As the Minister of Japan's Navy and Army expressed his position in front of the emperor, Japan strengthened its determination to continue fighting. Even if they faced Italy, one of the European powers, they wanted to try their skills.
Nagasaki is currently the main base of the Combined Fleet. Although there is a port in Lushun with a better location, considering issues such as facilities, equipment, supply and maintenance, Nagasaki is the best choice.
On the warships of the combined fleet docked at the port of Nagasaki, the officers and soldiers were doing their final work. Next, under the leadership of Commander Ito, they would fight against the hateful Italian fleet and let them know the reputation of the Yamato man.
However, these officers and soldiers did not know that Lieutenant General Ito, who led them to defeat the Beiyang Fleet, was looking at the busy naval officers and soldiers with a worried look on the new flagship Yamashiro (formerly the Chilean Navy's Bullard) ironclad.
"I don't know how many naval officers and soldiers will be able to return to Japan during this war."
If the busy navy officers and soldiers knew that their commander, Lieutenant General Ito Yuhiro, used such words to evaluate themselves, I really don't know how they would feel.
"There is nothing we can do about it. Who made the enemy this time too powerful?"
Vice Admiral Shiki Kayama, who was the chief of command of the Japanese Navy and was supervising the operations of the combined fleet, opened his mouth to help Ito Yuhiro.
Huashan Ziji's experience is somewhat legendary. He was able to jump from an Army background (ranking to an Army Major General) to serve in the Navy, and he also became the Minister of Military Order. How can he not be called a legend?
However, even though it has been ten years since he transferred to the Navy, Huashan Ziji still has one good thing, that is, he does not interfere with command and other affairs. To put it simply, his nature is like a supervisor of the army, a self-aware supervisor of the army.
Although Kaguyama Shiki doesn't know much about maritime warfare, he does know something about it. These days, the fleet chief of staff, Colonel Shigetoshi Dewa, and a group of staff are working on the map every day, trying to come up with a plan that will give the combined fleet a higher winning rate.
plan.
There is nothing that can be done about it. No matter in terms of fleet tonnage, firepower and personnel training, the Japanese Combined Fleet is far inferior to the Italian Task Force, no, it should now be called the Qing Special Fleet. (In order to avoid overly irritating the British
The task force of Italian officers and soldiers was renamed in Shanghai.)
Just as they were talking, Colonel Shigeto Dewa appeared in front of them.
However, his image was not very good. His eyes were blood-red, his beard was unkempt, and his military uniforms smelled bad. However, the words he said cheered up the two lieutenant generals.
"Commander, this is a new plan we made overnight."
Colonel Shigeto Dewa and the staff of his department have been fighting for many days.
It is not easy to come up with a new battle plan, because the gap between the Italian incoming fleet and the combined fleet is really big. Although in the eyes of ordinary people, the difference in tonnage between the Italian fleet and the combined fleet is not big, only 10,000
More tonnage, but the difference in quality is not the same.
The combined fleet commanders who are proficient in the navy are not as confident as ordinary people because they know more.
This is also the reason why Colonel Dewa Shigeno worked hard at his desk for many days, even to the point of forgetting to sleep and eat. The Italians were under too much pressure, so they had to risk their lives.
"This is the latest combat plan made by our staff, and the winning rate can reach four and a half levels."
When Colonel Dewa said this, he was extremely excited, as if he had come up with a perfect masterpiece. Even though the winning rate of this plan was less than half, just look at the surprised expressions of the two Lieutenant Generals Ito and Kayama,
This has moved both of them. If you knew that the combat plan that the staff came up with at the beginning had only a 20% chance of winning, you would probably be the same as them.
There was no way around it. Maritime operations were extremely focused on equipment. In addition, the Italian navy's officers and soldiers were not weaker than the combined fleet, so the navy actually had no confidence in this battle.
The commander, Lieutenant General Ito, took over the battle plan and began to read it, while Shiki Kayama, who was a step behind, had half of his head in front of the battle plan.
Seeing that the two lieutenant generals were looking at the battle plan seriously, Colonel Dewa was explaining it from the side.
"Actually, we all fell into a misunderstanding at the beginning. It was too difficult for our combined fleet to defeat the Italian fleet heading north. So we must jump out of this misunderstanding in order to have a chance of winning. This time the Italian fleet actually has weaknesses.
, that is, it needs to escort its fleet transporting the army, so that there is space that we can use."
When Colonel Dewa said this, he felt extremely excited as if he had discovered that the goddess he had a crush on was actually a pussy.
However, Lieutenant General Ito didn't care at all about Colonel Dewa's condition. He asked him, "You organize warships above 18 knots into a sortie fleet, and warships under 18 knots into a containment fleet. Is this a formation?
suitable?"
No wonder Vice Admiral Ito asked this, because one-third of the warships in the combined fleet are under 18 knots, and there are only two 10,000-ton ships patrolling Yoshino, the Akitsusu and two more than 3,000-ton Naniwa and
The Takachiho can reach over 18 knots, and together with the Yamashiro, Izumi and other warships purchased from Chile, the combined fleet now has ten warships that can reach over 18 knots, with a tonnage of more than 40,000 tons. Likewise.
occupies one-third of the share.
As for the warships under the 18th knot, he was a little reluctant to part with them. These were purchased with great difficulty by the Japanese people who were scrimping on food and clothing.
That's right, Colonel Dewa used warships under 18 knots this time as cannon fodder. In his plan, these warships that had made great military exploits for Japan would become cannon fodder to hold back the main force of Italy. He only needed to consider victory in the battle.
Compared with Colonel Dewa, Lieutenant General Ito has more issues to consider. He is still a little uncomfortable with this style of playing that hurts others first.
"Your Majesty Lieutenant General, this is our only chance to win."
Seeing his commander's hesitation, Colonel Dewa could only explain further. "We need warships to drag down the enemy's three Turin-class ships. As long as the attack fleet can threaten the enemy's transport ships, then we need to contain the formation to block the enemy's greatest threat to us.
With the three Turin-class ships, as long as the enemy warships are divided into two parts, then our army will have a chance to win."
"For this, all sacrifices are worth it. Even if I command and contain the formation."
It is obvious that Colonel Deyu is willing to make sacrifices for his own plan.
At this time, Colonel Dewa's plan was already clear, which was to use the Italian transport fleet as bait.
However, the battle-hardened Lieutenant General Ito was not so easy to convince. He continued to ask, "If the enemy does not follow your vision and instead surrounds and annihilates our diversionary formation, what should we do?"
Lieutenant General Ito's words directly pointed out the uncertainty of the plan. The enemy may not follow his baton.
To this end, Colonel Dewa explained. "Before I made this plan, I not only carefully read through the Italian Navy's previous combat styles and previous battle cases, but also referred to the battle cases of other European countries. I am 90% sure that the enemy will
It will definitely be due to the division of forces of the interception fleet, as long as the diversionary formation can stop the three Turin-class battleships."
After saying this, Colonel Dewa pretended to be relaxed and said, "Even if the situation we are worried about occurs, there is still a way, that is to destroy the enemy's transport fleet and buy time for the First Army to land in Shandong. We will sacrifice the entire diversionary fleet for
The Army has gained at least another seven or eight days, so they probably have nothing to say."
Colonel Dewa's words made the two lieutenant generals' eyes light up. Although it was not the Navy's original intention to pass the blame, if one of the Army and Navy was needed to shoulder certain responsibilities, then there would be no more suitable candidate than the Army's horse manure.
Although Colonel Dewa's last hint satisfied the two lieutenant generals, Lieutenant General Kayama, as the military commander, asked another question.
"If the Italian battleships use their strength and artillery power to forcefully break through the interception of the restraining fleet, what should we do?"
Colonel Dewa said confidently. "If this is the case, that would be the best. We can use torpedo boats to hide behind the diversionary fleet and give them a surprise."
The two lieutenant generals' eyes lit up. If the enemy really wanted to force a breakthrough, the torpedo's prestigious reputation would definitely make them think twice before doing so.
Although the enemy can use the speed advantage to bypass the diversionary fleet, if he does so, the delay will be enough for the attacking fleet to use naval guns to name the enemy's transport fleet one by one.
Seeing the satisfied expressions of the two lieutenant generals, Colonel Dewa pointed out the shortcomings of his plan. "This plan requires sufficient intelligence support and we must keep track of the enemy's movements at all times, so our own reconnaissance ships alone are not enough, we need international friends.
help.”
"There should be no problem with this. I believe that international friends will be very willing to provide support in terms of intelligence."
Lieutenant General Ito immediately responded. He knew who Colonel Dewa was talking about. When it comes to which country in the Far East has the most powerful intelligence among the great powers, who else could it be except Daiei?
If you make this request yourself, the British Empire, as a good friend of Japan, will definitely not refuse.
