To counter the greatest threat to Japan's expansion in Southeast Asia, to destroy the fleet, which appeared to have some strength, and to provide security for future campaigns. Under the orders of Combined Fleet Commander Isoroku Yamamoto, Nagumo Tadaichi led six aircraft carriers, including Akagi, Ryusho, Hiryu, Soryu, Shozuru, and Zuizuru, to carry out a surprise attack on Allied targets in the Indian Ocean.

Five Japanese submarines attacked the Allied fleets passing in the channel day and night, and in just a few days, twenty-four British freighters were sunk, causing Britain to suffer heavy losses at the first time.

At this time, this mobile force included almost all the essence of the Japanese aircraft carrier force, and the six aircraft carriers carried a total of about 380 carrier-based aircraft. In addition, there were 4 battleships, 7 cruisers, 19 destroyers and 5 submarines under Nagumo's command. It is not difficult to see the determination of the Japanese army to fight from the size of the fleet.

The situation with the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet is not encouraging. Of the entire Indian Ocean Fleet, only four battleships left over from the First World War, the modernized Queen Elizabeth-class battleship USS Battleweary and the small aircraft carrier USS Athletic, and seven old cruisers with at least a decade of service are worth mentioning.

The commander of the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet was British Vice Admiral Sir Somerville, and the only bargaining chips were two new fleet armored aircraft carriers, the Indomitable and the Dreadnought. However, the total number of carrier-based aircraft on these two aircraft carriers is only about 100, and there are many old models such as the Big Mackerel biplane torpedo plane. In addition, the biggest problem facing the fleet is the lack of auxiliary vessels such as oil tankers and munitions ships, which makes the fleet too dependent on ports for supplies.

This is the most powerful support force that the British side can draw out, and the Eastern Fleet was wiped out by China that year, which has weakened the naval strength of the old British emperor a lot. But this kind of power is completely not enough on the Japanese side. The Allies did not expect much success from the newly formed Indian Ocean Fleet, but only hoped to cause problems to the Japanese fleet.

To add insult to injury, the political situation in Ceylon was chaotic at this time, and many local residents even had the illusion that the Japanese army would liberate them from British rule.

In view of this, Vice Admiral Somerville decided to abandon the British Royal Navy's tradition of the Nelson spirit of fighting when the enemy is ready to fight, and instead adopted battle avoidance tactics to avoid a head-on confrontation with the Japanese as much as possible. Therefore, he divided the fleet into two: the main force consisted of two aircraft carriers, the battleship Warwey, and several destroyers, commanded by Somerville himself, and used the superior speed and radar to maneuver the Japanese fleet, while the rest of the old ships were scattered to the Addu Atoll in the Maldives Islands to avoid possible Japanese air raids.

Judging from the comparison of the forces of the two fleets, in order to effectively attack the Japanese fleet, Somerville only had a theoretical opportunity: that is, to maintain a mobile standby posture and avoid contact with the Japanese fleet, so as to use the radar advantage to launch a surprise attack, and dispatch all 45 two-winged Mackerel carrier-based torpedo planes in the night attack, and use the ASV airborne radar guidance to carry out a perfect torpedo attack. The British carrier-based aircraft had only a chance of winning if they hit all five Japanese battleships at once in a night attack, otherwise the Japanese carrier-based aircraft would attack in a big way after dawn, and with the battleships that followed, the entire British main fleet would be wiped out.

ASV airborne radar was developed by British scientist Edward. The research team led by Bowen succeeded in 37 years. Bowen et al. began developing airborne radar in 1935. In mid-37, a small radar was developed and mounted on a twin-engine "Ansan" aircraft, which became the first aircraft in Western countries to carry radar. The airborne radar has undergone several tests and proved that it can detect surface ships at a distance of 16 km.

At present, only the British Navy is equipped with such radar, and its main task is to search for local ships and guide the fleet there. In terms of radar, Japan does not have a single one, but the British radar is not very advanced, and it cannot really effectively play the function of radar.

―――――― task force drawn from the Japanese Combined Fleet is cruising in the waters around the Maldives Islands at the moment. Vice Admiral Nagumo Tadaichi, commander of the Japanese Navy, was standing on the flagship Akagi at this moment.

Looking at the brand-new Chicheng under his feet and the Kaga in the distance, Nagumo Tadaichi felt a sense of pride and inexplicable anger in his heart.

In the past, the Japanese Navy's Third Fleet also had two aircraft carriers called the Chicheng and Kaga, but during the Sino-Japanese War, they were buried in Chinese waters. This has always been a shame in the Japanese Navy, and then two more powerful aircraft carriers were built, which were also named Kaga and Akasei, just to make all the Japanese Navy remember this shame.

However, if only a few days ago, Nagumo Tadaichi was still proud of the fleet he led. Today, there is not much pride left in Nanyun Zhongyi's heart.

In the past, in Nagumo Tadaichi's view, the empire was committed to developing the navy, and after more than ten years, it has now risen again, and its strength is many times stronger than before. Even in the face of the Chinese fleet, even if there is a disadvantage, the gap will not be too big. Because Japan built the world's largest battleship, the Yamato-class, which can kill all the capital ships in the world in seconds, it is the reason why he is proud.

But today, a message from the Admiralty said that China had sent a capital ship with a displacement of at least 70,000 tons to the Indian Ocean. And judging by the photos, this capital ship is not at all weaker than the Yamato-class.

This made Nan Yunzhong a big blow, he didn't understand. Why did China, which was still vulnerable a few decades ago, come to a salted fish and turn over and eat Japan to death? Originally, they could have regained their self-confidence in the Yamato class, but now this self-confidence has become a joke.

"Ozawa-kun, you say, why are we being eaten to death by China." On the bridge, Nagumo Tadaichi asked Ozawa Jizaburo beside him.

Jizaburo Ozawa was the commander of the task force cruiser fleet with the rank of rear admiral of the Japanese Navy.

"Your Excellency, the Empire has a chance to turn over, the conditions for victory in naval battles, the strength of warships is only one of them, and the quality of sailors. I believe that the quality of our naval soldiers is not weaker than that of China, and we still have a great chance of winning a real war. He always believed that the warriors of the empire would definitely defeat the Chinese soldiers, and the Imperial Japanese Army was invincible. Jizaburo Ozawa said more excitedly.

Nanyun Zhongyi shook his head, he didn't think so optimistically. China has always seemed to be covered with a veil, making it impossible to see what is under the veil. As before, the new battleship that suddenly appeared this time had no news at all. In his view, China definitely has hidden means, and this is certain. And it is very likely that it will be even stronger than what is being exposed now, because he does not believe that China will pull out the hole cards.

And there is another very important reason that makes Nagumo Tadaichi very unoptimistic.

"But you must know that the current ostensible scenery of the empire is built without being an enemy of China. If we declare war on China now, we will lose all our advantages. Because China can cut off our maritime lifeline at any time and blockade the entire South China Sea. And the current occupied areas in Southeast Asia are also shrouded in the Chinese offensive, but we do not have the slightest ability to support. When the time comes, when they and the Chinese Navy will divide the victory, I am afraid that we will lose all the occupied areas in Southeast Asia, and we will also lose the maritime lifeline on which we depend. There are so many factors to consider in war! Nanyun Zhong said.

"Your Excellency, I think you have thought too much, even if China is our biggest opponent, the empire will not go against China now, otherwise it will not retreat again and again in some things. After we take Indonesia and that vast land, we will have the capital to confront China. When we have digested all the land and have enough resources, the empire will not be afraid of China at that time. Jizaburo Ozawa spoke.

After listening to Ozawa Jizaburo's words, Nagumo Zhong nodded, and formulated this occupation plan with the influence of China in mind. The reason why the Japanese side is still planning to attack western Burma is because Japan has not regarded it as a target at all. In Southeast Asia, it is enough to take East Burma. The remaining goal was to go straight south, and the Japanese didn't even intend to ask for India.

When formulating these policies, it was taken into account that all the occupied areas could not be linked to China, otherwise, once a war broke out with China, it was very likely that China would be completely attacked. Japan needs a certain amount of strategic depth, and going south is a good choice, because Japan also has a navy that is not weak, and they are all very confident in the navy.

"Don't talk about things that are too far away, talk about the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet." Nanyun Zhong said.

"According to the orders of His Excellency the Commander, the cruiser fleet and the destroyers have sunk several British fleets these days, but the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet is still nowhere to be seen. Did they know that we had set up a cover and waited for them to drill? Jizaburo Ozawa said.

"The Allies know for sure, and I didn't hide my intentions in the first place. It's just that I didn't expect that the commander of the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet was so calm, looking at the sunken merchant ships, he didn't even have the idea of rescue. Nagumo Zhong was a little impressed by the commander of the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet, who was calm enough.

"Your Excellency, what should we do next? It's impossible to spend it here. Jizaburo Ozawa said.

"It doesn't matter, I already have a way, I guarantee that the commander of the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet will not sit still." As soon as Nanyun Zhong spoke, "Ozawa-kun, do you know what is the best way to kill the snake?" ”

"Hit the snake and hit it seven inches, and attack its fatal point." Jizaburo Ozawa said without hesitation.

"Yes, strike at the other side's fatal point, and the weakness of the Allied Indian Ocean Fleet is supply." Nagumo Tadaichi patted Jizaburo Ozawa on the shoulder, laughed, and turned to leave the bridge.

(To be continued)