November 2, South Pacific, Sea of ​​Solomon.

A huge Japanese fleet was quickly heading southeast along the scattered Solomon Islands.

2 Yamato-class battleships, 2 King Kong-class battleships, 2 Big Eagle-class aircraft carriers, 2 top-level heavy cruisers, 3 Kawai-class light cruisers and 9 other destroyers.

A total of 20 battleships, with two Yamato-class battleships that looked like city walls as the core, formed a column, storming and moving forward. The Yamato's majestic body and reputation made all the sailors on the deck excited. In addition, the exciting victory of Port Moresby two days ago, most people now believe that the battle in Australia will undoubtedly win, and the great achievements of the Japanese Empire will be accomplished in one battle!

Perhaps, as long as the Yamato and Musashi appear outside Brisbane or Sydney, those timid Americans will be scared to pee their pants and then run back to the American continent in tears?

However, in the bridge of the Yamato battleship, the commander of the Joint Fleet, Yamamoto Iroku, was not as optimistic as the sailors. He did not think that the American soldiers guarding Sydney and Brisbane would be easily scared away. The Americans spent 10 months strengthening their defense there, and if they wanted to seize it, they would have to fight hard!

So, Yamato and Musashi are not now scaring people off the seas of Brisbane or Sydney. The first target of these two Japanese super battleships in this battle was New Caledonia, a French colony less than 1,200 nautical miles from Rabaul.

Although New Caledonia belongs to France in terms of sovereignty, the orders of the Parisian government cannot reach here. The French colonial authorities in New Caledonia are now loyal to the Free French movement in London.

Therefore, after the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Australian and New Zealand troops and the US troops successively entered the island. With Japan's step-by-step pressing in the South Pacific, occupying the Bismarck Islands and the Solomon Islands, the status of New Caledonia became very important.

Because the straight-line distance between the island and the Port of Brisbane on the east coast of Australia is only 1,500 kilometers, if SBD dive bombers and TB torpedo bombers are deployed on New Caledonia Island and Brisbane at the same time, the British and American Allies can block the waterway between Brisbane and New Caledonia and ensure the safety of the waterway between Sydney and New Zealand.

If the Japanese Joint Fleet cannot pull out or temporarily paralyze the nail inserted in the South Pacific, New Caledonia, then the 1st Air Fleet that is heading south, which cannot reach the Americans, will be bombed by shore-based aircraft.

Although the Japanese First Air Fleet, which is protected by a large number of zero-type aircraft, is not afraid of air strikes by British and American shore-based aircraft. Once the First Air Fleet is discovered by the enemy, the fleet heading towards Australia may go to New Zealand to avoid the limelight until the First Air Fleet leaves.

Therefore, in order to allow the 1st Air Fleet to move south smoothly, it is necessary to first destroy the US military airport on New Caledonia.

Moreover, this mission cannot be completed by the 1st Air Fleet itself, but must be completed by the 1st Air Fleet that heads south first. Because once the 1st Air Fleet launches an air strike, the Americans will know that the main force of the Japanese aircraft carrier force has moved south.

So Yamamoto instructed Ugaki Chan and Kuroshima Turtle to formulate a combat plan for the 1st Fleet to "blind" New Caledonia (at the same time, it also created the illusion that the Japanese army was about to attack New Caledonia), and then the 1st Air Fleet and the 1st Fleet went south together.

"Commander, Yamato's detective discovered enemy aircraft, number 1." Just as Yamamoto Iroku was thinking about how to deal with the main aircraft carrier of the US Pacific Fleet that might appear, the Yamato Captain Korey Yoshiba's voice suddenly rang out.

"Oh," Yamamoto Izuru responded, "How far is it from New Caledonia now?"

"It's less than 300 nautical miles," replied the chief staff officer of the Joint Fleet, "the one that is approaching now should be the enemy's reconnaissance plane."

"Don't let this plane enter the attack position," Yamamoto Iroku said with a smile, "If the Americans want to see, let them see clearly. Maybe they can pull out the American aircraft carrier formation!"

Compared with New Caledonia, the main force of the US aircraft carrier is the more important goal! If they can be completely annihilated, New Caledonia and Australia will be in a jar.

...

"Two Yamato, two King Kong, two 20,000-ton aircraft carriers..."

News of the discovery of the Japanese naval fleet about 300 nautical miles northwest of New Caledonia soon reached San Diego, thousands of miles away through radio waves.

Lieutenant General Spruenz looked down at the telegram and frowned and said to Nimitz: "Admiral, this fleet should be to occupy New Caledonia."

"Occupy New Caledonia?" Nimitz stood in front of the huge chart table, frowned slightly.

"Yes, isolate Australia first and then attack." Spruins analyzed, "Now Port Moresby has been occupied, and the Bismarck Islands and the Solomon Islands are also occupied... If the Japanese can occupy New Caledonia and New Zealand, the route between the United States and Australia will be completely cut off. The Australian continent will become an isolated island, and the isolated island cannot be held for a long time."

It is difficult to defend an isolated city, and it is also difficult to defend an isolated island.

Although the Australian continent is not short of resources and food, the local industry in Australia is not developed and cannot provide the weapons and equipment required for a long-term war. Moreover, there are not many white people in Australia. If you really want to fight a mountain of corpses and blood, it will only take a matter of time. So as long as Australia dies, it is a matter of determination to fight.

As long as you are determined and not afraid of sacrifice, and you will fight for ten or eight years, Australia will definitely belong to Japan!

The Japanese have never been short of determination, and they are not afraid of sacrifice. So after taking New Caledonia and New Zealand, it is really difficult for the Australian mainland to defend.

Moreover, it is very difficult for the United States to counterattack New Zealand and New Caledonia. Because in addition to New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia, the United States has not many troops stationed on other islands in the South Pacific, and it is easy to be removed by the Japanese one by one.

If there are no islands that can be established, the landing fleet and troops will rest and recuperate, and directly let the troops board the ship from the United States to counterattack. It is hard to say whether those American soldiers who were seasick and 11,000 kilometers can still walk after getting off the ship.

"Did Admiral MacArthur know?" Nimitz asked.

Now the naval battle on the Pacific battlefield is under the jurisdiction of Nimitz, while the land battle is under the jurisdiction of General MacArthur, the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces stationed in Brisbane.

“Admiral MacArthur has been notified,” Spruins said. “Admiral MacArthur believes that routes between Australia and the United States must be maintained.”

"That's to keep New Zealand." Nimitz thought for a while and said, "Losing New Caledonia will only cause a serious threat to the route, but as long as New Zealand is in hand, we can always maintain the route."

"Admiral, do you want the 1st Armored Division to New Zealand?"

"No, the 1st Armored Division should go to Australia as much as possible," Nimitz said. "But the 1st Army Division can go to New Zealand... The supplies carried by the s06 fleet can also be transported to New Zealand first."

“What about New Caledonia?”

"I can only make the plan to give up." Nimitz thought for a while and asked again, "Where has Halsey been?"

"It's almost time to New Zealand, and you can reach the waters near New Zealand in only 2 days at most." Spruins asked, "Admiral, do you want Admiral Halsey's fleet to attack the Japanese fleet?"

"Of course!" Nimitz gritted his teeth, "Of course you can't let them go!"

These are two "Yamato" ships (through Soviet spies, the United States learned that the terrible battleship of the Japanese was called the "Yamato" class)! How could it be let go?

"But the S07 fleet must first reach safe waters," Nimitz said. "Then Halsey can command the 1st Special Mix Fleet to go north to fight."

It is very important to escort the 4th Armored Division to Australia. Nimitz knew that there would be no mistakes. As long as the 4th Armored Division could reach Australia, the 1st Infantry Division and hundreds of aircraft could reach New Zealand. There was a good battle in Australia. Even if Halsey's 1st Armored Fleet was defeated, the situation could be maintained in the short term.

"How is the situation of the three broken-transfer formations?" Nimitz then asked about the situation of the three broken-transfer aircraft carriers.

Although it is a bit wasteful to break the aircraft carrier, Americans have the capital to win while wasting it!

The current three broken aircraft carriers are just the beginning, and another 19 will join in the future! At that time, unless the Japanese ask the main aircraft carrier to escort, their routes will never be safe.

"Several attacks were carried out, but the results were much smaller," replied Spruins. "Of course, only two small boats with less than 2,000 tons were sunk yesterday."

Three aircraft carrier formations broke into the Western Pacific, and of course the Japanese transport fleet scattered like birds and beasts, and it was impossible for them to wait foolishly for the bombing. Therefore, after the first day's great harvest, there were no major results.

"But our submarines and camouflage attack ships have achieved good results," Sprounz said with a smile. "There were reports of sunk yesterday and today, and six Japanese transport ships may have been sunk."
Chapter completed!