"Gentlemen, the empire has no way out, and today it should fight to the death with rice animals!"

"Onboard!"

……

The Japanese carrier-based aircraft formation quickly killed it with great momentum. Under the cover of the Zero fighters, dozens of Type 99 dive bombers and Type 97 attack planes swooped down on the Smith fleet in a large group, and Admiral Yamamoto 56 attempted to annihilate the amphibious fleet first, and then join forces with the army air force to attack the US fleet, thus winning the battle.

However, before the battle, Admiral Spruance had told Rear Admiral Fletcher, commander of the aircraft carrier group, that is, the landing was the top priority. In any case, the safety of the landing fleet must be protected, and the annihilation of the Japanese fleet is secondary.

Under the command of the CIC information center, the U.S. carrier-based aircraft units quickly launched interceptions, among which the strongest F6F fighter squadrons were responsible for intercepting the Japanese Zero fighters, and the rest of the F4F squadrons were responsible for dealing with the Japanese bombers. A fierce battle soon ensued between Japan and the United States.

The performance of the F6F "Hellcat" fighter was slightly above that of the Zero Battle, while the F4F "Wildcat" fighter had no problem at all against bombers, which made the Japanese side quickly fall into passivity, and planes were constantly shot down.

However, the Japanese soon found that the number of F6F fighters in the US army was insufficient, so they used their excellent maneuverability to deftly get rid of the F6F group and pounce on the F4F fighters instead, trying to destroy the F4Fs with a large number but not strong combat effectiveness, and then use the numerical advantage to besiege the F6F.

This plan was good, but what the Japanese did not expect was this. The U.S. F4F fighter jets did not panic after discovering that the Zero Battle was coming, but quickly grouped up in pairs, and then flew in the same direction in parallel horizontal formations.

The Japanese Zero pilots did not pay attention to their opponents at all, quickly pounced on one of the "Wildcat" fighters, and successfully circled the rear hemisphere of the aircraft. was about to open fire, but at this moment, the two "Wildcat" fighters suddenly made a sharp turn towards each other. Where was the Japanese army willing to let go, biting in the back, and was about to fire, but unexpectedly, another "wild cat" attacked first.

Due to the opposite movement of the two "Wildcats" at a large angle. Zero War bites one of the "Wildcats" at the same time. He also exposed his back to another "Wildcat".

Sudden ...... The Zero pilots have not yet understood what is going on. The fuselage shook violently, and the engine and fuel tank immediately caught fire, and then with a bang, it exploded into pieces in the air.

This is the "Thatch Shear" tactic invented by Major John Smith Thach of the US Naval Aviation. Also known as the "scissor cross" tactic. It's through tactical coordination. A classic case of making up equipment skills.

Because it was the first time that the Japanese army encountered such a strange style of play. They were hit one after another and were constantly shot down by the US military. The Japanese pilots did not know what was going on and were terrified. For a while, he didn't dare to fight, so he had to hurriedly cover the bomber and escape.

"Oh, win, win!" The soldiers of the Northern Front, who were watching the battle on the island, cheered.

At this time, the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division of the Northern Front had all successfully landed and initially built several positions that supported each other. Erikon 20-mm anti-aircraft guns and 12.7-mm large-caliber machine guns, which had just been brought ashore, were also erected to provide basic anti-aircraft defense.

Seeing that a regiment had already gained a foothold on the island, the commander of the landing fleet, Rear Admiral Smith, finally breathed a sigh of relief. This is the case with the beach-grabbing landing, the first step is to step up, and the rest is much easier.

"Carlson!"

Carlson jumped up and shouted excitedly, "Sir, is it our turn to land?" ”

Smith nodded: "You immediately take your assault battalion to the island, and then immediately rush to build a field airfield and an airstrip!" ”

"Yes, sir!"

The wealthy US military directly sank a barge on the beachhead, and then set up a trestle to quickly build a wharf, thus greatly speeding up the transfer of personnel and materials.

Some heavy equipment, such as the M1 large-caliber anti-aircraft gun, the Bofors 40-mm anti-aircraft gun, the Sherman tank, the M16 armored aircraft, as well as various engineering vehicles, radars, large communication equipment, various medical supplies, supplies, and ammunition have also been transported to the island one after another.

Moreover, there were more and more troops on the island, and soon, all the officers and men of the 1st Division landed on the "Defu Island" and, under the cover of the M16 armored vehicles, began to develop in depth on the island. Although there are still remnants of the Japanese army on the island that jump out from time to time to sneak attack, they basically no longer pose a threat.

At Zheng's suggestion, the U.S. military also brought a thin steel plate that could be used to quickly lay and repair the runway. With the assistance of engineering vehicles, the fighters fought for more than three hours and finally succeeded in opening up two field runways. In other words, the U.S. military is equivalent to having an unsinkable aircraft carrier.

However, due to the rush of time, the officers and men of the 1st Division had no way to build permanent fortifications, and there was a lack of heavy shore defense artillery on the island, so once the Japanese army used battleships and cruisers to shell the island, the officers and men had no good way to deal with it. So in a short time, the island is still inseparable from the protection of the fleet. To some extent, this is a shackle to the US fleet.

King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong walked around anxiously, and said in a deep voice: "We must not let the rice animals gain a firm foothold on Defu Island, inform Admiral Yamamoto, and ask him to lead the main force of the combined fleet to the decisive battle, and the rise and fall of the imperial kingdom will be in one fell swoop,!" ”

"Hello!"

……

After Yamamoto fifty-six received the order, he muttered, "Is it time for a decisive battle again?" Pass the order down, the target is Fudao, and the whole fleet will attack! ”

"Your Excellency, Commander!" The former staff officer, the Kuroshima turtle, hurriedly persuaded: "Now that the enemy is strong and I am weak, and the rice animal has already seized Defu Island, I am afraid that a rash decisive battle will not be good for us." ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six smiled bitterly: "Do we have any other way out than to fight to the death?" If you can't repel the rice animal fleet, the empire will never be at peace! ”

"That's it!" The Black Island Turtle Man hesitated for a moment and suggested, "Your Excellency, I think we can put the four newly added aircraft carriers behind the fleet as surprise soldiers!" ”

Yamamoto Fifty-six nodded and said, "Yo West!" Kuroshima-kun, these four aircraft carriers are under your command. I will hand over all the torpedo planes and dive bombers of the fleet to you, so be sure to use them at critical moments! ”

The Black Island Turtle Man was greatly moved, and hurriedly bowed down and said, "Haiyi! ”

Some people may wonder, how did the Japanese army have four more aircraft carriers? The speed of this explosion is too fast!

It turned out that the Japanese government had developed a subsidy program for large ships long before the war. A large subsidy was provided for the construction or purchase of ships that met the standards of the Japanese Navy (i.e., could be converted into aircraft carriers) on the condition that they were requisitioned by the Japanese in time of war. For example, the Japanese army's various "Eagle" aircraft carriers, such as the Great Eagle, the Divine Eagle, the Flying Eagle, and the like, all came about in this way.

At the same time, the Japanese army was building other ships, such as the "submarine carrier" of the Great Whale and the "seaplane carrier" of the Chitose. The possibility of converting into an aircraft carrier was also considered.

During this period when the US military transferred aircraft carrier formations from the Atlantic. The Japanese army worked day and night, frantically repairing and refitting aircraft carriers, and finally cobbled together four aircraft carriers, including the "Dragon Phoenix," the "Cloud Eagle," the "Chitose," and the "Chiyoda," and the previous "Flying Eagle," "Ruifeng," "Fengxiang," "Divine Eagle," "Sea Eagle," and "Chong Eagle," which had ten aircraft carriers.

And that's not all. In addition, the construction of aircraft carriers "Taiho", "Unryu", "Amagi", "Katsuragi", and "Shinano" is being intensified. Large aircraft carriers such as the Kasaki, Aso, Ikoma, Kurama, and Ibuki are also on the agenda.

Thus. How terrible it would be when Japan's war potential was fully realized. Fortunately, the U.S. military listened to Zheng Huzi's suggestion at that time and transferred all the aircraft carrier formations in the Atlantic, otherwise it would have been 7 to 10. In addition, the Japanese army's land-based aircraft are closer to the South Kuril Islands, and although the US military is equipped with advanced equipment, it is really not necessarily possible to fight!

However, Yamamoto did not expect that the US military would transfer all the aircraft carriers in the Atlantic, and this is the overall passivity caused by the backwardness of the right to control information.

As a result, the Japanese fleet was divided into two, and Yamamoto 56 personally led four battleships, six aircraft carriers, one seaplane carrier, six heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, twelve destroyers, four oil tankers, and two supply ships to "Defu Island."

The Black Island Turtle Man commanded the remaining four aircraft carriers and other ships to creep far behind, trying to catch the US military by surprise.

"Report, according to the reconnaissance of the B24 crew, the Japanese fleet is rapidly approaching Defu Island!"

"Report to the war zone immediately and ask Admiral Arnold to send B24 bombers to support it!"

"Yes, sir!"

The U.S. B24 bomber group arrived quickly and prepared to use cluster bombs to "disarm" the anti-aircraft fire of the Japanese ships, as in the Aleutian naval battle.

However, during this time, the Japanese army had already found a way to deal with the high-altitude bombing of the US military, that is, to let the Zero fighters wait at an altitude of 5,000 meters first. As soon as the US aircraft group arrived, they immediately launched an attack. Originally, the Zero War was not suitable for high-altitude combat due to its insufficient intensity, and the firepower of the Zero War was also weak, but the Japanese army was in a hurry and used the plane to directly crash into the B24, and this kind of desperate fighting also made the US military a little worried.

The two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle in the air, and although the American forces had a slight advantage, they had to retreat under the desperate decisive battle of the Japanese army, and finally had to drop bombs indiscriminately, failing to achieve the expected goal.

Subsequently, the Japanese fleet continued to advance northward, getting closer and closer to the island of "Defu".

Admiral Spruance, the commander of the U.S. Army, muttered: "The Japanese fleet must not be allowed too close to Fufujima, otherwise the naval artillery fire will cause heavy casualties to the landing force, and it will also endanger the safety of our fleet." Inform Rear Admiral Fletcher and let him launch an attack on the Japanese fleet with his camera! ”

"Yes, sir!"

……

"Attention all aircraft carrier wargroups, prepare to launch an attack on the ship!"

"The first detachment, the torpedo squadron, the dive bomber squadron, and the fighter squadron, rose into the air in turn!"

"Target: Japanese fleet, sortie!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

Soon, the US carrier-based aircraft units pounced on the Japanese fleet one after another. At the same time, the Army's B17 bomber group and B24 bomber group also rushed to reinforce one after another, thus forcing the Japanese carrier-based aircraft to be divided into two groups, high and low. The two sides went back and forth, and soon fell into a fierce battle, and from time to time US planes broke through the blockade of Japanese planes and directly pounced on Japanese ships.

"Quick, prepare for air combat!"

"45 degrees to the right, spot a group of enemy planes!"

"Elevation angle 30 degrees. 45 degrees to the right, shoot! ”

……

"Torpedo machine spotted at nine o'clock!"

"Not good, the torpedo has been launched, immediately evade it!"

"Left full rudder!"

……

Thundered...... Violent explosions were heard constantly, and from time to time planes were shot down, and bombs were constantly dropped on Japanese ships. The battle soon entered a white heat, and the carrier-based aircraft on the six Japanese aircraft carriers were far from being the opponents of the US military, and after the US military seized Fushima, Kamchatka's land-based fighters could also be reinforced nearby.

Fierce fighting lasted until two o'clock in the afternoon, and the Zero fighters of the Japanese Navy suffered heavy losses. Its defenses are becoming more and more disorganized. Finally. Several dive bombers broke through the Japanese blockade and dropped bombs directly on the deck of the "Flying Eagle", which quickly caught fire and exploded, and had to hastily withdraw from the battle.

Whizzing...... In the confusion, several torpedo planes also took the opportunity to break into the defensive circle of the Japanese fleet. I shot all the torpedoes in one fell swoop. More than a dozen torpedoes rushed at the Japanese ship. This time it was the turn of the "Fengxiang" to be recruited. A torpedo hit its engine room, causing the ship to stall and then detonate violently.

"You can't be beaten like this!" General Yamamoto walked anxiously around the conning tower. The order said: "Inform the turtle people of Black Island to launch a surprise attack on the US fleet immediately, and the flames of war must be burned to the head of the opponent's aircraft carrier!" ”

"Hello!"

……

At this time, the Kuroshima Turtle Man had already led the four aircraft carriers to quietly move to the southeast direction of the US fleet, but because the detour was too far, they had not yet entered the combat radius of the carrier-based aircraft. But after receiving Yamamoto's order, the Kuroshima Kameto immediately ordered a counterattack. Anyway, as long as the US aircraft carrier can be destroyed, whether the plane can come back or not, the Black Island turtle people don't care at all.

This plan of the Japanese army is indeed very ingenious, and at first the US military did not know that the Japanese army still hid four aircraft carriers.

However, with the use of advanced radar and electronic equipment, the US military has become "deaf and clear-sighted" and has been strengthened like a tiger. On the other hand, although the Japanese army has ingenious tactical ideas and is very tenacious in fighting, it is far inferior to the United States in information technology.

Because the airborne radar and ship-based radar had captured the movements of the Japanese troops in advance, the Japanese carrier-based aircraft unit had just been halfway through the flight when it was completely intercepted by US fighters. After a fierce battle, only half of the Japanese carrier-based aircraft were shot down.

When the remnants of the Japanese planes finally rushed in front of the US fleet, they were stunned, and there were twelve aircraft carriers! Moreover, the US aircraft carrier formation was hidden in the middle, and on the outside were two steel lines of defense built by battleships and cruisers. If you want to attack those aircraft carriers inside, you have to rush in through the outer firepower network.

"The time has come to serve His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Onboard!"

……

The desperate Japanese army was like moths to a fire, frantically pounced on the network of firepower consisting of battleships and cruisers, and one plane after another was smashed to pieces.

Sadly, the Japanese army's desperate style of fighting had no way to face the battleships with thick skin and fierce firepower, and it only increased casualties. Even if a few "Comet" bombers with better performance suddenly break into the defensive line, they will soon be surrounded by more than a dozen carrier-based planes, and they will be "shattered" before they can get close to the aircraft carrier.

It didn't take long for the carrier-based aircraft sent by the Kuroshima Kameto to be wiped out, and their only value was for Yamamoto Isoroku to know the true strength of his opponent for the first time.

"Nani?" Yamamoto Fifty-six exclaimed: "Miju actually dispatched twelve aircraft carriers? ”

"Haiy, it's true!"

Yamamoto was surprised to learn that the U.S. military had 12 aircraft carriers, and thought that this battle could not be won no matter what, so he had the idea of retreating.

However, it was not easy to withdraw at this time, if it was still possible to take advantage of the sneak attack launched by the Kuroshima turtle people just now, now that the US military has relieved its worries, it will begin to attack the main force of Yamamoto's fleet with all its might.

The U.S. carrier-based planes continued to arrive in waves, seemingly endlessly, which shocked the Japanese army greatly. In fact, the 12 aircraft carriers have more than 500 carrier-based aircraft, which is more than the combined number of aircraft participating in the Japanese Navy and Army Aviation.

Coupled with the land-based fighters and bombers that were constantly coming to reinforce them, the strength was far above that of the Japanese army.

Boom, only to hear a loud bang, the "Ruifeng" was hit by another heavy bomb, presumably hitting the oil depot, and the entire warship turned into a huge torch.

Immediately afterwards, the "Zuifeng", "Divine Eagle", "Sea Eagle", and "Chong Eagle" suffered heavy losses, and Yamamoto 56 had to order each ship to break through to the south independently, and one could escape.

King Fushimi Miyahiro Gong also forced the remaining planes of the Army Air Force to take to the air in an attempt to cover the retreat of the combined fleet. However, in the face of the swarming US planes, the Japanese fighters were quickly overwhelmed.

The U.S. troops, under the command of Admiral Spruance, pursued them until dusk before they began to return. As a result of the construction of a field airfield on the "Defu Island". These aircraft do not have to risk landing on the carrier, thus significantly reducing losses.

The fleeing Japanese fleet suffered heavy losses on the way, and because many ships were seriously damaged, the Japanese had to repair them overnight on the way, and as a result, the lights attracted a group of Grim Reapers, Rear Admiral English's American submarine forces.

This submarine force was originally going to ambush the Japanese fleet on the Pacific route, but when the Japanese came, they took the Sea of Japan route, so they pounced. While the officers and men were feeling frustrated, the retreating Japanese fleet happened to collide.

"Equip the torpedo, target the battleship in front!"

"Report, the torpedo is equipped!"

"Report, the target has been locked!"

"Launch!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...... More than a dozen submarines moved in unison, firing a total of hundreds of torpedoes, and in the face of the unsuspecting Japanese army, the results of the battle can be imagined.

After this battle, the strength of the Japanese Combined Fleet was greatly reduced, and it had to give up air and sea supremacy in eastern Japan. Considering that the 11 aircraft carriers reinforced by the Atlantic Fleet would have to be returned, Admiral Spruance ordered the fleet to continue the operation, and then seized the "Setoki Island" and "Kunashir Island" one after another, and then bypassed Hokkaido, occupied the "Rebun Island" and "Rishiri Island" in the Sea of Japan, and forcibly landed in Dalnya, the southernmost tip of Sakhalin Island, thus opening up the passage to the Sea of Japan. (To be continued......)

PS: Khan, this battle is finally over, hehe