The Rise of the Third Reich

Ugaki Matoi's opinion was quickly supported by all the senior Japanese naval officials in power, including Yamamoto Isoroku, Nagano Osamu, and Ito Seiichi.

Because Japan is indeed unable to resist the attrition tactics that the Americans are currently adopting to inflict damage on others... Even in this war of attrition, the price paid by the United States far exceeds Japan's losses, and Japan cannot persist.

So Japan must fight to the death!

Hawaii time, on October 3, 1943, the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet met with the Japanese First Mobile Fleet in the Pacific between Midway Island and Palmyra Atoll.

Immediately, a force with the aircraft carrier Shokaku as its flagship included the aircraft carrier Zuikaku, the aircraft carrier Taiho, the heavy cruiser Kaohsiung, the heavy cruiser Atago, and the heavy cruiser Chokai. The cruiser, the heavy cruiser "Maya", the light cruiser "Oyodo", the light cruiser "Niyodo" (the No. 2 ship of the "Oyodo" class, was built in this time and space), and ten other destroyers formed a new first The mobile fleet headed for Wake Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at a high speed of 25 knots!

Just one day before the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet and the First Mobile Fleet joined forces, the U.S. 58th Breakthrough Fleet launched an air attack on Kwajalein Atoll, which Japan has operated for many years (it was originally a German protectorate and was acquired by Japan after World War I). However, no Japanese aircraft or pilots were damaged this time. Because it was expected that Kwajalein Atoll would be attacked, the Japanese army transferred the aviation troops stationed there in advance.

However, this kind of passive avoidance of war is not a good way to deal with the US break-up fleet! Since there was no resistance from Japanese fighter planes and Japan's anti-aircraft firepower on the island was too weak, American planes carried out several waves of air raids, not only blowing up the airport but also destroying many warehouses and barracks, destroying the Japanese's years of hard work. The business was in ruins.

After the bombing of Kwajalein Atoll, Japanese naval officials estimated that Wake Island, north of Kwajalein Atoll, would be bombed next, so they ordered the First Mobile Fleet to rush to Wake Island at full speed.

However, after more than 60 hours of running, Ozawa Jisaburo received news that Guam and Saipan had been bombed. Because the planes there were not transferred in advance, dozens more were lost (transferred from Wake Island). The plane is also on Saipan).

…

Furumura Keizo drew a half circle on the chart, and then said to the commander of the First Mobile Fleet, Ozawa Jisaburo, "The approximate position of the U.S. fleet can now be determined...it is about 1,000 nautical miles away from us!"

"We'll catch up soon!" Ozawa Jisaburo didn't show any joy when he spoke. Because he knew that catching up with the American fleet would mean another great loss of carrier-based pilots' lives!

"That's right!" Furumura said, "It is estimated that the U.S. fleet will maneuver back north, pass through the waters between the Japanese archipelago and Wake Island, and then turn northeast and break into the North Pacific... It is estimated that there will be a tanker formation and another U.S. aircraft carrier. The formation met them in the North Pacific."

The North Pacific has always been the channel for American aircraft carriers to move westward and return eastward, and the Americans often use aircraft carriers to escort oil tankers in the North Pacific to welcome returning enemy formations. This is why Furumura Keizang made such a judgment.

"We can't let them converge, otherwise we will be in big trouble!" Ozawa Jisaburo paused, and then said: "The question now is not whether we can catch up, but whether we can determine the position of the U.S. fleet. As long as it can be determined, then There will definitely be a chance to attack, and... the certainty is very high!"

Ozawa is not entirely bragging when he says he is "very confident." He has three large fleet aircraft carriers and a sufficient number of carrier-based aircraft.

The losses of Shokaku and Zuikaku in the Battle of Christmas Island were made up by diverting aircraft from Oahu and other carriers. There are currently 144 commonly used aircraft on the "Shuanghe aircraft carrier", including 36 Zero fighters, 54 "Comet" dive bombers and "Meteor" torpedo bombers.

The Taiho has 60 commonly used carrier-based aircraft, including 19 Zero fighters, 21 "Comets" and "Meteors" each.

The three aircraft carriers have a total of 204 carrier-based aircraft, and their combat effectiveness is quite impressive.

"Let bases in the Western Pacific region, including the mainland, dispatch Type 1 land attack, Type 97 large boats and Type 2 large boats to search, and the location of the US aircraft carrier must be found no matter what." Ozawa Jisaburo said, "We also dispatched seaplanes Find it with the reconnaissance plane!”

Ozawa gritted his teeth, "Once the target is discovered...send all the carrier-based aircraft out at once, and not a single direct cover aircraft will be left behind!"

"No direct cover?" Furumura looked at Ozawa, "Are you going to make a desperate move?"

Ozawa nodded and said: "It must be like this, otherwise the air attack formation is likely to be defeated by the fighter jets on the American aircraft carrier... In that case, we will be the biggest sinners of the Japanese Empire."

"Hai!" Furumura nodded hard at Ozawa and turned around to arrange the battle according to Ozawa's instructions.

In fact, he completely understood Ozawa Jisaburo's thoughts. The aircraft carrier itself has little attack power. Its combat effectiveness is based on having a powerful carrier-based aircraft formation.

The elite pilots of the Japanese Navy have suffered heavy losses in the current war of attrition. Even if they can sink two more US aircraft carriers, the price paid is enough to make Japan lose even though it wins.

If calculated according to the previous sea and air exchange ratio, after sinking 2-3 Essex-class aircraft carriers, Japan's pilot losses are likely to exceed 800, or even close to 900!

This means that in less than a month, Japan has lost 10% of its pilots (captains), and most of them are experienced naval aviation veteran pilots.

After such severe blood loss, it is hard to say whether there will still be enough carrier-based aircraft pilots on Japan's 19 aircraft carriers - carrier-based aircraft pilots are not as easy to train as shore-based pilots, and they do not have hundreds of hours of flying experience. After boarding the aircraft carrier, the threat to Japanese lives is definitely greater than the threat to American lives!

So aircraft carriers are no longer so important to Japan...

…

Because it was already in the Western Pacific surrounded by islands controlled by Japan, the whereabouts of the 58th Breakthrough Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Fletcher was quickly exposed.

At 8 pm on October 8, Tokyo time, the USS Hornet, which was sailing in the Pacific Ocean northeast of the Mariana Islands, suddenly remembered the sound of an air defense siren.

"Sir, the radar has detected an enemy aircraft, number 1, bearing 230, distance 120, altitude 5000."

After listening to the radar officer’s report, Colonel Arleigh Burke, chief of staff of the 58th Destroyer Fleet (the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named after him), said to his commander, Major General Mark Mitchell: “Sir, Looks like turkey hunting time is coming soon.”

"Hunting turkeys in the Japanese backyard... is really exciting!" Mark Mitchell, holding a pipe in his mouth, looked very old, 10 years older than his actual age. This 59-year-old U.S. Navy The Major General looks as if he is 69 years old.

However, Rear Admiral Mitchell, who looks very old, is actually a naval admiral who is very up to date with the times. He was actually the first generation carrier-based aircraft pilot in the United States. During World War I, he flew seaplanes. During the two wars, besides playing In addition to racing (Schneider Racing), he has been serving in the U.S. Naval Aviation. He has been the captain of a seaplane carrier and an aircraft carrier, and is an expert in the U.S. Naval Aviation.

"Ally," Mitchell asked, "do you have any good ideas? Tell me."

"We can drive slowly," Arleigh Burke said, "and then send fighter planes to shoot down the Japanese reconnaissance planes at dawn, then turn eastward, and at the same time send seaplanes to search for traces of the Japanese fleet."

"You want to have an artillery battle with the Japanese?" Mitchell took two puffs of cigarette. "Aren't you worried about hitting the Yamato-class?"

"It can't be hit," Arleigh Burke said. "The Yamato's speed is 26-27 knots at most, so it can't be used to chase us. The Japanese must use fast aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers. We can definitely scare them. Let them not follow too closely. Moreover... we can also determine the location of the main force of the Japanese fleet through its retreat direction."

Arleigh Burke estimated that the Japanese fast aircraft carrier formation would definitely move closer to the main fleet after being frightened. As long as the direction of their escape is clear, the 58th Breakthrough Fleet will know which route to retreat from.

"Okay, let's fight as you said."

…

"Found them!"

In the conference room of the Japanese Navy Ministry in Tokyo, everyone was relieved.

The abominable American break-up fleet was finally discovered by a Type 2 large boat equipped with German radar. Now this aircraft with a long range is following far behind the U.S. fleet - the U.S. fleet should not be able to escape now!

"Marshal Your Excellency, we finally caught him!" Ito Zhengichi, who was on duty, immediately called Yamamoto Isoroku who was resting at home.

"How many boats are there?" Yamamoto asked eagerly on the other side of the phone line.

"There are more than 10 on the radar." Ito replied, "We will definitely annihilate all the enemies this time."

"We must annihilate them all!" Yamamoto Isoroku said categorically, "At all costs! In addition, the directions of Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines must also be tightly sealed to prevent the U.S. fleet from breaking through and escaping to China."

China still maintains superficial neutrality, but its relationship with Japan is tense, and at the same time it is very close to the Soviet Union. It may become a target for the desperate American fleet to defect.

Ito replied: "There are already arrangements. Army aircraft have been deployed in Taiwan and Okinawa, and the Philippines has aircraft from our 11th Air Fleet (also a fleet without ships). It is absolutely foolproof! The Americans will definitely run away this time No more!”

"Send out all the escort aircraft carriers and be sure to block the route to China!" Yamamoto thought for a while and then said, "We also prohibit merchant ships of any nationality from passing through the Ryukyu Islands-Taiwan-Philippine Islands chain! To prevent the US fleet from getting supply."

"Hai!"