Six, seven, eight, five)

Command of the Entente Southwestern Grand Fleet (Australia). 【 I want: super fast update 】

"According to the information we have so far, the Chinese fleet attacking Nouméa has a total of 26 ships, including 2 large carriers, 3 light carriers, 1 battleship, 2 heavy cruisers, 3 fire support ships, 6 light cruisers and destroyers. According to Rear Admiral Meyer, the heavy fire on Noumea's shore has been largely blown up by the enemy, and he has ordered all troops to retreat to the second line, and hopes that we will send our fleet to support it as much as possible. ”

"5 motherships!"

When Seymour heard the deployment of his opponent's troops, he couldn't help but gasp, and his head began to ache faintly again.

This is the sequelae of the last injury, and although the body has recovered after more than 2 months of healing, the brain may have accumulated hematoma due to the violent impact on the brain before, so according to the doctor, this unbearable pain often occurs.

Compared with the headache, the existence of 5 motherships made him feel cold, and now as long as the admirals of the Entente countries hear the name of China's aircraft carrier, they are all headaches and can't dodge, from the Battle of False Bay to Gapo, and then to the Battle of Panama Gulf not long ago, the huge superiority and terrible attack power of the Chinese mothership have made many people desperate.

There is a saying that an enemy who knows is not terrible, but an enemy who knows but cannot cope with it is dangerous.

The Entente has done its best, and Britain, the United States, France, Italy, and other countries have joined forces to accelerate the development of aircraft and carriers, but so far they still cannot come up with aircraft that can match their opponents, which makes all Entente warships at sea need to consider how to carry out their tasks in the face of endless and indiscriminate bombardment.

"Tony, are you sure it's all the troops?" The introduction made Claxton next to him instantly frown.

"What? Is there something wrong? After hearing the meaning of the words, Seymour asked.

"There's something wrong." Claxton nodded: "Last month we got the news that two more Guam-class battleships were paid to the Chinese Navy in the Ryukyus, but recent intelligence shows that these two battleships did not go to the scheduled Luzon base, and the current two motherships should also belong to the South China Ocean Fleet, so I think it is very likely that they have also arrived near Noumea." ”

"2 Guam-class?"

Seymour was recuperating for many days, but he was not unaware of the outside world, not to mention the Guam-class battleship that almost killed himself and buried Bernice and the Australian Battlecruiser, this demon has become the second largest killer after the Chinese mothership, and it would be terrible if they really cruised around.

"I've sent the Campania mothership out, and I can't make a decision for a day if I'm not sure if they're nearby, you should know that even if we use the night to avoid the mothership, we can't avoid the battleship, so we have to determine if they're nearby."

"But Noumea desperately needs our support, and we can

Seymour was in a hurry to say a few words, Claxton stretched out his hand to stop him, and then waved his hand to the staff officers beside him, and after a while, only the two of them were left in the room, this move made Seymour, who had just returned to work, feel a pang in his heart, knowing that something big must have happened, and hurriedly asked: "What's wrong?" Wall (Claxton). ※※※※※I ※ I ※ ※

"I've been given the order to get out of here!"

"What!"

Seymour stood up violently, he couldn't believe his ears, get out of here? Don't

"This is an order that I just received." Claxton took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to Seymour: "The intelligence has confirmed that Lenin had convened the so-called Central Committee meeting 5 days ago, although it is not yet possible to know the specific contents, but from the return of their representatives to Brest, it can be seen that Russia is very likely to agree to sign a contract to withdraw from the war, so that the Northwest China Army can free up more than 1 million elite troops, according to the command estimates, their next target is likely to be the west coast of our country!" ”

"Russia is really going to withdraw?!" Seymour held the intelligence in his hand, his face became gloomy, he didn't expect that the almost humiliating contract concocted by Germany and China would be possible, is it possible?!

"Moore, if Russia withdraws, whether it is China or Germany, they can vacate millions of troops, so that they have enough troops to carry out a large-scale combat mission, and recently they have begun to accelerate the dispatch of land forces here, and the front line has sent back news that at least 5 troops have been found that have never seen the number."

Moore slammed the telegram on the table and said loudly: "Wall, we can't leave, if we leave, the army will face a two-front attack, and it will be impossible to hold out for a long time!" We must be responsible for more than a million soldiers! ”

In the face of the angry Seymour, Claxton didn't know how to explain, in fact, from the bottom of his heart, he was reluctant to leave, Seymour was right, even if he could escape smoothly, Australia would fall, and he held on for 2 years, but leaving at this critical time is really unacceptable.

What's more, he also knew very well that the fleet that left the Port Jackson garrison would become a rootless duckweed, and once it was discovered and intercepted, it was very likely to be another Panama Bay-style fiasco.

After roaring a few words, the anger in Seymour's heart also dropped a lot, and he said in a low voice: "Wall, I know you are eager to return to San Diego, but Australia is equally important, and if we lose here, we will have nothing!" ”

"I know." Claxton nodded, "Moore, do you think I'm willing to leave?" Although we in the United States are likely to be attacked, now that I am here, I will wholeheartedly help Australia, and there are hundreds of thousands of our army forces here.

But have you thought about it, why did Hua send the mothership over at this time? They wanted to take Noumea in one fell swoop, but gathering 5 motherships was too strong for Noumea! So I'm sure it's for us!

They want to flank Australia from both sides, plus the end, but to complete this tactic, they must first defeat us! So if we continue to be in the harbor, we may never be able to leave.

I don't know if I should follow orders or not, but at least I have to leave the harbor for now, and only if I keep the fleet, or I'll just die if I stay here! ”

"But

Seymour wanted to argue, but was interrupted again by Claxton and walked towards the mouth: "Moore, I know it's a difficult choice, but it's a must, so whatever choice you make, I will respect your decision!" ”

The room slowly closed, and facing the empty office, Seymour not only felt a headache, but also a knife, because more than a million Australian Army officers and soldiers would depend on this decision.

Leave?

Still is

The sun sets in the west.

The afterglow is reflected in the microwave Port Jackson Bay, with countless red dots, and each mast pierces the sky like a forest of guns on the ancient battlefield.

The cold steel beasts, lying quietly, were supposed to devote themselves to this era of rapids like their opponents, but now they were trapped by circles of lightning nets, and what made them frightened was only the "little flies" that appeared in the sky from time to time.

The sailors are still working hard day after day, but they always look to the northeast from time to time in their busyness, and their comrades thousands of miles away are suffering under enemy fire, but they have not received the order to set off for a long time, which is more painful than facing artillery fire.

Since the Battle of the Gulf of Panama, the proud behemoth seems to have been turned into scrap metal, and from India to Sydney, from Panama to San Diego, fleets have had to hide in harbors in front of elusive enemies, and then trap themselves with layers of lightning nets.

The cruiser quietly sailed, but always came back with a wound, or even a single return, and occasionally made a few moves only for fear that the machine would rust, and did not dare to go too deep.

Overnight, the Pacific Ocean became a racetrack.

What's going on?

Fletcher sat quietly on the deck, unable to figure it out.

Although he was already a major gunner, but like ordinary sailors, he had no clue, and the Battle of Panama Gulf became a watershed moment for the United States Navy.

Especially on the Australian side, due to the continuous defeat on land, the Chinese army has occupied most of South Australia, and it is about to enter the key state of South Wales, so that people are panicked, so many of his companions who came with him are not willing to continue to stay here, preferring to return to the United States, to San Diego against enemy planes and artillery.

In fact, in his opinion, it is too early to say that the United States lost this war, and now is the stage of anxiety in the war, after paying huge casualties in the early stage, General Pershing relied on numerical superiority to gradually stabilize Panama, and the main force of the Chinese army is still trapped in the northwest, plus it has to take into account the deterrence of India and the Persian Gulf, so the number of troops invested in Australia has begun to increase recently.

But even if they are strong and well-equipped, it is impossible to send out tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of trucks overnight, and it is impossible to repair the damaged Australian Railway overnight, so in the face of the long supply line from Northwest Australia to here, God can't beat it without a year and a half!

So they were anxious to attack Noumea, wanting to use it as a springboard to open the gap in Eastern Australia, and then enter the three Eastern Australian states, including South Wales, from the sea to speed up the process of ending the war.

The current Australian fleet is indeed in a weak position and does not have any technical advantages, but as long as it stays here, even if it takes Noumea, Hua will not easily kick out of the East Australian University, especially the current Port Jackson, which is not so easy to attack, after tasting too many bitter fruits, it has finally laid out more than the high-speed anti-aircraft guns and machine guns, coupled with the anti-aircraft firepower of the fleet, it already has the ability to initially confront the enemy's fighters.

In addition, three fixed and mobile anti-mine nets were laid around each warship, and the small torpedoes dropped by the torpedo machine had almost no chance, so Hua did not attack for a long time.

"Maybe it's going to be a long time coming."

Fletcher stretched and just got up to get back to the cabin when he was almost hit by his oncoming companion and quickly asked, "Hey, what's wrong?" ”

"Fletcher? Didn't you get notice, we're leaving! ”

"Go?" Fletcher turned his head and found that the battleships around him were already flickering, heavy iron anchors were rolled up, columns of water were spewing out of the bow, lightning nets were retracted, and a trace of smoke rose from the chimneys.

"Where to go? Why go now? ”

"I don't know, but I think I'm probably going to support Noumea." The partner raised his fist and said fiercely: "It doesn't matter where it goes, this damn day is finally over!" ”

"Aren't you happy? Fletcher. ”

"Happy?!" Fletcher opened his mouth and moved, it was indeed a pleasure to have something to do, but is there a difference between going to Noumea now and looking for death?

"Collins, do you know where General Claxton is?" Fletcher thought for a moment and clenched his teeth.

Under the dull gaze of his comrades, Fletcher walked towards the flagship with firm steps, and a long-lost whistle sounded over Jackson Harbor behind him, and the battleships began to form formation.

On the evening of 7 July, the Australian Grand Fleet departed.

RA！ ~！