The Rise of the Third Reich

Midway Island is certainly important, but it is also very difficult to defend. It is definitely impossible to defend it with the limited garrison and dozens of aircraft (mainly land attack aircraft that can be used for long-range reconnaissance and attack).

Kusaka Ryunosuke, who served as the chief of staff of the Central Pacific Fleet during the Battle of Christmas Island, told Chuichi Nagumo with certainty: "The US fleet approaching Midway Island should be the main force of the Pacific Fleet dispatched from San Diego. The number of aircraft carriers is estimated to be more than 50, and most of the carrier-based aircraft are equipped with all fighters. There may be more than 1,500 F4U and F6F, and there will be about 10 battleships/battlecruisers responsible for bombardment. In addition, the anti-aircraft firepower of the US fleet must be very strong..."

"Kusaka-kun, I understand the situation of the Battle of Christmas Island." Chuichi Nagumo waved his hand to interrupt Kusaka Ryunosuke said, "What you said means that you don't agree with using the Combined Fleet to fight the US fleet in Midway, right?"

"Yes." Kusaka Ryunosuke nodded heavily, "Based on the situation of the Christmas Island War, unless a special attack operation is carried out immediately, ordinary aviation operations alone cannot defeat the US fleet, but the number of Sakura missiles is very limited."

The Sakura missiles that Kusaka mentioned refer to the "Silver Death", which is the name given to the "Silver Death" missile by Japan, and they are also preparing to develop a simplified version of "Sakura" based on the Sakura missile (Silver Death).

However, Colonel Minoru Genda, commander of the Navy's 343rd Air Force, who was responsible for commanding half of the "Sakura Special Attack" (the other half was commanded by Tokugawa Yoshitoshi who survived the disaster), believed that developing a simplified version of Sakura was not very meaningful, because the Sakura missile was too difficult to drive, and it was not enough for non-elites to exert its power.

So the Sakura Special Attack is a one-time deal, and it must be invested at the most critical moment to play a decisive role.

The most critical moment, according to the provisions of the "Operation Jie No. 1", is definitely not now, but after the US military lands on the Hawaiian Islands in large numbers.

As for the kamikaze special attack launched by Zero and Hayabusa aircraft, it is currently positioned as a supplement to the Sakura special attack, and it will be decided whether to launch it after the Sakura special attack is over. This is because the kamikaze special attack team members are rookies recruited from the Army and Navy Flight School. If they encounter F6F and F4U piloted by experienced American fighter pilots during the assault, they will definitely die in vain.

Therefore, it is necessary to consider sending out the kamikaze special attack team only after the Sakura special attack team has destroyed or severely damaged most of the US aircraft carriers.

The precious main force of the combined fleet will also have to wait until the Sakura special attack is effective before going on the field to fight the final decisive battle. Use the powerful battleship force to smash the US main battleship force that has lost the protection of the aircraft carrier, and then use the air fleet to pursue the remnants of the US fleet retreating from the Hawaiian Islands. Only in this way can we fight a beautiful annihilation war in the second battle of Hawaiian Islands. Although the army's big deer doubted the navy's ability, the top leaders of the Japanese navy did not give up the plan to annihilate the main force of the US Pacific Fleet, and their intentions were also reflected in the "Operation Jie No. 1" plan.

So we can't use "Sakura" now, and "Kamikaze" will not have any results even if it is used, and the main force of the Combined Fleet can't be dispatched rashly. As for using the shore-based aviation forces in the Hawaiian Islands... First, the distance is too far; second, the precedent of Christmas Island is there. Therefore, it is not feasible.

"I suggest giving up," Kusa said. "It's a waste of time to put troops on Midway Island. It's better to let the Americans go to the island earlier... In this way, the second battle of the Hawaiian Islands, which will determine the fate of the island, can also start earlier! As for the dozens of P51s, there is nothing to be afraid of, because the army has deployed three "Flying Swallow" II fighters on Oahu Island, which are enough to fight against P51!" Kusa's opinion is not unreasonable, because during this period, the activities of American submarines in the South Pacific and the Western Pacific were rampant (this was related to Japan's withdrawal of troops to prepare for the decisive battle in Hawaii, and also the stimulation of Japan's germ warfare). In January 1944 alone, Japan lost 320,000 tons of various ships, setting a historical high. And the oil imported into Japan also dropped to less than 300,000 tons! So delaying the "final decisive battle" is of no benefit to Japan. "That's right." Nanyun Chuichi thought for a while, "If the US military really encountered a tough battle in Midway Island, it is very likely that they would give up attacking the Hawaiian Islands, and then our efforts would be in vain."

...

"Mr. President, we have recaptured Midway Island."

Roosevelt received the good news that Midway Island was recaptured on the evening of February 6, Eastern Time.

"What? So soon?" Roosevelt, wearing pajamas, looked very surprised at William Leahy who came excitedly, "Didn't you say that the landing operation can only start on February 10 at the earliest?"

"No landing operation took place," William Leahy said, "Last night Hawaii time, the Japanese army evacuated Midway Island. At that time, several of our submarines were floating near Midway Island and found that Japanese planes took off and evacuated overnight. Later, we found that ships had left and saw the fire of the bombing facilities, so we determined that the Japanese army had abandoned Midway Island."

Midway Island is probably really a blessed place for the United States of America. There were actually several American submarines watching when the Japanese retreated. In fact, they were not passing by. They were there to use radio signals to guide American aircraft to attack Midway Island at night. Who knew that they happened to see the Japanese retreating. So he immediately notified Spruance on the "Essex" by telegram, and Spruance, who had always been timid, turned out to be extremely decisive this time and sent a destroyer squadron to attack Midway overnight. The armed sailors on the destroyer occupied the islands abandoned by the Japanese.

"How is the airport on the island?" Roosevelt immediately asked the most critical question.

"The Japanese have carried out damage, but it is not complete (it seems to the Japanese it is already very complete). We can repair it quickly. Now the high-speed attack transport ship loaded with engineers and engineering machinery is rushing to Midway Island at full speed."

The airport on Midway Island was built by the Americans before the outbreak of the Pacific War. It is a large airport that can take off and land B-17s and B-24s... With some modifications, it can take off and land B-29s (Midway Island Airport Later, it was a backup airport for the Pacific Civil Aviation Air Line, and even later jet airliners could take off and land, not to mention the B-29)!

Therefore, in the US military's plan, Midway Island, like Christmas Island, is a transit point for B-29s from the mainland to Australia.

However, Midway Island is too small and too close to the Hawaiian Islands and the Japanese mainland, making it easy to capture and difficult to defend. The airport on the island can easily be destroyed by the Japanese fleet or bomber group. Therefore, it is not the first choice for B-29 transit airport.

However, Spruance, who accidentally captured Midway Island, was still willing to give it a try, so he immediately mobilized a high-speed attack transport ship loaded with engineers and mechanical equipment from the 51st Task Force.

The so-called high-speed attack transport ship, codenamed APD, was modified from old destroyers from World War I (the United States had 273 destroyers at the end of World War I, most of which were preserved until World War II). It is very fast, but has a large carrying capacity. limited.

This kind of ship is not suitable for transporting large troops, but the current target of Task Force 51 is only the small Midway Island and does not need to carry large troops, so it uses dozens of small and fast APD troop transport equipment.

"The repair and expansion project of Midway Airport must be completed as soon as possible!" Roosevelt immediately gave instructions, "General, how many B-29s can be put into combat now?"

"There are 187 of them, but most of them are used as reconnaissance aircraft for high-sea patrol missions."

"Transfer them all to Australia!" Roosevelt ordered. "As soon as the airport at Midway Island is ready, transfer it immediately... You must hurry up, because no one knows when the airport at Midway Island will be destroyed by the Japanese!" He paused After a pause, he emphasized his tone again, "The Japanese do not realize what a fatal mistake they have made now. Once they think of it, they will completely destroy the Midway Airport at all costs, so our time is limited."

…

"Your Excellency, Commander, the U.S. Navy has just made a fatal mistake!"

The person who discovered that the U.S. Navy had made a mistake was Colonel Kamishigetoku, the chief of staff of Japan's 8th Fleet. He made this opinion to Commander Junichi Mikawa on the heavy cruiser Chokai, the flagship of the 8th Fleet.

"Oh." Mikawa Jun nodded noncommittally - he didn't see where the U.S. Navy went wrong at all?

"It was a big mistake for the U.S. Navy to rush to occupy Midway Island!" Kamizhongtoku looked extremely excited, because he had just stared at the chart for a full hour and finally found an opportunity for the 8th Fleet to show off its skills.

Was occupying Midway a big mistake? Mikawa Junichi became more and more confused as he listened, but he still looked like an old god.

"Although Midway is far away from the Hawaiian Islands and is not the best place for the Hawaiian Islands' shore-based aircraft to exert its power, it is enough for our 8th Fleet."

Kamizhongoku said with excitement: "Our 8th Fleet can use cruisers and destroyers to conduct high-speed attacks, be covered by fighter planes taking off from the Hawaiian Islands during the day, use the night to rush to Midway Island for sneak attacks, and adopt a one-hit tactics. The method is to follow the principle of not stopping at all during the entire round trip and combat journey.

And such attacks can be carried out repeatedly... because the Midway Island in the hands of the Americans is a noose around the neck of the Pacific Fleet. As long as they are unwilling to give up, we can attack repeatedly and use night mine warfare to severely hit the United States. Pacific Fleet!

Therefore, occupying Midway Island was a fatal mistake for the United States! "