The Rise of the Third Reich

"Commander, American planes are bombing Army troops on Oahu."

Isoroku Yamamoto had just woken up when he heard the bad news about the army's red deer, but he was not surprised, as if everything was expected.

"How many planes are there? Is it a single engine or a four-engine aircraft?" Yamamoto asked while slowly getting dressed.

"There are more than 100! All are single-engine aircraft, and they should have taken off from a US aircraft carrier!"

Ugaki Matoi, who reported to Yamamoto Isoroku, sounded regretful. If the 1st Mobile Fleet had been dispatched one day earlier, they might have been able to launch an attack now!

Yamamoto seemed to have guessed what Ugaki was thinking, and just smiled faintly: "It's useless, it can't hit the American aircraft carrier. They must have calculated the time, and sent the plane out before dawn, and then the aircraft carrier immediately escaped... Just watch. , these more than a hundred planes will definitely not return after destroying the army."

"Commander, then there is no need to dispatch the 1st Mobile Fleet?"

Yamamoto Isoroku thought for a while and said: "That won't work. If the American aircraft carrier doesn't leave, it will be in trouble. Let Yamaguchi Tawen lead the second aviation battle to 200 nautical miles south of the Hawaiian Islands... In addition, the second Zuikaku from the fifth aviation battle was strengthened for the second aviation battle.”

This order from Yamamoto Isoroku was to split Nagumo's 1st Mobile Fleet for use. Three aircraft carriers, Soryu, Hiryu, and Zuikaku, commanded by Yamaguchi Tamon, went to the south of the Hawaiian Islands to drive away Halsey's fleet - in fact, Halsey had already run away, and his four aircraft carriers were now related to the survival of Australia. It was a real loss. I'm sorry, Halsey, who knew the seriousness, certainly didn't dare to have another gamble with the Japanese.

However, Yamamoto Isoroku still needs to be cautious, so it is still necessary to send Yamaguchi Tawen troops (three aircraft carriers).

"So where is the main force of the First Mobile Fleet?" Ugaki asked for instructions.

"First send planes to deal with the new American planes on Oahu," Yamamoto Isoroku had already put on his military uniform, opened the sliding door of the bedroom, walked to the commander's hall outside, and said to Ugaki who was standing there, "Then go lurk north of Oahu... In a day or two, there will definitely be a real big fish taking the bait. In addition, let Mikawa Junyi command the 3rd team of the 1st Fleet to be responsible for supporting the landing operation. The main force of the 1st Fleet is now Prepare to face the battleships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet!"

"Hai!"

…

"Admiral, telegram from Oahu, the bombing 30 minutes ago was very successful. Haleiwa Beach turned into a sea of ​​fire, killing many Japanese soldiers who had just landed, and also destroyed many supplies piled there. "

On the battleship "North Carolina", Admiral Nimitz had just received good news. This morning (Hawaii time), the air attack launched by 146 F4Fs and SBDs against the Japanese forces on Oahu achieved great success. Hundreds of high-explosive bombs fell on the unprepared Japanese army officers and soldiers, killing perhaps two thousand or more people and destroying many supplies that had been painstakingly transported from Japan.

"Admiral, there are planes on Oahu now," Major General Frederick put the telegram on Nimitz's desk, and then said with a smile, "Maybe we can hold Oahu."

Nimitz glanced at his chief of staff and followed his words and said calmly: "If we can sink the Japanese super battleship...otherwise, the temporary airport in Skerfield Barracks will not exist for too long."

The Skerfield Barracks temporary airport is not in the valley, but on the plain south of Skerfield Barracks. Because the airport is placed in a valley, it is very unsafe for planes to take off and land. Moreover, although the valley is a blind spot for naval gunfire, it is too close to the front line and is easily bombarded by Japanese heavy mortars.

At this time, a report sounded outside Nimitz's office, and then Nimitz's adjutant opened the door: "Admiral, Major General Spruance is here."

"Come in," Nimitz said.

Rear Admiral Raymond Arms Spruance was a naval admiral whom Nimitz was very fond of. Now he commanded a patrol unit. Nimitz wanted him to lead the unit into Kanai in the early morning of January 3. Go to the Bay of Oahe to "fish for people."

"Raymond, there is a difficult task for you to complete," Nimitz called Spruance to sit down, and then said, "You will lead the 3rd Team to attack Oahu at high speed starting tomorrow morning. Entering Kaneohe Bay after dark.”

"Sounds a lot like committing suicide," Rear Admiral Spruance said to Nimitz in an American blunt tone. "Admiral, I heard that there are five Japanese battleships and many heavy cruisers near Oahu."

"It's actually not that bad," Nimitz said with a smile. "There are no heavy cruisers. The Japanese heavy cruisers are now attacking Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island, Borneo and Malaya. So just avoid the Japanese battleships." and aircraft attacks, the 3rd battle group is very safe, because the heavy cruiser New Orleans and the light cruiser Brooklyn are very powerful, enough to deal with Japanese light cruisers and destroyers.”

The New Orleans-class heavy cruiser is a treaty heavy cruiser, and its combat effectiveness is only that much. However, the USS Brooklyn is a really good light cruiser. It is not light at all. Its standard displacement is 9,900 tons, which is larger than many treaty heavy cruisers. Rear Admiral Spruance's third battle force included one New Orleans-class heavy cruiser and two Brooklyn-class light cruisers.

"But how could I avoid planes and battleships?"

"In fact, they probably won't attack you because your team is not a high-value target, and the Japanese are likely to use Team 3 as a bait." Nimitz said. "And the weather is terrible today."

"What if the Japanese didn't use my team as bait?"

Nimitz shrugged and said: "If they send battleships to attack you, you can escape in the third battle. If it comes by plane... this is unlikely. If it does come, I will send carrier-based aircraft to support you." of."

Nimitz's plan sounds unreliable, but in fact the Japanese planes now really have no time to deal with Spruance's team approaching Oahu at high speed because they have too many enemies to deal with. .

Some Japanese planes are following Yamaguchi's team to march south of the Hawaiian Islands; others are taking off from Akagi, Kaga and Shokaku to deal with American planes on Oahu, and at the same time they are going to bomb the airport; in addition, Yamato and Naga The five battleships Gate, Mutsu, Kirishima, and Hiei also needed aircraft cover.

Moreover, the weather in the Hawaiian Islands on January 2, 1942 was not very good. There was a large thunderstorm cloud floating in the sky, and from time to time a heavy rain fell somewhere.

Therefore, Yamamoto Isoroku on the Yamato did not learn that a US fleet including three heavy cruisers was approaching Oahu at high speed until 2 pm on January 2.

"Three heavy cruisers?" Yamamoto Isoroku frowned slightly after hearing the news. Since the weather was not very good and a fierce battle broke out on Oahu, the ones sent out to search for enemies today were all on the water with a short range. airplane. Moreover, these aircraft often encounter sudden thunderstorms, so there must be a lot of sea areas that will be missed.

"Commander, do you want to send planes for bombing?" Ugaki asked.

"No need," Yamamoto Isoroku touched his bare head and shook his head, "Don't do it for the time being...it can't be that there are only three heavy cruisers. It must be some kind of trap!"

Matoi Ugaki also nodded and said, "I think so too. Although I don't know what the Americans want to do, there must be some trick... Anyway, they are just three heavy cruisers."

The three treaty heavy cruisers are not high-value targets, especially when Nagumo Chuichi does not have many carrier-based aircraft to dispatch. Therefore, Yamamoto Isoroku and Ugaki Matoi would rather choose to wait and see for the time being.

Yamamoto Isoroku thought for a while and then said with a smile: "But we can't let them get too close to Oahu. Tonight is the night of the decisive battle! Ugaki-kun, it seems that our Yamato will be displayed again tonight." So powerful!”

…

Hawaii, Oahu.

By late afternoon, dark clouds were already hanging low in the sky, and the battle between American and Japanese aircraft could only come to an end temporarily. Of the 176 F4Fs and SBDs that took off from the Lexington and Saratoga, after being consumed throughout the day today, there are now less than 100 left. Of the more than 70 aircraft lost, about half were lost in air battles, and half were destroyed by bombing by Japanese aircraft.

Although the losses were heavy, the results achieved were very significant. The Japanese troops who landed on Oahu had switched to defense since the morning. This must be the result of the bombing. In addition, more than 30 Japanese aircraft were shot down, and almost no Japanese pilots were seen parachuting!

In other words, behind these more than 30 downed numbers, at least 50 Japanese pilots lost their lives. If you compare the loss of pilots alone, the Japanese actually lost today's air battle.

The result of this air battle made General Walter Short very satisfied. He withdrew his gaze from the dark clouds in the sky and said to Colonel Collins beside him: "The Navy people did a good job, now it's our turn. Let the children drive the tanks out of the woods, and then let the engineers build the pontoon bridge. I hope to launch an attack at 9pm and push the front to Haleiwa Beach by tomorrow morning... This goal should be achievable. For tonight's counterattack, we have concentrated 150 tanks, 120 artillery and 5 regiments of infantry.”

"General, we have committed too much infantry," Colonel Collins said. "We have almost no reserves left."

"Isn't there still one battalion?" General Short smiled, "That's enough...don't the Japanese have more than 'long guns' (referring to the Type 38 rifles that are a little too long after being mounted with bayonets), machine guns, How can Japanese soldiers with no weapons other than mortars and grenades defeat an armored force? This is impossible. The experience of the European war clearly tells us that the only thing that can defeat an armored force is another armored force. troops, and the Japanese definitely have no armor available in Hawaii!”