Age of Conquest Reborn

On the flagship of the division's southern fleet, deputy division commander and commander of the Sulu Mobile Corps Tang Qiusheng, fleet commander admiral Tang Qiuquan, chief of staff Major General Xin Xiguo, Marine Corps commander Lieutenant General Han Tie, chief of staff Major General Wang Dongshan and others all gathered together.

Gathered in the command cabin, the generals had two attack targets to choose from. One was Iwo Jima, the main island of the Iwo Jima Islands, and the other was Chichijima, the main island of the Ogasawara Islands.

According to the predetermined attack plan, the first target of attack should be Chichijima, the main island of the Ogasawara Islands. However, after Tang Qiusheng, Tang Qiuquan and others carefully read the military map, combined with all aspects of intelligence, and comprehensively analyzed it, they

It was discovered that unless the Japanese troops on Iwo Jima were eliminated, they would not be able to attack Chichijima Island freely.

"Xiguo, please inform the deputy division commander and Commander Han about the deployment of Japanese troops on Iwo Jima and Chichijima!" Tang Qiuquan said to Chief of Staff Xin Xiguo.

Xin Xiguo walked to the map, first pointed to the location of Iwo Jima and said: "According to reliable information, the Japanese army defending Iwo Jima is the 109th Division. The division commander is Lieutenant General Tadamichi Ribayashi. This division is the newly formed

reserve division

regiment, with a total strength of more than 24,000 people. In addition, there are more than 5,200 people from the Idetachment of the original Japanese Iwo Jima garrison. Its commander is Colonel Houchi Kanegan. Therefore, the total strength of the Japanese garrison at Iwo Jima is

More than 30,000 people!”

"There is one heavy artillery wing, one tank brigade, and the remaining artillery units equipped with small and medium-caliber artillery, about two brigades. There is also a Japanese field airport on Iwo Jima, where the 80th Japanese Navy Land-Based Air Force is stationed.

The Fifth Air Force has more than 130 combat aircraft of various types and is the only air combat force of the second line of defense in the southern defense circle of Japan!"

"The terrain of Iwo Jima is a long strip, about eight kilometers long from north to south. The widest point from east to west is about four kilometers, and the narrowest point is only 0.8 kilometers. The vegetation on the island is not dense, but it is full of caves and ravines, and the beaches are mostly

There are steep cliffs and there are not many places suitable for landing. The Japanese army has built a fairly complete permanent defense system at the beachhead and defense depth, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack."

Xin Xiguo finished introducing the situation on Iwo Jima. Tang Qiuquan remained calm, but Han Tie frowned, obviously troubled by the terrain conditions of Iwo Jima. "Xiguo, let's talk about the situation on Chichijima Island!" Tang Qiuquan said.

Xin Xiguo pointed to the location of the Ogasawara Islands on the map and said: "Geographically speaking, the Ogasawara Islands are the last line of defense in Japan's southern Pacific defense circle. The Japanese army once again has heavy troops stationed, and Chichijima Island is its key defense area.

!”

"Chichijima is the main island of the Ogasawara Islands, with an area of ​​about 24 square kilometers and a circumference of about 52 kilometers. Suitable landing sites are concentrated in the south of Chichijima, and the beaches in other directions are cliffs.

, the island has dense vegetation, and the terrain conditions are more complex than Iwo Jima, with mostly valleys and large and small caves!”

"Chichijima's Japanese defense force is the 105th Division, headed by Lieutenant General Harukawa Kazuchi. It has a strength of more than 32,000 and is a strengthened division. It has a heavy artillery regiment and five

Artillery equipped with small and medium caliber mountain guns

Brigade, an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and two tank brigades. In addition, the Japanese garrison on Chichijima Island also has the original Chichijima garrison. It is a brigade-level organization with a strength of more than 9,000 people. The garrison captain is Yanai Yoko.

Second Major General!"

"Therefore, the total strength of the Japanese garrison on Chichijima is more than 40,000, which is about 10,000 more than the Japanese strength on Iwo Jima. In addition, Chichijima has been operated by the Japanese army for many years, and the island is densely covered with fortifications, all of which are reinforced concrete.

structure, and has good defense depth. If necessary, it can receive air support from the Japanese naval land-based aviation force and the 85th Air Force from Iwo Jima!"

"That's all about the Japanese troop strength and defenses on Iwo Jima and Chichijima. However, it should be noted that the sources of this information are all collected by the Intelligence Division a year ago and half a year ago. In recent months,

The intelligence office has not yet reported the relevant information, so we do not know the recent situation of the Japanese troops on Iwo Jima and Chichijima!"

Tang Qiusheng and Tang Qiuquan looked at each other, neither of them said anything. They were obviously thinking, "Commander Han, your troops will be the main force in the landing operation. What do you think, which one to fight first?" Tang Qiusheng was the first to ask.

road.

Han Tie frowned and said: "Deputy Commander, in terms of terrain, the defensive strength of the Japs, and the defense system, Iwo Jima is easier to fight than Chichijima. What's more, the air force of the Japs Navy is...

Those guys with wings will be in big trouble if we don’t deal with them!”

"Don't let the little devil's more than one hundred planes bite us from behind when we attack Chichijima. However, the division commander's order is that we only need to attack Chichijima. Hi, are you the commander-in-chief?

Just follow your orders and I will do it!"

"Cunning!" Tang Qiusheng scolded Han Tie with a smile, and said to Xin Xiguo: "Chief of Staff Xin, immediately sent a telegram to the division commander. The division commander said that after careful consideration by the South Road offensive force headquarters and based on the actual situation, we decided to change the attack target.

Be the first to capture Iwo Jima, be the first to eliminate the 85th Air Force of the Japanese Navy Land-Based Air Force on Iwo Jima, and then attack Chichijima Island, please let me know if this is appropriate!"

Xin Xiguo handed the record of the order to the communications staff. Han Tie looked at him and asked: "Chief of Staff Xin, I have a question. Our fleet and troop carrier formation are of such a large scale. The little Japanese reconnaissance on Iwo Jima

Didn't you find the machine? Or did you deliberately pretend not to find us and sneak a bite at the critical moment?"

Xin Xiguo smiled and said: "Commander Han, when the fleet and troop transport fleet sailed in the Pacific, they deliberately avoided Iwo Jima and the Ryukyu Islands. With the flight radius of the reconnaissance aircraft currently equipped by the Japanese army, the reconnaissance range cannot cover this area.

It’s normal for us not to be found in the sea area!”

"Understood!" Han Tie nodded, then knocked on the table and said: "The deputy division commander, Commander Tang, the Marine Corps and the Sulu Mobile Corps together have a total strength of hundreds of thousands, and they are fully capable of attacking Iwo Jima at the same time.

If we launch an attack with Chichijima, we only attack one island. Isn’t it too conservative?”

"Wait for the teacher's call back!" Tang Qiuquan said dryly. Han Tie shrank his neck and stopped talking. To be honest, he was not afraid of deputy teacher Tang Qiusheng, but he was afraid of Tang Qiuquan from the bottom of his heart.

, not just because Qiuquan is his direct boss.

In Busan on the Korean Peninsula, where the division command is located, in the office of division commander Tang Qiuli, the division commander's chief of staff Zhao Yuhe walked in, holding a telegram and said: "Division Commander, there is a call from the South Road Offensive Force Headquarters. After careful study,

They decided to change their original plan and attack Iwo Jima first, please ask the division commander for approval!"

"Attack Iwo Jima first?" Hearing the name of Iwo Jima, Tang Qiuli couldn't help but tremble and hurriedly received the telegram.

After reading it, he said in a tone that left no room for doubt: "Reply a telegram to Deputy Division Commander Tang, Commander Tang and Han Tie, ordering the southern offensive troops to never attack Iwo Jima first. They must strictly implement the established plan and attack Chichijima first.

!”

"But before the battle starts, we can first deal with the Japanese Navy's land-based aviation and the 85th Air Force. The other original battle plans must not be changed in any way. If there is any violation, military law will be ruthless!"

After recording the order, Zhao Yuhe did not rush to send a telegram, but put forward his own suggestion, "Commander, from a comprehensive analysis of various factors, Iwo Jima is easier to fight than Chichijima. Why did you deny the attack on the south route?"

Force command, suggestions?"

"Where do you get so many? Why? Hurry up and convey my order!" Tang Qiuli raised his head and glanced at Zhao Yuhe, then said angrily, and then buried himself in a pile of documents.

"Uh!" Zhao Yuhe was speechless. He didn't know why the teacher suddenly seemed unhappy. He grinned and hurried away.

Zhao Yuhe's figure disappeared from sight. Tang Qiuli raised his head, his face not normal. He knew very well why he was in a sudden bad mood after seeing Brother Qiu Sheng and Brother Qiu Quan about to attack Iwo Jima.

Iwo Jima is a place name that can be recorded in the history of the Pacific Theater of World War II because Americans lost too many lives of soldiers on Iwo Jima. In the records of the U.S. Army’s combat history, the battle to capture Iwo Jima is called

"The Battle of the Pacific Meat Grinder!"

Iwo Jima is a place that Americans remember so deeply that they tremble all over when thinking about it. During the battle, the attacking US troops suffered more than 26,000 casualties, including 6,812 dead, while the Japanese garrison had more than 23,000

Only 1,083 people survived the forty-day bloody battle. A total of more than 30,000 soldiers from the United States and Japan fell on Iwo Jima, which covers an area of ​​just over 22 square kilometers.

Tang Qiuli did not want history to repeat itself. Although it seemed that Iwo Jima was easier to fight than Chichijima, the actual situation was not the same. He knew all the situations on the Pacific battlefield of World War II. When the troops began to land, as long as they broke through the Japanese beachhead, the topography of Chichijima would be revealed.

, is not as dangerous as Iwo Jima. Now that he knows this, he will not let the troops repeat the mistakes of the US military. Therefore, he must use the strictest and clearest orders to stop Tang Qiusheng and Tang Qiuquan's suggestions.

The teacher pointed out that this rather harsh telegram quickly reached Tang Qiusheng's hands. After reading the telegram, he was obviously stunned and silently handed the telegram to Tang Qiuquan. After reading it, Qiuquan was also stunned.

He was stunned, and then handed it to Han Tie, both of whom had expressions of confusion and surprise on their faces.

"Two sirs, what's the situation?" After reading the telegram, Han Tie was even more confused. Shaking the telegram, he said to Qiu Sheng and Qiu Quan: "Are we just making suggestions? Why did the division commander come with such harsh words?

,not understand!"

"Okay, let's follow the command of the division commander! First deal with the Japanese 85th Air Force on Iwo Jima!" Tang Qiusheng interrupted Han Tie's complaints and said, with a look in his eyes.

thinking.

(To be continued)(To be continued)

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