On the evening of May 2, 1940, a large naval fleet was rapidly passing through the Osumi Strait in the southern part of Japan's Kyushu Island, heading towards the Yellow Sea. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

This large fleet consisting of six large fleet carriers, four battle cruisers, four heavy cruisers, one light cruiser and more than thirty destroyers was the mobile strike fleet of the Japanese Navy's combined fleet, which had been struggling to be sought by the Ming Navy. Commanded by Gunta Yamaguchi, who had already been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general.

Contrary to Daimei's guess, Yamaguchi Odora did not hide his fleet in the waters near the Ryukyu Islands, but took his fleet all the time to circle the Pacific Ocean south of Shikoku Island.

Because Jeju Island was attacked, the scale of Daming's strategic bombing was temporarily reduced, and the main targets were concentrated around Kyushu Island. As for the fighter units on the air safari, all of them were transferred to the airspace near Jeju Island to compete with Japanese fighters for air supremacy. Daming's submarine force circled around Japan and the waters near the Ryukyu Islands, but never found a position, and the mountain passes to the south were more often heard.

Yamaguchi Wenta and the fleet left the previously hidden waters and began to attack, because yesterday a Japanese submarine operating in the waters near Daming found traces of the Daming Air Fleet about 120 nautical miles east of Matsue Prefecture. It was a fleet consisting of a large regular aircraft carrier and three escort aircraft carriers as its core. It is consistent with the intelligence department's judgment of the Ming Dynasty's power in the waters of the western Pacific.

Yamaguchi was undoubtedly one of the best front-line tactical commanders in the Japanese Navy. His ability is more than a little stronger than that of his predecessor, Nagumo Tadaichi. It's like at this time, although he led his fleet through the Osumi Strait to the battlefield, he didn't fully trust the judgment given by the intelligence department.

Yamaguchi Wenta was suspicious of the Ming aircraft carriers that had been launched months ago. Although it is said that judging from the production capacity of this era, it is impossible for those aircraft carriers to form combat strength to catch up with this naval battle. But that was the rate of production in peacetime, and it was defined by the production capacity of the Japanese themselves. It was wartime, and the industrial strength of the Ming Dynasty was far from being comparable to that of Japan.

"Order the 2nd Mine Squadron to send a destroyer to Osumi Island and send a report from the island to the Ministry of the Navy. Ask where the newly launched aircraft carriers of the Ming Army are at this time! I want the most certain, the most accurate information! Looking at the dark sea outside the porthole, Yamaguchi Wenta, who had not spoken for several hours since the order to attack, suddenly opened his mouth and ordered his chief of staff to send a warship to deliver the report.

As an excellent aircraft carrier commander, Yamaguchi Wendo was dismissive of the few battleships that had recently been launched in the Ming Dynasty. Because in his eyes, as long as he has enough carrier-based aircraft, those battleships are just a pile of broken copper. But he was very nervous about those aircraft carriers. For an aircraft carrier fleet with high-speed maneuverability, the biggest threat is the enemy's aircraft carriers.

"Yes." Rear Admiral Takakijiro, the new chief of staff of the reorganized First Air Fleet, nodded in response and soon went to send the order.

Carrying out this order was the famous auspicious ship Yukikaze in another time and space, and it was also an auspicious ship in this plane.

Looking at the Xiangrui, no, it was after the Yukikaze left the formation with its sailing lights and headed in the direction of Osumi Island. Yamaguchi Odora set his sights on the four battle cruisers in front of the fleet.

Originally, Isoroku Yamamoto was going to incorporate the modernized Nagato and Mutsu into the First Air Fleet. Because after modernization, these two battleships have strong anti-aircraft forces and can effectively provide anti-aircraft fire for the fleet.

The Japanese have already received news that a large number of large air defense warships have been put into service by the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese, with their weak industrial capabilities, could not afford to produce such expensive air defense warships in a short period of time, so they had to use battleships, which were originally regarded as the absolute core, as air defense.

Yamamoto Isoroku even thought about adding the super battleship Musashi to the First Air Fleet. However, all of these requests were rejected by Yamaguchi Wenta.

All he needed was four Kong-class battle cruisers. As for the reason, it is very simple, among the battleships of the Japanese Navy, only these four Kongo-class battle cruisers can keep up with the speed of the fleet carriers. The other battleships were all too slow.

"If the fleet is reduced to a situation where battleships are needed to provide anti-aircraft fire, then the whole campaign is meaningless. Having more battleships will do nothing. "Yamaguchi Wenta has a radical and adventurous personality, and his bold style is his character. Once you are still being strongly counterattacked after making an all-out shot, there is no need to continue to maintain it at all.

More than two hours later, a telegram from the Tokyo Navy Ministry reached Yamaguchi Wenta. "It is confirmed that four regular aircraft carriers of the Ming Navy are carrying out outfitting activities in the Guangzhou Port Shipyard at the moment. The personnel in front of the front confirmed it with their own eyes during the day today. ”

This telegram made Yamaguchi feel relieved and completely relieved. Although his mind flashed to lead the fleet to Guangzhou Bay after the battle of Jeju Island and destroy those huge threats on the slipway, he quickly focused all his attention on the upcoming sea battle.

There was nothing wrong with the reports of the Japanese forward intelligence officers. After all, Guangzhou is a bustling metropolis. The spies who had been lurking in Guangzhou for many years were already locals. The shipyard is not far from the city, so the large target can be seen clearly through a telescope.

It's just that what all the Japanese didn't expect was that the sleeper spies saw not the aircraft carriers of the 11th Task Force, but the four new aircraft carriers that were towed from the Jiangnan Shipyard to the Guangzhou Shipyard for outfitting after being launched! As for why it was not outfitted at the Jiangnan shipyard, it was to vacate the slipway to make way for the new battleship.

Correct intelligence, wrong analysis and judgment directly led to Yamaguchi not knowing that there was a powerful air fleet hidden in the unknown seas.

In fact, the Japanese cannot be blamed for not having brains, they are not stupid. The mistake is that the Japanese can't understand the powerful industrial production capacity of Daming at all! The Japanese do not dare to imagine what kind of concept it is to enter service in batches, outfitting in batches, and launching capital ships in batches!

"Onishi-kun." Yamaguchi, who has a rare tall stature among the Japanese, said softly: "This battle is related to the fortunes of the country, if this time can not destroy the Ming Dynasty's maritime power in the western Pacific at one time, then Japan will fall into an endless protracted war." With our national strength, coupled with the continuous bombing of the Ming Dynasty. Can't hold on at all. Even with the support of the Americans. Their support is also limited, after all, they can't send us their own warships. ”

"What Yamaguchi-kun said is extremely true." Onishi Takijiro nodded vigorously, he agreed very much with what Yamaguchi Wenta said, "We worked hard to build one battleship, and Daming was able to build ten!" Or even more! A war of attrition? Onishi Takijiro shook his head helplessly.

"So." Yamaguchi Wenduo lifted his spirits, his voice became loud and calm, and his eyes were full of perseverance, "We can only win, not lose!" The fate of the Imperial State and the future of millions of citizens rests on our shoulders. Gentlemen. ”

Speaking of this, Yamaguchi Wenduo pursed the corners of his mouth and looked at the officers around him, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply to the officers, "Please!" ”

"Hi Yi!"

......

When the Japanese were strong, the Ming Navy was not idle. Lin Luo led his decoy fleet to Jeju Island with a swagger, and he didn't have the slightest idea of wanting to be a bait.

Although it is a strategic plan, no one will take the initiative to send a fleet to die. That's, plus a joke. It's not just about ships, a fleet has a lot of people!

The so-called bait is just to enter the war as the main force on the surface, not to say that he will be swallowed by the Japanese.

The appointment as commander of the 12th Task Force of the Western Pacific Fleet was requested by Lin Luo on his own initiative. The main force of the Navy's Pacific Fleet in Hawaii has always been operating near the Central Pacific, and the US Navy's several attacks have been thunderous and rainy. The First Air Fleet was largely not very involved in the fighting. Under these circumstances, Lin Luo, who was unwilling to continue to be moldy on the island of Hawaii, took the initiative to ask to be transferred back to the Western Pacific Theater.

Compared with Han Dongwen, Lin Luo and Tong Haifeng are the aircraft carrier commanders that the Ming Navy really cultivated. Otherwise, Lin Luo would not have been able to take over the post of commander of the First Air Fleet. After Lin Luo took the initiative to make a request this time, the navy finally decided to let Lin Luo be the commander of the 12th Task Force after careful discussion.

Lin Luo's command this time has a regular aircraft carrier Taihu that participated in the Battle of Java, three modified escort aircraft carriers, and a large number of escort warships.

The combat effectiveness of the escort aircraft carrier, which was converted from a large merchant ship, is not weak. After the war, Zhang Cheng suggested that the navy quickly carry out the renovation of merchant ships in order to obtain a large number of usable aircraft carriers in a short period of time. These aircraft carriers are very advantageous in escorting transport fleets.

The Ming Navy is reluctant to use warships to convert light aircraft carriers, because they prefer new regular aircraft carriers. However, Zhang Cheng's proposal to refit with merchant ships was very satisfied, and the agenda was quickly pushed forward.

By the beginning of 1940, the Ming Navy had acquired more than a dozen escort aircraft carriers. At the same time, there are many more, conservatively estimated at more than 50 escort carriers, which will be gradually launched in the following months. The Ming Navy expects the number of escort aircraft carriers to be built is about 100. Too much is not necessary.

The strength of the 12th Task Force, consisting of four aircraft carriers, is not weak at all. Even if the Japanese Navy wanted to eat them, Lin Luo had the confidence to jump off one of their teeth! (To be continued.) )