In the sea near Hawaii, hundreds of warships continue to approach the Hawaiian Islands. After a long journey, the main force of the Japanese Navy's combined fleet finally arrived in the sea near Hawaii. The real test for the Sino-US alliance has finally arrived.
The main force of the Japanese naval combined fleet led by Yamamoto Isoroku includes almost all large and medium-sized battleships in Japan. The main first fleet among them is the subordinates Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, Yamashiro, Kongo, Haruna, Kirishima, and Hibi.
Eight battleships Rui, four heavy cruisers Aoba, Kinugasa, Furutaka, and Kako, four light cruisers Kitakami, Oi, Avukuma, and Kawauchi, two aircraft carriers Fushou and Zuiho, and more than 30 ships including Urakaze and Isokaze.
Destroyer.
In addition to the First Fleet, the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets also each have dozens of warships. Together with the Second Fleet and the First Air Fleet that arrived earlier, the main force of the combined fleet is
Almost all of the more than 300 warships are gathered in the Hawaiian waters. This is a huge number. In the entire Pacific, even if the warships of all countries are added together, this number cannot be exceeded.
At this time, the Japanese Combined Fleet was the undisputed overlord in the Pacific.
Yamamoto Isoroku was sitting in the flagship Yamato, and Kondo Nobutake stood in front of him with a look of shame on his face, his head hanging down.
Although he had just experienced a big defeat, Yamamoto Isoroku did not blame Kondo Nobutake, but just said: "Kondo-kun, you have tried your best."
After listening to Yamamoto Isoroku's words, Kondo almost burst into tears. Originally, Kondo Nobutake was prepared to face Yamamoto Isoroku's anger. He even thought of the worst plan and committed suicide by caesarean section to apologize. However,
Unexpectedly, Yamamoto Isoroku would put this matter aside with such an understatement, and Kondo Nobutake couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude.
"I didn't expect that our opponents would be so powerful, but how did they capture Nagumo-kun?" Yamamoto Isoroku said.
Kondo Nobutake said: "According to the survivors of the Akagi, a group of people hijacked the Hatsukaze, then pretended to be imperial troops and boarded the Akagi, and captured Admiral Nagumo. I wanted to take Admiral Nagumo back, but I didn't want to
We were ambushed by the Americans..." Kondo said with a face of shame.
"Kondo-kun, I said you have tried your best. If it were me, I would do the same thing." Yamamoto Isoroku said.
"Your Excellency, Marshal, now the main force of our combined fleet has gathered in the Hawaiian waters. There are more than a dozen aircraft carriers and more than 400 carrier-based fighter jets. We have enough strength to occupy Hawaii."
Yamamoto Isoroku shook his head and said: "Kondo-kun, you are wrong."
"Am I wrong?" Kondo Nobutake looked at Yamamoto Isoroku in surprise.
Yamamoto Isoroku said: "In fact, the purpose of the combined fleet's arrival in Hawaii was not to occupy Hawaii."
"Nani? You used such huge resources to come to Hawaii, but you didn't do it to occupy Hawaii. What was your purpose?" Kondo Nobutake's eyes instantly became confused.
Yamamoto Isoroku said: "Kondo-kun, how does Japan's national power compare with the United States?"
Kondo Nobutake Masashi said: "Japan is an island country with a small land and a lack of products. The steel, rubber, food and other materials needed to support the war cannot be self-sufficient and need to be imported from abroad. The human resources are not strong, while the United States has a vast territory and rich resources, and the war
It is self-sufficient in all kinds of materials it needs, and it has a strong industrial and technological foundation, as well as abundant human resources. These are things that Japan cannot match. In terms of overall national strength, Japan is not on the same level as the United States.
"
"What about military strength?" Yamamoto Isoroku asked.
Kondo Nobutake thought for a while. He didn't understand what Yamamoto Isoroku meant by asking these questions, so he decided to tell the truth and said: "In terms of naval strength, our combined fleet has basically annihilated the main force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet through several battles.
, now has an absolute advantage. In terms of the army, our army also has an advantage in terms of military strength. It has occupied Southeast Asia. Generally speaking, it still has an advantage. However, the United States has huge potential and has huge human resources and industrial production capabilities. As long as the United States exerts its full strength
By activating the military machine, it won't take long to reverse the disadvantage in strength."
"Kondo-kun, your analysis makes sense. Many people now only see that the United Fleet annihilated the U.S. Pacific Fleet at sea and the Army occupied Southeast Asia. However, the United States has strong war potential, which Japan cannot compare with.
, In the short term, Japan may have the upper hand, but as time goes by, and the United States’ war potential is gradually tapped, Japan will most likely fail in the end.”
"Marshal, I wonder what your purpose is in telling me this?" Kondo Nobutake asked.
Yamamoto Isoroku said: "At present, many people in Japan have also seen what you just said. Therefore, the war between us and the Americans cannot be prolonged for a long time. It must be resolved quickly, otherwise, when the Americans slow down
If things go too hard, Japan will surely suffer disaster. Therefore, the purpose of those of us attacking Hawaii is not to occupy Hawaii, but to put pressure on the United States through the battle against Hawaii and get the Americans to sit at the negotiating table."
"Oh, in this way, we don't need to continue the battle in Hawaii this time." Nobutake Kondo said.
"You're wrong again."
"Am I wrong again?" Kondo looked at Yamamoto Isoroku in confusion.
Yamamoto Isoroku said: "If we want the Americans to return to the negotiating table, we must have an absolute military advantage. We must let the Americans know that as long as we want to attack, we can easily occupy the entire Hawaii, and even directly
Force the West Coast of the United States and launch an attack on the U.S. mainland."
"Yes, only by letting the Americans know our strength can they negotiate with us." Kondo suddenly realized.
"That's why we dispatched the entire combined fleet to attack Hawaii in order to show our strength to the Americans. We will still attack Hawaii until the Americans admit defeat." Yamamoto Isoroku said.
"I understand." Nobutake Kondo nodded and said.
"The damage to the main force of the Second Fleet is not terrible. The main force of the combined fleet is a dozen aircraft carriers and large battleships. As long as these warships are there, we have maritime hegemony and can launch a powerful offensive against Hawaii at any time. Kondo-kun,
The military department has ordered the merging of the Second Fleet and the First Air Fleet to form a new air fleet."
Kondo Nobutake's expression darkened and he said: "My troops were defeated this time. I should take responsibility and hand over the command."
Yamamoto Isoroku's eyes were extremely sharp. He glanced at Kondo Nobutake and said, "I have recommended to the military department that you be the new commander-in-chief of the aviation fleet. I believe the official approval document will be announced soon."
"What?" Kondo Nobutake was shocked. He didn't expect that after he suffered such a big defeat, Yamamoto Isoroku would recommend him to be the commander of the newly established fleet. The scope of this position was far greater than that of his previous second-in-command.
The fleet commander is greater, which means that instead of being demoted, he was promoted.
What a great trust this is! Kondo Nobutake couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude to Yamamoto Isoroku.
"Kondo-kun, go ahead and do it boldly, you will definitely do better than Nagumo-kun." Yamamoto Isoroku said.
"Marshal, Kondo will live up to your trust, defeat the Americans, and bring them back to the negotiating table." Nobutake Kondo said excitedly.
"Kondo-kun, go and receive your fleet first. Soon, we will launch an attack on the Americans."
"Hai!" Kondo Nobutake turned around and exited the room with great gratitude to Yamamoto Isoroku.
As soon as Kondo Nobutake left, Yamamoto Isoroku's adjutant asked: "Marshal, Kondo Nobutake just suffered a huge defeat, why don't you recommend Shiro Takasu of the First Fleet to be the commander of the newly formed air fleet as usual?
?Is it worth risking your reputation to recommend a defeated general who disagrees with the entire military?"
Yamamoto Isoroku said: "Although Kondo Nobutake was newly defeated, he was defeated heroically. If it were me, if the commander was captured, I would pursue him desperately. This is related to the honor of the imperial army. Based on this alone,
Kondo Nobutake is a courageous person. As for being ambushed by the Americans, there is nothing he can do about it."
Yamamoto Isoroku went on to say: "Furthermore, since Kondo Nobutake's new defeat, if I use him again at this time, he will definitely be grateful, understand his shame and then be brave, so as to better serve the empire."
"Maybe you are right," the adjutant said.
"Just watch, Kondo will definitely do something." Yamamoto Isoroku slowly closed his eyes...
Just as the Combined Fleet was approaching the Hawaiian Islands, MacArthur also held a meeting with the participation of the main officers defending the islands, including the three division commanders of the US military defending the islands, Commander Liao Yaoxiang of the New Sixth Army, Chief of Staff Liu Jianzhang, and Commander of the Pacific Fleet Ni
Miz, and Xu Rui, who was only a small group leader but was allowed to attend the meeting with exceptions.
MacArthur sat on the leather chair behind the round table, with a pipe in his mouth and a solemn expression. Seeing that everyone attending the meeting had arrived, MacArthur put down his pipe and said straight to the point: "Our old rival, Yamamoto Isoroku and
His combined fleet is here, tell me what you think."
Brigadier General Will Smith, commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Division, said: "General, the Combined Fleet has more than 300 warships and nearly 100,000 troops. With our current strength on the island, we are no match for the Combined Fleet."
"Yes, what Smith said is right. Our confrontation with the combined fleet is simply to attack the stone with an egg, and there is no chance of victory." Several American generals echoed Will Smith's speech.
MacArthur did not speak, but his brows furrowed. American soldiers have always been pragmatic. He had to take care of the face of Americans and could not directly refute them.
At this time, Liao Yaoxiang was about to stand up and speak. Liu Jianzhang beside him quickly stopped Liao Yaoxiang with his eyes, signaling him not to talk too much, but Liao Yaoxiang seemed unaware...