Chapter 783 Hawaiian Islands (9)

Hawaiian Islands.

When the German Marines on Oahu broke through the second line of defense of the Americans, Fleet Commander Hermann ordered to stop the attack. Because the American soldiers on the second line of defense fought desperately, the Marines not only suffered heavy casualties, but also lost several tanks. This made Commander Hermann very distressed. They had already occupied an absolute advantage, and they had suffered such casualties. It seemed that continuing the attack was not worth the loss, so he decided to trap the American troops on the island.

In the Pacific Fleet Command, Nimitz received the news that the separated German fleet went straight to Midway Island. "Midway Island... The Germans have a big appetite. They divided their troops to attack Midway Island before they completely captured Oahu Island?" Just as he whispered softly, the staff officer next to him asked for instructions. "Commander, there is still a fleet on Midway Island. Should they be withdrawn as well?" If they are not withdrawn in time, they will have to encounter the German fleet.

After a long silence, Nimitz nodded. "Let them withdraw." After thinking for a while, he added another sentence. "Let all personnel on Midway Island evacuate. Blow up everything that can be blown up. Don't leave any airport, runway, dock, or any other facilities for the Germans!" If he wanted to fight a decisive battle with the German fleet, he would have fought in the Hawaiian Islands long ago, and would not have waited until Midway Island. Therefore, the Battle of Midway Island would not have happened in this time and space.

Many people think that Nimitz was too risky in the Battle of Midway Island in the original time and space. The situation at that time was that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the Battle of Coral Island was damaged; the Japanese Combined Fleet greatly exceeded the US Pacific Fleet in terms of equipment, quantity, and personnel level. Even if the US military had deciphered the Japanese intelligence at that time, it would be easy for the Japanese Navy to destroy the entire Pacific Fleet. Moreover, the Japanese army was looking forward to a decisive battle with your fleet to destroy you, but was worried that you would not fight or your forces would be dispersed. But how could the US military dare to concentrate its forces to fight this Battle of Midway Island?

In fact, Nimitz had to take this risk, because Midway Island was the closest naval base of the United States to the island country at that time, and its importance as a forward base was self-evident. And the rear was directly behind Hawaii, the most important base of the United States in the Pacific. If Midway Island was surrendered to the Japanese, according to the situation of the US Navy in 1942 (Essex-class aircraft carriers would not be commissioned until early 1943, and the battle group would have to wait at least another half a year, during which there would be a 6-12 month blank period for naval aircraft carriers. The US only had three Yorktown-class aircraft carriers before July (one of which was severely damaged), and Saratoga and Wasp could be transferred after July. The Raiders had to remain in the Atlantic, otherwise the US Navy's strength in the Atlantic would be too weak), if the Japanese Navy set up an anchorage at Midway Island and transferred the main forces of the first and second fleets in the country to cooperate with the air force, Hawaii would be directly attacked. Moreover, the Marshall Islands in the southwest are also very dangerous, further threatening Australia. The result of Hawaii not being able to defend is that the US Navy can only set out from the west coast, and the Japanese Navy will definitely come back to harass the US mainland, which is a very serious consequence.

Since it is impossible to surrender, we can only bite the bullet and fight. At that time, the US Navy was in an extremely difficult situation. It only had two Yorktown-class Enterprises and Hornets. The Raiders and Wasps were in the Atlantic Ocean. The Saratoga had just been repaired on the west coast and it was impossible for it to come back immediately.

In the previous Coral Sea Battle, the US Navy sank a large aircraft carrier, the Lexington, a tanker, a destroyer, 65 aircraft, and 543 people died. Another aircraft carrier, the Yorktown, was damaged; the Japanese Navy lost a light aircraft carrier, 69 aircraft, 1,074 people died, and the heavy aircraft carrier Shokaku was damaged. From a numerical perspective, the Japanese Navy obviously won a tactical victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

However, the efforts of Lexington and Yorktown were not in vain. After the Battle of the Coral Sea, Shokaku was severely damaged, and Zuikaku's aviation fleet was basically crippled, and they could not participate in the Battle of Midway. The lost air force on Yorktown was supplemented with the aircraft left on Midway when Saratoga went to the mainland for repairs and other looted carrier-based aircraft. More than 1,400 workers were mobilized to repair Yorktown desperately. As a result, Yorktown recovered to an effective combat state within three days, which was 1/30 of the normal time. The US Navy used all means to repair Yorktown. Then Yorktown was filled with engineers and repair materials, and repaired along the way (leaving Midway before the Japanese Navy submarines intercepted it, and Midway also had to create the illusion that the aircraft carriers were in the port). In this way, the number of aircraft carriers on both sides was 4:3. The Yorktown-class aircraft carrier capacity was large, and the gap was not big in general. Midway itself also had an airport, which could use the Army Aviation, which was a good advantage. Therefore, in terms of the number of aircraft available to Japan and the United States, the United States had a slight advantage, and the quality of the pilots of the Japanese Navy Aviation was better.

The last and most important point is that the US Navy already knew that the Japanese Navy was going to attack Midway Island, and also knew the approximate configuration (the US Navy had roughly deciphered JN-25), but the Japanese army did not know that the US already knew this, nor did they know that the US Navy actually had a Yorktown available, and there were too many problems with their own plan, they had to split the fleet into two parts, and Yamamoto's combat intentions were not fully communicated to the commanders on the front line. If the combined fleet directly launched a landing battle, according to the situation of the US Navy at the time, it would be relatively passive, and at least the Japanese army would be completely defeated.

And now, Nimitz or the entire Pacific Fleet has no chance to fight to the death. The current situation has reached the point where the US fleet must lurk for a long time and pretend to be a fleet. Although it is very cowardly, this is an indisputable fact.

Suddenly, a staff officer spoke excitedly. "That German fleet went to Midway Island. The German fleet in the waters of Oahu Island only has two German battleships and two aircraft carriers (several battlecruisers, cruisers, and destroyers). Can we send a fleet to sink them?"

Nimitz shook his head slowly. Midway Island is located 2,000 kilometers northwest of Pearl Harbor, and Pearl Harbor is nearly 4,000 kilometers away from the US mainland. Once the mainland fleet is mobilized, it will definitely be discovered by the Germans and sent a message to the German fleet. Even if they quietly leave the port at night, how far can they go in ten hours?

By then, the Germans in Midway Island will return to the Hawaiian Islands, and their fleet will not even go halfway.

With a helpless sigh, Nimitz took a sip of strong coffee and continued to study his Pacific defenses.