afterglow

Chapter 526 God bless America! fuel crisis

Because the main fleet of the Ming army had made a comeback before, and the US military lost the battle for air supremacy, the Pacific Fleet had to hide in the waters near the Big Island of Hawaii.

It was impossible for them all to enter the harbor for rest and recuperation. On the one hand, Shiloh's dock was small and could only accommodate a small number of warships. On the other hand, there was a risk of heavy losses from Ming army air attacks.

Many US military officers seemed to have a stress reaction and found that the sky was falling after the Ming army landed on Oahu. They strongly proposed to immediately dispatch the Pacific Fleet to destroy the Ming army beachhead at all costs.

Chester Nimitz had been calmly analyzing the war situation and was therefore unmoved. As a result, some military officers jointly sent a telegram to Washington, claiming that the commander was passively avoiding the war and requesting his removal.

The president still insisted on his decision. He believed that he was right. Navy Secretary Admiral Harold Stark also rejected the ridiculous proposal of changing generals on the spot.

Until the afternoon of July 7, a submarine sent back a telegram - it was detected that most of the Ming Dynasty warships were still anchored and patrolling in the waters near Kauai, which meant that the Ming Dynasty fleet supporting the landing north of Oahu was temporarily isolated. state.

This seems to be a perfect opportunity to wipe out the Ming army's beachhead in one fell swoop and inflict heavy damage to the Ming army that has landed!
Realizing that the opportunity was too late to miss, Chester decisively held a meeting to formulate a battle plan. William Halsey, who had always been radical, could no longer bear it any longer and threatened on the spot to personally lead the fleet to attack.

However, this task did not fall on him. Chester felt that he was not calm enough. I am afraid that Raymond Spruance is more suitable for this battle.

In the end, the command selected the heavy cruiser San Francisco as the flagship, accompanied by the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, the heavy cruiser USS Chicago, the light cruiser USS Helena, the light cruiser USS Philadelphia, and several destroyers (3rd Destroyer Squadron and 5th Destroyer Squadron Detachment 9).

In order to avoid being discovered by Ming army reconnaissance planes, the two fleets set off one after another in the evening of July 7.

"We still have our own things to do, let them go." Raymond Spruance stared at the deep sea ahead.

The Ming army had long anticipated the US military's night attack and had imagined various night attack situations many days in advance, such as a situation with only cruisers and destroyers, or a situation with a coordinated attack by submarines, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

In response, Song Zhongkai originally planned to deploy a squadron with Longshuo and Kaihuang as the core at Cape Kaina. If the enemy attacks, reinforcements can be quickly sent to counterattack.

The weather in the Hawaiian Islands has generally not been good these two days. The bright starry sky was obscured by dark clouds, with only a few gaps revealing the hazy moonlight.

The USS West Virginia, equipped with a 406mm main gun, was responsible for suppressing the Ming army's battleships and covering the other two battleships' bombardment of the beachhead.

这支部队被编作TF-37.1特遣舰队，共有战列舰3艘、重巡3艘、轻巡2艘、驱逐舰13艘，由雷蒙德-斯普鲁恩斯中将亲自指挥。

At 7:27 on July 0, the assault fleet began to increase its speed in preparation for the next battle.

If necessary, the captain can take all measures including beaching and stranding to achieve the goal, which shows the command's determination.

The aircraft carriers Enterprise and Saratoga will also be waiting for the opportunity. The two ships and some screen guards are organized into Task Force TF-37.2, commanded by Vice Admiral John Halsey.

The TF-37.1 task force quickly approached the coast of Haleiwa in the vast darkness, and its speed had increased to 21 knots.

"Sir, it looks like the Woden can't keep up," the captain of the San Francisco said.

In addition, the battleships West Virginia, California, and Arizona also joined the fleet.

However, due to the current precarious fuel surplus, the size of this squadron has been reduced again and again. Only the battleship Longshuo, the light cruiser Liujiang, the super destroyer Changle, and a few other destroyers are actually deployed.

It took the assault fleet a total of six hours and twenty minutes to travel more than 200 kilometers from the vicinity of Maui to the predetermined position in the waters north of Oahu. It was past midnight and it was late at night.

This fleet does not participate in night battles, and only cruises in the northeastern waters of Oahu, waiting for daybreak to cover the retreat of the assault fleet, or to ambush enemies who may come to pursue them.

The attack by the last two old battleships was carefully considered. They will be responsible for the heavy task of bombarding the beach, and they must eliminate the materials and equipment of the Ming army's landing troops to the greatest extent possible.

However, the destroyer USS Worden (DD-352) suddenly slowed down and fell behind. The ship immediately hoisted the "our ship is out of order" signal flag and sent a light signal to indicate that a high-pressure turbine was malfunctioning and could not maintain high-speed navigation.

There is no slack in the entire fleet from top to bottom, and everyone knows the importance of this mission - whether the crisis on Oahu can be resolved depends on this battle.

The basic organization of destroyers of the Ming Dynasty is a 3+1 model, that is, three destroyers paired with a leader ship, which is a destroyer squadron.

The TF-37.1 task force moved quickly on the dark sea at a speed of 19.5 knots, surrounded by the sound of waves.

For ordinary destroyer units, the leader ship is a light cruiser; however, the total number of light cruisers is limited, and less powerful units will use the Xiangshan-class destroyer as the leader ship.

The Lightning Strike Squadron is also in the 3+1 mode, but the special thing is that all of them are three Penglai-class destroyers paired with one Jinghai-class super destroyer.

Currently, there is an expulsion team and a lightning strike team at Cape Kaina.

Having been in combat for several months, the A-180 special agent fleet's logistical problems have become increasingly severe, and supply problems have been plaguing the naval generals recently.

Accidents often occurred in the transport fleets coming from afar. Some of the oil ships were delayed or sunk. The fuel was never filled up. The total amount was limited, and the warships could only be allocated a part of the fuel at a time.

Destroyers with large consumption and small fuel tanks have already experienced a fuel crisis. Some destroyers are not even enough to support high-speed navigation in combat status. Most destroyers only have fuel left for 14 hours of sailing at a cruising speed of 36 knots.

Song Zhongkai yesterday ordered the priority to protect the squadron at Cape Kaina. Since all the oil storage tanks of the oil tankers have bottomed out, he asked the Yongle and Xuande to pump heavy oil to feed several destroyers.

For example, the Changle super destroyer replenished 122 tons of heavy oil from the Xuande, and its reserves rose to about 35%.

A larger transport fleet will arrive on Kauai this afternoon, carrying tens of thousands of tons of fuel, ammunition, food, medicine and other supplies.

And this time due to the careful escort, only one merchant ship was sunk, but it was obviously too late for the upcoming battle.

Zhou insisted on landing in Haleiwa despite insufficient supplies. Although he seized the opportunity, it also prevented his own air force and naval forces from exerting their full strength.

The admirals certainly have the right to oppose him, but most of them agree with this plan.

7月27日1：05，TF-37.1特遣舰队接近瓦胡岛北部的卡胡库角附近海域。

Raymond Spruance issued a series of orders, and the flagship San Francisco began to transmit instructions to various ships through light signals.

"The fleet will enter the attack route in a southwesterly direction in a complex longitudinal formation. The destroyer column will use torpedoes to carry out close-range attacks. The cruiser and battleship columns will follow the flagship to maintain the course and attack with all artillery. The fleet will finally turn north and decide to retreat or turn again according to the situation. attack."

Raymond Spruance ranked 25th when he graduated from the Naval Academy, which was a good result. He also performed well when commanding a destroyer and served as the director of the Tactical Department of the Naval Academy. This admiral in history Known as the smartest man in the navy.

At 1:17, San Francisco's CXAM radar detected a large number of targets to the southwest.

"Sir! We found them. Target is 235 bearings, 23000 yards."

"Combat alert, I need to jettison unnecessary equipment, depth charges, and anything flammable on the deck."

"Understood! Abandon depth charges and deck combustibles."

"The target is located at bearing 235, at a distance of 22500 yards. Maintain the enemy's course, abandon depth charges, and clear the deck of combustibles. All ship personnel enter combat positions, level 1 alert, and close all watertight hatches. May God bless America." 20 : , the assault fleet began to abandon depth charges, and all the wooden boxes, canvas, cables, etc. on the battleship deck were thrown into the sea.

U.S. sailors began to conduct final inspections of the ammunition to be fired and the torpedoes to be fired to ensure that the fuze safety was released.

At 1:35, on the right side of the assault fleet was a column headed by the USS San Francisco, with a distance of meters from front to back, and to the rear left was a column headed by the USS Helena, with a distance of meters from front to back.

There were only sporadic points of light in the endless darkness, whether they were the navigation lights of the Ming fleet or the lights on the Haleiwa beachhead.

In such an environment where everything is dark, the TF-37.1 task force rushed in murderously at a speed of 21 knots, and the night battle at sea was about to break out.

At the same time, the radar of the Kunlun Mountain Heavy Patrol also discovered a large number of approaching unknown ships.

Signal lights flashed, flares were launched into the air, warning cannons were fired, and the entire fleet was alarmed.

On the bridge of the Fomalhaut Division, the landing fleet chief officer Ying Chun immediately issued an order in alert, "Get ready! Fire four rounds of flares alternately in the 55-degree direction, and generate electricity to inform the squadron and the Kauai headquarters. "

At this time, on the sea north of Cape Kaina, more than ten battleships of the squadron were quietly moored here.

Mei Xuan, the captain of the Longshuo, was woken up from his sleep. Half asleep, he only heard the soldiers shouting anxiously: "Commander! There is a situation! There is a situation!"

"What's going on? Enemy attack?"

"There were gunfire and signal flares in the east. The landing fleet said that electrical detectors found many ships approaching them."

"It's really delivered to your door? It's not easy for anyone to come today!" Mei Xuan said while half-fastening the buttons of his military uniform: "Let's set off, heading fifty, with our ship taking the lead, and the entire column except the lightning strike team following."

"Order!"

At 1:45, a destroyer in the landing fleet fired four consecutive artillery flares to the east.

The 128mm flares emitted dazzling white light, illuminating the sea surface for several kilometers in radius. Each flare shot further. The lookout posts on each ship held their breath and observed, but the first three rounds found nothing, and the sea surface was glowing with light. There was nothing above.

It wasn't until the fourth illumination flare lit up in mid-air ten kilometers away that some silver-white ship shadows appeared.

The observation post of the battleship Zhanghe was the first to notice something strange and immediately reported: "Enemy ship found! Five battleships and multiple destroyers, heading 250 degrees, distance 12 kilometers!"

Obviously the US military did not come with so many battleships, and the lookout posts regarded the San Francisco and Indianapolis as battleships.

"Sir, we have been discovered." The captain of the San Francisco raised his hand to cover his eyes.

"The destroyer began to attack. Our ship's right rudder was adjusted to the new course of 275 degrees." Raymond said calmly.

As his order was issued, more than a dozen destroyers in the left column began to further increase their speed and rushed forward at a high speed of 28 knots.

The cruisers and battleships in the right column turned slightly to the right to better utilize their firepower. After all, they were discovered in advance and could not get closer as originally planned.

"Boom-boom-boom-boom-"

At 1:55, the battleship Arizona opened fire first, firing a half salvo at a "heavy cruiser".

The "heavy cruiser" selected as the target was actually the battleship Yongping. Ten seconds later, six towering water columns rose in front of her.

The two sides soon began to exchange fire. The US military currently does not have practical artillery sighting radar technology. The current battle is basically the same starting point for the two armies.

The ICN is very different from the IJN, which trains hard in night battles. It does not attach much importance to night battles, and does not have the IJN's characteristic of ejecting seaplanes and air-dropping flares at night. In ICN's theory, the ideal time for fleet decisive battles is evening and dusk.

As the distance increased, multiple artillery-fired flares clearly illuminated the incoming U.S. fleet. One Ming warship after another flashed brightly, and countless artillery shells flew towards them.

The gun hit the first bird, and the Farragut (DD-348) that rushed at the front was also the most unlucky. In four minutes, it was hit by 2 rounds of 208mm, 2 rounds of 144mm, and 13 rounds of 128mm anti-explosive bombs, causing casualties and injuries. Countless, severely injured.

The Farragut immediately hoisted the signal flag, turned left to break away from the battle, and hurriedly fired all the torpedoes in the general direction.

The USS Malphite (DD-362) following behind was also hit by multiple shells, but without delaying the battle for the time being, she fired eight torpedoes after taking calm aim.

The Mk14 533mm torpedo that fell into the water first sank and then floated up. It remained at the set depth and rushed towards the Ming fleet at a top speed of 45 knots.

It can be seen low at night, and the flickering firelight interferes with the line of sight, greatly increasing the threat of torpedoes.

The Haihe, delivered in the 25th year of Zhichang, is the oldest light cruiser in active service in the Ming Dynasty. Her bow was hit by two torpedoes, and dozens of seconds later another mine hit the left side of the hull. Fortunately, it was a dumb bomb.

The Haihe was almost decapitated, and the bow of the ship was missing, as if it had been broken off by a monster - the steel plates were twisted and the cables were exposed. The hull quickly tilted and lost combat effectiveness.

At 2:07, Haihe hoisted the signal flag "This ship has been severely damaged" and released a smoke screen while breaking away from the battle.

The target selected by the West Virginia was the battleship Yongping like the Arizona. Her four twin main guns roared in unison, and the dazzling flames spewed out for dozens of meters!

The Mk3 406mm armor-piercing projectile roared out at a speed of 792m/s and hit the Yongping heavily thirteen kilometers away.

At least one shell directly hit the ship, penetrated the main armor belt and exploded in an officer's cabin. Because all crew members were at combat positions, only a few casualties were caused.

Another battleship of the Ming Army's landing fleet, the Chapter He, has always been known for its excellent artillery results, but now it has failed to score a hit in two and a half salvos.

The annoyed gunnery officer commanded the main gun to fire again, and fired a salvo at the Arizona at 2:15. Two of the rounds penetrated the stern of the ship and exploded, and a water bomb hit the left side of the hull below the waterline, tearing open a A breach about two meters in diameter.

"Good fight!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Good boy, remember the merit! Remember the great merit!"

Just as everyone was cheering, a loud noise came from the side.

The sailors turned their heads and saw that the huge water column on the side of the Kunlun Mountain more than 900 meters away was shrinking, and then the various lights of this heavy cruiser went out one after another.

[Schematic diagram of naval battle]

(End of this chapter)