Iron Cross

Inoue Narumi read in a trembling voice: "…The situation in the South Pacific is precarious, and the battle for each island is imminent. The enemy no longer cares about the loss of warships and aircraft, and focuses on attacking us with superior land and air forces to conduct attrition warfare. If we take the Guadalcanal War as an example, it is easy for the enemy to replenish after losses, but it is difficult for us to replenish after losses. The enemy's losses can be replenished from Australia nearby, while our losses need to be transported from the mainland 6,000 kilometers away. Taking all factors into consideration, my judgment is as follows:

Lost within three months: Guadalcanal Island

Lost within six months: Solomon Islands, Aleutian Islands =Shenzhen Islands

Lost within one to one and a half years: New Guinea Islands, Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands

Lost within three years: Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Java and Sumatra Islands (central and eastern Indonesia), Malaya Islands (mainly Borneo)"

If Hoffman looks at this analysis, he will know that the above judgment is generally in line with the actual historical situation, but the order will be a little different - because the United States implemented the leapfrog tactics in the offensive, and Japan believed that the US counterattack would be advanced layer by layer.

"So the Philippines and the Ogasawara Islands can still be defended for three years." Yamamoto Isoroku smiled, "The army still has enough confidence in the navy... It's more optimistic than I thought. I thought the enemy would attack the mainland by then." Inoue Narumi and Shimomura Sadana were about to cry, "Sir..." "Ishihara's statement is very clear. From the Battle of Guadalcanal, we can see that if there is no sea control in island operations, there will be no logistics and supplies on the ground, and the operation will be defeated. If there is no air control, there will be no sea control. The key to all the problems lies in air operations - but our pilots and aircraft are no match for the United States. We can't withstand the continuous consumption of air operations, so ultra-long-distance air operations like Guadalcanal must not continue, and the front line must be contracted." Tada Shun said "According to his ideas and suggestions, I decided to draw a circle with Rabaul as the center in the southeastern sea area. The radius is calculated based on a one-hour flight distance by plane, which is about 500-600 kilometers. All islands beyond this distance will be abandoned..."

Although there was no map at the scene, they were all experienced generals, and they understood it with a rough thought. Inoue Shigemi asked tentatively: "Does the army mean to abandon all the Solomon Islands east of Bougainville Island and the New Guinea islands south of Lae City and Salamoa?"

"Almost. The army intends to hold the triangle with Rabaul as the center and Bougainville Island, Lae City and Salamoa area as the two wings, and abandon all other islands."

"How long will it be held? How many troops will be used?" Yamamoto Isoroku asked after a moment of silence.

"After the full withdrawal is completed, we will hold out for another 6-8 months, and wait until the combined fleet completes the Indian Ocean strategy before launching a counterattack. As for the troops..." Tada Shun took stock, "It was originally planned to establish the Eighth Front Army to be responsible for the unified jurisdiction of the 17th and 18th Armies in the southeastern waters. The main army forces include the 2nd, 20th, 38th, 41st, and 51st divisions, the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 65th independent mixed brigades, the 4th South China Sea Garrison, and 4 aviation divisions. If the contraction plan is implemented, the number of aviation divisions is insufficient, but the army has excess troops, and some can be transferred out - it is planned to add 2 more aviation divisions and withdraw 2 army divisions."

"The main forces of the 11th Air Fleet are Whether some reinforcements can be given to Vice Admiral Ugaki Matome on the islands centered on Rabaul also shows that the Navy Center is concerned about his transfer. If the main force of the fleet is withdrawn in the future, Mikawa Gunichi's 8th Fleet can stay near Rabaul to deal with the US military after strengthening the strength of the ships - but in that case, it will lose the ability to attack and counterattack. Is the army sure to do this? "

"Attack? Counterattack?" Tada Shun shook his head, "I haven't thought about it, and Vice Minister Ishihara doesn't have this strategy either. The army's idea is very simple. Once we are determined to implement the Indian Ocean strategy, all regions in the South Pacific will go on the defensive. The defense policy in the southeast direction is to hold on to the surrounding islands with Rabaul as the core, and use various methods to attack the US military. With casualties, they want to fight a war of attrition with us, so we will fight them with lives. Rabaul has been operating for many years, with sufficient supplies and favorable terrain, and can sustain long-term operations. The reason why I transferred two divisions back to the Philippines is because these two divisions are newly established security divisions, with weak strength, and consume the same supplies as the old divisions, which is a complete waste. "Tada Shun said while dipping his finger in water and drawing on the table: "You see, Rabaul, Bougainville and New Guinea just form a triangle with a side length of 500-600 kilometers. We are going to deploy 1 division and 1 brigade on Bougainville Island, and the same in Lae and Salamoa. With the strength of one division and one brigade, only two brigades plus a garrison are needed in the Rabaul area. The enemy will not attack Rabaul directly before breaking through Bougainville, Lae and Salamoa areas, otherwise they will be attacked from both wings. Once the two wings are broken by the US military after a protracted battle, the remaining troops can easily withdraw to Rabaul for a protracted battle. The troops in Rabaul seem weak at the beginning, but in fact, they have similar troop density after receiving the retreating troops from the other two places in the later stage. In summary, the army plans to deploy 90,000 to 100,000 troops in this triangle area, plus 600 to 800 aircraft. Of course, this is an idea that Deputy Minister Ishihara and I have discussed personally, and it has not yet formed an operational plan and issued. "

Shimomura Sada asked: "If the Navy has to draw away aircraft carriers and the main force of the fleet to implement the Indian Ocean strategy in the future, we will not object, but can we send more troops to the base air force?"

Yamamoto Isoroku and Inoue Narumi exchanged opinions and said: "We can also increase the number of naval aircraft to 600-800, but the fuel problem requires the assistance of the army to solve the problem, and the navy's fuel must ensure ocean operations."

Originally, Japan's army and navy were responsible for their respective resources, and what the army gained would never be used by the navy, and vice versa. But now the atmosphere in the army and navy is unprecedentedly harmonious, and the big bosses are sitting together drinking, so the issue of fuel is naturally easy to discuss. ——Besides, Yamamoto Isoroku is not as big as a lion. Compared with the oil-burning giants of the United Fleet, the fuel for hundreds of aircraft is really nothing.

While they were talking, Tada Shun's adjutant suddenly walked in in a hurry and handed over a telegram, and then quietly retreated out. Tada Shun's face turned ugly after taking a glance.

"How's it going?" Shimomura Sada seemed a little nervous. Looking at Tada Shun's look, he knew it was definitely not good news.

"Hyakutake Haruyoshi just sent a telegram to the base camp, saying that the enemy is strong and that the two attacks so far this evening have been unsatisfactory. He requested to increase the strength again and give him the 38th Division. He himself is on the island. He also said that supplies There is a serious shortage, and we request the base camp to coordinate with the navy to increase supply.”

"He hasn't given up yet... The navy's supplies can no longer be strengthened. Let's throw ten iron barrels of supplies into it. It will be good if they can get three. If we strengthen it again, all the destroyers in the fleets near Rabaul will be wiped out. "Who can protect the aircraft carriers and battleships?" Inoue Narumi muttered, and her expression suddenly changed, "You still want to add another division? Can you win with the refueling tactics?" Americans? The supply of supplies for one division is already very difficult. How much more supplies will be needed to add another division? "

Everyone knows that Guadalcanal is currently dominated by American aircraft. Japan's transportation of supplies can only be maintained by the Rat Express (Tokyo Express) carried out by destroyers at night. Destroyers cannot reach the island at all and can only take advantage of nightfall to move the equipment. Throw down the iron barrels of logistics supplies and rely on the power of the tide to automatically float to the shore for use by the army. A 30% arrival rate is considered good.

"Asshole..." Shun Tada couldn't bear it any longer and growled in a low voice. He turned to Shimomura Sada and said, "Let's talk to Deputy Commander Ishihara. Reinforcements will never be allowed. Cancel the arrangement to establish the Eighth Front Army and cancel it directly. The establishment of the 17th Army will assign the units of the 17th Army to the management of the 18th Army under Lieutenant General Anda 23rd. The 18th Army will be directly under the base camp sequence. When the time comes, the two complete divisions of the 18th Army, the 41st and 51st, will be withdrawn to me. The 2nd Division is probably crippled and will be withdrawn to the Philippines for consolidation. If Hyakutake Haruyoshi wants to attack him so much, I will arrange for him to go to India to fight the British. "

"This..." Shimomura said in embarrassment, "It's easy to give this order. Deputy Commander Ishihara probably means the same thing. Is it possible to guarantee that Hyakutake Harukichi will carry out the order to the letter? If he insists on doing nothing, how can we get far?" What should he do if he is 6,000 kilometers away?”

Tada Shun gritted his teeth and said: "Let Colonel Tsuji Masanobu go to convey the order. Isn't he very good at acting as a lobbyist? I persuaded General Yamamoto last time, and I think I can persuade Lieutenant General Hyakutake this time, so I asked him to convey it. If he comes back after failing to complete the mission, I will remove him from his post. Deputy Commander Ishihara and Lieutenant General Hyakutake are classmates. In addition, I will ask Deputy Commander Ishihara to find a way to communicate with Prince Higashino Miyazaki and let them send a private telegram to persuade—— Tell him that if he continues like this, the chief attendant will be completely embarrassed by him..."

Hyakutake Haruyoshi's third brother Hyakutake Saburo has been serving as the chief chamberlain of Emperor Hirohito since 1936, and has a very close relationship with the royal family. If King Higashikuru Miyazaki Minuhiko refuses to obey orders from the royal family, it would be tantamount to being naked. Slap the royal family in the face.

"Okay, I'll do it immediately." Shimomura Sada turned around and left first.

"I'm telling you a joke." Shun Tada picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. "Originally, I didn't want to make such a drastic adjustment. The situation is really compelling and I have no choice."

Yamamoto Isoroku sighed, "This is the dilemma you and I are facing, Prime Minister Lu, we all have a long way to go..."

"What about the task of withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal?"

"I know, I will say hello to the United Fleet - now I can only use a private telegram." Yamamoto Isoroku smiled bitterly and drank all the water in the tea cup.