“…… When I was a member of the Commissariat of the Combined Fleet of the Red Navy and secretary of the Pacific Bureau, I talked more than once about military science with Yamamoto Isoroku, Ishihara Wanjiro, Onishi Takijiro, and the immortal staff officer Kuroshima Kameto who didn't like to take a bath and was always smelly. At that time, my understanding of military science was based on two books, "The Art of War" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Of course, they have read these two books, Yamamoto and Ishihara, and they think that "The Art of War" is about military dialectics, and they are all things that are principled. And "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is pure nonsense, there is no such thing as fighting like that, there is no such thing as a last resort on the battlefield, because your opponent is not a fool. Generals who have really fought a war have a mantra, 'Sixty percent of the battles are won', which means two things: one is that there is usually no 100 percent victory in a war, and it is good to win 60 percent; second, a battle that is 60 percent sure that can be won is the most ideal, and a 100 percent chance of being sure is usually not existed on the battlefield, because we are 100 percent sure, and the enemy is only 00 percent sure, so how can they fight with us? Unless the enemy is a fool, but how can a fool be a military commander? Therefore, there are very few combat opportunities on the battlefield that are more than 60 percent certain, and more than 80 percent of the battles usually have traps in them. Of course, if you have an absolute superiority in strength and force the enemy to the point where you have to fight, the certainty of 100% victory still exists. However, military strategists generally do not study this kind of warfare, and that is what politicians want to study.

But on July 5, 1935, Yamamoto, Ishihara, Onishi, Kuroshima still had me. But they have forgotten the mantra of 'fighting a war to win six points'. We received reports from submarines that a large American fleet was approaching the Hawaiian Islands! At that time, we all thought that the siege of Oahu, the first fortress in the Pacific, had finally forced the main force of the US Pacific Fleet out and sent it to death -- we had 11 Soryu-class aircraft carriers in the Hawaiian Islands at that time, and each Soryu-class had about 70 carrier-based aircraft. A total of 770 aircraft! In addition, there are more than 300 shore-based aircraft on the island of Hawaii. The opponent only has 10 light aircraft carriers converted from merchant ships, and the total number of carrier-based aircraft is only about 200, and there may be 18 capital ships, but in the vast Pacific Ocean, it is difficult for a very slow battleship to capture an aircraft carrier with a high speed. Therefore, no matter how you look at this confrontation, it is a sure victory, and it is a godsend opportunity to annihilate the main force of the Pacific Fleet in one fell swoop! We were all very happy at the time. We set off from Hilo Bay in high spirits, but we were disappointed in the end. - The above is an excerpt from Yasuo Yasuda's memoir "Memories of a Revolutionary".

July 6, 1935, 2:40 p.m.

120 nautical miles northeast of Hawaii Island. Battlecruiser Akagi.

The atmosphere in the Akagi's special fleet command center had gradually become depressed, and there was no longer the excitement and joy of a day before, replaced by a deep sense of worry and irritability. Yamamoto Isoroku, who was standing on the edge of the chart platform, raised his wrist and looked at the time, and asked anxiously, "Haven't you found the main force of the American fleet yet?" ”

"Nope." Onishi Takijiro shook his head: "The seaplanes sent by battleships and cruisers have already searched the sea area within a radius of three hundred nautical miles. More than 30 submarines patrol the waters 400 nautical miles northeast and southeast of Hawaii Island. None of them found the shadow of the American fleet, will they ......"

"Escaped?" Yamamoto Fifty-six looked at Takijiro Onishi. Onishi nodded, this was probably the only reasonable explanation. Otherwise, where did the American fleet, which was discovered by the I-55 yesterday, go? Did it disappear out of thin air?

"Nope! There's no way they're going to escape, I'm sure, they're near the Hawaiian Islands! ”

The Black Island Turtle Man said with certainty: "It is impossible for the Americans to give up Oahu, absolutely impossible, if they give up Oahu, they will not have anything to achieve in this world war." Even if they can retake Hawaii Island in 12 months, it will be too late. By then, we might have conquered the whole of Australia! So even if Kimmel was reluctant to fight, Roosevelt and William. Leahy will also force him to fight! ”

"Will it?" Yamamoto Fifty-six shook his head: "I know that I can't win." What's the point of putting the fleet in again? ”

"It's not necessarily that you can't win," the Black Island Turtle Man stared at the chart for a long time before saying, "If I were Kimmel, I would definitely bring all 18 capital ships of the Pacific Fleet to Hawaii, first wander around the periphery of the Hawaiian Islands, evade our reconnaissance planes, go around to the north or south of Oahu 300 to 400 nautical miles away, and wait until after 5 o'clock in the afternoon today or tomorrow, and then attack Oahu at full speed!" At a speed of 20 knots, it takes about 15 to 20 hours to drive 3 to 400 nautical miles, which means that you can reach Oahu around 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the next day...... That is, we are left with only 3 to 8 hours to detect and attack, and at most one to three air strikes can be launched. And as long as the 18 capital ships of the Americans reach Oahu, even if they run aground on the beachhead of Oahu, with the huge guns and armor of these capital ships, they are comparable to 18 giant armored batteries. ”

"All 18 capital ships are stranded as stationary batteries?" Yamamoto Fifty-six was stunned and looked back at Onishi Takijiro.

"According to intelligence, the United States passed the bill of building 15 Essex-class aircraft carriers as early as the second half of 1932, and after the United States entered the war, the number of Essex-class aircraft carriers was increased to as many as 35!" As of the end of June this year, at least 12 Essex-class aircraft carriers have been outfitted, and it is believed that a large number of aircraft carriers will soon join the Pacific Fleet. As long as the Americans stay up for a few more months, the situation in the Pacific will be completely reversed. Then we will never have the opportunity to occupy Australia again, and without Australia we will have no chance of ending the war with dignity and surrendering to Germany! ”

After listening to the analysis of Takijiro Onishi and Kuroshima Kameto, Yamamoto Fifty-six felt that the problem was a bit strict! The Yankees must be ready to use the capital ship as a fixed battery as analyzed by the Black Island Turtle Man. He took a deep breath and ordered loudly, "Order." The fleet turns, targeting 15 nautical miles northeast of Oahu! We're just going to stay there...... High-speed shore-based aircraft on Hawaii Island are also on standby.

At three o'clock tomorrow morning, seaplanes will be dispatched to thoroughly search the 300-nautical-mile sea around Oahu; 3:30 a.m. All carrier-based aircraft and shore-based aircraft are ready to attack! Be sure to strike a successful blow and annihilate all U.S. capital ships! ”

……

"Quick, fast, fast, push the plane to the take-off line, we don't have much time!"

On the deck of the USS Long Island, 550 nautical miles north of Oahu, an F4F Wildcat fighter has just been lifted onto deck by an elevator. A few of the carrier's ground crew rushed over and pushed the plane's wings towards the take-off line at the end of the flight deck. At the same time, another F4F fighter was already roaring into the air.

"Hurry up. Let them go faster, we don't have much time! ”

In the command tower of the light cruiser USS Cleveland, which was hung with the flagship flag on the side, I watched as the F4F Wildcats were constantly being released into the sky from 10 escort aircraft carriers, including the USS Long Island, the USS Liscombe, the USS Coral Sea, the Corregidor USS Mission Bay, the USS Manila Bay, the USS Natoma Bay, the USS San Lo, the USS Tripoli, and the USS Wake Island.

The sailors on each escort aircraft carrier worked hard with all their strength. Every aircraft lifted onto deck by a lift is immediately pushed onto the take-off line. Then he roared out of the deck runway and joined the growing swarm in the sky.

"Vice Admiral ......" saw that all the planes had already taken off, and the chief of staff of the fleet breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly handed over the telegram he had just received: "Admiral Kimmel wants us to keep the escort aircraft carrier as much as possible, and if it is not discovered by the enemy's reconnaissance planes, we will immediately withdraw to San Digo, and the admiral wants to send another 200 F4F to Pearl Harbor in two weeks." ”

"Damn it!" Halsey secretly cursed in his heart, the 10 escort aircraft carriers under his command were not the fast Essex-class. These are converted from less than 10,000 tons of freighters, and the maximum speed is only 16 to 17 knots. Now that all the planes have been released, it is equivalent to becoming 10 slow-moving live targets without any combat effectiveness! Moreover, the Pacific Fleet's capital ships and heavy cruisers followed Spruance to the South Pacific, and now only 10 Cleveland-class light cruisers and 18 flat-deck destroyers are responsible for protecting these escort carriers. Not to mention being chased and killed by the opponent's carrier-based aircraft, even if you encounter a heavy cruiser, you will not be able to eat and walk around.

"Lieutenant General, now ......"

"Execute the order, and maybe you will have good luck." Halsey said helplessly. The original plan was to abandon the escort aircraft carrier after the release of the aircraft - that is, to use this aircraft carrier with a full load displacement of more than 10,000 tons as a consumable! Although U.S. imperialism is the big guy of imperialism, taxpayers' money cannot be wasted in this way, so Kimmmel's battle plan to report to the Admiralty was ultimately rejected. William. Admiral Leahy instructed the Pacific Fleet that the escort carriers must be kept as much as possible, which is why this telegram is now in place.

"Lieutenant General, there will be good luck," the chief of staff on the side saw Halsey's face turned blue, and said in a low voice of relief: "We are 550 nautical miles away from Oahu, and the Wildcat fighter will fly for three hours to arrive, and then RI himself will find out our true intentions, but it is already about six o'clock in the afternoon, and it is impossible for their carrier-based aircraft to be dispatched, and even if they can, they must not be able to reach it." ”

Halsey snorted coldly: "Of course I can't reach it tonight, but what about tomorrow?" Once RI himself discovers that a Wildcat fighter is landing on Oahu, he will be able to deduce our approximate position...... Since the island of Hawaii east of Oahu has already been occupied by the Ri Army, it is impossible for us to be on the east side of Oahu, otherwise it will be easily discovered by the RI reconnaissance plane sent by the island of Hawaii. It is also unlikely to be on the west side of Oahu, so it is most likely to be on both sides of the north and south. RI himself only needs to divide their 10 Canglong-class ships into two teams to pursue in the southeast and northeast directions, and the Canglong-class is 15 knots faster than us, and can close 15 nautical miles per hour, 150 nautical miles in one night, and can catch up with us in 20 hours at most.

At that time, there will be more than 300 carrier-based aircraft on 5 Canglong-class to deal with us! ”

More than 300 of them!

Halsey shuddered at the thought of this number. His 11th Task Force is probably going to be wiped out! What exactly did Kimmel and Nimitz think? Do they feel that the loss of 10 escort aircraft carriers is not enough, and that they have to take on a few more Cleveland-class light cruisers and peacedeck-class destroyers and more than 10,000 US Navy officers and men?

……

"Admiral, can we really keep Task Force 11?"

"Yes. Mr. President. "Hearing this, William. Leahy couldn't help but frown, the same question had been asked seven times by President Roosevelt since the beginning of the meeting. Admiral Leahy could only patiently explain again: "The Pacific Fleet has a feasible plan, Vice Admiral Spruance's main fleet had already begun full speed in the direction of Oahu an hour ago, and according to the plan, they will continue to sail towards Oahu for another three hours. So that Ri's own seaplane or submarine should be able to spot them. ”

"Then RI himself will think that our main fleet is preparing to arrive at Pearl Harbor tomorrow morning, so that the RI fleet will not dare to leave the waters of the Hawaiian Islands." Roosevelt grinned, and William. Leahie's words continued. William. Leahy and Kimmel certainly don't joke with the lives of more than 10,000 American GIs. As a result of the Second Battle of the Middle East, Yan Zhan suffered casualties. President Roosevelt's wartime command skills have been questioned, and there must be no more "worthless casualties" now, or the next president of the United States will definitely be replaced by a Republican. In addition, Oahu must not be lost, otherwise Roosevelt's presidency will not be kept. And now Roosevelt is fully marketing the American Community to the American people and the countries of the Americas. At this time, the United States must show strength and determination sufficient to protect the Americas from aggression. If Oahu falls, it will be a great blow to Roosevelt's plan for the American Community, and it may even be dead!

Thinking of this, he looked at William again. Leahy glanced: "Oahu must also be defended!" Otherwise, there is a high risk that the Inter-American Mutual Defense Treaty will be aborted. ”

The Inter-American Mutual Defense Treaty is the first step of the American Community, and now the United States has given up its dream of building a world empire, but it must hold on to one acre and three points of land in the Americas, otherwise it will not have the strength to compete with the two superpowers of China and Germany in the future. Now is the moment when the Inter-American Mutual Defense Treaty is taking a crucial first step, with President Roosevelt visiting Canada and Mexico in quick succession at the end of June. With Canadian Prime Minister Kenzie McKenzie. Kim and Mexican President Lázaro. Cárdenas negotiated the terms of the signing of a mutual defense treaty. In order to gain the support of these two North American powers, Roosevelt promised to provide various forms of assistance to the two countries after the war, including finance, technology, and equipment. The total amount is up to $6.5 billion!

In addition, negotiations are under way between the United States and the Central American and Caribbean countries such as Guatemala, El Salva, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, Dominica and Jamaica. In order to draw these small and poor countries, which have been despised by the United States in the past, into the mutual defense treaty in the Americas, Hopkins, Hull, and Morgenthau are visiting the capitals of these countries with attractive aid packages. But the Mutual Defense Treaty is not something that can be done with money, and Americans must prove to the people of these countries that the United States has the strength to defend the Americas. If Oahu had been captured by Riben at this time, who else would have believed in the military might of the United States?

"Rest assured, Mr. President, Oahu's defenses are extremely strong, and when our 200 F4Fs are on the island, RI himself will have nothing to do with Oahu." William. Leahy said confidently.

Roosevelt nodded, and then looked at William. MacArthur glanced at Leahy's side: "How is the Middle East going to end there?" ”

In just a few months, the number of casualties and missing people of the US military in the Middle East has exceeded 650,000! The Middle East battlefield has become a huge wound that keeps the United States bleeding.

Hearing the word "end", MacArthur knew that Roosevelt was ready to withdraw the American army from the Middle East! Although he was unwilling, he still sighed slightly and said: "Mr. President, the Army Staff is considering retreating from the Middle East, but the commander of the Army Air Force, General Arnold, believes that after the withdrawal of the main force of the US ground forces, the Army Air Force can also use Beirut as a base to attack the Indian and Soviet forces in the Middle East, and even threaten the Soviet oil fields in Baku." Our B-17 bombers can barely reach Baku......"

"Bombing Baku?" Roosevelt snorted coldly, "Admiral, do you think that is good for the United States?" ”

MacArthur shook his head: "I understand, Mr. President, that we should have a full retreat from the Middle East. But...... To whom should Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Qeshm Island and Beirut be handed over to us? ”

"Who else can I give it to?" Roosevelt smiled bitterly a few times: "That's 650,000 Americans in exchange!" Can't you give it back to the Indians? He paused, and then added, "But it can't be handed over to the Germans and Chinese...... in vain I will not make a decision until I have met with Chinese Commerce Minister Zeng Qi and German Deputy Foreign Minister Ribbentrop who are visiting the United States. ”。 )