Two hundred nautical miles east of the Marshall Islands, where the sound of artillery is incessant, the smoke of guns and gunfire in the west can no longer be heard, and the deep sea surface contains infinite killing opportunities in the calm.

Hundreds of combat ships are quietly dormant on the surface of the sea at the moment, and their speed has dropped to the lowest point. If it weren't for the fact that the engines were still running at the slowest speed in order to increase the power more quickly, these ships would not be far from zero speed.

The fleet of lights blended in with the surrounding night, the storm had passed, and there was a rare brief calm on the sea. The dark clouds that were depressed a while ago are now a brilliant galaxy in the sky, and the faint sea breeze is blowing in the face. In times of peace, it may be said to be a holy place of love, but in times of war, especially when war comes, no one cares about the romance at this moment.

The huge Yanhuang and Xuanyuan two sea steel giants were calmly hidden in the middle of the fleet group, and the deck was empty, only the figure of the fighter plane reflected under the starlight. Suddenly, only the radar antenna and communication antenna rotating on the bridge can prove that this is not a "black pearl", nor is it a ghost ship.

Later generations of the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet liked to put the fleet headquarters on the cruiser, but China was completely the opposite. From the first day of the appearance of aircraft carriers, all aircraft carriers must be able to assume the command of formations, that is, every aircraft carrier in China has a strong command capability.

In naval warfare, which is increasingly dependent on electronic equipment, it is not easy to build an advanced command center for large ship groups.

Just like the Japanese Combined Fleet in the past, the Combined Fleet command could only contact the flagships of each warband, and the warring flagships could only contact other ships through light signals and flags in many cases.

Even if it's the United States. The same is true, at least their Pacific Fleet command, if they want to contact every main combat ship, this is also difficult to achieve.

And why does China want to integrate the fleet, even if it takes time, it must integrate the fleet, everything is for the command mechanism. To determine the flagship, the Yanhuang must be able to directly contact every destroyer, every supply fleet, and determine the location of every ship, including submarines.

On the huge Yan Huang. In addition to the staff of the nuclear reactor engine room and the ship's maintenance personnel. All operational command personnel, including all those in combat positions, are concentrated in the second-floor hangar.

At this time, all the fighters in the second-floor hangar have been transferred to the deck, in order to be able to take off as soon as possible. The 15,000-square-metre two-story hangar is filled with more than 6,000 crew members.

It's not just the Yan Huang. The same is true of other aircraft carriers. Basically everybody is in the same group.

In the second-level hangar. In the space where all the doors are closed, a large movie screen is showing details of the Japan-US alliance. Perhaps all the personnel are very familiar with the opponent in front of them, but this does not prevent them from being more serious about getting familiar with everything about the opponent.

And in the combat command center of the Yanhuang. Filled with various electronic devices, the screen of the monitor flashes with a unique light in a rather dark space.

In this military ship, where even the commander can only sleep in a "matchbox," this combat service center, which covers an area of more than 60 square meters, is an extremely extravagant practice even on the Yanhuang, which has a displacement of 100,000 tons.

However, when it was first designed, no one discussed it. Because of the electronic devices inside, one of them is a boutique, and each one is a treasure. It took four full years for the staff inside to get acquainted with them, and now they can fully use their effects.

Liu Haijiang, who is the deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet, is standing in the combat command center with a solemn expression at this moment. From the commander of an aircraft carrier battle group to the current admiral of the Chinese Navy, Liu Haijiang feels a lot of pressure every day.

In terms of seniority, many old navies have now become his subordinates, and in terms of seniority, he is also considered a younger generation. Although there is no such thing as seniority in the Chinese army, he cannot completely ignore them. How many people are watching him, how many are waiting for news of his triumph.

Yes, although he holds the post of deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet, he is the commander of the entire fleet. Because the commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet is Chen Shaokuan, who is the Minister of the Navy, and Chen Shaokuan is not in the fleet. It stands to reason that the entire fleet is in his hands, and the rise and fall of honor and disgrace are tied to him alone.

In the final analysis, he is only a "young man" who is less than forty years old, although he also has rich experience in naval warfare, has been dealing with aircraft carriers all his life, and is very rich in theory and practice, otherwise he would not have held such an important position. But the combined Japanese-American fleet on the opposite side is not a soft persimmon either.

The two sides have been competing in the Pacific Ocean for months, and it says it all. In addition to the loss of some ships, the other side did not show fatal flaws. The main forces are well preserved, and the combat effectiveness remains undiminished.

"Nimitz, it's not simple, it's much stronger than those Japanese admirals." This is Liu Haijiang's evaluation of Nimitz.

In his opinion, if the other side is under the command of the Japanese Navy, then this naval battle is estimated to have come to an end, because domestic pressure will force the Japanese Navy to find itself for a decisive battle, then for himself, the opportunity has come. And Nimitz is indeed a qualified general, at least he is calm, not impatient or impatient, so that Liu Haijiang does not have much chance for a while.

In fact, Liu Haijiang knows very well that it's not that Nimitz doesn't want to move, but that he needs a chance, a chance to expose his flaws.

Today's Nimitz may be the so-called "no rabbit and no eagle".

Liu Haijiang did not intend to give his opponent a chance, he wanted to use the way of forcing to use the island group to compress the opponent's living space. Force the opponent to a decisive battle. The Marshall Islands is the first and crucial step.

As long as this step is taken well, the next step of the Chinese Navy can be a long-term drive to attack Hawaii of the United States. First and foremost, there is Midway. And the sea area of Midway Island is the battlefield selected by Liu Haijiang.

He has every reason to believe that the United States can give up the entire islands in the southwest Pacific, but the United States will absolutely not let the Hawaiian Islands fall into the hands of China. Because for the United States, it is a sign of disaster. Once the United States lost Hawaii. The West Coast will be completely exposed, and the homeland will inevitably be more auspicious than lucky, which is unacceptable to every American.

The United States has taken out countless weapons and equipment to support its allies, and the deepest purpose is not to prevent the flames of war from burning on the United States soil.

Therefore, Liu Haijiang concluded that once the Hawaiian Islands were threatened, the United States would inevitably jump to the ground. Then the opportunity for the Pacific Fleet will come.

Speaking of which. Both sides have great scruples, China is better than the advanced, and the allies are better than the outnumbered. No one dared to strike first.

Although it is said that the first strike is stronger, but a lot of times. To strike first means to be exposed.

The most fundamental point. Whether it's Liu Haijiang or Nimitz. There is no way to wipe out the other party at once. If this were a decisive battle for an entire fleet of battleships, both sides would not have thought so much at all.

Stress comes from all sides, a lot of the time. Liu Haijiang repeatedly warned himself that he could not afford to lose, not even a small defeat.

Because in the fleet, there is a person who must not have an accident. At least he was the only one in the entire fleet who thought so, because he knew who she was.

This was Chen Shaokuan's warning to him at the founding ceremony of the Pacific Fleet. If it weren't for the old commander's repeated advice, he wouldn't have believed that there was a living Bodhisattva among his soldiers.

"Report, the latest enemy situation from the command center of the Ministry of National Defense, this is a photo taken by a spy satellite." Chen Yun was dressed in a white navy captain's uniform, and his skillful salute and solemn report broke the silence of the combat service center.

Looking at the beautiful female officer in front of him, the female captain known as the flower of the aircraft carrier, Liu Haijiang suddenly felt more stressed. He is the only one in the whole fleet who knows that the captain in front of him is the eldest princess of the empire. The pearl of His Majesty and the Empress, a collection of thousands of favors.

If it was peacetime, the imperial family would come to their own fleet, Liu Haijiang would be super welcome, but now the smoke of gunpowder is about to envelop the earth. If it weren't for Chen Shao's acquiescence, I'm afraid the first thing Liu Haijiang would do was to send the captain back to the Navy Headquarters, but the truth is that he didn't dare.

However, he had already made up his mind, and in the event of an irreparable result, he would immediately order her to board the plane and let the Black Hawk fighter escort her away from the battlefield quickly. Of course, this is the worst-case scenario.

"Hmm!" Liu Haijiang nodded, picked up the photo handed over by Chen Yun, walked to the simulated chart, and looked at it in detail with the shadowless light on the simulated chart.

There were quite a few photographs, each with a numerical number on it, and his brow furrowed as he linked the changes in each photograph.

The photographs taken by these spy satellites were faxed by the command center of the Ministry of National Defense, and it can be seen that these photographs were taken at different times. Inside are the huge fleet groups of the Japanese and American combined fleets, and what makes Liu Haijiang frown is that the positions of these photos are not the same. Because below the photo, there is a detailed shooting address.

From the meaning of these photos, Liu Haijiang quickly concluded that the joint Japanese-American fleet had completely left the waters of the Hawaiian Islands, and the latitude and longitude lines on the caption below the photos also indicated that the fleet was moving northeast of the Marshall Islands.

"It seems that I underestimated the bottom line of the United States, and I didn't expect that one Marshall Islands would make the allies react so much."

Soon an idea appeared in Liu Haijiang's mind.

"Captain, get in touch with the Pacific Theater of Operations right away, they have work to do again." The enemy is changing, and the plan must also change, and Liu Haijiang already has a very clear idea and idea.

"Yes."

"Order, the whole fleet immediately opened, destination coordinates, east longitude xx, north latitude xx.

Immediately notify the submarine forces, divert the route.

Let the tanker aircraft cooperate with the reconnaissance aircraft unit, carry out the highest alert level, and extend the detection range farthest. ”

Beginning in December of the 15th year of Zhongxing, China occupied the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, and Southeast Asia in only about half of the scheduled time, with no more than 1,000 casualties.

This is too similar to the situation in Japan back then.

At the beginning of the war, Japan was also invincible, and in the entire course of operations during this period, the Japanese army did not lose large ships above the destroyer level. The main operational objectives were achieved so quickly that the Japanese army had no time to study and determine its strategy for the next stage. In addition to strengthening the rule of the occupied areas, the Japanese army may adopt the following three strategies: first, westward and capture Ceylon and India; second, to the south, to capture Australia; Third, eastward. Extend the victory in the direction of Hawaii. The first two propositions were put forward by the Military Command Department, and the latter proposition was insisted on by General Yamamoto and the staff officers of the Combined Fleet. However, the Japanese Army had long coveted the Asian continent and the Soviet Union, and opposed the devoting large numbers of troops to the first two combat operations. Therefore, the Military Command Department developed a cautious plan of operation: to launch an offensive from Rabaul, to seize the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, to capture the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides, and then to occupy New Caledonia, the Fiji Islands, and Samoa in order to isolate Australia.

The goal of the first stage of the implementation of this operational plan by the Japanese Military Command Department was: the beginning of March. landings in Lae and Salamoa; Preparations for the assault on Port Moresby and Port Tulagi were completed by April. But. Admiral Yamamoto and his staff officers believed that only by annihilating American aircraft carriers could Japan's security be guaranteed in the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, it advocated an early attack on Midway and the Aleutian Islands in order to lure and annihilate the US naval forces. Early April. The Military Command reluctantly agreed to Yamamoto's operational plan. However, specific issues such as the timing of the Midway operation are still being discussed. Doolittle air raid on Tokyo makes people feel. Yamamoto's assertion is correct. Therefore, according to the recommendation of the Military Command Department, the base camp envoy ordered on May 5 to carry out the Midway operation in early June.

The result of a compromise between the two propositions. The Japanese army adopted a strategy of advancing in two directions at the same time, making its forces too scattered. One was the Command Department's efforts to isolate Australia, which led to the Battle of the Coral Sea, culminating in the landing of U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal. The second was Admiral Yamamoto's operation to lure and annihilate the Hawaiian fleet, which led to the Battle of Midway.

However, in this plane, much of it didn't happen because China joined in. Japan and the United States are united, and history is unrecognizable.

At this moment, in front of the joint fleet of Japan and the United States, there is only one way to find an opportunity for a decisive battle. Because whether it is Nagano Shushen or Nimitz, they can no longer withstand the huge pressure of the country again.

"Those damn politicians, they're going to bury America's future." Despite Nimitz's repeated curses, he could not change the decision-making of the American leadership. He had just arrived in Washington, and before his ass was getting hot, he set off for Hawaii again.

I wanted Washington to approve his plan, but the result was the exact opposite. Before he could speak, he was ordered to return to the fleet. In desperation, the strategy was revised again.

It's just that it's just that at least Washington didn't strictly formulate the plan of action of the fleet, otherwise he Nimitz wouldn't have been able to sing any drama.

And the purpose of Nimitz is the Mariana Islands.

As long as the Mariana Islands can be occupied, a large part of China's maritime communications can be cut off. Whether it is for the Marshall Islands or Australia, it can serve the purpose of indirect support. It's also important to note that he Nimitz doesn't like to be passive.

In his opinion, the battlefield must be chosen by him. He understands the purpose of China's attack on the Marshall Islands, and he will not move forward according to China's script. When you choose the Mariana Islands, you can do more than one thing.

And the premise of all this is that the US naval fleet must reach the Mariana Islands before the Chinese Pacific Fleet and take a fierce offensive.

Nimitz did not have the luxury of expecting that the other party was completely unaware of his actions, but he was sure that the Chinese Pacific Fleet would need at least two days to react, because the United States finally cracked the secret code of the Chinese Pacific Fleet after tens of thousands of difficulties. That's his Nimitz's chance.

However, Nimitz did not know that in the Earth's high-altitude orbit, China has more than thirty spy satellites. This is the biggest bug in the war, especially if the other side does not have it.

Regarding Nimitz's plan, Nagano Xiushen himself did not agree. Japan had intended to occupy Port Moresby and Tulagi in October, but later postponed the plan until early December as Chinese aircraft carrier forces moved into the southwest Pacific. To this end, the large aircraft carriers "Shozuru" and "Zuizuru" of the Nagumo Force and the light aircraft carrier "Shoho" of the Combined Fleet were sent to reinforce Japan's 4th Fleet.

The Japanese attempt to seize Port Moresby was to protect Australia's own military positions and to render the opposing air bases in northern New Guinea inoperable, thus securing the flanks of Allied attacks on New Caledonia, the Fiji Islands, and Samoa.

At the same time, the Japanese also wanted to occupy the port of Tulagi, which would cut off the Guadalcanal waterway in the southern Solomon Islands. A seaplane base was built here to cover the flanks of Moresby's operations. It can also provide support for the subsequent advance to the southeast. China's insistence on Port Moresby is not only vital to Australia's security, but also indispensable as a springboard for future counteroffensives.

The Japanese army's battle plan was that the 12,000-ton light aircraft carrier "Xiangfeng" would first support the landing operation at Tulagi Harbor, and then turn westward to support the troops attacking Port Moresby. The latter is scheduled to sail from the Fiji Islands to Port Moresby via the Coral Sea and the Mader Waterway, skirting the eastern tip of the island of New Guinea. In addition to the direct cover of the above-mentioned two landing battle organizations, the Japanese army did not cover them. It also formed an assault force with the aircraft carriers "Xianghe" and "Zuihe" as the main force. From Truk to the south, to intercept any U.S. forces that attempt to stop the landing.

At the same time, Australian shore-based aviation was sent to carry out reconnaissance and support missions. In this way, six armies took part in the operations in the two places. From the time of the Japanese-American Pacific War. The Japanese army often used this complex force deployment. This has become a unique tactic of the Japanese army. In the past. It has been effective in using this tactic to deal with a disadvantaged enemy who is poorly organized. However, if we can't work closely together, we can support each other. This method of operation does not conform to the principle of concentrating the use of troops. Whenever the Japanese army ignored these two important conditions, it was doomed.

As for Nagano Shusei's plan to fight a decisive battle with the Chinese fleet in the Coral Sea, Nimitz called it a plan to find death. Although in Australia, there are still quite a few Allied fighters that can be dispatched. But in that position, there are more Chinese fighters, not to mention the small Coral Sea, even if the Coral Sea is twice as large, Chinese fighters can also attack all day.

So for Nagano's plan to cultivate himself, Nimitz resolutely disagreed.

In the end, with the mediation of both sides, each side made concessions, and the Japanese combined fleet supported Nimitz's approach, and Nimitz's main force had to take the lead. Because in the months of conflict, the Japanese warships suffered the greatest losses. This is also a little consolation to Japan.

――――――

The task force of two aircraft carrier formations, under the unified command of Fletcher, was less than 800 nautical miles from the Mariana Islands on 1 November. This is the spearhead of the combined Japanese-American fleet.

At dawn on November 3, 16 years of Zhongxing, the US special task force sailed in the waters east of Guam and headed northwest. At nearly 7 o'clock, Admiral Fletcher ordered 2 cruisers and 3 destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Kress to search and advance in a northwestern direction, and at the same time, ordered the aircraft carrier formation to sail north.

Ignoring the danger that his aircraft carrier might be attacked that day, Fletcher resolutely sent the Kress formation to intercept the Chinese landing force passing through the Mariana Islands. However, in this way, not only the coastal alert force of the Fletcher aircraft carrier formation was reduced, but also the already weak anti-air alert force was weakened.

However, what Fletcher didn't know was that his every move was under the nose of the Chinese AWACS aircraft. Although the radar performance of US warships is not bad, the radar on the Chinese early warning aircraft is even more advanced. It is completely possible to spy on the other party outside the scanning range of the other party.

For two days, Fletcher's actions were under Liu Haijiang's attention, and he did not choose to kill this advance fleet, and he would drop big fish when he fished.

When the position of the Japanese-US combined fleet had begun to appear within the combat radius of the intruder fighter-bombers on Guam, Liu Haijiang immediately began to make his first move.

The cold season is coming, and the weather is sunny in the northwest of the Pacific Ocean.

On the morning of the 4th, the US reconnaissance plane, which was on a reconnaissance mission in this direction, began to report on the enemy's situation. At 8:15 a.m., a pilot reported that two aircraft carriers and four heavy cruisers had been spotted in the sea 300 nautical miles north of the Marshall Islands.

So, Fletcher ordered a group of assault aircraft on 2 aircraft carriers to be dispatched. Ninety-three aircraft sorties were made before the reconnaissance aircraft returned. It was later ascertained that the above information was inaccurate due to a mistranslation of the code. The report of the reconnaissance aircraft would have been: 2 cruisers and 2 destroyers were found.

Fletcher judged that since the Japanese landing force had been discovered, there must be a more suitable target nearby, and he resolutely decided to attack. The correctness of this decision was confirmed at 10:20 a.m. It was reported that 35 nautical miles southeast of the target of the assault group, a China aircraft carrier and several ships in the shape of transport ships were spotted. With a slight correction of course, the assault group could spot this new target.

At about 11 o'clock, the assault group began to assault the light escort aircraft carrier. In the first assault, 13 bombs and 7 torpedoes hit the target, causing the escort aircraft carrier, with a displacement of only a few thousand tons, to sink to the bottom of the sea in the blink of an eye. After the first assault group landed, Fletcher decided not to deploy the second wave until other Chinese aircraft carriers were discovered. In addition, Fletcher judged that China knew the location of its aircraft carriers, and the aircraft carrier force he led might be about to be attacked.

However, on November 4, the Fletcher formation was not attacked by the Chinese Navy, and it seems that the Allied aircraft carrier group was not "discovered".

The next day, however, Fletcher's luck came to an end. In order to attack the escort aircraft carriers of China, his formation was already very close to the Mariana Islands. When Nimitz found out, he scolded him and told him to get out of there as quickly as possible. Before his formation could react, the Chinese fleet appeared on the radar screen. But here, all struggles are in vain.

Facing the intruder fighter-bombers stationed in Guam, Fletcher's voice was hoarse. One warship after another sank in front of me, first its two aircraft carriers were sunk quickly, and then it was the turn of the cruiser, the destroyer.

By the time Fletcher was pulled up from the icy waters by a lifeboat, not a single intact warship was in sight on the surface. His task force did not even hold out for half an hour before it was completely wiped out.

When two steel beasts suddenly appeared on the calm sea, Fletcher's heart was even colder. These are two very large submarines, painted with the Chinese Navy's logos.

Fletcher thought a lot, and he seemed to understand a little. At this moment, he did not dwell on why there were two Chinese submarines hidden under his fleet, nor did he think about why he failed. Rather, it is dark for the future of the Japanese-American combined fleet.

Fletcher knew a lot about the imminent naval battle around the Mariana Islands, which is why he felt that way.

His ending has clearly shown that China has been waiting for him here for a long time, and China has long been prepared for the actions of the allies. The opportunity has been lost.

At this time, on the two submarines, many submariners wearing white military uniforms gathered on the wide backs of the submarines, each holding an assault rifle. The guns were pointed at these American sailors who had fallen into the water.

"You have been captured, give up any resistance, or we will no longer guarantee your safety. We will not mistreat our captives, but we will not spare those who dare to challenge authority. Now, everyone gathered around the submarine and waited for the arrival of the rescue ship. Whoever dares to resist will be killed. ”

On the submarine, a big lama was erected at some point, and at this time a warning came from the big lama, in very authentic American English.

Many looked at Fletcher with eager eyes, expecting his answer.

I saw the gaze of the soldiers around me, looked at their sailor suits soaked in the seawater, and watched their bodies shivering in the sea breeze.

"War is not the fault of the soldiers, they are more of the victims." I don't know who said a sentence that echoed in Fletcher's mind.

"Surrender!" Despite the lack of a choice, Fletcher spoke up. Perhaps, in this way, he will feel a little better. (To be continued......)