Ugaki's opinion was soon supported by all the top leaders in power in the Japanese Navy, including Yamamoto Ioruku, Nagano Shuisui and Ito Kazuichi.

Because Japan is indeed unable to fight the attrition tactics that the Americans are now adopting to hurt people... Even if the price paid by the United States far exceeds Japan's losses in this attrition war, Japan cannot persist.

So Japan must fight to the death!

Hawaii time, on October 3, 1943, the main force of the Japanese Joint Fleet met with the Japanese First Mobile Fleet in the Pacific between Midway and Palmyra Atoll.

Immediately, a new first maneuver fleet consisting of the USS Suihe, the USS Dafeng, the Kaohsiung heavy cruiser, the USS Atago heavy cruiser, the USS Birdhai heavy cruiser, the USS Maya heavy cruiser, the USS Dadian light cruiser, the USS Rendian light cruiser (the USS Dadian class No. 2 was built in this time and space), and the other ten destroyers, heading towards Wake Island in the central Pacific at a high speed of 25 knots!

Just the day before the main force of the Japanese Joint Fleet and the First Mobile Fleet met, the 58th American fleet attacked the Kwajalin Atoll that Japan had operated for many years (it was originally a German protection territory, but was acquired by Japan after World War I). However, this time no Japanese aircraft and pilots were damaged, because it was expected that the Kwajalin Atoll would inevitably be attacked, so the Japanese army transferred the air force stationed there in advance.

However, this passive avoidance of war is not a good way to deal with the United States' fleet! Since it was not resisted by Japanese fighter jets and Japan's air defense firepower on the island was too weak, American aircraft carried out several waves of air strikes, not only blew up the airport, but also destroyed many warehouses and barracks, turning the Japanese years of hard work into ruins.

After the bombing of Kwajalin Atoll, senior Japanese Navy leaders estimated that the next bombing would inevitably be Wake Island north of Kwajalin Atoll, so they ordered the First Mobile Fleet to rush to the full speed to support Wake Island.

However, after more than 60 hours of raid, Jisaburo Ozawa received news that the bombing of Guam and Saipan was caused. Since the planes there were not transferred in advance, dozens of them were lost (the planes transferred from Wake Island were also in Saipan).

...

Kei Hidden on the chart and drew a half circle, and then told Shisaburo Ozawa, the commander of the First Mobile Fleet, "Now we can determine the approximate location of the US fleet... There are about 1,000 nautical miles away from us!"

"I'll catch up soon!" Jisaburo Ozawa said without a trace of joy. Because he knew that catching up with the US fleet would mean another huge consumption of the life of the carrier-based pilot!

"That's right!" said Gucun. "It is estimated that the US fleet will maneuver northward, pass through the waters between the Japanese archipelago and Wake Island, and then turn northeast to break into the North Pacific... It is estimated that there will be tanker formations and another US aircraft carrier formation to converge with them in the North Pacific."

The North Pacific has always been the passage for the United States to advance westward and return eastward by breaking aircraft carriers. Americans often use aircraft carriers to escort tankers to welcome the return fleet in the North Pacific, so the ancient village Qizang made such a judgment.

"We can't let them meet, otherwise we will have great trouble!" Ozawa Shisaburo paused and said, "The problem now is not whether he can catch up, but whether he can determine the position of the US fleet. As long as he can be sure, there will be a chance to attack, and... the grasp is very great!"

Ozawa said that "it's a big grasp" is not entirely bragging. He has three large fleet aircraft carriers in his hands, and the number of carrier-based aircraft is sufficient.

The losses of Shochi and Ruihe in the Battle of Christmas Island were made up for the draw of aircraft from Oahu and other aircraft carriers. Currently, there are 144 commonly used aircraft on the "Twin Crane" aircraft carrier, including 36 Zero fighters, and 54 Comet dive bombers and Meteor torpedo bombers.

The Dafeng has 60 commonly used carrier-based aircraft, including 19 Zero fighters and 21 each of "Comet" and "Meteor".

The three aircraft carriers have a total of 204 carrier-based aircraft, and their combat effectiveness is quite considerable.

"Let the Western Pacific region, including local bases, launch a Type 1 land attack, Type 97 and Type 2 large boats to search, and you must find the location of the US aircraft carrier no matter what." said Jisaburo Ozawa, "We also send seaplanes and reconnaissance planes to find it!"

Ozawa gritted his teeth, "Once the target is discovered..., send all carrier-based aircraft out at one time, and no one is left behind!"

"Don't you leave a blind eye?" Gucun looked at Ozawa, "Are you going to take a gamble?"

Ozawa nodded and said, "It must be done, otherwise the air strike formation will likely be defeated by fighters on US aircraft carriers... In that case, we will be the biggest sinners of the Japanese Empire."

"Hay!" Gucun focused heavily on Ozawa, turned around and arranged the battle according to Ozawa's instructions.

In fact, he fully understood Jisaburo Ozawa's idea. The aircraft carrier itself has no attack power, and its combat power is based on the strong carrier-based aircraft formation.

The elite pilots of the Japanese Navy suffered heavy losses in the current war of attrition. Even if they could sink two more US aircraft carriers, the price they paid was enough to make Japan defeat even if they win.

If calculated based on the previous sea-to-air exchange Bila, after sinking 2-3 Essex-class aircraft carriers, the losses of Japanese pilots are likely to exceed 800 people, or even close to 900!

This means that in just less than a month, Japan lost 10% of its pilots (captains), and most of them were experienced veteran naval aviation pilots.

After such severe blood loss, it is hard to say whether there are enough carrier-based pilots on the 19 Japanese aircraft carriers. The carrier-based pilots are not as easy to train as shore-based pilots. Without hundreds of hours of flight experience, the threat to the lives of Japanese people after boarding the aircraft carrier is definitely greater than that to the lives of Americans!

So aircraft carriers are no longer so important to Japan...

...

Because it is already in the Western Pacific Ocean, which is surrounded by Japanese-controlled islands, the whereabouts of the 58th Fleet commanded by Lieutenant General Fletcher was soon exposed.

At 8 pm on October 8, Tokyo time, the USS Hornet was sailing on the Pacific Ocean in the northeast of the Mariana Islands and suddenly remembered the sound of an air defense alarm.

"Sir, radar discovered enemy aircraft, number 1, orientation 230, distance 120, height 5,000."

After listening to the radar officer's report, Colonel Arley Burke, the chief of staff of the 58th fleet (the Arley Burke-class destroyer was named after him) said to his commander Major General Mark Mitchell: "Sir, it seems that the time for hunting turkeys is coming soon."

"Hunting turkeys in the Japanese backyard... is so exciting!" Mark Mitchell, holding a pipe in his mouth, looked very old, 10 years older than his actual age. The 59-year-old U.S. Rear Admiral looked 69 years old.

However, Major General Mitchell, who looks very old, is a naval general who can keep up with the times. He is actually the first generation of carrier-based aircraft pilot in the United States. During World War I, he flew seaplanes. During the two wars, he has been serving in the U.S. Naval Air Force. He has been a captain of seaplane carriers and aircraft carriers. He is an expert in the U.S. Naval Air Force.

"Allie," Mitchell asked, "will you have any good ideas? Let's hear it."

"We can drive slowly," said Arley Burke. "Then send fighters to knock down the Japanese reconnaissance planes at dawn, then turn east, and send seaplanes to search for traces of the Japanese fleet."

"Do you want to fight the Japanese?" Mitchell took two sips of cigarettes, "Aren't you worried about hitting the Yamato class?"

"I can't hit it," said Arley Burke. "The Yamato has a speed of up to 26-27 knots, and it is impossible to pursue us. The Japanese must be using fast aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers. We can completely scare them and let them not chase them too tightly. And... we can also judge the position of the main force of the Japanese fleet through the retreat direction of the Japanese fleet."

Arley Burke estimated that after the Japanese fast aircraft carrier formation was scared, they would definitely move closer to the main fleet. As long as they determined the direction of their escape, the 58th Fleet would know which route to retreat from.

"Okay, just follow the way you said."

...

"Discover them!"

In the conference room of Tokyo and Japan's Navy Province, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The abominable American fleet was finally discovered by a Type 2 boat equipped with German radar. Now this aircraft with a huge range is far behind the US fleet, the US fleet should not be able to escape now!

"Marson, I finally caught it!" Ito Jiichi, who was on duty, immediately called Yamamoto Izuru who was resting at home.

"How many boats are there?" Yamamoto asked anxiously on the other side of the telephone line.

"There are more than 10 pieces on the radar," Ito Kazuichi replied, "This time I will definitely wipe out the enemy."

"Be sure to wipe out all!" Yamamoto Izuru said firmly, "At any cost! In addition, the direction of Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines must also be strictly sealed to prevent the US fleet from breaking through and fleeing to China."

China still maintains superficial neutrality, but its relationship with Japan is tense and close to the Soviet Union, and may become the target of the desperate American fleet.

Ito Kazuichi replied: "As already made arrangements, the army aircraft were deployed in Taiwan and Okinawa, and the Philippines had our 11th Air Fleet (also a fleet without ships). It was absolutely foolproof! The Americans would definitely not be able to run away this time!"

"Send all escort carriers and be sure to block the route to China!" Yamamoto thought for a while and said, "It is also necessary to prohibit merchant ships of any nationality from passing through the Ryukyu Islands-Taiwan-Philippine Islands chain! In order to prevent the US fleet from getting supplies."
Chapter completed!