Age of Rebirth

A small-scale but far-reaching battle for the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy and the Southern Aviation Group of the Independent Division Air Force came to an end in the Sulu Sea. Shining on the undulating sea surface, and not long ago, bullet rain and thick smoke once permeated this sea area.

After receiving the report from the commander of the second wave of offensive aircraft, "Okay!" Le Yiqin slammed the table and applauded again and again, and said to Chief of Staff He Zhijun: "Zhijun, the first fleet of little devils in Suluhai, completely It's over, now, we can concentrate on dealing with the Second Fleet of Little Devils in the Banda Sea, that's a big piece of fat with a mouth full of grease!"

He Zhijun said with excitement, "Commander, after receiving the report from the reconnaissance plane, the Japanese Second Fleet is still sailing towards the Sulawesi Sea at full speed!"

"If you want to die, then let him be fulfilled!" Le Yiqin rubbed his hands excitedly and said: "Order the He Luming fleet that has returned, divide into two groups, and join the air combat battlefields in the southern and northern parts of the Sulawesi Sea. The carrier-based aircraft of the fleet, bite firmly in place, don't delay me digging out the lair of the little devil!"

"Also, after the second wave of attacking fleet returns, immediately refuel and hang bombs, cover the bomber fleet, and once again greet the second fleet of little devils in the Banda Sea area, and don't ask how many warships of little devils are sunk. Can!"

"Send a message to Commander Tang of the Fleet. If the fleet's carrier-based aircraft group still has the power to fight again, can you assist my fighter group in the northern airspace of the Sulawesi Sea to encircle and annihilate part of the carrier-based aircraft of the Japanese Second Fleet for reinforcements? "

In the Java Sea area, the command cabin of the flagship "Nagato", the main force of the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy, was deadly silent. Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro, the commander of the First Fleet, had already lost contact with the fleet headquarters. The radio station kept calling, but there was no response. The officers present were all veterans of naval warfare and knew what it meant!

"Commander, it is very likely that Admiral Takasu's fleet has been destroyed. We should consider how the combined fleet will act next!" Lieutenant Admiral Matsuda, the chief of staff of the combined fleet, broke the silence and tactfully addressed Admiral Yamamoto. Said.

One-third of the ships of the First Fleet were lost in the Sulu Sea. For the United Fleet, which has nearly a thousand ships of various types, it is only a little scratch. Strictly speaking, it is not even a scratch, but For General Yamamoto, the blow was quite heavy.

The reason why Shiro Takasu’s fleet was broken cannot be accepted by Admiral Yamamoto. For a long time, the way of naval battles has been conducted by the fleets of both sides on the boundless ocean. It is a confrontation between the fleets. Now, with two aircraft carriers, nearly Some of the warships of the First Fleet of thirty warships of various types were sunk by the land-based fleet of the China Independent Division Air Force.

In the impression of General Yamamoto, the land-based aviation is only suitable for patrolling the coastal waters and used for air defense operations. The short legs doomed the land-based aviation to be unable to go to the vast ocean.

Now, it is these short-legged Chinese land-based aviation fleets that have sunk more than [-] of their main battleships. Admiral Yamamoto's chest felt as if a heavy boulder was pressed on it, and he couldn't breathe.

"It was my mistake!" General Yamamoto said sadly. It was he who ignored the land-based aviation fleet of the China Independent Division that caused the destruction of Takasu Shiro's fleet. He sighed and said: "Matsuda-san, give the order Well, all the carrier-based aircraft of the Kondo Fleet should return, and the Second Fleet will immediately change course, return to the original sea area, and then go to the Sulu Sea, it is meaningless!"

In the Banda Sea area, all the warships of the Second Fleet of the Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet are sailing towards the Sulawesi Sea at full speed. Although the carrier-based aircraft can rush to the Sulu Sea area in an hour, the warships cannot. To bypass the Maluku Strait, enter the Sulawesi Sea, and then pass through the Sulu Islands to enter the Sulu Sea waters, it is a very large circle, even if the fleet sails at full speed, there is no two or three days, there is no Unable to reach the Sulu Sea.

Takasu Shiro's First Fleet was besieged by the land-based fleet of the Chinese Air Force in the Sulu Sea, and the reinforcement fleet was blocked in the airspace of the Sulawesi Sea. The commander, Lieutenant General Kondo Nobutake, had a feeling I feel very bad, and I am very dissatisfied with the order of the United Fleet Command to order the Second Fleet to rush to the Sulu Sea.

Lieutenant Admiral Kondo is very preoccupied, and the report by Chief of Staff Ichikawa proves the seriousness of the situation, "Commander, I am afraid the situation is not good. After receiving a report from the commander of the reinforcement carrier fleet, it is now impossible to evacuate from the air combat battlefield. , The Chinese pilots bite very hard, the battle is fierce, and my fleet is now withdrawing from the battle, it is almost impossible!"

"What?" Lieutenant General Kondo jumped up, gnashing his teeth and cursed: "Baga! How could this be? Command the fleet commander, no matter what method you use, you must leave the battle!"

Lieutenant Admiral Kondo was upset, and his size was a little messed up. The number of fighter jets in the land-based fleet of the China Independent Division was about the same as that of his own carrier-based fleet. Let go, don't bother to think about it, the China fleet will definitely have follow-up troops to join the battle. Could it be that Takasu Shiro's First Fleet has already encountered an accident?

Thinking of this possibility, in an instant, Lieutenant General Kondo's brow dripped with cold sweat. If the judgment is correct, then the entire force of the China Independent Division's aviation force will be pressed on his own reinforcement fleet. Contrast, pros and cons are judged, and what the consequences are, he knows too well in his heart.

"What should I do?" Lieutenant General Kondo was circling back and forth anxiously. At this moment, the Communications Staff Officer came in and said, "Report to the Commander and Chief of Staff. After receiving the order from the Combined Fleet Command, I ordered the Second Fleet to immediately change course and return to China." In the original sea area, all the reinforcement carrier-based aircraft have returned!"

"It's late!" It's okay if you don't listen. When the United Fleet Command came to the order, Lieutenant General Kondo suddenly became furious and roared, "Chief of Staff Ichikawa, order the fleet to move forward and enter the state of air defense combat readiness, ready to receive the return ship. machine!"

The command of the United Fleet Command is simply mindless. If the Second Fleet turns around immediately, what will happen to the carrier-based aircraft fleet that is fighting fiercely? I am afraid that they will fall into the sea due to exhaustion of fuel before flying back to the aircraft carrier.

Therefore, the Second Fleet is not only unable to turn around, but must continue to sail at full speed in the direction of the Maluku Strait, ready to respond to the carrier-based fleet, and if necessary, use the fleet's air defense firepower to attack the land-based fleet of the China Independent Division chasing after it!

Lieutenant General Kondo's order had actually disobeyed General Yamamoto's order. Chief of Staff Ichikawa, looking at Commander Kondo with red eyes, moved his lips a few times, but in the end he didn't say a word. He knew that he couldn't persuade him. Besides, Commander, there is nothing wrong with his order.

Nearly a hundred warships from the Second Fleet of the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet sailed towards the Sulawesi Sea at full speed. Vice Admiral Kondo was very anxious.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" A nervous cry shocked Lieutenant General Kondo, Chief of Staff Ichikawa, and all the officers in the command cabin.

It was a staff officer who just put down the phone with a pale face, "Baga! What enemy attack?" Lieutenant General Kondo roared angrily.

The staff officer's lips trembled nervously, "Reporting Your Excellency, the report from the third frigate detachment found that the land-based aviation fleet of the China Independent Division was rapidly approaching in the northwest of our fleet. It can reach the sky above my fleet!"

Lieutenant Admiral Kondo's head hummed, and suddenly there was a bang, "Damn Chinese people, how many land-based combat fleets are there?" Attacking Takasu Shiro's First Fleet, entangled his reinforcement carrier-based fleet, Now, come to attack your own fleet again.

What's even more frightening is that the Second Fleet now doesn't even have a carrier-based fighter, which is equivalent to a moving target. Although it has anti-aircraft firepower to defend itself and counterattack, it is inevitable to be at a disadvantage.

"Chief of Staff Ichikawa, immediately report to Commander Yamamoto that our fleet has been attacked by the land-based aircraft group of China's Independent Division Air Force!" Lieutenant General Kondo tried to calm himself down, and said: "Order the fleet to enter the air defense combat state!"

The shrill siren echoed on the surface of the Banda Sea. All the warships of the Japanese Second Fleet immediately entered the air defense combat state. Anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns raised their barrels and guns towards the sky. Regardless, the tense and suffocating atmosphere enveloped the entire Second Fleet.

Twenty or ten minutes later, the mixed aircraft group of the Southern Flying Group appeared in the sight of the Japanese sailors, and the battle broke out immediately. Immediately, anti-aircraft artillery shells and anti-aircraft machine gun bullets exploded black smoke in the sky, and aerial bombs screamed. When it landed on the sea surface, a column of water was stirred up into the sky. Under the water surface, one after another torpedoes rushed towards the Japanese warship with waves.

The officers and sailors of the Second Fleet of the Japanese Army discovered very painfully that their own anti-aircraft fire nets had little effect. Sweeping over a shuttle of bullets, hit the soldiers on the artillery emplacement, stumbling around, causing heavy casualties.

And those Chinese bombers bullied the few with more, a few or even a dozen of them, and fought fiercely around a Japanese warship. Bombs and torpedoes slammed into it from the air and the water.

Soon, several Japanese warships poured down, smoked and caught fire, and their speed suddenly slowed down, which led to a more ferocious siege. A fleet without carrier-based aircraft was a living target for beating in front of combat aircraft. !

(to be continued) r1152