Transmigrated as the Crown Prince

Hawaiian Islands.

When the German marines on Oahu broke through the Americans' second line of defense, Fleet Commander Hermann ordered the attack to stop. Because the U.S. soldiers on the second line of defense resisted desperately, the Marine Corps not only suffered heavy casualties, but also lost several tanks. This made Commander Hellman feel very distressed. They already had an absolute advantage and still suffered such casualties. It seemed that the gains outweighed the losses by continuing to attack, so he decided to trap the US troops on the island.

In the Pacific Fleet Headquarters, Nimitz received news that the separated German fleet was heading straight for Midway Island. "Midway Island...the Germans have a really big appetite. Are they going to split their forces and attack Midway Island before Oahu is completely captured?" Just as he was muttering softly, the staff officer on the side asked for instructions. "Commander, there is still a fleet left on Midway Island. Should we also ask them to withdraw?" If they do not withdraw in time, they will have to encounter the German fleet.

After a long silence, Nimitz nodded. "Let them withdraw." After thinking for a while, he added. "Evacuate all personnel on Midway Island. Blow up everything that can be blown up. Don't leave any airports, runways, docks, and other facilities for the Germans!" If he wanted to have a decisive battle with the German fleet, he would have done so as early as The Hawaiian Islands will be hit, and we will not wait until Midway. Therefore, the Battle of Midway will not occur in this time and space.

Many people feel that Nimitz's Battle of Midway in the original time and space is too risky. The situation at that time was that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the Battle of Coral Island was damaged; the Japanese combined fleet greatly exceeded the U.S. Pacific Fleet in terms of equipment, quantity, and personnel levels. Even though the U.S. military deciphered Japanese intelligence at that time, the Japanese navy was going to be destroyed. The entire Pacific Fleet is also very relaxed. Moreover, what the Japanese army is looking forward to is to have a decisive battle with your fleet and destroy you. Instead, they are worried that you will not fight or your forces will be scattered. But how can the US military dare to concentrate its forces to fight the Battle of Midway?

In fact, Nimitz had to take this risk, because Midway was the U.S. naval base closest to the island country at the time, and its importance as an advance base is self-evident. And directly behind it is Hawaii, the most important base of the United States in the Pacific. If Midway Island was handed over to the Japanese army, according to the situation of the U.S. Navy in 1942 (no matter how fast the Essex-class aircraft carrier was, it would not be commissioned until early 1943, and it would take at least half a year to form a battle group. During this period, there would be 6-12 Navy aircraft carriers. During the blank period of September, the United States only has three Yorktown-class ships before July (one of which was severely damaged). After July, it can transfer Saratoga and Wasp. The Raiders must remain in the Atlantic Ocean, otherwise the U.S. naval strength in the Atlantic Ocean will Too empty), if the Japanese Navy sets up an anchorage at Midway Island and transfers the main force of the domestic First and Second Fleets to cooperate with the aviation, Hawaii will be directly attacked. Moreover, the Marshall Islands in the southwest are also very dangerous, further threatening Australia. The result of Hawaii's failure to defend is that the U.S. Navy can only set out from the west coast. In addition, the Japanese Navy will definitely come back to harass the U.S. mainland. This consequence can be said to be quite serious.

Since we can't give in, we can only fight hard. At that time, the U.S. Navy was in an extremely difficult situation. It only had two relatively complete aircraft carriers, the Yorktown-class Enterprise and the Hornet. The Raiders and Wasps were both in the Atlantic Ocean. The Saratoga had just been repaired on the west coast and it was impossible to launch it immediately. return.

In the previous Battle of Coral Island, the U.S. military sank a large aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington, a tanker, a destroyer, 65 aircraft, and killed 543 people. Another aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, was injured; the Japanese Navy lost a light ship. The aircraft carrier, 69 aircraft, 1,074 people died, and the heavy aircraft carrier Shokaku was damaged. From a numerical perspective, the Japanese Navy clearly achieved a tactical victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

However, the efforts of Lexington and York City were not in vain. Shokaku was severely damaged after the Battle of Coral Sea, and Zuikaku's aviation fleet was basically disabled, and they were unable to participate in the Battle of Midway. The air force lost on York City used the aircraft left on Midway Island when Saratoga went to the mainland for repairs and other carrier-based aircraft plundered to supplement them. More than 1,400 workers were mobilized to desperately repair York City. As a result, York City three It will be restored to a state that can effectively fight within days. This time is 1/30 of the normal time. The U.S. Navy has used all kinds of methods to repair York City. Then they filled York City with engineers and repair materials, repairing it along the way (leaving Midway Island before the Japanese Navy submarines intercepted it, and Midway Island also had to create the illusion that the aircraft carriers were in the harbor), so that the aircraft carriers of both sides The number is 4:3. The York City-class has a large aircraft capacity. Taken together, the difference is not big. Midway itself also has an airport where Army aviation can be used. This is a good advantage, so Japan and the United States In terms of the number of aircraft that can be used, the United States has a slight advantage, while the quality of pilots of Japan and Hainan Airlines is better.

The last and most important point is that the U.S. Navy already knows that the Japanese Navy is going to attack Midway Island, and also knows the general configuration (the U.S. Navy has roughly deciphered JN-25), but the Japanese military does not know that the United States already knows this, nor does it know that the U.S. Navy actually There was still a Yorktown available, and there were too many problems with his plan. He had to divide the fleet into two parts, and Yamamoto's combat intentions were not fully conveyed to the frontline commanders. If the combined fleet directly engages in a landing battle, the U.S. Navy will be relatively passive according to the situation at the time, and it will at least be a complete defeat for the Japanese army.

But now, Nimitz or the entire Pacific Fleet does not even have a chance to fight to the death. Today's situation has reached a point where the U.S. fleet must lurk for a long time and maintain a fleet presence. Although it is very embarrassing, it is an indisputable fact.

Suddenly, a staff officer said excitedly. "The German fleet went to Midway Island. The German fleet in the waters off Oahu only has two German battleships and two aircraft carriers (several battle cruisers, cruisers, and destroyers). Can we send a fleet to sink them?"

Nimitz slowly shook his head. Midway Island is located 2,000 kilometers northwest of Pearl Harbor, and Pearl Harbor is nearly 4,000 kilometers away from the mainland of the United States. Once the local fleet is mobilized, it will definitely be discovered by German eyes and ears and a message will be sent to the German fleet. Even if they left port quietly at night, how far could they drive in ten hours?

By the time the German troops at Midway returned to the Hawaiian Islands, their own fleet had not even made it halfway.

Sighing helplessly, Nimitz took a sip of strong coffee and continued to study his Pacific defenses.