Age of Rebirth

Compared with the turbulent sea surface, the seabed tens of meters deep in the Southwest Pacific Ocean is calm and dark. In the dark water, the only surviving submarine of the Japanese Fourth Fleet, Lu-60, just started in the waters of the Solomon Islands. It has been following the independent division fleet. It's been a long time.

The target has never been exposed, and a steady stream of valuable information has been sent back to the Joint Fleet Headquarters. Now, the name of the Lu-60 submarine and its captain, Kimura, has become the commander of the Joint Fleet. The object of chanting on the lips.

In this regard, the captain, Major Kimura, is very proud. It is such an honor for a small major submarine commander to be mentioned by the Supreme Commander of the United Fleet, one of the three giants of the Imperial Navy.

While complacent, Major Kimura also expressed serious doubts about the anti-submarine capabilities of the China Independent Division Fleet. He even believed that if the Fourth Fleet was in the Solomon Islands naval battle, the fleet commander, Lieutenant Admiral Inoue Narumi, would be able to skillfully use submarines. Battle tactics, the final victory or defeat, or things that may not be known?

The current Major Kimura feels that the Lv-60 submarine under his command is like a lone hero, looking around the pack of wolves without any damage. Does Commander Yun Zhongyi need to worry about his future status and future in the combined fleet of the Imperial Navy?

Major Kimura's mood today was as happy as ever, and he ordered to the radio operator: "Report to the Fleet Command, the China Independent Division Fleet has not changed its course, and continues to sail in the direction of the Caroline Islands in the northeast! My Lu-60 submarine Keep tracking!"

The sound of the telegraph operator tapping the key.To Major Kimura, it was as beautiful as music.He smiled and looked up, and saw the submarine sonar officer.That pale face without blood.

"Oshima-kun, what's wrong with you?" Major Kimura asked strangely.

"Report to the commander, we are surrounded by submarine hunters from the Chinese fleet!" The sonar officer, Captain Oshima, reported dryly.

"Boom boom boom!" Suddenly there was a dull explosion sound from the seabed tens of meters deep, and the huge shock wave shook the hull of the Lu-60 submarine. Instantly turned pale.He could hear that on the sea above his head, there were at least five or six submarine hunters from the China Fleet besieging him. The explosion just now was a depth bomb attack, and the distance was very close.

"Nani? How did the submarine hunter of the China Fleet discover himself?" Major Kimura had a puzzled thought in his mind.But he didn't have time to think. Breaking Space, another dozen depth charges hit the submarine accurately.The hull of the boat was torn apart, and the submarine was blown into several pieces, including the Japanese submarine soldiers in Kimura.In an instant, it turned into a pile of scrap iron on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, a group of dead souls.

Japanese submarine Lu-60.After this swan song-like information was sent out, it was like a dose of poison.Dominating Admiral Nan Yunzhong's thinking, commanding the main force of the United Fleet, and continuing to go north without any surprises or dangers, the current position has reached the central waters of the Banda Sea, and at this time the independent division fleet has begun to turn around and head southeast And go, just the opposite of the previous direction.

After the main force of the United Fleet entered the waters of the Banda Sea, the voyage was exceptionally calm, without any disturbance, as if walking in the back garden of one's own home. It was this calmness that made the Fleet Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Matsuda, even more uneasy and anxious. The creepy feeling, too quiet at times, is also an anomaly.

A few days ago, there were reconnaissance planes of the Air Force of China's Independent Division that appeared near the fleet, but in the past few days, they have disappeared. Chief of Staff Matsuda has experienced the loss of more than one-third of the combined fleet in that battle. The three-day air battle with the aircraft, and the strong combat effectiveness of the independent division's land-based fleet, he can be said to have a deep memory.

Chief of Staff Matsuda knew even better that the main force of the United Fleet had now entered the attack range of the Chinese Devil Tang Qiuli, his number one fighter in the air, and the commander of the Southern Flying Group of the Independent Division Air Force, Le Yiqin's land-based fleet.

Looking around, there is Java Island on the back, Sulawesi Island on the left, Irian Island on the right, and Mindanao Island and Luzon Island on the whole. These are all Le Yiqin's spheres of influence. On these islands, Chief of Staff Matsuda felt like he was surrounded by a pack of wolves.

According to normal circumstances, the belligerent Chinese commander Le Yiqin saw so many main warships of the United Fleet entering the inland waters of the Banda Sea. Not once, abnormal, very abnormal!

Chief of Staff Matsuda was accompanied by this kind of worry and tension. After a few days, he couldn't bear it anymore. It just so happened that the submarine Lu-60, which had been tracking the China Independent Division Fleet, lost contact for nearly a day. He knew that the jade must be broken. This was an opportunity. He decided to talk to Admiral Nagumo Tadashi, the commander of the fleet, to have a frank and honest talk and express his concerns.

Fortunately, it seems that Commander Nagumo is in a good mood today. Seeing Chief of Staff Matsuda come in, he showed a rare smile on his deathly face, greeted him, and asked about the current situation of the fleet in a seemingly casual manner.

When Chief of Staff Matsuda mentioned that the Lu-60 submarine had been out of contact for almost a day, Admiral Nagumo Tadashi seemed to be slightly surprised, but then he didn’t say anything, maybe in his opinion It is not a big deal for a submarine to lose contact, although at that time a submarine was tracking the Chinese independent division fleet, and their mission had been completed.

Seeing that Commander Nanyun didn't want to talk about the Lv-60 submarine, Chief of Staff Matsuda didn't say anything more, and after talking about military affairs in a seemingly happy and relaxed manner, he felt that the heat was almost ready, so he said: "Commander, The main force of the fleet has now entered the attack range of the land-based fleet of the Southern Aviation Group of the Independent Division Air Force, but no enemy action has been seen, which is very abnormal and abnormal!"

"Looking at the current position of the fleet, surrounded by several islands, I remember that Commander Yamamoto once repeatedly warned several fleet commanders, 'The stage of the combined fleet is on the vast ocean, not on the vast ocean. To fight against the enemy's land-based air force in the inner sea is to use our own strengths against the enemy's strengths!'”

"Commander, the Ministry believes that General Yamamoto's words are very reasonable. During the time when the combined fleet was victorious, Commander Yamamoto himself commanded it. In the battle against the land-based aircraft fleet of the China Independent Division Air Force, he still could not gain the upper hand, let alone now. ?”

"Therefore, the Ministry of Staff recommends that the main force of the joint fleet should not go deep into the Banda Sea, but should immediately turn around and return to northern Australia to carry out the operation plan of going west to the East Indian Ocean, which is safer!"

"Facing the main force of the United Fleet entering the inland waters of the Banda Sea, the land-based air fleet of the China Independent Division did not show any action. It cannot but be suspicious. The strength of Le Yiqin is not too weak to dare to fight. To what extent, of course, the above is the personal opinion of the department, and please consider it, Commander!"

General Nagumo Tadashi is in a good mood today. Although he feels a little uncomfortable with Chief of Staff Matsuda's nagging and nagging, he can still listen to it with peace of mind. Anyway, what he put forward is just a suggestion, whether he listens or not depends on the I, Matsuda, is the chief of staff of the United Fleet, the second person, so it is not good to refute face too much.

However, Chief of Staff Matsuda brought out Yamamoto 56 again, repeating the old tune about the battle plan of going west to the East Indian Ocean, which made Admiral Nagumo Tada feel extremely disgusted, and a fire rose violently, even though General Yamamoto was his last Admired and respected admirals, but within the United Fleet, they should not be too majestic!

The smile on General Nagumo Chugao's face disappeared immediately, his dead face turned livid, he looked at Chief of Staff Matsuda coldly, and said a few words through his teeth, "Chief of Staff Matsuda, I remind you once again, The current commander of the Combined Fleet is me Nagumo Tadaichi, not anyone else!"

"Also, in the waters of the Caroline Islands, the combat plan for intercepting the China Independent Division's fleet cannot be changed. I hope you will not say anything in the future, which has nothing to do with this operation. Otherwise, I will think that you, the chief of staff, are not good enough." Competent!"

Having said so much, Chief of Staff Matsuda knew that his efforts had failed again. He got up, bowed deeply, and said, "Commander, the department is lying!" Then, he turned and left, clearly I heard the cold snort of Commander Nagumo Chuichi.

However, although Admiral Nagumo Tadashi is very dissatisfied with Chief of Staff Matsuda, he still attaches great importance to his reminder, and immediately ordered one-fifth of the fleet's carrier-based aircraft to be in a combat state, but that's all. In his opinion, it is enough to deal with the land-based fleet of the Jina people, and the fleet does not even need to start a battle formation.

Three days later, the main force of the United Fleet had arrived in the northern part of the Banda Sea and west of Bru Island. The reconnaissance plane of the Air Force of the Independent Division appeared again, circling around the United Fleet like flies. The order was, "Deport or shoot down!"

At night, the Banda Sea was windy, and huge waves surged on the sea. In Makassar, Sulawesi, at the headquarters of the Southern Aviation Group of the Air Force, Le Yiqin looked at the information sent back by the reconnaissance plane and laughed loudly. Chief of Staff He Zhijun said: "Zhijun, do you think Nagumo Chuichi, an old devil, is out of his mind? When Yamamoto 56 was here, we beat the little devil's combined fleet to blood!"

"Now, we have penetrated deep into the northern waters of the Banda Sea. Our reconnaissance planes are circling around the little devil's fleet. We are stunned that we have not entered the battle state. This is the rhythm of hunting. Nagumo Chuichi is even crazier than Yamamoto 56!"

He Zhijun said a few words, "Being confident, underestimating the enemy or not paying attention to our Southern Flying Group at all!"

"Really?" Le Yiqin's pupils shrunk into dangerous needle-like shapes, and said: "Order, all aircraft groups will launch an attack according to the scheduled plan tomorrow morning!"

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