My Head of the Huaxia Expeditionary Force

On the afternoon of June 16, the Yamato fleet sailed in the Barak Strait at a speed of knots, with eight destroyers guarding it.

The other three light cruisers in the fleet were arranged around the supply ship at the back, serving as escort ships slightly behind the main force of the fleet.

Until the evening, Ito was still worried. Although he basically encountered nothing during the two days of sailing, anything could happen before reaching the destination.

At 6:10 in the afternoon, the control tower suddenly received an anti-submarine warning from the escorting destroyer. At this time, Ito breathed a sigh of relief.

What is coming will always come, show up early and face it early. Ito immediately ordered everyone to be on alert and notified the rear transport ships to approach the main fleet to avoid being attacked by submarines.

As far as the Yamato fleet was concerned, this was a risk they had to take because there was no turning back.

In fact, as early as four o'clock, the USS Sawtoothfish and Linefin had already discovered the Yamato fleet.

However, they were not sure that this was the main force of the Yamato fleet at the time. They could only follow it all the way, and in the evening, the Sawtoothfish risked being discovered and surfaced, and finally confirmed the target.

The Americans reported their position to the Fifth Fleet headquarters, quickly got out of the opponent's attack range, and continued to follow behind the fleet.

Of course, the two Shark-class submarines did not dare to attack the Yamato, which was protected by a group of destroyers, but the other party obviously did not have the time to entangle them, and their course did not change and they continued to sail southeast.

……

Early the next morning, the Yamato fleet passed through the Balabac Strait and took evasive action as the sun began to rise at approximately 6 a.m.

The fleet changed from an anti-submarine column to an air defense ring formation, because Ito knew very well what they would face if their whereabouts were exposed.

At about 7 o'clock in the morning, the combat air patrol agreed with the Army Aviation finally arrived over the fleet, but only a pitiful nine Zero fighters provided protection for it.

Ito's heart almost broke when he saw this scene. I didn't sleep a wink all night. Is this what I was waiting for? What a fool! ?

But at this time, there was no time to blame the army aviation gang. Ito had a hunch...the challenge the fleet was about to face would be unprecedentedly dangerous.

Soon, seven US F6F "Hellcat" reconnaissance aircraft appeared over the fleet, but the escorting Zero fighters did not see them. The thick clouds were also very detrimental to the fleet, making it difficult to detect threats from the air.

The Hellcat pilots then excitedly sent out a signal after figuring out the situation, and nearly the entire U.S. Navy knew the exact location of the Yamato.

The commander of the Fifth Fleet immediately began to mobilize troops, and telegrams were sent to the following units like snowflakes. All ships changed course, aircraft were refueled, and weapons were mounted... The U.S. Navy soldiers took action in an orderly manner, aiming directly at the target!

Looking at the sky covered with white clouds, Ito's uneasiness reached its peak. However, the Japanese army, which lacked detection methods, had almost zero ability to detect the outside world. They could only bite the bullet and move forward. As for what they would encounter... it was beyond their control. Yes.

It is said that only the Japanese have such amazing "courage". The Americans would never fight such a dark war under the lights.

About forty minutes later, the nine Zero fighters escorting the fleet had to return to refuel due to range issues, and it would take two hours to come back again, which deepened Ito's worries.

Less than half an hour later, two US military PBM Mariner airships appeared in the rear, following the Yamato fleet all the way.

The air defense siren sounded loudly, and the Japanese soldiers on the fleet suddenly became nervous. The other party's water reconnaissance planes began to follow them blatantly, which meant that their whereabouts had been completely exposed. "Order, everyone enters the first level of combat readiness! All ships increase their speed to 22 knots, and pay close attention to enemy aircraft in the air and underwater submarines..." Ito, who could not sit still, immediately issued the order.

"Then...the transport ship at the rear...?" the adjutant immediately asked.

"Let the Yaqiu and the others break away from the escort formation and quickly enter the formation of the Yamato! Also, contact the Army Aviation immediately. Where is our escort aircraft!?" Ito seemed to grit his teeth and make some kind of decision, his face full of pain. expression.

"But..." The adjutant was shocked. This meant giving up the transport fleet.

You must know that those five transport ships have no air defense capabilities at all. If the three escorting cruisers are removed, they will only be used as living targets when encountering the enemy.

Isn't one of their tasks to safely deliver these supply ships to the Philippines? If they are all sunk by the enemy, the consequences will be unbearable.

"Didn't you hear clearly? Send the order quickly!"

Ito's expression was ferocious. In the current situation, he could only lose his fleet to save his commander. He wanted to assemble all available fleet forces and prepare for a head-on battle with the enemy.

In addition to the main battleship Yamato, the fleet currently also has three Yaqiu-class light cruisers and eight Asahi-class destroyers, and its firepower cannot be underestimated.

If the enemy dares to intercept, it will definitely be an amazing naval battle.

……

At 10 a.m., Commander Spruance of the U.S. Fifth Fleet ordered the closest Task Force 54 to attack the Yamato. The aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill received the attack mission immediately and took the lead in letting dozens of ships attack. Aircraft take off for combat.

Spruance believed that the Japanese should not have any air cover. He did not plan to use battleship cannons to fight head-on. Instead, he adopted new maritime tactics.

Judging from the current position, even if a larger number of Iowa-class battleships are sent out, it will be difficult to intercept the Japanese army within an effective time. Moreover, the era of artillery bombardment has passed, and now the sea is dominated by carrier-based aircraft!

He immediately ordered eight different aircraft carriers under the Fifth Fleet to launch a total of 280 fighters, including fighters, dive bombers, torpedo bombers, etc.

At the same time, the Allied forces responded quickly under early plans, and the British aircraft carrier Georgia also launched 28 fighter planes to join the battle series.

At the same time, in order to further investigate the situation of the Japanese fleet, two PBM seaplanes lowered their altitude and began to continuously probe into the enemy's defense circle.

How could the Japanese endure such a provocation? Ito Zhengichi ordered the firing without hesitation, and the 460mm main gun on the Yamato immediately turned in the direction of the two seaplanes.

"Boom boom boom!!"

With several loud noises, six half-ton shells roared away, and this naval battle that shook the Pacific Ocean officially began...