Six Hundred and Seventeen Dizzy

Yamamoto Fifty-Six looked at the information that had just been sent in his hand, this information was like a hard knock in his heart. It was the first time that Chuichi Nagumo's carrier-based aircraft suffered such serious losses in a counterattack, and this also made Yamamoto Fifty-Six feel for the first time that the war seemed impossible to win.

The Marshal who led the Japanese Navy to unprecedented glory suddenly had a thought that it would be better to go back. He looked at the terrifying figures on the report, and unconsciously his palms were covered with sweat.

Sato's fighter unit was victorious, there is no doubt about it. A total of 24 of the 40 American planes were shot down, which is attributable to the bravery and tenacity of the Japanese Navy's carrier-based air force anyway. They have not had any rest time for several days in a row. These pilots are exhausted, and sometimes they even fall asleep after stopping the plane on the deck.

However, they still achieved a proud record. 30 Zero fighters faced 40 American p-40s and still achieved an amazing result of shooting down 24 aircraft. But this time while shooting down their opponents, the Japanese army also paid a heavy price. 11 Japanese planes were shot down, and 11 highly skilled Japanese fighter pilots could no longer continue to fight for the empire.

For the first time, Yamamoto felt that the issue of air supremacy was a bit tricky. His battleship fleet had to give up its plan to pursue the US fleet, because General Kurita was afraid that his battleship force would be attacked by US Navy carrier-based aircraft.

General Nagumo Chuichi was also stubborn. Without Yamamoto's consent, he pushed his aircraft carrier fleet 20 kilometers eastward, hoping to catch the US fleet and continue to attack. He even sent a letter to Yamamoto Fifty-Six himself. In the telegram, he said earnestly: "Marshal Yamamoto Fifty-Six, although our army has suffered certain losses, it still has a certain advantage and initiative on the whole. I implore you to agree to the fleet's decisive battle with the U.S. Navy here. , the life and death of the Imperial Navy will be decided in the First World War! I, Admiral Nagumo Chuichi, will be with the aircraft carrier Akagi. Long live His Majesty the Emperor! The Imperial Japanese Army will have a long life!"

This telegram was sent together with Sato's battle report, which shows that Nagumo Tadaichi is planning to give it a go. Japan's four fleet aircraft carriers have already pressed against the US fleet. The Japanese Navy still has an advantage in the number of ships and aviation units, but the gap between the two sides has indeed narrowed to a negligible level.

"Australia is really a chicken rib." Yamamoto Fifty-Six sighed. If the attack on Darwin Port had not caused the Japanese navy to disperse, the situation of the Japanese fleet near Pearl Harbor would be much better. However, the plan to reinforce Darwin Port was also proposed by the Navy Department. After all, the Japanese high-level hopes to obtain a permanent large port in Australia to store offensive strategic materials.

The plan of the Japanese navy is that once the Port of Darwin is captured, Australian iron ore can be continuously shipped to Japan, allowing Japan's shipbuilding industry to advance by leaps and bounds, and laying a solid material foundation for complete control of the entire Pacific Ocean. However, the division of troops at the limit distance directly caused the Japanese navy's difficult situation this time.

It is not impossible to drive away this fleet of the United States,

If he fights for losses, he is sure to even eat the American fleet, but Yamamoto knows that once he does this, the combined fleet will be completely finished. Americans will see a weak Japan in intelligence, and the capture of Hawaii will definitely not end the war, but will make the United States more determined in its belief in war.

Yamamoto knew that the Japanese navy and army were powerless to attack the United States. Even if the entire U.S. navy wiped out a single ship, the Japanese army would not have the courage to send hundreds of thousands of Japanese soldiers to the east coast of the United States, along with millions of American soldiers and Thousands of tanks fought a protracted war.

The last time I provoked a big country that is less than one-tenth of the strength of the United States, China has already placed a heavy burden on the Japanese that cannot be shaken off. Now it really does not have the courage to face a country like the United States on a vast territory. . If it is arrogant to challenge the world with the power of one country, it is absolutely suicide to challenge the world with the power of one country like Japan.

Two days ago, Yamamoto attended the memorial ceremony for Japanese naval aviation pilots on the deck of the Akagi aircraft carrier. More than ten days of fighting cost the Japanese Navy the precious lives of 32 pilots. Yamamoto personally bowed for the 32 columbaria, expressing his deepest condolences.

Yamamoto put down the document in his hand, turned back and said to his staff: "Japan is too small, so small that it makes people feel a little desperate. Every pilot is a precious asset of the Japanese Empire. If we lose too many troops here If not, then everything in the Great Japanese Empire will be over!"

"However, Your Excellency Marshal, if we don't choose a decisive battle at this moment... then, the more than 40,000 soldiers on Oahu and Kauai, the armies of the two divisions, will be completely wiped out." The staff member bowed his head and said: "The humble staff believes that as a soldier of the Great Japanese Empire, you should not back down now."

"Yes, Marshal! The soldiers of the Great Japanese Empire should not back down!" Another officer bowed his head behind Yamamoto and said, "We should be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor! Fight to the death without fear!"

"General Nanyun is right, we should fight to the death! Since General Nanyun is sure to destroy the US fleet, we have no reason to retreat!" Another staff officer also said: "We must try, otherwise, your decision, Marshal It will be made irresponsible remarks by domestic officials!"

Yamamoto thought for a while with some anxiety, and then said: "Order Nagumo, continue to search and pursue the US fleet! Try to annihilate this US navy!"

He paused, then continued to speak: "Send a telegram to General Fukuda on the island and ask him if he can end the battle within 24 hours. If he can guarantee the end of the battle within 24 hours, I am determined to fight with the United States here." Naval decisive battle. If he cannot win the victory in time, the navy will not be able to ensure the command of the sea!"

"Your Excellency Marshal!" A staff officer wanted to persuade him again, but his words were quickly interrupted by Yamamoto.

Yamamoto waved his hand: "No more persuasion! I've made a decision! No change! Go and implement it!" He spoke firmly, as if he had already made up his mind to lead his troops to retreat immediately after the First World War.

Nagumo Chuichi sent a third wave of aircraft to attack the troops when Yamamoto was struggling to retreat. This time he put all his eggs in one basket and sent torpedo attack planes and level bombers without air superiority. I really don't blame him for being so desperate, because he saw from Yamamoto's telegram that His Majesty the Marshal wanted to retire.

The first wave of attacking Sato's troops took off and shot down 24 U.S. P-40 fighters at the cost of 11 Zero fighters. For the second time, the Japanese naval aviation dispatched a full 50 Zeros, and once again fought fiercely with the fighter force of the US Navy. The two sides fought fiercely for more than 15 minutes, and the result made the Japanese suffer for a long time.

Regardless of dissuasion, Sato once again flew the plane out. This time he achieved the first result of the day, but his wingman was also shot down by the American pilot. Two were shot down. But the final result of the battle was that Japan shot down 21 US Navy planes at the cost of 13 planes.

Nagumo Tadaichi was finally frightened by this terrible combat data. He lost a full 24 aircraft in one day, and they were all the most advanced Zero fighters of the Japanese Navy. This made Nanyun Zhongyi almost have a heart attack. You must know that in the few days of fighting, he has lost 37 pilots, and now 24 people have died in battle. This is definitely bad news for the Japanese navy, which lacks pilots.

"Baga! Baga!" Nagumo dropped his favorite cup on the command bridge. In less than ten days, 61 elite naval pilots were lost, and about 40 zero planes were also damaged. fighter jets and various other aircraft. This made Nanyun feel distressed to the extreme. Since Japan invaded Shanghai, China, it has never lost so many aircraft in a short period of time.

"All those who died in battle were the best soldiers of the Japanese Empire! These soldiers are the best pilots in the world!" As an important representative of the Japanese naval aviation, Nagumo Tadaichi certainly knew how important the soldiers in his hands were. . Airplanes can be replenished if they are destroyed, but pilots are almost a rare resource that cannot be replenished for Japan.

"American bombers appeared on the outskirts of the fleet! Our planes are fighting with them and have already shot down two enemy planes!" An intelligence officer walked quickly to Nagumo Chuichi and reported the battle that just happened. The Americans were not After being beaten blindly, they also sent their own counterattack troops, but the results of these counterattack troops were not obvious.

Just a few minutes ago, a Japanese light cruiser was hit on the bridge by a bomb dropped by a U.S. plane. The captain and more than 40 officers and soldiers died in battle. And half an hour ago, a destroyer was also damaged and had to be ordered to return to Japan for repairs.

Soon, the news that Nagumo wanted to see came back on the radio, that is, the Japanese attack fleet had achieved results, and a bomb hit an American aircraft carrier. However, because the battlefield was very chaotic, the Japanese pilots did not confirm which American aircraft carrier they had hit.

"Okay!" Nagumo clenched his fists confidently: "Prepare for the next wave of planes! Destroy the US fleet in one fell swoop!"

"General!" The officer who sent the information said in a low voice, "We lost 29 planes... Isn't it too risky to continue taking off planes to attack?"

"..." Nan Yun was taken aback for a moment, and then suddenly felt the world spinning.