Chapter 914: Still Defeat VI

"Is this... going straight to Christmas Island?"

On the afternoon of September 25th, Tokyo time (late night on the 24th, Hawaii time), Admiral Koga Mine, who had just led the main force of the combined fleet to set off from the Hashishima anchorage near Kure Port, once again received a report on the whereabouts of the US fleet.

The Americans' previous advance towards the Big Island of Hawaii was indeed a feint. When they advanced to more than 800 nautical miles away from the Big Island of Hawaii, they turned around and turned southwest, heading straight for Christmas Island.

"It should be Christmas Island!" Ugaki crossed his arms and stood in front of the chart table, frowning slightly, "According to the latest seaplane reconnaissance report, the U.S. fleet is still about 900 nautical miles away from Christmas Island, but their speed seems to be a bit slow. , about 10-15 knots.”

"It should speed up." Koga Mineichi said, "They may bring the landing force and supply formation together... It is estimated that they will separate tomorrow, the main formation will speed up, and there may be an air strike in the early morning of the 26th Hawaii time. . There won’t be any problems with Christmas Island’s air defense, right?”

"There is no problem on Christmas Island," Ugaki said with a smile. "There are more than 1,000 aircraft on the island, including as many as 380 Hayate fighter jets and Zero fighter jets... Now we can teach the United States a lesson."

Koga nodded. He was also very confident about Christmas Island's air defense.

"Let's hurry up," Koga Mineichi said. "There are still more than 4,000 nautical miles. If we want to take part of the anti-submarine route, it will be nearly 5,000 nautical miles. It will take 250 hours to go 20 knots."

"It will definitely be in time," Ugaki said. "The Americans cannot take Christmas Island within ten days."

…

"What? Christmas Island hasn't been hit by air raids yet?"

At 4 pm on September 27, Tokyo time (11 am on September 26, Hawaii time), Commander-in-Chief Koga Mineichi of the Combined Fleet on the battleship Yamato discovered that the situation was unexpected.

The air battle that was supposed to happen early in the morning had no sign of happening until 11 a.m.

"Where is the American fleet?" he then asked.

"We are still 600 nautical miles away from Christmas Island... we have only traveled about 300 nautical miles in more than 30 hours."

"So slow?" Koga was stunned. "The reconnaissance plane discovered the supply formation and the landing formation, right?"

"It's possible," Ugaki said, "but the reconnaissance aircraft did not detect other US ship formations."

"No discovery?" Koga Mineichi shook his head, "Did the Americans just form a large formation and sail slowly to Christmas Island?"

"It's also possible..." Ugaki Matoi smiled, "The way Americans fight is a bit strange."

Strange indeed!

This is not how the Navy fights wars. The Navy must focus on speed! In this era, it is common for aircraft carrier task forces to run at a top speed of more than 30 knots. How can such speeds of 10 to 12 knots be slowed down within the strike range of local shore-based aviation?

"How about we send shore-based aircraft to carry out air strikes?" Ugaki Matoi suggested.

"600 nautical miles is still a bit far," Koga Mineichi looked at the chart, "I suggest the 10th Fleet wait a little longer."

600 nautical miles is equivalent to 1,110 kilometers, while Japan's latest Hayate fighter has a rated range of only 1,745 kilometers, and its combat radius is almost 700 kilometers and up to 800 kilometers. The Comet dive bomber's bomb-borne range is only more than 1,000 kilometers, and the Meteor torpedo bomber's range is larger, but it is difficult to reach targets 1,110 kilometers away.

Therefore, Koga Hoichi's suggestion was quickly adopted by the 10th Fleet Commander Onishi Takijiro. But contrary to Koga and Onishi's expectations, they had to wait for 24 hours!

The American fleet moved forward slowly, covering only 300 nautical miles in 24 hours. When it was almost noon on September 26, Hawaii time, the fleet was still on the ocean 300 nautical miles northeast of Christmas Island.

What's even more strange is that the Americans never launched an air strike.

"Baga! Did you forget to bring the bomb when you left the port?"

On Christmas Island, Lieutenant General Onishi Takijiro, commander of the 10th Fleet, felt lost in the fog.

300 nautical miles is only 555 kilometers, and American carrier-based bombers can definitely get it!

Therefore, from early in the morning, the Japanese troops on Christmas Island were facing a formidable enemy. All anti-aircraft guns were pointed at the sky, covering the planes taking off, and the remaining fighter pilots were always on standby. Just waiting to beat up the American plane that comes to your door.

But after waiting and waiting, the American plane just didn’t come!

"Commander, maybe the Americans want to bombard Christmas Island, right?" The chief of staff of the 10th Fleet is Sennin Staff Officer Kurojima Kameto. This smelly Japanese rear admiral crossed his arms and looked at the chart for a long time before coming to the conclusion The most unreasonable, but the only possibility.

"But...why didn't they conduct air strikes?" Onishi Takijiro asked, "Now is the age of airplanes. The Americans have very good carrier-based aircraft!"

The Black Island Turtle Man thought for a while and said very seriously: "They didn't bring bombs!"

"ah?"

Hei Dao shrugged: "Although it is very unreasonable, it is the only explanation!"

"So...so they're going to bombard Christmas Island?"

Kuroshima Kameto nodded and said, "According to intelligence, the US fleet should have 10 battleships, including 3 super battleships with 406mm main guns. The fortifications on Christmas Island cannot withstand it, and there are no armored turrets that can bombard the battleships. So we can't let the US fleet advance to the distance where it can be bombarded, otherwise the airport on the island will be destroyed."

Onishi Takijiro was stunned, then thought about it carefully, and nodded. Although Christmas Island is very important, it is a very flat and narrow coral island after all, and the area is not very large. It is impossible to deploy defenses like the Hawaiian Islands. And... Japan does not have so many resources to make Christmas Island as impregnable as Oahu.

Therefore, the defense of Christmas Island is very dependent on the support of the air force and the fleet, and the airport on the island is the key to the decisive battle. Because Christmas Island is only 2,080 kilometers away from Hawaii, most of the Japanese shore-based aircraft can be transferred directly. Therefore, after occupying Christmas Island, Japan built a large number of airports and large oil and ammunition depots so that shore-based aircraft could be transferred to Christmas Island immediately after discovering the approach of the US fleet.

"Baga!" Onishi Takijiro, a fleet faction, couldn't help but curse, "Are all the US Navy fleets stupid fleet factions? They have to use battleships to bombard with good aircraft instead of using them! This war is too stupid."

"Commander, send planes to bomb." Kuroshima Kameto suggested, "Considering the strong air defense capability of the US fleet, we should send as many large aircraft groups as possible to overwhelm the enemy with the advantage in numbers. In addition to the fighters and reconnaissance aircraft that cover the airport and the Type 1 land attack aircraft, all of us should launch an assault!"

"Of course!" Onishi Takijiro's expression suddenly became extremely serious. "Give the order now, the 14th Air Fleet (actually the shore-based air force, with Onishi Takijiro concurrently serving as the commander), all attack! The Army Air Force also launched an air strike at the same time! In this battle, more than 10 American aircraft carriers must be sunk!"

"Hai! The Emperor on board! The Empire of Japan, on board!"

With Onishi Takijiro's order, the 14th Air Fleet and Army Air Force stationed on Christmas Island immediately entered combat status. At the six large airports on the island, various types of fighter planes that had been ready for a long time took off one after another.

At 12:15, the first attack wave sent by Christmas Island had been fully assembled. 336 aircraft, including 55 Swift fighters, 58 Zero fighters, 86 Comet dive bombers, 67 Tianshan torpedo bombers, and 80 Meteor torpedo bombers (all torpedo planes were equipped with bombs), formed several large formations, covering the sky and the sun and rushing towards the US fleet less than 300 nautical miles away.

Afterwards, almost the same number of aircraft formed the second attack wave, which was assembled one hour after the first attack wave set off, and also rushed towards the US fleet. Onishi Takijiro and Kuroshima Kameto only left less than 100 fighters on Christmas Island to perform air defense tasks. In order to expand the results after the first and second attack waves were successful, Onishi ordered the I-Type land attack on Christmas Island to stand by and prepare to send it out to "finish off" the injured US ships.

Seeing that the huge fleet had all left, Onishi Takijiro asked solemnly: "When can the mobile fleet launch an attack? "

Jisaburo Ozawa's mobile fleet had previously been hiding near the Palmyra Atoll. After confirming that the US fleet was approaching Christmas Island, it immediately charged eastward and prepared to launch an air strike.

"Two attack waves can be dispatched before 3:30 p.m." Kuroshima Kameto reported, "Then the mobile fleet will retreat westward, and the aircraft dispatched from the aircraft carrier will return to Christmas Island."

"Haha, it's another shuttle bombing, and the timing of departure is also very good." Onishi Takijiro nodded in admiration, "You are worthy of being Admiral Ozawa! "

Ozawa Jisaburo's deployment was indeed very clever. The attack wave sent before 3:30 could find the US fleet around 5 o'clock. At this time, it was almost dusk on the battlefield near the equator, and it was almost dark after the bombing. The Americans could not launch a counterattack at all. Moreover, the carrier-based aircraft sent by Ozawa carried out shuttle bombing and retreated immediately after sending the aircraft, giving the Americans no chance at all.

The carrier-based aircraft that landed on Christmas Island could fly to the aircraft carrier far away from the battlefield at night after refueling, so as to launch a new attack the next day.

In other words, Ozawa's fleet was always in a very safe position, and it could be said to be invincible.