Chapter 2652 Undercurrent of the Eastern Pacific 2

What Sturdy said is correct. The German submarine force can consider concentrating its forces to fight an ambush anywhere on the ocean. But this time, the Japanese asked the submarine force to go to the edge of the Panama Canal first. Then the fleet used the Panama Canal as a transportation hub to conduct an ambush similar to waiting for a rabbit. This tactic requires very little intelligence and coordination. After all, it is like waiting for a bus in a downtown area. It is easy to encounter an enemy. Of the fleet.

It is estimated that this tactic can only be used once in a while. The reason is very simple. After the Americans are prepared, if they deploy heavy troops in Panama, it will obviously be difficult to succeed simply relying on pre-dreadnoughts and a small number of submarines. Even if , the American troops guarding the Panama Canal may only be pre-dreadnoughts.

However, even if the Japanese were unexpected this time, calculated deliberately and unintentionally, and seized the time when the entire U.S. fleet was resting, it was still not easy to launch a successful raid. The Americans were not stupid. They knew the importance of the Panama Canal. Let alone a sneak attack, even if a few submarines sneak over and drop a string of mines in the waters near the canal, the United States may suffer huge losses. Therefore, the Americans' defense power in Panama is still very strong.

"Do you have a specific plan for this attack?" Yamamoto asked.

"Look here." Sturdy came to a huge sand table. This sandbox exactly describes the US military defense force in the Panama Canal area.

"First of all, it is impossible for us to block the western exit of the canal. The Americans have deployed a large number of coastal defense artillery in the canal area, including more than 6 14-inch artillery pieces. They are also equipped with complete fortifications and sightings Equipment. If we want to shoot at the shore guns, we are seeking death. It is even difficult for us to get close to the canal area because the Americans have deployed mine arrays and mine protection nets at the exit. All ships entering and exiting must be assisted by pilots. This is also the fundamental reason why our submarine force has not made any achievements here."

"Secondly, the Americans have also deployed a large number of escort destroyers and torpedo boats here. They will accompany every transport fleet. This is also to prevent our destroyer fleet from squatting around. These destroyers will not finish the journey with the transport ships. Throughout the whole journey, they usually operate within 200 kilometers around the Panama Canal. When the fleet reaches this line, the destroyer squadron will return. The Americans are very cunning, because after exceeding this range, the submarine will have to search for the fleet. It’s very difficult, because submarines can only keep up with the fleet by sailing on the surface. The 200 kilometers around the Panama Canal is already a very large range, and a small number of submarines cannot track it at all.”

As Lieutenant General Sturdy spoke, he gestured with the putter on the sand table and placed some markers representing units from both sides on the sand table.

"Actually, this time, our goal is to use carrier-based seaplanes to find the target, then cleanly destroy the escort force, and then destroy the entire fleet together with the submarine. Our warships are the eyes of the entire operation, and tear apart the American escort fleet The tip of the spear," Sturdy said.

"So are we operating during the day or at night?" Yamamoto asked.

"It is best to do it at night, or at dawn. During the day, the Americans may send patrol aircraft for warning. If they find that something is wrong, their fleet will immediately retreat to the protection of shore artillery and mine arrays, and the U.S. fleet They will also come from the mainland immediately, so we only have one chance, and the most covert way is naturally to launch an attack at night." Sturdy said.

"Then coordination is probably a very troublesome problem." Yamamoto frowned and said, the night combat training of Japanese surface ships is still qualified. But coordinated attacks between submarines at night are not possible. To be honest, the Japanese do not have this ability or experience. After all, like Germany, they built hundreds of submarines during the war, and then engaged in long-term strangulation and counter-strangulation with the British Royal Navy in the ocean for more than two years. The industrial capabilities of the Germans are unmatched by the Japanese. Therefore, it is impossible for Japan to build so many submarines and then engage in submarine swarm operations. In wolf pack tactics, the number of submarines is a hard target. If it cannot be reached, nothing will be discussed. In terms of actual combat experience, the Japanese are even more incomparable.

"Don't worry too much about tactical gains and losses. Our biggest goal is to delay time, delay the time for the U.S. fleet to resume its offensive, and allow the Americans to devote more power to escort operations. Remember one sentence, for all For the warships participating in breaking up the relationship, using our own lives to delay time is our best destination. Remember your strategic goals and don't be blinded by some illusions." Vice Admiral Sturdy said meaningfully.

Everything was according to Sturdy's plan. After completing the replenishment at sea, the Yamamoto fleet began to sail to the target sea area. Before heading to the mission area, the Japanese fleet implemented strict radio silence, and their stuck time was very accurate. When the submarines meet up, it should be in the evening.

Then, the fleet and submarines will withdraw a certain distance deep into the ocean to avoid American surface and aerial reconnaissance. At the same time, they will use their own radio equipment and seaplanes to detect the nearby American fleet. On the second night after arriving in the target area, Attack! The entire battle plan is concise, efficient, and highly executable!

After several days of sailing, the Yamamoto fleet finally arrived at the scheduled assembly point, where they met 6 Japanese submarines that had been waiting here for a long time.

"Tiger Shark Submarine Squadron Colonel Sasaki is here." Looking at the dark night in the distance, a traffic boat dropped from the Asagiri was returning from the distant submarine, Yamamoto said to Sturdy.

Great, we're ready for action tomorrow. Sturdy said.

"Does it have to be tomorrow? We have a certain degree of autonomy and we don't have to follow the plan." Yamamoto felt that the British plan was too rigid.

"It has to be tomorrow." As he said that, Lieutenant General Sturdy pointed to the moon in the sky: "Tomorrow happens to be a full moon, and the weather is clear. It is the most suitable for night operations. You know, submarines are different from destroyers. There may be so many searchlights and flares installed. So we must consider the lighting conditions at night and your business proficiency. In addition, don’t worry about the prey, we have already obtained relevant intelligence.”

"Okay, everything will follow your arrangements." Yamamoto nodded and said.

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