Regarding the question of when to launch an attack on Iwo Jima, Ron believed that the sooner the better.

"Fuel-air bombs are not so effective at all times. According to experience in Europe, as long as certain modifications are made to the fortifications, their effectiveness can be greatly reduced." Ron explained, "This kind of bomb is very effective against

The lethality of underground fortifications comes from two points. First, fuel gas can penetrate

Second, this kind of bomb can cause severe hypoxia in a large area and cause the enemy to suffocate to death. The Germans have improved the air tightness of underground fortifications and prepared soldiers to be able to support breathing for more than ten minutes.

Using oxygen bottles can significantly reduce the effectiveness of this bomb."

Having said this, Ron raised his head, looked at General Smith, and continued: "The Germans and the Japanese are allies. It should be easy for the Japanese to learn about these German experiences from the Germans. But in the Philippines

, we found no signs that the Japanese had taken similar measures. It was as if they had never received relevant early warning. From this, we judged that the Japanese had not received relevant intelligence, or were receiving

After receiving the relevant intelligence, they did not pay attention to it. However, it is difficult to imagine that after the First World War in the Philippines, the Japanese army could continue to ignore the changes brought about by this weapon. Whether they studied it themselves or asked the Germans, they should be able to

We quickly understood the mechanism of this bomb and took corresponding measures. However, the implementation of these measures takes time. The faster our attack, the shorter the time left for the enemy to modify, and the more beneficial it is to us."

General Smith and General Spruance both agreed with Ron's judgment. However, such a large battle cannot be launched simply by launching it. However, the fleet completed its mission in the Philippines one month ahead of schedule.

This gave the fleet the opportunity to complete preparations to attack Iwo Jima in advance. As for Smith's Marines, according to Smith, the Marines could always complete combat preparations in the shortest possible time.

"We Marines can go to the battlefield at any time." General Smith said.

…

The super industrial capabilities of the United States were undoubtedly revealed in the preparations for this battle. In just over a week, except for some seriously injured warships that had to return to the United States for overhaul, other warships were quickly repaired in the Philippines.

The damage suffered, fuel and ammunition were replenished. Except that the sailors in the fleet were still a little tired, the entire fleet was basically ready. At the same time, more newly built warships also joined the fleet.

Pruance estimated that the fleet would be able to attack again in a day or two at most.

At the same time, the transport fleet used to carry Marines and various combat supplies is also ready. Various combat supplies have begun to be loaded. At the same time, more than ten US submarines have also begun to arrive at Iwo Jima.

Japan's mainland route has been diverted. They will monitor this route, attack Japanese transport ships passing here, and cut off the Japanese army's supplies.

The Pacific War was a war of aircraft carriers and submarines. In this war, those little guys with a displacement of less than a thousand tons played no less important role than aircraft carriers. In the war, they not only sank a large number of Japanese

The transport ships almost paralyzed the Japanese shipping, and also sunk a large number of Japanese warships, including

There is no shortage of targets such as fleet aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers. In terms of the total tonnage of enemy ships sunk, their results are no less than those of aircraft carriers. Now, under the conditions that the Japanese combined fleet has been basically destroyed

, such a submarine team is enough to cut off the maritime transportation line from Japan to Iwo Jima.

…

Just as Ron expected, the Japanese army on Iwo Jima is undergoing a large-scale transformation of their fortifications. In the past, the Japanese navy and army had a very normal dispute over how to prevent the US military from landing. The navy believed that the enemy should be blocked from landing.

Beachhead. Because once the US military lands on

If Iwo Jima is lost, then the Japanese army will never be able to drive the U.S. military into the sea. As U.S. military reinforcements come in a steady stream, the loss of the island will become inevitable. Therefore, if you want to defend Iwo Jima, you cannot let even the U.S. soldiers

A big leather boot steps onto the beach of Iwo Jima.

However, Army Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi who was stationed at Iwo Jima did not agree with the Navy's view. He believed that in the face of the overwhelming firepower of the US military, sending troops to the beach to intercept the Americans would simply be a suicide. The geological conditions on the beach made it so

There is simply no way to build something strong enough

The beaches of Iwo Jima are all made of soft volcanic ash. Not to mention the construction of fortifications that can withstand the one-ton shells of the battleship's 406mm gun, even the construction of fortifications that can withstand the U.S. Navy

Bomber's 500 pound bomb work

It is almost impossible to build fortifications that can withstand the 203mm guns of heavy cruisers or the 152mm guns of light cruisers. Even if the anti-gun requirements are reduced to the 127mm guns of destroyers, it is still very difficult.

of. where to block

Attacking the enemy would mean directly exposing himself to the firepower of the powerful American fleet. Although Tadashi Kuribayashi did not know what size of fleet would appear near Iwo Jima in the future, he was sure that such a fleet would

The fleet's firepower is absolutely powerful.

In the end, relying on his higher military rank and the fact that most of the people on the island were from the army, Kuribayashi Tadamichi's opinion naturally prevailed. So he decided to use Mount Suribachi as the core position and the two airports as the main defense

In the east and west beaches suitable for landing, permanent launch points and solid support points are set up as the backbone.

Qian's defensive positions. Under his leadership, the Japanese army's defense fortifications were mostly underground tunnel positions. Concrete fortifications were organically combined with natural caves and connected to each other by communication trenches. Most of the artillery positions were also built semi-underground. Although the shooters were sacrificed

world, but greatly improved the ability to survive under heavy bombardment. Artillery and communication networks

The tunnels were well protected. He and his men hollowed out almost the entire Mount Suribachi. In some places, the tunnels reached as many as nine levels! In response to the combat characteristics of the US military, Kuribayashi laid a large number of mines, machine guns, and force weapons deep on the beach.

Artillery fire and anti-tank guns form a dense fire network, and all weapons configurations and shooting targets have been carried out

Accurate calculations can not only conceal oneself, but also maximize the damage to the enemy. However, due to lack of time, in the original history, when the US military launched an attack, only 70% of his fortification construction was completed, and the distance between Mount Suribachi and Motoyama was

There was no time to use tunnels to connect them, which gave the US military the opportunity to cut off the communication between them.

In this time and space, because the U.S. military started earlier, Kuribayashi Tadamichi was able to complete even fewer fortifications. In addition, after the news of the First World War in the Philippines came, Kuribayashi Tadamichi immediately used all his strength.

to improve the fortifications to counter the US military's fuel-air bombs. Compared to history, in this time and space, the fortifications on Iwo Jima were only about 60% completed. And Tadamichi Kuribayashi soon received bad news.

——The transport fleet he was looking forward to had a problem.

…

The Taiwa Maru transport ship was originally an ordinary bulk carrier with a standard displacement of 4,300 tons. After the war broke out, this ship and all the sailors on it were requisitioned by the Japanese Army. This time, this ship and several other

The ship, escorted by two destroyers, set off for Iwo Jima.

The current sea conditions are not good, and the wind and waves are very strong. On the ocean east of Japan, the waves are as high as two and a half to three meters. If it were in peacetime, the crew would definitely scold such damn sea conditions and those

The shipowner allowed them to go out to sea in such sea conditions. However, now, all the crew members are happy about this, because such waves will also affect the attack of submarines, which can make the torpedoes launched by enemy submarines

Navigation has been greatly affected.

"It would be nice if the wave reached 4 meters, then we would be in less danger of being attacked by a submarine." In the captain's cabin, first mate Matsushima said to the captain's plank.

"It's good now." The man who led the plank replied, "I can still hold on in such sea conditions. If the waves are bigger, it will be a bit too much for an old guy like me. Moreover, the cargo we loaded can be

It’s not safe enough. If it shakes too much, it’s really unsafe.”

"Yes!" Song Dao also nodded. He knew that there was a lot of hydrogen peroxide on the boat. This stuff is corrosive. If it shakes too much, it would be leaked and it would not be fun. Again.

In addition, there are also ammunition on the ship. If these things are mixed with hydrogen peroxide, this... will always make people worry.

"Speaking of which, the smaller boats are better. Even the Chinese boats don't have these messy things on them, just a little bit of cement and the like. Although their boats are smaller and shake more violently, at least,

The things above make people worry-free," Matsushima said.

The Chinese ship Songdao mentioned was a small wooden boat of less than 800 tons that was requisitioned from Hong Kong after the army occupied it. This kind of boat was originally used mostly for running along the coast, but as more and more people use it,

Transport ships are constantly being sunk, and even such ships have to be used to perform such quasi-ocean transport missions.

At this time, it was almost dusk, and a blood-red sun gradually sank behind the fleet, and the fleet was soon shrouded in darkness.

After dark, the wind and waves became much smaller. This further increased the possibility of the fleet being attacked by US submarines. In order to prepare for possible US submarines, all ships implemented strict light control. But the wooden planks

The elder knows that this method is actually of little use - there is moonlight tonight, which makes the sky appear very bright. The submarine is much lower than the transport ship. So from the perspective of the submarine, the bright sky is absolutely perfect.

The perfect background can make the dark silhouettes of those transport ships stand out very clearly.

In order to prevent collisions, the transport ship still lights up a very dark red light that can only be seen at a very close distance. The wooden manipulator carefully controls the steering wheel and follows the fleet in a "z" on the dark sea.

Zigzag navigation. This can increase the difficulty of attacking possible enemy submarines. However, if this trick is really effective, Japan will not be able to sink so many transport ships by American submarines.

"So, the safety of the transport fleet mainly depends on the escorting warships." Woodboard sighed while turning his vision to the right. He knew that at which position a destroyer called Yukikaze was guarding their safety.
Chapter completed!