Chapter 209: The Bear of the End? (c)

"I called you here this time to ask you to tell everyone: There is a change in the plan, wait a little longer."

After listening to Kremov's report, Alekseev suddenly changed his words, and Krymov was stunned in his seat.

"For what? I thought you summoned me to give the order to get started—everyone was ready. ”

"The situation has changed......"

Alekseev paused and patiently explained.

"No, it should be said that compared to six months ago, our strategic posture has undergone a fundamental shift – from the dilemma of a total blockade after the Battle of the Bay of Bengal to the return of external communications to close to pre-war levels after the Battle of the Straits – which gives us the capital to strive for a more decent peace."

"A more decent peace? How decent is it? Kremov frowned.

Alekseev smacked his lips: "It depends on how long we can hold out." ”

"It's risking the whole of Russia"

"We're taking risks every day."

Kremov narrowed his eyes, shook his head and got up: "It seems that I am wasting my time in vain. ”

Alekseev followed closely: "No, you did a good job, now you just need to be a little more patient and wait for my order." Believe me, everything I do, it's all for Russia. ”

Kremov sneered, stared into the other's eyes, and after a few seconds, he put on his military cap.

"I can't promise you anything, but I hope that the next time I see you, we'll have a chance to save Russia."

The door opened, the door closed, and Alekseev sat back in his chair, the tea in his cup still steaming.

"God testifies that I am saving the Russian ......"

……

Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C., East Coast, USA.

"A lose-lose cowboy duel."

After listening to the Chief of Staff of the Navy, William? Admiral S. Benson's report on the naval battle of San Cristobal Island on 9 June was imaginative to President Wilson.

"Mr. President, I think we succeeded in thwarting a well-planned landing by the enemy." Admiral Benson is colorful.

Wilson smiled slightly: "I suggest you replace the word 'success' with 'crooked'." ”

"Mr. President......"

"Well, I know that this is the first time that we have blocked the Chinese's progress from the front, and it is worth celebrating—but what I want to know most now is, how do you plan to meet the revenge of the Chinese next?"

Admiral Benson glanced at Lieutenant General Scott, Chief of Staff of the Army, who was sitting across from him, cleared his throat, picked up the folder again, and continued to report from the uninked minutes of the meeting.

"At the joint meeting of the army and navy staffs, three plans were proposed: 1. to land on Guadalcanal and Tulagi islands while victorious and carry out the original operational plan; 2. Abandon the original battle and hold on to the island of San Cristobal with all its might; 3. Withdraw from the island of San Cristobal and fully shrink the defensive line. ”

"According to British intelligence, the main forces of the East Asian Combined Fleet are still cruising in the Persian Gulf to support the land forces that have recently landed on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Now that the key areas along the Persian Gulf coast have been lost one after another, and the Royal Navy does not have enough strength to launch a counterattack, as long as the Chinese are willing, the main force of the East Asian Combined Fleet can be redeployed to the Pacific theater in two to three months. ”

"That's what worries me the most," President Wilson stressed.

Admiral Benson nodded: "Worry is inevitable, according to known intelligence, in 2 to 3 months, the backbone of the East Asian Combined Fleet will include: 15-inch main gun battleships, 6-inch main gun battleships, 1-inch main gun battle cruisers, 4 to 6 1-inch main gun battle cruisers, 3 to 4 12-inch main gun dreadnought battleships,—— total of 23 to 28 capital ships; In addition, there are at least 3 fleet aircraft carriers, several auxiliary aircraft carriers, as well as a greatly strengthened shore-based aviation force. ”

"Even if a third of these forces were to remain in the Indian Ocean to defend against the British, there would still be 15 to 20 capital ships and at least two fleet carriers available."

"Correspondingly, the maximum number of backbone forces that can be increased by the joint fleet of China and Australia in three months is: 5 to 7 dreadnought battleships with 12-inch main guns, 1 to 2 fleet aircraft carriers, 1 to 2 large modified aircraft carriers, and 2 to 3 medium modified aircraft carriers.

"At that time, the total base strength will be only 7 to 8 14-inch main gun battleships, 5 to 7 12-inch main gun battleships, a total of 12 to 15 capital ships; It is equipped with 2 to 3 fleet carriers, 2 to 3 large converted aircraft carriers and 2 to 3 medium modified aircraft carriers, as well as shore-based aviation units with a maximum strength of nearly 800 aircraft. ”

President Wilson frowned and lifted his glasses: "The capital ship side is an overwhelming disadvantage, it seems that we can only rely on aviation forces?" ”

Admiral Benson shrugged helplessly: "The number of aviation units may be considerable, but the quality is difficult to say...... There is a gap in the performance of the aircraft, and the level of training and combat experience of the pilots is even more far apart. ”

Wilson tilted his head: "So you guys have a conclusion?" ”

Benson nodded, "Yes...... If Plan 1 is carried out and the original plan is made to land on Kuah Island, it is likely that the supply line will be cut off by the superior enemy forces counterattacking in 2 to 3 months, and it will be in a desperate situation. ”

"If option 3 is carried out and the island of San Cristobal is abandoned, our army's defense line at 10 degrees south latitude will immediately lose its meaning: not only will Port Moresby and the Santa Cruz Islands be threatened by the enemy's flank, but the New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Fiji Islands, which were originally the second line of defense, will soon become the front line, and the construction of facilities and defense deployment in these areas will take at least six months to perfect."

"All that's left is option 2 – stick to the island of San Cristobal. However, after consulting the front-line commanders, we believe that the island is too far away from other bases to be rescued in time, and the size of the troops that can be accommodated on the island is limited, and the static defense of simply waiting for the enemy to come to the door is not conducive to long-term holding. ”

The corners of Wilson's mouth crooked: "I know that General Robinson will never be lonely, and sending him to Australia may not be the best choice, but it must not be the worst - so you still plan to attack?" ”

"We wanted to choose a suitable location and open up the forward airfield – which was originally a backup plan for Operation Fusiliers."

Benson leaned forward, his fingers running across the map spread out in front of Wilson.

"This is our original landing site, the mouth of the Longa River on Kuah Island, 230 kilometers from the Kirakira Air Base on the island of San Cristobal of our army, and 330 kilometers from the Munda base of the Chinese Army on the island of New Georgia."

"From here, 120 kilometres to the east, Ulu Bay on the eastern shore of Malaita Island is our alternative landing site, less than 200 kilometres from Kirakira and 420 kilometres from Munda Island. Closer to us, farther from the enemy. ”

"According to the survey, there is a large plain suitable for the construction of an airport near Ulu Bay, and there are many small bays around the bay that can be used as temporary anchorages and boat bases. In addition, the eastern part of Malita Island is covered with coral reefs, which are difficult for large warships to approach, and the central and western part of Malata, which is inaccessible to huge mountains and tropical rainforests, all of which provide natural convenience for the defense of the Ulu Bay base......"

Wilson nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand to remind: "Just do it if you think about it, be fast, the Chinese will soon slow down." ”

Benson's hand pointed to the bottom of the map: "The fleet is returning to Port Vila for rearmament, and the landing force assembled in the New Hebrides for Operation 'Fusiliers' is still on standby, just wait until the fleet is regrouped, and then immediately attack Malata." General Robinson hoped to launch a landing by June 25, and Vice Admiral Schroeder requested that the Pacific Escort Command's three 12-inch dreadnought battleships be transferred to make up for the lack of combat strength caused by the wounded "Tennessee." ”

Wilson didn't seem to care about these details, squinted his eyes and said: "Let them do it, but not let them do it brutally, on the premise of preserving the main force of the fleet, mainly rely on shore-based aviation units to hold the current forward defense line for another six months or longer." With minimal losses, as much time as possible, we had no choice before our brand new 'Great White Fleet' sailed out of the shipyard. ”

After saying that, he suddenly turned to Secretary of State Lansing with a serious expression.

"Now we have to talk about Russia."

……