Glorious Mission 1937

The time when the U.S. Navy discovered that it was cheated was on May 5, when a U.S. reconnaissance plane discovered it during a routine cruise, but that was when the Japanese Navy fleet was very close to Midway Island, less than 7 nautical miles away. At this time, the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet has already arrived at the Aleutian Islands, and has already fought with the Japanese Navy's Northern Fleet. Even if Japan's Northern Fleet can be defeated in a short period of time, it is impossible to rush back before the Japanese fleet attacks Midway Island. .

At this time, Nimitz suddenly realized that the "af" position of the Japanese navy was actually Midway Island, not Aleutian, and the Northern Fleet was just a pawn to contain the US fleet.As far as the Japanese navy is concerned, as long as Midway Island is occupied, it is worthwhile to completely abandon the Northern Fleet.

Nimitz really panicked this time. As the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Navy base in Hawaii and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean, Nimitz’s strategic vision is much stronger than that of ordinary officers. importance.

In desperation, Nimitz had to send a report to the defenders on Midway Island, ordering them to stop the Japanese landing on the island at all costs and wait for the arrival of reinforcements.However, in view of the fact that there are only more than 3000 defenders and 12 large and small warships on Midway Island, even if those torpedo boats are counted, there are only more than 20 ships. More than 1000 large and small warships from the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in the sea immediately went to Midway Island for reinforcements.

But Nimitz also knew that the naval ships staying at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii were either outdated or wounded warships being repaired.The reinforcements going south can only beat the side drums, and it is impossible to stop the Japanese navy by this.

However, Nimitz has his own ideas. It takes two and a half days for Aleutians to fly to Midway Island. The navy will be able to come back for reinforcements.

The idea is beautiful, but the reality is cruel.The Japanese navy did not stop after arriving in the waters of Midway Island. The main fleet immediately launched an attack, and the mobile formation was on guard in the direction of Pearl Harbor, ready to face the U.S. Navy coming in the direction of Pearl Harbor at any time.

Midway is just a small island with an area of ​​no more than 5 square kilometers.The battleship's muzzle can be raised a little bit to cross the entire island.Therefore, although the geographical location is very important, there are not many US troops stationed on it, and there are only more than [-] people including the ground crew, which can barely be regarded as a reinforced regiment.

But what about the Japanese army?There are more than 5 people in the main fleet.The landing fleet has dozens of warships and tens of thousands of troops.The total strength of the Japanese army is more than five times that of the US military.The strength of the two sides is not at the same level at all. It took less than a day for the Japanese army to destroy all the fortifications of the US troops guarding the island, and more than half of the more than [-] officers and soldiers guarding the island were killed or injured.The rest of the troops fled but couldn't escape, and reinforcements were nowhere in sight, so they could only die with the Japanese troops who landed on the island.

It's not that the American officers and soldiers were bloody and vowed not to surrender, but that the Japanese themselves ruined the market.Ever since the Washington Post reported on the death march of American captives in Bataan, the American officers and soldiers had a tacit understanding that fighting against Japan was a national war, and it was good to win the war, and if the situation was unfavorable, they would die. Knock, but the department can surrender anyway, otherwise even if it surrenders, it will not end well.

This is indeed the case in the implementation. Anyway, in the eyes of the Japanese, the captives are not human at all, and it is common to torture and kill captives.Faced with the terrifying reputation of the Japanese army, even American soldiers could only choose to die together.

At eleven o'clock in the evening on May 5, after nine hours of fierce fighting, the main force of the Japanese army finally landed on Midway Island. Although the Japanese navy was harassed by the US fleet from Hawaii during the period, it still had no impact on the battle situation.

The news that the Japanese navy easily occupied Midway Island, the whole Japanese people boiled, and the previous decline was wiped out. A large number of Japanese people held the Japanese rising sun flag made of paper and flocked outside the Japanese Imperial Palace to celebrate this great victory. Tokyo is elated.

The United States saw a different situation. After the fall of Midway Island, Hawaii was gloomy. The Japanese navy could transport troops to Hawaii through the fleet at any time, destroying the US naval base with the most complete equipment and personnel in the Pacific Ocean.

Admiral Nimitz ordered the U.S. military in Hawaii to immediately organize fortifications, ready to meet the possible attack from Japan at any time.At the same time, Nimitz also asked the US government for help, hoping to send more naval warships to fight, otherwise it would be difficult to deal with the Japanese army.

In addition, Admiral Nimitz also ordered the main force of the Pacific Fleet to reinforce Midway to immediately station at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Midway fell, and the Japanese army had completely controlled the entire island. There is no help, it is better to return directly to Pearl Harbor and prepare to face the possible Japanese fleet.

So far, the U.S. military has lost Midway Island and the Aleutian Islands one after another in less than half a month, and its right to speak in the Pacific has dropped to freezing point. On the contrary, the Japanese Navy is full of spirits, not only controlling the waterway from the U.S. mainland to Southeast Asia , At the same time, it also formed a pincer attack on Hawaii, the most important stronghold of the United States in the Pacific Ocean.

Most importantly, from now on, the Japanese navy poses the most direct threat to the west coast of the United States.As long as the Japanese are willing, the fleet from Midway Island can attack Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and other cities on the west coast of the United States at any time.

However, before the excitement of the Japanese passed, the Chinese navy appeared in the waters of Midway Island like a divine soldier descending from heaven.Taking advantage of the night, the Chinese naval fleet poured all its main force quickly approached the loosely guarded Japanese naval combined fleet, and launched an attack on the Japanese navy at a distance of less than 50 nautical miles from the Japanese naval fleet.

Chen Feng is very familiar with the Japanese carrier-based aircraft. Whether it is the previous Type [-] or the current Zero fighter, there is a common problem, that is, they cannot fly at night, but the J-[-] equipped by the Chinese Navy has such a function. Chen Feng chose to carry out the navy's first round of attack at night.

When more than 800 carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy appeared over Midway Island, the sound of the huge engine shocked Yamamoto 56, but he could not understand where the fighters came from and why they could fly at night.When the midway island naval base heard a violent explosion and ignited a fire, Yamamoto immediately sounded the battle alarm and ordered the flagship Yamato to leave the port immediately.

Since the Japanese army has been stationed at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base by the US Pacific Fleet, it will not go south to Midway Island for the time being, and Hawaii is 1200 nautical miles away from Midway Island. The range of ordinary bombers is not enough to bomb Midway Island. In the waters between Hawaii and Hawaii, where the mobile formation of the United Fleet is monitoring the movement of the US military, the Japanese navy on Midway Island is very lax.

In addition, an unprecedented victory was just achieved today, so with Yamamoto's acquiescence, all officers and soldiers of the navy went to the island for a simple celebration.Although the celebration dinner was a bit simple, they didn't drink less wine, and everyone was drunk.

When the Chinese navy attacked, most of the Japanese soldiers were not on board, and the problem became serious. Except for a few warships that left the port in time to escape the heavy bombing, most of the warships were attacked by more than 800 soldiers under Chen Feng's command. The key care of the bomber.

This big bombing lasted for a full 2 ​​hours. Since the distance was close enough, Chen Feng's fighter jets quickly returned to the aircraft carrier to replenish ammunition after dropping the bombs, and then went to the battlefield again.

After Chen Feng's troops stopped the bombing, Yamamoto urgently ordered the commanders of the warships to treat the wounded and report the losses. An hour later, the losses were finally counted. There were more than 2600 casualties in the troops, which is not too bad.However, the loss of battleships almost made Yamamoto 56 vomit blood. 17 ships were sunk and 27 ships were damaged. The 17 ships sunk also included 1 large aircraft carrier, 1 battleship, 2 light cruisers, and 8 ships. Destroyers, and the rest are auxiliary warships.

The injured included 2 large aircraft carriers, 1 seaplane carrier, 2 battleships, 4 cruisers, and 8 destroyers.Just one night of bombing almost paralyzed the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet. You must know that the main fleet and landing formation of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet are moored at the port of Midway Island.The warships owned accounted for more than half of the Japanese Navy, with a total of more than 160 ships, and 44 ships were lost in one night, and most of these 44 ships were large warships, not small guys like torpedo boats.

Yamamoto 56 keenly felt that the enemy was nearby, otherwise the enemy's carrier-based aircraft would not be able to bomb back and forth so quickly. After dawn, it would be a fierce battle, so Yamamoto ordered the Japanese combined fleet to move all the wounded to the island. The field hospital is carrying out treatment, and the severely damaged warships are left alone. There is no time to repair those guys now.

Instead of rushing to repair the fortifications overnight, the navy replenished ammunition overnight, inspected the warships, and prepared for a decisive battle with the enemy after dawn.In view of the fact that the enemy's strength may have exceeded their expectations, Yamamoto ordered Nagumo Chuichi's mobile formation to immediately go south for reinforcements, and the two sides jointly attacked the enemy fleet to ensure the safety of Midway Island.

Following the order of Yamamoto 56, the Japanese Navy ignored the exhaustion after the war, and the whole team rushed to repair the fortifications and treat the wounded overnight, preparing for a bigger and more tragic battle.

The officers and soldiers below are busy preparing for the battle, while Yamamoto 56 is thinking, who is the enemy who suddenly appeared?American?British?Chinese people?

In the past, only the Americans and the British were able to take action against the United Fleet in the Pacific.Now let’s add a Chinese. The British are afraid of being beaten. The army and navy are all huddled in India and dare not come out. The Americans just lost Midway Island and the Aleutian Islands. Now they must shrink their troops to defend Hawaii. Then the only possibility is the Chinese, but is this possible? (to be continued..)