Battle of the Hawaiian Islands is the most important battle of the moment.

"I don't know much about the Navy." After taking the teacup handed over by Zhang Cheng and sitting down on the sofa, Xiao Hongbao smiled and said, "But I don't think Americans are stupid. If they really don't have any vision, they are not qualified to be the main opponents of Daming. ”

"Oh?" Zhang Cheng leaned back on the back of the sofa, crossed his legs and asked, "What do you say?" ”

"It is impossible for the Americans not to know that their strength is not much different from that of the Pacific Fleet." Xiao Hongbao said softly, "In the case of the strength of the two sides, they still take the initiative to attack." We also have this defensive advantage, and we can be supported by shore-based forces. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for people to believe that the Americans dare to take the initiative to pounce. ”

"So they might have other plans?" Zhang Cheng took a sip of the teacup, squinted his eyes slightly, and said softly.

"There must be." Xiao Hongbao nodded vigorously, "Although the main goal will not change, it is still the Hawaiian Islands." But it will definitely not be a simple direct kill. There must have been other arrangements. After a pause, Xiao Hongbao continued to speak with some hesitation, "But the navy doesn't seem to care, they focus all their energy on Hawaii, thinking that holding Hawaii is enough to thwart the American offensive." Doing so can be dangerous. ”

"You're right." Zhang Cheng nodded in response, and a faint look of appreciation flashed in his eyes, "The navy is an offensive service, and relying on the defense of the islands is to give up the strategic initiative after all." Zhang Cheng put down the teacup, raised his hand and pinched his chin, and then said, "But the navy is too professional, and we can't command it extraordinarily." What do you think the Americans might do? ”

"The waters around the Hawaiian Islands are so vast that it's almost impossible for the Americans to have a foothold. This is also the main reason why the Navy has no fear. "Xiao Hongbao obviously did his homework to come here" Midway is absolutely impossible, because if the Americans risk a detour to attack Midway, they will be cut off by the Pacific Fleet from Hawaii. That's just looking for death. But there are still some things that can influence the course of this campaign. ”

"Oh?" Zhang Cheng raised his eyelids and asked softly, "You mean Johnston Atoll?" ”

Johnston Atoll is a coral reef located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, part of the Polynesian archipelago. The reef is made up of a number of islands, but only the main island, Johnston Island, is large enough to accommodate an airport and dock. The Ming Navy has an airfield and an airstrip here, and a garrison is stationed.

The real value of the reef lies in the fact that it is only 1,300 kilometers away from the Hawaiian Islands in the north, within range of large bomber reconnaissance planes and long-range fighters. It is also small, but it can be used as a temporary anchorage for boats to rest. This is still very attractive to Americans, who have little foothold in the Pacific.

"It's not just there." Xiao Hongbao said in a deep voice: "It is more important to be closer to the Gilbert Islands in the south. It's a long way from Hawaii, but it's big enough and has a large harbor to moor boats. If the Americans captured it, they would gain a foothold in the Pacific. The battle for the Hawaiian Islands was by no means just a simple fleet battle, and it was impossible for a few large-scale naval battles to decide the winner. If the Americans were not stupid, they would necessarily occupy these places as their own forward supply points, thus advancing their logistics lines very close to the front line. ”

"You have a point." Zhang Cheng nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, Zhang Cheng raised his eyelids to look at Xiao Hongbao, and ordered in a deep voice, "You go and send a telegram to the Admiralty and the Pacific Fleet in my name, so that they can pay close attention to the movements of the Americans, and if they can, strengthen the garrison of Johnston Atoll and Kiribati." This naval battle was not so simple as a fleet victory. ”

......

"Have you read all the telegrams from the High Command?" Pearl Harbor, Pacific Fleet Command Conference Room. After receiving the telegram from the Supreme Command, Admiral Yunmo, commander of the Pacific Fleet, did not dare to slack off and hurriedly summoned a large number of senior officers to discuss the matter.

"I've been thinking about a fleet showdown with the Americans. When the Americans approached the Hawaiian Islands, with the help of shore-based forces, they were able to wait for the heavy damage of the Americans, who came from afar to supply the long fleet. Now that I think about it, it's really a bit of a given. After the many senior generals in the conference room talked in a low voice, Han Dongwen, who did not look very good, said loudly.

"That's right." Lin Luo, who was sitting on the side, then spoke: "Unless the Americans are really stupid, they won't just jump straight into the trap we have prepared." I dare to conclude that there is a high probability that the Americans will attack Johnston and Kiribati. If they occupy there, they will have access to front-line supply points, significantly shorten logistical supply lines and continue to hold the offensive initiative. Instead, we risk being caught up in a passive defense. ”

"How's the defense there?" Tong Haifeng, who had been silent since the meeting began, asked out loud.

"There was an airfield and an airstrip on Johnston Atoll, where twelve fighters, six bombers, six reconnaissance planes and two seaplanes were stationed. There are several patrol boats in the port. All garrisons, including port personnel and airport personnel, totaled about four hundred people. The operations staff officer of the Pacific Fleet took out the materials and began to brief the generals in the room: "There is a local garrison fleet in Kiribati with only three gunboats and five patrol boats, and the flagship is an old destroyer. The island has three airports, as well as warehouses and storage areas, and a large port. About seventy fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft were stationed. In addition, in the port area there is a seaplane base with six seaplanes. The total garrison amounted to about 7,000 men. ”

"Hum ~~~" As soon as the staff officer's words fell, a whispered conversation suddenly sounded in the conference room. Once this kind of garrison force really encounters an attack by the Americans, it will have no ability to resist at all. It's not that the Ming don't want to deploy more troops in these places. These places are too small and have a perennial shortage of water to accommodate large numbers of troops for a long time.

"Quiet." Yunmo knocked on the table to silence the conference room. Cleaning up his mood, Yunmo looked around at the generals and said in a deep voice, "Since these places are now in danger of being attacked, then we must strengthen our ...... now"

Before Yunmo could finish his words, he was interrupted by a rapid knock on the door.

An important high-level military meeting is being held here, and if it were not for an important situation, no one would disturb it. The people in the conference room fell silent for a moment, and everyone's eyes turned to the door. A not-so-good feeling welled up in the hearts of these generals.

Sure enough, the communications staff officer, who looked a little panicked, walked in with a telegram and shouted, "Your Excellency, Commander! The Johnston Atoll garrison sent an urgent telegram, and half an hour earlier, their seaplanes spotted a large number of U.S. Navy warships heading toward the atoll in the sea about 120 nautical miles southeast of the atoll! ”

"Smack!" Yunmo, who got up suddenly, raised his hand and flipped over his beloved teacup, but now is not the time to think about this. After snatching the message and skimming it quickly, Yunmo slammed his fist on the table, "These bastards! ”

The Americans really didn't stupidly go thousands of miles from the West Coast to the Hawaiian Islands. They also know that this battle will not be completed simply. In drawing up the battle plan, Nimitz accepted Spruance's suggestion to first capture Johnston Atoll and Kiribati as a base for the campaign, to find a foothold for the large American fleet and to shorten the logistical supply lines.

The capture of these places is not just for the purposes mentioned above. It is also important to note that the capture of Johnston Atoll could allow long-range bombers to be stationed and threaten the Hawaiian Islands.

The stationing of large long-range reconnaissance planes can greatly enhance the US Navy's control over the battlefield. And it can also force the Pacific Fleet of the Ming Navy to take the initiative to attack. (To be continued.) )