Iron Cross

Horikichi's method made people laugh dumbly when he said it: he also organized a rapid formation, allowing Katsuragi, Kasagi, Chitose and some cruisers and destroyers to act alone, while the rest of the force continued to maintain a speed of 14-15 knots and slowly climbed up.

He picked up the flag representing the support fleet on the chart and formulated a clear response plan: assuming that Halsey used a core formation of 2 Essex-class aircraft carriers + 2 South Dakota-class battleships to advance, he would use Tsunoda's 2 An Unryu-class + support fleet of 2 Unryu-class + 1 Chitose will respond. After dispatch, a scene of 4 (Unryu) + 1 (Chitose) vs. 2 (Essex) can still be formed, and the upper hand can still be obtained. If considered This advantage became even more significant when the Japanese military became more capable in carrier-based aircraft pilots.

"Understood..." Matsuda Chiaki and everyone suddenly realized that, leaving aside the escort aircraft carriers, the Japanese army had an advantage in the field of fleet aircraft carriers, and the commander still adopted the strategy of inducing the enemy to divide his forces.

"Assuming that the U.S. military uses the second method to deal with it, during the second aviation battle, it will try to maintain a distance that the enemy cannot reach during the day. At night, Tsunoda will turn around and kill in the opposite direction as quickly as possible to close the distance. At dawn, he will be ahead of the enemy. The rear escort aircraft carrier formation will eat this advance force before it reacts, and our fleet will also cooperate accordingly," Horikichi explained, "If I guess correctly, in order to improve the utilization efficiency of carrier-based aircraft, the US military must also use it like us. The main force of attack aircraft is placed on the fleet aircraft carrier, and the fighter jets are placed on the escort aircraft carrier. If the opponent wants to maximize the strike effect, it must either wait for the rear escort aircraft carrier formation to transport the fighter jets, or reduce the number of forward attack aircraft carried. Either option will work. Reduce the enemy's threat to us."

"Sir, you may have forgotten one thing. Tsunoda didn't have enough oil. It didn't matter on the first day. He didn't dare to drive so fast on the second day, otherwise his ship would break down midway due to lack of oil."

"Aren't there still Musashi and King Kong?"

Matsuda Chiaki smiled bitterly: "Although Musashi and Kongo carry the most fuel, they also consume the most fuel. Musashi currently only has more than 900 tons of fuel, which is only equivalent to 15% of the full load. Kongo is slightly better, barely 22%... …”

"That's enough!" Horikichi smiled slightly and said something that surprised Chiaki Matsuda, "If the US military really organizes a rapid column pursuit, let Musashi and Kongo each retain oil that can travel about 200 nautical miles, and use all the other oil to replenish the two There are several core warships in the aviation battle fast column, and this fuel is enough for them to finish this battle! "

"Ah!" Chiaki Matsuda was shocked, "Shoot Musashi? Shoot King Kong? Sir, this... this... this..."

The staff officers behind him were all frightened out of their wits. The Yamato class was a national treasure and could not be used easily. To use it for fighting meant that the commander was courageous. Originally, the two warships did not have enough fuel, but the commander also said that Musashi and Kongo would be pumped. Doesn't this mean forcing the two warships to die? Sir, how much do you hate battleships?

"What? Musashi's oil can't be pumped? It's a warship and it needs to be used to its maximum effect!" Horikichi said solemnly, "I understand what you mean. Musashi is the commander of a warship and cannot take risks, but the commander cannot die. ? As long as we can win, no one can be sacrificed. What does it mean to lose Musashi and Kongo? If we destroy the US Pacific Fleet and capture Hawaii, we will win a great victory. Now I will not frown if we exchange two battleships!"

"That's not what I meant. I think that once the US military discovers that Musashi and Kongo are out of formation, they will attack them first. Since the two ships have no fighter escort, it is easy for them to die in vain."

"This is better. It is equivalent to using two battleships to form a decoy fleet. It can successfully attract the attention of the US military and virtually cover the aircraft carrier formation. For us, we are more certain to win. Everyone, show your courage and determination. I originally Dare to go to war with the Yamato, because the greatest value of a warship is to defeat the enemy instead of leaving it at the dock for future generations to admire. Now that the war is going on, no one still thinks that they can win with the help of giant ships and cannons, right? Well, after the war, the Yamato class will be all obsolete garbage!”

Everyone looked at each other, the Yamato class was all rubbish? Only officers dare to say this. They don't dare to say it. No naval officer, even a die-hard aviation fan, would dare to say this publicly!

"Also, is Tsunoda short of planes?"

"Yes, his two aircraft carriers are not full of manpower and are short of 30 aircraft, but they have enough pilots."

"Take it from me." Horikichi smiled and said, "The method is the cross-platform combat method that Ozawa taught me! Before tomorrow evening, the distance between our fleet and the Second Air Battle will be reduced to 1,500 kilometers, allowing the pilots to transfer to supply Tsunoda. "

"Sir, what if the enemy is not fooled on the first day? If we continue to push forward step by step, our army's tactical adaptability will be even worse on the second day, because Tsunoda is even more short of oil, and even Musashi and Kongo will not be able to pump out much oil by then."

"If you don't get fooled, I have other ways." Horikichi smiled slightly, and drew a light stroke on the chart. "If the Americans don't get fooled, and still advance slowly and slowly, I will let other auxiliary aircraft carriers (4 ships) the next evening. Escort aircraft carrier, 1 escort aircraft carrier, 2 aircraft transport ships) separated from the main force to form a decoy force, took a shortcut to break through, and gave it to the Americans to see if they wanted to eat it, so they had to separate the fleet; if they didn't want to eat it, Then Tsunoda can rush over at maximum speed to join the decoy troops that night, and he will be full of gas on the afternoon of the third day!”

"But sir..." Matsuda Chiaki felt bitter, "There are still 25,000 tons of oil on it. It was eaten in the middle and there is no other oil to replenish. During the second aviation battle, even if the enemy divided his troops for this, we still managed to eat it. He has lost his vanguard force, but the U.S. military will have more than ten escort aircraft carriers in the future, which will be very difficult to deal with. At that time, the second aviation battle, which is out of fuel, will become a living target..."

Horikichi nodded at the Tsukahara fleet in the distance: "You won't forget them, will you?"

Matsuda Chiaki was surprised: "They are at least 1,000 nautical miles away from the enemy now, and there is no time at all!"

"You are wrong. Excluding the two Yamato-class ships, the Tsukahara fleet can run as fast as 30 knots. Compared with the Americans' fastest speed of 18.5 knots, it can reach 11 knots per hour. Even if it takes Yamato with it, it can run 27 knots. knots, close to 9 knots per hour, how close can it be in two days and two nights? Is it enough for Tsukahara to attack the enemy escort carrier formation during the third day?"

The staff immediately calculated: if the aircraft advanced at a high speed of 30 knots, the distance would be reduced to 500 nautical miles after 48 hours; if the aircraft advanced at a speed of 27 knots, the distance would be reduced to nearly 600 nautical miles.

"If the enemy divides their forces, their escort carrier formation will definitely be behind them. It may be a little troublesome for Tsukahara to deal with them in the early morning of the third day, but it will definitely be fine after noon." Horikichi smiled, "Assuming that the enemy commander can We will resolutely hold back and not separate our troops within 48 hours. I am not afraid. Let Tsukahara surround us. All our planes will be released in the afternoon of the third day or at dawn on the fourth day. In short, the Americans cannot escape this time! By then it was too late for him to withdraw."

Matsuda Chiaki finally felt relieved: If we fight like this, our side does have the advantage. As long as we control the rhythm, respond carefully, and do not let the US fleet (referring to the entire fleet) hit us within 48 hours, we can use three fleets on the third day. Use the combined force advantage to encircle and suppress the opponent.

He suddenly became interested and asked: "Sir, if you were the commander of the US military, how should you deal with this situation?"

Horiki thought calmly and said: "First, immediately send a transport fleet to Pearl Harbor to deliver fuel and aircraft, and then escort it with this fleet. This is the best option - who said I have finished the attack on Pearl Harbor? Capture it? The battle in Hawaii has just begun. If the Americans do not go to Hawaii to replenish fuel and aircraft, they will not be able to fight at all. I still have the Army and other reserve forces at Midway Island; secondly, the second best option is to fight with dignity. If Hawaii is in the hands of our army, the Americans will not have 20 fleet aircraft carriers + more than 50 aircraft carriers. If the fleet combination of escorting the aircraft carrier is prepared to kill 100,000 people, don’t even think about taking it back.”

Chiaki Matsuda smiled: How can Americans have so many troops now? Even if they hide at home for one or two years to suppress production, won't Japan increase its military strength and aircraft carriers? By then, 3,000 aircraft and 150,000 troops will be piled on Hawaii, and then the combined fleet will cooperate to guard it. This will ensure that the entire Hawaii is impregnable.

"What if the US military uses rocket weapons? This time the Germans used rocket weapons to attack Brazil and the effect was very good. I'm afraid that the Americans will also use them in 1-2 years."

"Rockets are indeed very powerful, but they are not yet a decisive weapon. At present, rockets feel more like artillery with a range of hundreds of kilometers, and the accuracy is still very poor. Are our soldiers afraid of the enemy's artillery? Besides, we will too Owning the Rockets, we are currently negotiating with Cole. Germany has agreed in principle to transfer a full set of technologies and is asking for a price of 14 billion marks. Let’s see if we can make a counter-offer.” Horikichi smiled and said, “I can’t get it out if I have to pay. I have so much money.” I think it’s better to just buy some aircraft carriers, planes, and tanks. Japan must rely on its own efforts to achieve world status.”

"The main thing is to fight the war now, time is running out."

"If the firepower and weapons of both sides are equal, and the Americans are in a situation of being blocked and bombarded, they will surrender soon; if our army comes to defend, with suitable generals and leadership, we can fight to the last soldier. If you don't believe it, , the Battle of Tarawa will tell you the answer - this is the biggest difference between the two nations of Japan and the United States, and it is also the only reason why I dare to compete with the Americans. Their industry is inferior to others, their technology is inferior to others, and their economy is inferior to others. If you are not as strong as others, why should you fight? Let’s surrender as soon as possible.” Horikichi laughed at himself, “Just listen to this and don’t talk about it outside. The Army Red Deer will become arrogant after hearing this. Please note that going too far is not enough. …”

"But what about other weapons?" Chiaki Matsuda asked in a low voice, "For example, what about 'Plan Ren' or 'Plan F'?"