Age of Rebirth

In addition to drowning the independent division fleet, this weak opponent, in the waters of the Southwest Pacific Ocean, General Yamamoto's greater goal is the East Indian Ocean, or even the direction of the Andaman Sea. In addition, there is also the idea of ​​bringing the East Indian Ocean area under the control of the United Fleet to solve the Chinese delusion of the Australian mainland once and for all.point ●

As for the naval and air force bases of China's independent divisions in the Andaman Sea area, Admiral Yamamoto did not regard them as any threat. With the strength of the combined fleet, there is no problem in sweeping the Andaman Sea. He is absolutely confident and has the capital of self-confidence. The fleet has Twelve aircraft carriers and more than 500 main warships, apart from being unable to land, are invincible at sea!

In Trusan, Sumatra Island, where the independent division command is located, Chief of Staff Zhao Yuhe walked into the room of division commander Tang Qiuli, took out a telegram, and said: "Master, after receiving information from the intelligence office, all Japanese naval combined fleets The main ship is currently moored at the Honiara base in the Solomon Islands for resupply, and its next move is temporarily unknown!"

After receiving the telegram, Tang Qiuli carefully read it several times. During the implementation of the Southwest Pacific Campaign, the two biggest variables were the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. Undoubtedly, this is a huge monster. With the current strength of the independent division fleet , cannot compete with it.

The second variable is the question of when the more than 160 million elite Japanese troops on the North American battlefield will join the Southwest Pacific battlefield. One of the two factors can affect the current battlefield situation.

Judging from the intelligence from the intelligence department on the North American battlefield, the troops under the Japanese North American Combat Command.Although there are frequent small-scale mobilizations, there are no signs of gathering on the west coast of the United States.Or rather, the Germans who didn't get there.It is not planned to let the Japanese leave, which can be judged from the telegrams with Hitler.

If it was the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy, escorting millions of Japanese troops, and rushing from North America, Tang Qiuli would have to consider adjusting the deployment of the Western Pacific Campaign, because the independent division fleet was not in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.With the ability to intercept and kill the unprecedentedly powerful Japanese army troop carrier formation, more than a million Japanese troops rushed forward, and they have the ability to retake any island or island.

Fortunately, only the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy came. Although it was not good news, it could not change the overall situation of the battlefield on the island.The Japanese garrison everywhere pressed on every step of the way, and the warships could not go ashore!

"It's coming, it's coming!" Tang Qiuli said calmly after putting down the telegram. "The direction of the Japanese joint fleet's next move is a crucial issue. What is your staff's judgment?"

Zhao Yuhe pondered for a moment.He replied: "Master, the staff department is also the Japanese Combined Fleet. I have made some judgments about where the spearhead will be directed in the next step!"

Speaking of which.Zhao Yuhe smiled wryly, "To tell you the truth, Commander, judging from the current position of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet, within the range of the Southwest Pacific battlefield, any direction may become its target of attack. For example, the Banda Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Arafura, Java Sea, Flores Sea, even the Andaman Sea!"

"There is only one reason. The strength of the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy is unmatched by us. With the current strength of our fleet, it is impossible to prevent it from entering any sea area. Therefore, Yamamoto 56 can go on a rampage and recklessly!"

"Puchi!" Tang Qiuli couldn't help but laugh, and said: "Yuhe, you and the staff are really good enough. Such a judgment is tantamount to no judgment! Several other sea areas may become the Japanese Navy's joint The goal of the fleet is only impossible in the Andaman Sea."

"Where there is no Japanese army guarding the island, and it is in the triangle area between our Chagos Islands, Yangon, and the Singapore Army and Navy Base, what is Yamamoto 56 doing in the Andaman Sea? Could it be that he is looking for death, just Le Yiqin's southern flight The group is enough to make Yamamoto 56's joint fleet hate the waters of the Andaman Sea!"

What Tang Qiuli didn't know was that when he was teasing Zhao Yuhe, the Fifth General Yamamoto, who was at the Honiara base in the Western Pacific and was receiving a banquet from the commander of the local Japanese garrison, had set his next goal , locked in the direction of the Andaman Sea, but it was General Yamamoto's idea, and the subsequent changes in the battle situation made General Yamamoto's goal always stay on the idea.

Zhao Yuhe's old face was flushed, and he looked at Tang Qiuli who couldn't help laughing in embarrassment. Indeed, the judgment of the staff department was almost the same as no judgment, but he really couldn't judge that the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet would take the lead in the next step. Point anywhere, because it's possible in that direction.

"Forget it, Yuhe, you don't have to be embarrassed!" Tang Qiuli suppressed his smile and said, "The Japanese Navy Combined Fleet is a Japanese combat mobile force that can stand alone and enter any The sea area is all normal!"

"However, when we consider the enemy's next move, especially when the enemy is very powerful, we often judge the problem from the most complicated angle, but why not take a simple and direct way? The purpose is to join the Japanese Navy's combined fleet What is the purpose of going to the Southwest Pacific battlefield?"

"Yamamoto 56 commanded a huge fleet and came to the Southwest Pacific theater without accompanying Japanese army troops. What is the purpose?"

"Escort!" Zhao Yuhe's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Also, I'm afraid we will attack our fleet. After all, if the Japanese troops on the island battlefields want to retreat to Australia, if they don't solve the threat of our fleet, they will die if they retreat. !"

"Yes!" Tang Qiuli agreed: "The purpose of Yamamoto 56 is twofold. One is to escort the retreating Japanese army, and the other is to destroy our fleet. Based on this, it can be concluded that where the retreating Japanese army is, The worst hit by our fleet at sea is the primary target of Yamamoto 56!"

"Banda Sea and Java Sea!" Zhao Yuhe said with certainty.

"We can't fight, but we can hide!" Tang Qiuli said very easily: "Yuhe, immediately send the judgment we just made to Commander Tang of the Navy, and remind him to pay attention to the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. Sharp tactics, the order might as well gather up the fleet, move to the waters around the Gulf of Thailand in the Malay Peninsula, and wait and see!"

"In addition, order each corps to change the previous tactics of steadily advancing and gradually oppressing, and launch the most violent and fastest attack on the Japanese troops on each island, and strive to inflict the greatest damage on the Japanese army before the combined fleet of the Japanese navy enters the battlefield. !"

"Remind all the commanders of the corps that we don't have too much time left. If you want to eat fat, you have to use all your strength!"

"Yamamoto is here in his [-]s and [-]s, and my interception tactics at sea have also come to an end. It's a pity, I just conducted a round, and I can't finish it!" His tone was full of regret and emotion.

The corners of Zhao Yuhe's mouth twitched, and he muttered to himself, "I'm still not satisfied. The fleet killed more than 18 Japanese soldiers with zero casualties. What else do you want?"

If we say that in the previous Southwest Pacific Campaign, the Japanese garrison felt great pressure on the battlefields of various islands. Some time ago, there were troops of the Royal Association Army who did not know whether they were alive or not. Leaving the battlefield, there is a chance to rush to the assembly area where you can board the ship, and you have the opportunity to retreat.

Well, now under strong pressure from the Independent Division.The Japanese troops huddled in the southern part of the battlefields of various islands, waiting eagerly to board the ship and evacuate to Australia, felt that a catastrophe was imminent. Some time ago, they held the heads of the imperial association troops and beat up the Chinese independent division troops. Now , and threw his fist at himself again.

After receiving the order from the division commander and clearing the harassment of the Imperial Association Army, several corps of the independent divisions on each battlefield immediately exerted their strength. The commander of the corps put the most capable brigades at the forefront and formed a Attacking the arrow, the other brigades followed closely behind, led by the tank brigade, and with the cooperation of the bomber group and fighter group of the Southern Flying Group, launched a fierce attack on the Japanese army.

For a time, from the westernmost island of Sumatra, to the northernmost island of Luzon, the easternmost island of Irian, and even the islands of Kalimantan, Java and Sulawesi, the flames of war suddenly filled the air. The sound of guns roared all day, like a torrent, breaking through the blocking lines organized by the Japanese army, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese army.

The Japanese troops from all over the country, which had already lost part of their strength, were really unable to withstand the fierce attacks of the various corps of the Independent Division. The defense line shrank again and again. , can't hold on for long.

A series of urgent telegrams flew to the General Staff Headquarters of the Tokyo base camp like snowflakes, causing General Mitsuko Minei, who was in charge of commanding the large retreat, to burn his buttocks and could no longer sit still. If the defenders on the islands in the Southwest Pacific, If he is eaten up by the independent division, even if he is the chief of the general staff, His Majesty the Emperor will not spare him. That is more than 40 imperial troops, one of the capitals of defending Australia in the future!

Minai Koichi first ordered the defenders on each island to use the existing ships to withdraw as many troops as they can. As for the sea interception of the China Independent Division Fleet, don't worry, the combined fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy is on the way. Rush to escort.

Then, General Mitsuko Minai, with a humble expression and urgent telegrams, ran to the official residence of Minister of the Navy Nagano Osamu. . . . . .

The two-term Japanese military and political leaders still don't know what kind of deal was reached between the two old foxes. Anyway, Minai Koichi came out of Nagano Xiushan's mansion with a sigh of relief, and drove away.

More than an hour later, a telegram from the Navy Department of the base camp arrived in the hands of General Yamamoto, the commander of the Joint Fleet of the Japanese Navy.

(to be continued) (to be continued...)