Volume 5: The Great War of the Central Plains] 800 Admiral's Decision - Roosevelt's Plan -

800 Admiral's Decision - Roosevelt's plan

"Gentlemen! Just now we lost four more battleships! Roosevelt said with a gloomy face: "But I believe that the huge production capacity of the United States will soon make up for all the losses." ”

He paused and said, "In addition, we have 1 Yorktown-class aircraft carrier that will be completed in 2 months, and 2 Essex-class aircraft carriers have already started...... When Congress passes the decision to declare war, I plan to start construction of 15 to 20 ships in one go! Well, U.S. shipyards can build as much capacity as they want! A tiny Japan will not be our opponent. ”

"Mr. President, but Japan has China and Germany behind it, if Britain and France can't defeat them on the mainland...... The two countries will soon be able to acquire production capacity comparable to that of the United States. "Harry. "If the United States does not intend to form an alliance with China and Germany now, it should increase its assistance to Britain and France," Hopkins reminded. Because aiding Britain and France is a bargaining chip for the United States and China and Germany, especially Britain itself must not be lost! ”

"Just like China and Germany came to Japan's aid to oppose us?" Roosevelt said to himself: "Britain and France were allies of Japan before, how can we convince those people in Congress?" What a headache! He reached out and pressed his temple again, and said with a wry smile: "All right, Harry, you leave for England at once, and try to get Britain and France to declare war on Japan......" He glanced at Marshall.

Marshall understood what the president meant, and immediately showed a look of pain, "We can now provide 300 M3 Grants. Li tanks, 1,000 75mm cannons, 200,000 rifles, 300 aircraft. Mr. President, no more. ”

Roosevelt looked at Harry again. Hopkins, "Is that enough?" Harry? ”

Hopkins frowned and shook his head: "And the Soviet Union, they are now holding back the 300,000 troops of the Chinese and the 2 million troops of the Russian Empress." If Stalin had really been captured by the Empress Anastasia, it would have been possible that the Russian Empire would have left its hands free to join China and Germany. ”

Roosevelt took a breath, shook his head and said, "But what was given to the British and French was not given for nothing, but did Stalin have the money to pay the bills?" Can Congress agree to give weapons to GCDs? ”

"I can go to Tbilisi once and meet with Stalin, and then say that if the Soviet Union can provide us with some practical help in the war against Japan, such as ordering the GC International Army (Sino-G Volunteer Army) in the Far East to fight against Japan in the name of GC International, I believe that Congress will agree to lend money to the Soviet Union." Hopkins said.

"Okay, let's go meet us." Roosevelt frowned, as if thinking of something. He then said to Hull: "Cordell, you go to China to meet President Luo Yiqun and Chief of General Staff Luo Yaoguo, and discuss with them the possibility of avoiding war between China, the United States and Germany." Furthermore...... Instruct Ambassador Jensen to negotiate with the Chinese and G, and tell them that the United States is now ready to recognize the Far Eastern Socialist Republic, and if the Far Eastern Republic can promise to attack the Japanese forces in the Far East within three months, the United States can provide a loan to the GC International Military in the Far East to purchase American weapons and equipment. ”

Secretary of State Hull was stunned for a moment before reminding the president in a low voice, "Mr. President, it seems that the positions of China's GCD and the National Government in this war are not opposite, and they must be colluding behind them......

Roosevelt smiled faintly, "Of course I know that they have collusion, but collusion does not mean that they really trust each other completely, especially in G!" A hint of sarcasm flashed across her pink face, "Do you remember the 'Ode to Democracy' that they published in their Red Star newspaper on July 4 this year, Independence Day?" This article is a very clear overture to the United States. Moreover, at the end of the article, the Chinese government also very implicitly attacked the aggressive expansion line and fascist dictatorship of the Chinese nationalist fu. ”

At the end of July, U.S. Ambassador Jensen and Embassy Military Attache Stilwell submitted their respective translations and analysis reports of "Ode to Democracy" to their respective superiors. Both believe that China and G now hope to improve relations with the United States, and even hope to get help from the United States to a certain extent...... For example, it is hoped that the United States will recognize the "Far Eastern Socialist Republic" and provide economic or military assistance to this country. However, Jensen and Stilwell have different views on whether China and G will become a kind of "democratic force" to contain the national government after receiving assistance.

Ambassador Jensen believes that China's democratic process is now progressing steadily and slowly, and that the Chinese people are not dissatisfied with such a process, and they are now most concerned about what they can gain from China's aggression and expansion. In a sense, 600 million Chinese have now become "accomplices" of the KMT, and even the CG itself is reaping benefits from it. Therefore, the assistance is pointless. Moreover, Jensen also believes that the small amount of aid that the United States can provide will not help to change the balance of power between the two factions in China at all, and even China and G will still sit on the chariot of southward expansion of the national government after receiving aid! Jensen also told Secretary of State Hull in his report: According to reliable sources, China and G are currently mobilizing their main forces to form the so-called Southward Army, with a total strength of 150,000 to 200,000, and its target should be locked on the Indochina Peninsula or India! Moreover, after this southbound legion followed the Chinese Defense Forces to fight southward, there were very few armed forces left in China by the Chinese G...... Ambassador Jensen believes that the transfer of military forces abroad is very likely to be a preparation for the future election in China!

Stilwell has higher expectations for China and G, believing that as long as they receive sufficient support, they will definitely be able to play a role in containing China in the future "World Anti-Fascist War". If China's armed forces were contained at home and unable to reinforce Germany, Britain, France and the Soviet Union would probably defeat Hitler's army! The United States, on the other hand, could become the dominant power in the world after the war, along with Britain, France, Japan, and the Soviet Union (Stilwell did not know that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor).

At that time, Roosevelt adopted the opinion of US Ambassador Jensen and turned a blind eye to the overtures of China and G. But the current situation is different. Roosevelt picked up the coffee cup on the table, took a shallow sip, and said with a wry smile: "Now the United States is being attacked by Japan!" And in the next six months to one year, the situation in the Pacific theater is likely to be unfavorable to the United States. If China and G can open up a second battlefield against Japan in the coastal areas of the Far East at this time, that will effectively reduce the pressure on the Pacific theater. As he spoke, he glanced at Marshall again, "George, what do you say about this plan?" ”

Marshall frowned, thinking for a moment. "Mr. President, Boli, the capital of the Far Eastern Republic controlled by China and G, is only more than 1,400 kilometers away from Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft that we currently have can send 907 kg of bombs there. If the Far Eastern Republic can join the war against Japan, of course, it will be very advantageous! However, there are two challenges. Saying that, Marshall glanced at Roosevelt, who was full of anticipation, and sighed, "The first problem is that the line of communication between us and the Far Eastern Republic must pass through the sea area controlled by Japan; The second conundrum was that the army that the Central G had in the Far Eastern Republic was not enough to defeat the Japanese army. If ......"

"None of this is a problem!" Roosevelt waved his hand, interrupting Marshall's words, and he smiled in a deep voice: "With the backer of the Republic of China, the Japanese will not dare to take the Chinese G and the Chinese transport ship loaded with the best of the United States!" Unless...... Japan can show enough value! The president glanced at Vice Admiral Raisi, Chief of Naval Operations. The key to determining China's attitude is likely to be Hawaii! We must rescue it as soon as possible, and we must not let it fall into the hands of Japan! ”

……

"Depth charges! Ready-to-go! ”

The deck of the Japanese destroyer "Shiranui" was in chaos, and the Japanese sailors skillfully carried out the task of dropping depth charges. Depth charges in the shape of small oil drums were thrown into the sea by launchers.

At the same time, in the nearby ocean, Japanese destroyers such as the "Tanikaze," "Isokaze," and the "Hamakaze" were also dropping depth charges into the sea with the greatest enthusiasm. And in the distance, those precious aircraft carriers and battleships of the Japanese Combined Fleet, under the protection of a bunch of destroyers and light cruisers, are putting up anti-submarine formations and circling in the sea.

On the bridge of the battleship Nagato, Vice Admiral Fifty-six Yamamoto was frowning, looking through the binoculars at the great anti-submarine operation that was being staged in the distance.

It is estimated that the lessons of the September 18 war have been learned, and the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Navy can be said to have improved by leaps and bounds. Precious foreign exchange was spent without hesitation, and the advanced deep storage systems of the United Kingdom or the United States were bought back one after another, and then concentrated on copying. Now every destroyer and light cruiser has advanced deep acceptance, and it has also undergone rigorous anti-submarine training! But just now, an American submarine that came out of nowhere quietly slipped into the destroyer's sentry circle and fired a torpedo at a troop carrier (presumably unable to find a chance to attack the aircraft carrier)! threw several thousand Japanese troops into the sea...... Whatever it looks like, you're going to have to drown hundreds.

Of course, if some of the animals in the army drown, Vice Admiral Yamamoto will not feel distressed! But the problem is that the location of the combined fleet is also exposed. Just now, the communications staff officer came to report that a mysterious radio signal had been intercepted not long ago, and it was estimated that it was sent by the American submarine. That is, now the position of the Japanese aircraft carrier has been exposed! Had it not been for the elimination of the U.S. airfield on Oahu and the two aircraft carriers in Pearl Harbor, the battle would have been uncertain.

"Your Excellency, Commander! The destroyer reported that the American submarine was sunk! At this time, Chief of Staff Ugaki suddenly shouted excitedly. Yamamoto looked back and saw that he was handing a telegram in front of him.

"Oh? Got it. Yamamoto Fifty-six didn't reach out to receive the battle report from the "Shiranui", but said lightly: "Are you ready for the third wave of air raids?" ”

"No ......" This is the communications staff officer handed another telegram to Ugaki, Ugaki quickly glanced at it, and his eyebrows gradually wrinkled, "The telegram from the Naval Command Department, China and Germany have declared war on Britain and France, but they refuse to declare war on the United States!" And the Military Command Department ordered us to seize Hawaii at all costs. ”

"Well, that's to be expected." Yamamoto Fifty-six's face was calm, and he sneered: "The empire is not qualified to ask them to do anything, everything can only be done by ourselves!" As he spoke, he abruptly accentuated, "But as long as the empire captures Hawaii, China and Germany will definitely be reluctant to abandon the empire, and the empire will have a chance to turn around...... ordered Vice Takeshi Toyoda's Second Fleet (now the Battleship Fleet) to march toward Oahu and prepare for the shelling of Pearl Harbor; Inform the Army and Marine Corps to prepare for landing operations. In addition to U.S. battleships and heavy cruisers, the third wave of air raids also attacked U.S. shore defense batteries at Pearl Harbor. ”

"Hey!" Chief of Staff Ugaki nodded his head heavily, and immediately turned around to assign tasks to a group of staff officers.

At this time, at Pearl Harbor, 150 nautical miles away from the Japanese fleet, Admiral Kimmmel, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, was there in a daze with a telegram. This telegram was sent by the submarine S-47 of the Pacific Fleet. It was this submarine that spotted the Japanese Combined Fleet northeast of Oahu, and under the hot-headed command of the captain, Captain Esther, risked his life to find a gap from the side and rear of the Japanese fleet and slipped through the destroyer's sentry circle, sank a Japanese transport ship with a torpedo, and then besieged by several Japanese destroyers...... Fake dead and escape! But now Kimmel was in no mood to think about the life or death of the S-47, and his attention was drawn to the telegram sent by the submarine. Because, the report of the S-47 mentions a large number of Japanese transports!

Seeing this news, Admiral Kimmel knew that something really bad was going on! Well, now the Pacific Fleet has let the Japanese blow up a person on their backs, and the situation is already very bad. But it's not the worst thing, the most terrible thing is that the Japanese want to take advantage of the situation to capture Hawaii! Then he and the entire Pacific Fleet will become prisoners of the Japanese!

"Hess, what's going on again?"

Lieutenant General Short, the top commander of the U.S. Army in Hawaii, walked into Kimmel's headquarters with a black face. As soon as he saw Kimmel's face, which was as white as a dead man, he couldn't help but ask.

"Walter, there's the worst news." Kimmel took a deep breath and glanced at Short.

"And worse news than the paralysis of the Pacific Fleet?" Short glanced sideways at Kimmel and asked rhetorically.

"I think so, I'm afraid the Japanese are coming to occupy Hawaii! The S-47 spotted the Japanese fleet, there were a lot of transport ships, apparently intended to carry the landing force. With that, Kimmel handed the telegram in his hand to Short.

"Oh God! It can't be true, right? Schott took the telegram and gasped. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the fall of Hawaii were not the same thing for the United States.

"How many people are still in the Army? How many cannons are there? How many tanks? Is there enough ammunition to replenish? Kimmel anxiously asked a long list of questions.

Short smiled bitterly, "The army's losses are not large, and there are still more than 20,000 people...... However, many of them were ground crews and air defense units of logistics units, National Guards, ground aviation bases, and only the 7th Infantry Division, which had just arrived, could really fight. There are 4 battalions of artillery, 1 battalion of anti-tank guns and 1 battalion of anti-aircraft guns. 1 battalion is equipped with 12 155mm howitzers, the other 3 battalions are equipped with a total of 36 105mm howitzers, and the anti-tank gun battalion has 32 75mm and 37mm guns; In addition, each infantry regiment is armed with 12 37mm anti-tank guns, 39 60mm and 81mm mortars. The tank has a battalion (which is not available in the same period of history) armed with 38 M-3 Grants. Lee medium tank, 38 Stuart light tanks. As for the ammunition supply, it is very abundant, and there are several large weapons storage warehouses on Oahu, which are stocked with some weapons and ammunition left over from the First World War, and it is no problem to equip another division. The problem is that there aren't that many troops on Oahu right now. ”

Hearing this, Kimmel's face looked a little better, he thought for a moment and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the 7th Division is on Oahu, right?" Seeing that Short nodded, he sighed and said, "Good! That's good, it looks like Hawaii can still defend it. The Navy had a number of batteries around Pearl Harbor with a large number of 10-inch and 12-inch shore guns deployed......"

Speaking of this, Kimmel suddenly thought of something, turned his head and shouted to the staff officer behind him: "Order, all submarines are dispatched at once, leave Pearl Harbor, and attack the lines of communication of the Japanese!" Then the destroyers and light cruisers also left and went to the west coast...... Battleships and heavy cruisers that could still move were stranded in the shallows and used as fixed batteries! All naval personnel who did not have a combat mission immediately reported to the Marine Corps command and were ready to take on new assignments. After saying this, he said to Short: "I will hand over to you all the naval personnel who have no mission, and then I will call up all the adult men of non-Japanese descent at Pearl Harbor, and we will organize more troops to defend Oahu as soon as possible." Also, ask the governor to issue martial law and control all the Japanese on the island! ”

Although Kimmel had taken the Japanese by surprise, he had not completely lost his military judgment. He knew very well that the Japanese had come from afar and could not last. And the continental United States will definitely do everything in its power to rescue Hawaii. As long as he can delay in Hawaii for a while, the Japanese will definitely have to retreat in disgrace.

Besides, at present, Pearl Harbor has more than 80% of the belongings of the US Pacific Fleet in the shallow pool, and if the Japanese take Oahu, it will not be long before they can salvage these sunken or stranded warships and repair them and turn them into warships of the Japanese Combined Fleet! And without Oahu as a foothold, it will not be so easy for the United States to launch a counteroffensive against the Japanese army in the future.

Just as Kimmel was planning to fight a protracted defensive war relying on the defenses and troops on Oahu, the third wave of Japanese air raids came roaring again.

……