Age of Rebirth

"Qiuquan, how are you going to fight?" The elimination of the No.80 Fifth Air Force of the Japanese Navy's land-based air force on Iwo Jima requires the dispatch of carrier-based aircraft from the naval fleet. In this regard, only the fleet commander Tang Qiuquan can decide, so, Tang Qiusheng only consulted his cousin.

Tang Qiuquan also didn't understand his cousin's actions, why the landing troops were strictly prohibited from attacking Iwo Jima, but he was prepared to deal with the Japanese combat aircraft on Iwo Jima. Seeing Qiusheng asking himself, he smiled and said, "A battle plan has been prepared." , All the carrier-based aircraft of the fleet are dispatched, using the advantages of our airborne radar and ship-based radar performance, to cover the little devil's aircraft in a chicken coop and fight!"

"Then, use a squadron to monitor the Japanese infantry on Iwo Jima. As long as they dare to reinforce Chichijima, they will kill him on the way. , there are not enough ships to reinforce the Japanese army on Chichijima!"

Tang Qiusheng filtered Qiuquan's battle plan in his mind, and there were no obvious flaws. He nodded and said, "Yes, we will proceed according to the fleet's battle plan, and start action immediately. Start at six o'clock sharp tomorrow morning!"

The morning light of dawn has filled the sky of the Iwo Jima Islands, the bright red sun jumps out of the sea, and there is a shining golden light everywhere. For the pilots and ground crews of the No.80 Fifth Air Force of the Japanese Navy Land-based Air Force on Iwo Jima Said, this is a normal and normal weather, no different from the past.

The commander of the air force, Zhonggu Kagawa Taihaizuo, is a professional soldier who strictly abides by the duties of the Imperial Japanese Army, even though he is far away from the mainland in this city.Surrounded by the sea alone, Iwo Jima is an island with an area of ​​no more than 109 square kilometers.Except for Lieutenant General Kuribayashi Chumichi, the commander of the Army's [-]th Division, who I hate so much.He is the highest military officer on this island, and he is still strict with himself.

In view of the traditional feud between the army and the navy, the two commanders of the Japanese army and navy on Iwo Jima did not get along very well. It can even be described as incompatible with water and fire. Lieutenant General Tadmichi Kuribayashi always wanted to put the No.80 five aviation The army was incorporated into the army's command system, and Zhonggu Dazuo became his subordinate.The reason is very high-sounding, in order to better coordinate and command all the garrison forces of the empire on Iwo Jima to deal with possible attacks by the China Independent Division Fleet.

In this regard, the middle-aged Kagawa Colonel snorted, although his military rank is only a Colonel, and Kuribayashi Chumichi is a Lieutenant General, but they belong to different command systems, and there is no affiliation between them. .Unless there is an order from the head of the Navy Command, Zhonggu Dazuo is not afraid of Lieutenant Admiral Kuribayashi.

The two men were even more divided over the deployment of forces for the defense of Iwo Jima.It can be said that the opposite is the opposite. According to the deployment of the commander of the Kuribayashi Chumichi Division, the No. 80 Fifth Air Force should be centered on Iwo Jima.The surrounding sea area within [-] kilometers is included in the alert range.Discover the incoming China Independent Division Fleet at the first time and attack it.Buy enough time for the army garrison to fight.

In the words of the head of the Kuribayashi Chumichi Division, it is called "defending the enemy from outside Iwo Jima!" This requires a large number of reconnaissance planes to be dispatched every day to conduct uninterrupted patrols and reconnaissance. However, the No. 80 Fifth Air Force has only two reconnaissance planes. The aircraft squadron can't cover the waters around Iwo Jima at all, so fighter jets can only be used as reconnaissance aircraft.

The middle-aged Kagawa did some calculations. If the deployment of the head of the Kuribayashi Chumichi Division is followed, then, of the more than 80 combat aircraft of the No. 130 Fifth Air Force, about two-thirds of the fighters do not need to do anything else. Flying in the sky is not only a torture for the pilots, but also a burden that the oil reserves on Iwo Jima cannot bear.

Combat aircraft take off, not to fly a kite, but to drink fuel. The local logistics supply is becoming less and less timely. The latest supply plan has been postponed for more than two months. Even the normal takeoff of the reconnaissance aircraft, I also have to calculate carefully, how can I afford Kuribayashi Tadao's fuss?

Therefore, Colonel Kagawa's battle plan in the middle ages was basically formulated around the reality of the No.80 Fifth Air Force. Simply put, it was the twelve words "Stay hidden, surprise, and win at the beachhead!"

Without revealing the strength of the No.80 Fifth Air Force, once the China Independent Division began to land on the beachhead of Iwo Jima, the 109th Division first carried out a tenacious blockade, and then the air force was dispatched with all their strength, and suddenly attacked, on the unobstructed beachhead , Inflicted severe damage on the landing troops of the Independent Division.

The defense plans of Kuribayashi Tadamichi and Zhonggu Kagawa have their own reasons. To put it bluntly, it is the question of the army and the navy taking the lead. On this issue, neither of them is willing to give in. Regarding this, Lieutenant General Kuribayashi Tadamichi has nothing to do , he can't control the captain of the navy.

After many quarreling and tense joint meetings of the army and navy, neither of the two defense plans was accepted by the other, and neither could convince the other. Helpless, the two had no choice but to report their respective defense plans to the general staff of the base camp. Ministry and Naval Command.

As a result, similar to what Kuribayashi Tadamichi and Zhonggu Kagawa estimated, the general staff of the base camp approved the implementation of the defense plan of the 109th Division, and the approval of the Navy Command Department was to implement the defense plan of the No.80 Fifth Air Force. Finally, the so-called The "Joint Defense Plan for Iwo Jima" ran aground, and the army and navy went about their own business, but everything was fine for the time being.

At [-]:[-] in the morning, Zhonggu Dazuo woke up on time. According to the usual practice, he first waved his samurai sword. He put away his knife with satisfaction, handed him a snow-white towel with the guard, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked to the residence, where the authentic Japanese-style breakfast is ready!

At [-]:[-] in the morning, Zhonggu Dazuo had just swallowed his first mouthful of breakfast when he heard the air defense siren at the airport and screamed, "Yeah!" The attack?This idea flashed in his mind, and then he shouted: "Guard, bring me my uniform!"

Zhonggu Zuo hadn't left his residence yet, the chief of staff of the air force, Ueno Zhongzuo, came in a hurry and reported: "Commander, I received a report from the ground radar station that in the waters east of Iwo Jima, we found the fleet of the China Independent Division and the formation of the troop carrier. The scale is huge, among which there are four aircraft carriers!"

"Now, it is located in the sea area more than [-] kilometers away from Iwo Jima, and it is approaching at full speed. Based on this, it can be judged that the Chinese intend to attack Iwo Jima. Do you want to order fighter jets and bombers to take off to fight?"

Chief Zhonggu slowly shook his head and asked, "What's the reaction from the 109th Division?"

Chief of Staff Ueno immediately understood, and replied: "There is no response yet. The radar performance of the Army's equipment is not as good as ours. Do you want to report this to the commander of Kuribayashi Chumichi?"

"Report truthfully, and ask Kuribayashi to order the army to enter a combat state. The navy's ground radar will report the enemy's situation at any time!" Zhonggu said thoughtfully.

"What about us?" Ueno Chief of Staff asked again.

"Radar closely monitors, concealed standby! Without my order, no combat aircraft is allowed to take off!" Zhonggu Dazuo said lightly.

Iwo Jima, the headquarters of the 109th Division of the Japanese Army. After receiving the notification from the No.80 Fifth Air Force, Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the commander of the division, first reacted that he must give a Heavy damage, there is nothing I can do about it, I can only order that guy from the ancient Xiangchuan to take action!

The head of the Kuribayashi Division wanted to call the headquarters of the No.80 Fifth Air Force, and shouted loudly: "I am the head of the Kuribayashi Chumichi Division. As the commander of the defense of Iwo Jima, I am ordering the No. The combat planes of the Chinese fleet should take off immediately, and must be severely damaged when the fleet of the China Independent Division enters a distance of 80 kilometers from Iwo Jima!"

Chief of Staff Ueno covered the microphone, turned to Zhonggu Dazuo and said, "Commander, it's the call from the head of the Kuribayashi division. He ordered our air team to take off immediately and attack the fleet of the China Independent Division!"

"It's so stupid!" Zhonggu Dazuo said contemptuously: "Ignore him!" Since he was not under the command of Kuribayashi Tadmichi, there was absolutely no need to implement his stupid orders.

Zhongguo has his own considerations. The No.80 Fifth Air Force has more than 130 combat aircraft, of which the number of fighter jets is only more than 350. However, the China Independent Division Fleet has four aircraft carriers, at least with carrier-based aircraft. There are more than [-] planes. He believes that as long as his combat planes are dispatched to fight, none of them will come back. The gap in numbers is too great.

The No. 80 Fifth Air Corps got through the phone, but no one said anything. The head of the division Chudao Kuribayashi yelled for a few minutes, but the other party didn't answer. He was so angry that he dropped the phone and gritted his teeth at the division chief of staff, Mizukawa. Da Zuo shouted: "Baga! Damn Zhonggu Xiangchuan, chief of staff, order the troops to enter the combat state, and the ground anti-aircraft artillery fire to enter the firing position!"

Although it will take a few hours for the troop transport fleet of the Independent Division to reach the waters of Iwo Jima, more than 109 soldiers of the Japanese 2th Division on the island have already entered a tense fighting state.

However, the carrier-based aircraft of the independent division fleet flew over Iwo Jima ten minutes later. This is a mixed formation composed of fighter jets and bombers. fly.

On the ground, the anti-aircraft artillery fire of the 109th Division of the Japanese Army began to shoot, and the anti-aircraft shells were below the formation, blasting out clouds of gray smoke. However, because the bombers had not yet entered the bombing channel, these anti-aircraft shells did not pose any threat at all.

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