Iron Cross

The Bismarck Sea is certainly not a ghost ship. On the contrary, before 7 o'clock in the evening, the ship was basically full, with a total of 798 people, including the captain, Lieutenant Colonel Simmons and the pilots.

Since receiving the evacuation mission, Simmons has been thinking about how to transfer all 800 people on the ship to the docked light cruiser Duluth (Cleveland class) as soon as possible. The general method is to rely on lifeboats or transport boats to ferry, but he thinks it is inconvenient and slow, and a new method must be found.

The only advantage is that the ship only needs to dock with the Duluth. After thinking hard for several hours, Simmons, an outdoor sports enthusiast, suddenly came up with a good idea - to set up a steel cable!

Arrange the steel cable on the railing of the starboard flight deck and let the lifeboat take the other end of the steel cable. With the cooperation of the officers and soldiers on the opposite side, hook the railing of the lower deck of the Duluth and set up a steel cableway. The two ships maintain a width difference of more than 100 meters, travel in the same direction and parallel at low speed, which can ensure that the steel cable is in moderate tension and will not cause a collision between the two ships.

Since the flight deck is higher than the cruiser deck, it is relatively easy to slide to the outside of the cruiser railing by swinging along the steel cable under the action of gravity. He asked someone to try it. As long as there is someone to support, one person can swing over in about tens of seconds (one steel cable can support more than 10 people). The only requirement is that the person who swings over must be brave and never look at his feet, otherwise he will be scared by the turbulent sea and fall down.

It is certainly dangerous to do this at sea, although he can also arrange a lifeboat between the two ships to rescue him in case he falls down. At first, he did not regard it as the main means, but just wanted to give some brave guys who were too late to move as an extra option.

But the unexpected attack by the Japanese army disrupted everyone's position. He knew that if the bombs were to find the Bismarck Sea, the weak and small ship would inevitably be destroyed and killed, and it was simply wishful thinking for the slow Casablanca class to escape. So he discussed with the Duluth for emergency evacuation, turning south while finding a suitable place to stop the ship and quickly transfer personnel.

So this supplementary channel turned into the main channel for rapid transfer between the two ships. In order to speed up and improve safety, the staff officers who had an idea also thought of other tricks-since the steel cable swing has been established, why should the personnel swing over one by one? Wouldn't it be faster to imitate the cable car and go over in batches directly?

So the maintenance ground staff used the lifeboat to urgently transform a hanging basket, equipped it with cables at the front and rear ends, and swung over relying on gravity and height difference while letting the officers and soldiers on the Duluth pull hard. Although the swinging basket looks a bit risky, it is much easier than swinging over alone. Although it was heavy when it was passed, it was not slow to lower from high. Although the basket was retracted from low to high, it was not difficult for the officers and soldiers who stayed behind to pull it up because it was light.

At the critical moment, the sailors, regardless of whether they were afraid or not, finally gritted their teeth and swung to the other side through the steel cable basket. The officers and soldiers on the Duluth also tried their best to rescue their comrades. At most, the two ships arranged a total of 4 steel cables (these steel cables are usually used to tow other ships). Each steel cable was strung with 5 people and released quickly. In the end, most of the sailors relied on simple cable cars to swing to the other side.

Fortunately, the two warships were not discovered by the first attack wave. The two warships boldly stopped the ship, neither turned on the lights nor counterattacked the air. They only used this method to transfer people in an orderly manner. In just about an hour, most of the personnel were transferred over - at the critical moment of escaping, the American soldiers showed extraordinary strength and courage. Even the most frightened people closed their eyes and swung through the air.

At 20:24, just over an hour, all the crew members were safely transferred during the gap between the first and second waves of the Japanese attack. Then the Duluth cut the steel cable and released the lock on the two ships - this was also the last scene seen by the four Japanese pilots.

According to McCain's unified deployment, each ship had to leave a few people to operate the warships to attract the enemy's attention, but Simmons didn't want his men to die in vain, so he used two iron rods to jam the steering wheel to maintain the course. He himself took the lifeboat to the Duluth with the last batch of evacuees. When he stepped onto the deck, everyone applauded warmly and cheered for Captain Simmons - his wise decision saved the lives of 798 people on the ship.

Everyone said goodbye to the Bismarck Sea with complicated expressions. The Duluth quickly rushed to the northeast at a high speed of 32 knots of the Cleveland class. As for the Bismarck Sea, which was stuck in the steering wheel, it still drifted south at a slow speed of 18 knots to attract the attention of the Japanese.

Now this escort aircraft carrier has become the trophy of the four pilots, a unique and one-of-a-kind trophy!

The whole story was put on the screens of Japan and the United States after the war. The Americans filmed the first half, called "The Great Escape", and the Japanese filmed the second half of the capture of the aircraft carrier by Toshio Ota and others, called "Top Gun", and also included the story of the Cleanup Trio.

"What? Four pilots of our army captured an empty escort aircraft carrier?" Kusaka Ryunosuke, who received the telegram, showed an unbelievable look, but when he saw the name on the signature, he couldn't help laughing, "It turned out to be Toshio Ota and Hiroyoshi Nishizawa... There is nothing these guys dare not do!"

Apparently, the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General, was very impressed by the Cleanup Trio.

"Send a few naval reconnaissance planes and send a few of the best engine officers and soldiers over to drive the ship back... Let them turn on the lights, otherwise it will be difficult to find!"

On the Katsuragi, Matsuda Chiaki and Ichigan's staff laughed when they received such news. Everyone talked about it: "A ship with aircraft, even a cheap escort carrier, is worth at least 10 to 20 million U.S. dollars, right?" Throw it away like this?”

Horikichi knew the news but didn't smile, only sighed silently.

"Sir?"

"This kind of Casablanca-class escort aircraft carrier only takes 6-8 weeks to build. The United States can build more than a hundred ships a year at full power. In the eyes of the Americans, the officers and soldiers on board are much more important than the warships." Horikichi sighed helplessly. , "I was thinking, when will Japan be so rich that it can throw away tens of millions of dollars without blinking an eye?"

Everyone was speechless. It would be impossible to change Japan. Even if all the people on the ship died, they would have to find a way to save the ship. Maybe this is the reason why the commander lamented the difference in strength?

"Let them turn on the lights, otherwise it will be bad if they are accidentally injured by the third wave... In addition, a coded telegram was invented to request the US warships to surrender. As long as they turn on the lights and anchor on the spot, our troops will be deemed to have surrendered and will not attack. After dawn, we will Come and take over! We will resolutely destroy the enemy troops who refuse to surrender without mercy!"

After half a minute, Horikichi added: "These pilots are very brave and have made great contributions to the empire. They should be commended. After the deed is completed, the leader will be promoted to two levels and receive a bonus of 100,000; the other meritorious personnel will be awarded 100,000 yuan." Promoted to the first level, bonus 50,000! Notified to the whole army for praise!”

"100,000?" Everyone's eyes widened: In this era when the annual salary of a naval admiral is less than 10,000 yen, 100,000 is indeed a huge sum of money - enough to buy half a Zero Fighter.

"The ship they got is worth tens of millions of yen... According to my heart, a reward of 1 million is not an exaggeration. Unfortunately, too much money will harm them and cause unnecessary controversy - let's leave it like this for now. ”

As a result, Toshio Ohta, who historically was not classified as an officer until he was finally killed in action, suddenly became a captain of the navy (based on his military exploits in the past few years, he was awarded the rank of second lieutenant before departure, and Hiroyuki Nishizawa was awarded the rank of lieutenant because he shot down more people). However, Toshio Ohta has no time to think about this at all. He only hopes that the engineering officers and soldiers will come as soon as possible so that he can quickly remove the title of temporary captain - sailing a ship on a dark sea is much more difficult than flying a plane...

"The USS Alabama sent a farewell message... They are under siege by enemy planes and have been hit by three torpedoes. They will not last long." At sunrise, Washington time, the staff reported to Nimitz and others with red eyes.

"Where are William and the others?"

"The flagship USS Franklin has abandoned the ship. A group of people escaped and were probably rescued by the destroyer..."

Just as he was halfway through speaking, a staff officer hurried over: "I just received a telegram from Chief Halsey. He and some personnel have been transferred to the destroyer...but...but..."

"But what? He's hurt?"

"He's fine, but..." the staff officer said hesitantly: "...General McCain was killed in action!"

"What!" After hearing the bad news, Nimitz could no longer hold on and fell down. He was soon taken to the hospital by ambulance. Others beside him, including Spruance and Turner, all Cried...

Truman and Dewey had been waiting for news in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and they couldn't help crying when they heard the result: Patton had just been lost not long ago, and McCain had been lost today. There were a lot of generals in the hospital, and he had just collapsed again. Nimitz, sadly, the dawn of American victory is thus far elusive.

Li Hai was silent for a long time, and finally advised: "Judging from the current battle situation, the main force of the Pacific Fleet can basically not be saved. The situation in Hawaii will be quite dangerous. The United States has inevitably lost in this war. Japan has not yet conquered the enemy." Hawaii and Germany are not approaching the mainland. It is recommended to seek an armistice... regardless of Japan and Germany. "

Truman and Dewey both shook their heads subconsciously. It was not that they were unwilling to make peace, but that the current peace conditions were difficult to negotiate.

The two had just exchanged views on the peace talks in private. Truman told Dewey the conditions for Japan's last peace proposal. Of course, the war situation has changed dramatically now, and he did not dare to hope to continue with the original conditions.

Dewey did not want to blame Truman for rejecting Japan's peace proposal - he would have rejected it as well. Before this battle, he even wanted to make peace with Germany and war with Japan to the end. Based on the current situation, Dewey believed that we should be more realistic - "It is enough to ensure the independence of the Philippines and the inviolability of the interests of American commercial capital in the Far East... As for the Pearl Harbor Incident, Japan will no longer demand an apology. As long as the Japanese official makes a statement, it is a matter of diplomacy. Just personnel mistakes.”

Of course this is a lie, but it’s okay to say otherwise. But the two of them knew that it would be very difficult for Japan to accept even this condition now.

But is it harder than winning?