Chapter 1680: Plan
Chapter 1680 Plan
"So, if we set the preset battlefield in the east of Madagascar, we have reduced the scope of the operation to a very small one. Relying on the intelligence network provided by submarines and camouflaged reconnaissance ships, as well as the relatively fixed routes of the Japanese, we want to capture It is still very possible to capture them. It would be better if the US intelligence agency could provide some more detailed information. Of course, our intelligence network on the northern front cannot be relaxed. If the other party takes the risk, and we do not If you are on guard, it will be a big problem." Su Xiong said.
Another advantage of choosing an area east of Madagascar is that it can avoid British aerial reconnaissance. Yes, it means avoiding British aerial reconnaissance. Now, even the British who are the number one in the aviation industry in this plane It's a bit stretched. It would be good to deploy some reconnaissance aircraft in South Africa, and the French are even more miserable. So, although Madagascar is a colony of the French, the aerial reconnaissance here is really not much better than nothing. When a war breaks out Before, the German fleet was relatively safe.
Of course, if the battlefield is near Madagascar, then the target that the fleet can attack can only temporarily choose the Japanese fleet. When attacked, if the Japanese disband the fleet, then they will have too many enemies to flee. If you run to a corner port to hide, add some disguise, and be prepared to hide for a few weeks, then the German fleet cannot afford to fight them. Therefore, under the current circumstances, The German fleet can just beat the Japanese escort fleet. As for the transport ship? Count how many ships you can fight!
Therefore, after the rough strategy was formulated, the German fleet began to enter the final preparation stage. In a week, the entire Monsoon operation was about to begin. At the same time, in Pontianak Port, the transport fleet code-named JEP58 was ready to go. This time, the Americans' previous intelligence made some mistakes. In addition to 1 battleship, 1 light cruiser and 2 destroyers responsible for escorting, In addition, there is also a Japanese seaplane carrier. This ship is the Akitsusu seaplane carrier, with a displacement of more than 6,000 tons. It carries 8 seaplanes and has a maximum speed of 20 knots. The fundamental reason why it had not been discovered before was that the ship was newly built and had been in the Philippines before. Before the war, it rushed to Pontianak Port to join the fleet.
"Your Excellency, Commander, what are you thinking about now?" On the bridge of the battleship Katori, Nagumo Chuichi, who has become the fleet's chief of staff, asked. In other words, the naval battle a few months ago was an extremely tragic event for the Japanese navy and most of the people who participated. After all, in that naval battle, two German battleships directly destroyed a Japanese fast battleship and a battlecruiser. Even the pride of the Japanese navy, the Fuso-class battleship, almost didn't come back... . After this battle, the arrogant Japanese navy no longer dared to say how high its quality was...
The destroyer fleet was even more embarrassed. Not to mention that the transport ships escorted by the destroyers were all dead. As the nemesis of submarines, the destroyers actually made the opponent perform an N-for-1 during the battle with the submarine! The death of all kinds of small boats is simply a matter of course! So much so that even members of the British Navy delegation to Japan heard about this incident.
They all said in a rather "tactful" tone that the Japanese destroyers never understood their position in this battle, let alone have any ideas for dealing with submarines!
However, Nagumo Chuichi was an accident! Because this guy sank a German submarine! Of course, it doesn’t actually exist, but it is in the battle report of the Japanese fleet! As a result, Nagumo Chuichi was promoted, and as a "professional anti-submarine" person, he served as the chief of staff of this escort fleet!
"I'm wondering if we will encounter the German fleet this time." Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Hyakutake Saburo looked at the fleet in the distance and fell into deep thought. "I have a feeling that our every move is under the watchful eye of the enemy. Everyone here is hostile to us. Maybe, this time, we are very likely to encounter the German fleet again!"
With such a big thing happening in the last battle, the Japanese navy naturally had to conduct various "battle training". The Japanese Navy investigated the entire process and discovered many problems. However, some of these problems could not be solved in a short time, such as radio communications, confidentiality work, and anti-submarine operations, etc. Especially for intelligence work, the time the Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies was too short. The marks left by the Dutch over hundreds of years cannot be eliminated so quickly, and the American intelligence network has also penetrated. Both With mutual cooperation, it is really difficult for the Japanese to keep secrets.
This time, if the Americans had not suddenly claimed that the Panama Canal would no longer allow navigation of fleets carrying military supplies, how could the JEP58 transport fleet still choose to go through the Indian Ocean? As for whether it is possible to take a detour to South America? Theoretically it's possible, but this voyage is really too far! It also takes longer. After all, the former one crossed the Pacific Ocean diagonally, while this road now crosses the Indian Ocean diagonally...
The tight time limit left the Japanese government with no better choice. The Allies needed the rubber, tin ore and copper mines produced in the Dutch East Indies. Therefore, the Japanese Navy decided to take a desperate risk and sail from the southern part of the Indian Ocean. Avoid encounters by bypassing the north, where the German fleet often operated.
At this time, the Japanese Navy no longer dared to easily mobilize its small number of battleships. Even if the subsequent service of the two Fuso-class battleships made up for the previous losses, the Japanese were still unwilling to use this kind of battleship to suppress the country. Heavy weapons are fighting against the German fleet. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that now that Germany has the advantage, the war may end next year. As long as Germany does not lose the war, the reckoning of post-war virtues will definitely come. At this time, Japan Naturally, people would not do anything to deplete their main fleet. Of course, the Japanese also know that unless they line up with more than two Fuso-class battleships, once they encounter the German fleet, the gap between capital ships and non-capital ships is really not that big...
As for what to do if something happens to the transport fleet? Anyway, the British have already paid, and the trade between the two parties is FOB. When the goods pass the ship's rail, the delivery has been completed. (This is a later trade term) If anything goes wrong, it will be the British's fault! Providing escort this time is already a great honor, okay? By the way, speaking of which, the British also need to pay for the escort this time. Even though we are allies, we still have to settle the score with our brothers!
Two updates today~~~! Please subscribe and reward~~~!
In addition, I recommend "My Great British Empire" by the author of this group, Rancho II. You can read it about modern Britain~~~!