Rabaul.

October 30, late at night.

The snow-white searchlight pierced the night. The trucks of 20??? are running around the warehouse and dock. The sailors shout from time to time. The North Korean and Taiwanese coolies are all exhausted, but no one dares to slow down. The frequency of the cranes on the ship swinging back and forth is much higher than usual.

Standing inside the Yamato battleship bridge, watching the warships that had completed supply ships sailing out of the Rabaul military port one by one, the face of the commander of the Joint Fleet Iorojuku Yamamoto showed unconcealed pride.

Although the Americans used aircraft carriers to break the trade and caught the joint fleet off guard, three ships (a group that transported ammunition to Rabaul was hit) were severely damaged in just one day, and six ships sailing alone were sunk, with a total tonnage of more than 120,000 tons, which was greater than the losses caused by British and American submarines and camouflaged attack ships in one month.

But this kind of desperate tactic actually shows that Americans don’t have too many cards to play. To use Chinese idioms, this is called "There is no trick to get rid of"!

What if I send three aircraft carriers at once? It’s just a surprise attack on Japan, and it can’t change the strength and weakness in the Pacific Ocean. The absolute advantage now is still on Japan. The American aircraft carriers dare not fight against the Japanese joint fleet at all, and they only dare to use this kind of stealing method to disrupt Japan’s rear. This is a completely manifestation of the weak!

Moreover, the Americans' broken vehicle aircraft carrier has angered the Japanese joint fleet!

Now, they are about to taste the anger of the Joint Fleet!

A burst of rapid footsteps came, followed by the voice of Captain Yamato Captain Colonel Takayama: "Commander, the supply of Yamato has been completed!"

"Start, Yamato!"

Yamamoto Iroku gave Captain Takayasu an order to attack in a very calm tone.

October 31, 00:15.

Under the surveillance of a USS Dolphin submarine installed with SJ sea search radar, the Yamato battleship slowly sailed out of the Rabaul base under the escort of two destroyers, and merged with the main ships of the joint fleet that had been waiting for the sea outside the port.

...

"Commander, the main force of the Japanese Joint Fleet has left Rabaul Port!"

Spruenz excitedly entered Admiral Nimitz's office, holding the telegram he had just received.

"Leave Rabaul?" Nimitz asked quickly, "When, where to go?"

Spruins replied: "I left late at night on the 30th to early morning on the 31st local time. I left the bay and headed northwest."

Go north!

Australia is in the south, and to the northwest, it is to go to the Western Pacific to find three American aircraft carriers...mostly this is the case!

Nimitz didn't ask any more questions, and the SJ radar on the Dolphin submarine could only search for these. As for following the Japanese Combined Fleet north, the Dolphin's underwater speed could not keep up with the Japanese fleet at all, and it would not be too long underwater. If it was floating and breathable, it would be discovered by the Japanese cat-eyed warriors.

"Where is the FS06 fleet?" Nimitz asked the FS06 fleet that was heading towards Australia.

“Near French Polynesia, there are nearly 3,600 nautical miles from Sydney.”

The speed of the FS06 fleet is now around 12 knots, and it takes 300 hours to drive 3,600 nautical miles, which is 12 and a half days. As long as these 12 and a half days are safe, the United States will have sufficient troops in Australia, and it will also have a powerful 4th Armored Division!

Because he was worried that Japan might get powerful tanks from Germany, the 4th Armored Division strengthened its anti-tank capabilities as much as possible and equipped a large number of M4 medium tanks and M10 tank destroyers. It can be said that as long as the division arrives safely, it will be difficult for the Japanese to capture Australia.

"Twelve and a half days are too long..." Nimitz shook his head, "The Japanese were just angry, but they are not fools. They know which is more important, the three aircraft carriers or Australia."

It is difficult to search for three American aircraft carrier formations in the vast Pacific Ocean, but it is very easy for the Japanese to maintain the safety of the local-Saipan-Rabauer route and the local-Hawaii route. Just form a large ship and use light aircraft carriers to escort it.

Although doing this is very troublesome and may reduce the efficiency of sea transportation, it is much easier than chasing the US aircraft carriers with broken transportation.

Moreover, according to the report of the FS06 fleet, the fleet has been discovered by Japanese reconnaissance aircraft.

As long as the commander of the Japanese Joint Fleet has normal brains, it is impossible to let go of such a large fleet of troops... If the Japanese really want to attack Australia!

Therefore, Nimitz estimated that the Japanese were likely to use their troops accurately. First search north for a few days, and after they could not find the US aircraft carrier, they would divide their troops to go south. At least several large fleets of aircraft carriers would take out south to attack the FS06 fleet. If these Japanese aircraft carriers were allowed to catch the FS06 fleet, they would suffer heavy losses.

But Nimitz had a solution to deal with it!

"Group of the FS07 fleet immediately!" Nimitz whispered, "You must send the 4th Armored Division to Australia within one week!"

The plan to form the FS07 fleet was planned as early as the FS06 fleet set sail. It was not to form a new fleet starting from San Francisco, but to combine part of the FS06 fleet with high speed cruise ships and the first special mixed fleet commanded by Halsey. The large cruise ships of this era of Halsey are escorted quickly to Australia. Large cruise ships of this era are of high speed (the luxury cruise ships in later generations are also high-speed ships, which can usually run about 30 knots. In the 1950s, there was an American cruise ship running to 40 knots), and they could keep up with the aircraft carrier special mixed fleet. Therefore, when the aircraft carrier special mixed fleet and high-speed cruise ships merge, the average speed of the entire fleet can be maintained at more than 20 knots.

In addition, three of the six large cruise ships in the FS06 fleet have been specially modified and can carry a large number of vehicles. The 4th Armored Division's m4 tanks, m10 tank destroyers, m7 self-propelled artillery, and some tank maintenance vehicles are loaded on these three modified cruise ships. The other three large cruise ships are all personnel and some equipment of the 4th Armored Division.

In other words, as long as these six large cruise ships can reach Australia, there will be a very difficult armored division on the Australian continent. Even if the subsequent FS06 fleet cannot arrive, Australia can hold on for a long time.

Of course, these six large cruise ships are not loaded with all the equipment of the 4th Armored Division, and there are many trucks and tow artillery not included. However, it is not difficult to gather vehicles and artillery on the Australian continent. After all, there are 9 American infantry divisions with motorized weapons there, so it is not a problem to evenly distribute some equipment to the 4th Armored Division.

...

"I'm sure you're going to get rid of the American submarine?" Yamamoto Izuru asked.

"Very sure!" Yamato Captain Yoshihara Takayasu replied, "The Yamato is equipped with a radar radio wave receiver imported from Germany. Now it is confirmed that no American submarine is tracking us with radar."

Although the German radar is not as good as the United Kingdom and the United States, radar radio wave receivers are still very reliable. This device was originally developed for German submarines to deal with British anti-submarine patrol aircraft (anti-submarine reconnaissance opportunities use radar to search for floating submarines. If there is no radar radio wave receiver on the submarine, then they will not know that they have been discovered and will not be able to dive in time to avoid bombing). However, now German submarines are not very involved in the deal, so this equipment is "supported" to Japan.

With this kind of radar radio wave receiver, the Japanese Combined Fleet that is now heading north can find out whether there are enemy submarines or aircraft and then use radar to reconnaise.

At the same time, Yamamoto Iroku also sent several destroyers to search around. These destroyers also installed sonar purchased from Germany. In addition, there are sharp-eyed "Cat-eyed Soldiers" on the destroyers. If the depth of American submarines dive is not enough, they will still be easily discovered in the South Pacific with clear water quality.

"Yaoxi!" Yamamoto Izuru nodded, and then asked Ugaki Chan, "Has the division plan been formulated?"

"Commander, the plan has been formulated." Ugaki Chan replied, "Based on the six aircraft carriers, including Akagi, Kaga, Aolong, Feilong, Ruizhu, Shochi, and two battleships, King Kong and Hiei, as the core, form the 1st aviation fleet and head south to the Coral Sea!

With four battleships including Yamato, Musashi, Hamaname, Kirishima and two motherships including Flying Eagle and Hayao as the core, the 1st Fleet formed and headed south to the Coral Sea with the 1st Air Fleet.

The 1st Air Fleet is responsible for attacking the US aircraft carrier formation, and the 1st Fleet is responsible for attacking the US transport fleet.

In addition, the 5th and 6th Fleets are formed by four aircraft carriers including Fengxiang, Xiangfeng, Ruifeng and Longfeng as the core, and search for the US aircraft carrier northward. If nothing is discovered, the 5th Fleet will be responsible for the escort of the local-Saipan-Rabauer route, and the 6th Fleet will be responsible for the escort of the local-Hawaii route."

The so-called "nothing" under the reputation is true. Nimitz, a famous general of the US Navy, is not a fool, and the Japanese Navy's military, Izuru Yamamoto Isorosaki, cannot be a fool.

Nimitz tried every means to lure the enemy north, but how could Yamamoto Irojiu get easily deceived? The joint fleet headed north in a burgeoning early this morning, just to watch a big show for American submarines ambushing outside the port of Rabaul.

"Very good," Yamamoto Izuru said, "Now continue to go north and implement the division plan immediately after dark."
Chapter completed!