.Chapter 26 Gradually advance

After dawn on July 18, the second fleet bypassed Timor Island and entered the Indian Ocean.

As soon as Mu Haoyang arrived at the restaurant, Ma Mingtao rushed over.

"Have you discovered it?"

"No, I just received two messages." Ma Mingtao sat down and lit a cigarette.

The chef brought Mu Haoyang's breakfast over and asked Ma Mingtao. He probably had no appetite. Ma Mingtao only had a sandwich bread and a glass of milk.

"What news?" Mu Haoyang was very hungry.

He stayed on his post for two consecutive days. It was not until dawn that the fleet commanded by Zhuo Yuming returned that he relaxed his tense nerves.

"One was sent by the Indian Ocean Fleet. It is expected to arrive at Guadal Port tonight and ask if you want to leave the port and meet us."

“Reply?”

Ma Mingtao nodded and said, "According to your arrangement, the Indian Ocean Fleet will stay in Gwadar Port for the time being and come out after we arrive in the Arabian Sea."

"What about the other one?"

"He was a little worried about Lao Yang."

"What are you worried about?"

Ma Mingtao sighed and said, "The Air Force's reconnaissance planes found the joint fleet for three consecutive days, but failed to approach the reconnaissance."

Mu Haoyang frowned and said, "What's there to worry about?"

"The joint fleet is still active in the offshore seas, and last night, two rapid combat support ships returned and are expected to arrive at a certain harbor in Japan this morning."

“It’s normal.”

"It's really normal, but it's too normal, right?"

"What's the meaning?"

"Old Yang thinks, this is too abnormal." Ma Mingtao paused for a moment, and after Mu Haoyang finished eating the last bun, he said, "Obviously, the Joint Fleet has also been affected. Even if some electronic equipment can be repaired, it is impossible to repair all equipment at sea. Not to mention, electromagnetic catapults cannot be overhauled at sea. The aircraft carrier must be stopped and the nearby flight decks must be removed. The project volume is very large, and there are very high requirements for the accuracy of construction. Normally, the Joint Fleet should leave the patrol waters and go to a certain port, or a certain deep-water harbor. The Japanese Navy should also be mobilized, such as sending a construction ship to meet the Joint Fleet."

Mu Haoyang nodded, indicating that he understood what Ma Mingtao meant.

"Obviously, Japan is not suitable for the joint fleet to dock, and the Japanese Navy does not have the courage to dock."

"That is, the Joint Fleet will go somewhere else."

"Maybe it's a port in other countries, or near a small uninhabited island."

"What do Lao Yang think?"

"He felt that the possibility of the Joint Fleet going to a third-party port is not very high. After all, at this time, no country will offend us for Japan."

"Then it's only possible to go to some deep water bay."

“The problem is, the Pacific Ocean is too big.”

"Have you contacted Lao Li?"

Ma Mingtao was stunned and said, "Before I can't afford to come to find you."

"Remember to tell Lao Li to closely monitor the every move of the Japanese Navy, especially the movements of engineering ships, and also monitor other countries, especially the United States." Mu Haoyang lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and said, "Maintenance of dozens of warships will definitely require a large amount of equipment and equipment, especially aircraft carriers. On the aircraft carrier, the most important thing is electromagnetic catapults, and all of Japan's electromagnetic catapults come from the United States. In other words, Japan will definitely ask the United States for help. If the joint fleet does leave, it means that the United States has agreed to provide assistance to Japan. Electromagnetic catapults are not gadgets, and the US military only has dozens of them, so it will definitely take time to raise and maintain equipment."

"Okay, I'll send a telegram to Lao Li after dark."

"Also, tell Lao Yang, don't be anxious to achieve success." Mu Haoyang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Repairing dozens of warships is not a trivial matter, it will definitely take a lot of time. First of all, we have to figure out whether the Joint Fleet stayed near Japan or went somewhere else."

"Isn't this too cautious, right?"

"Anyway, the Japanese Navy has not lost its combat capability, especially the Japanese submarines." Maki Haoyang paused for a moment and said, "If the United States refused to provide assistance, the Japanese Navy would not be able to repair the damaged warships and would not be able to defeat us in a regular naval battle. As long as Japan refused to surrender, it would think of other ways, or it would only be possible to think of other ways, such as using the joint fleet as bait."

"this……"

"For us, it's only a matter of time before we win, and the joint fleet has lost most of its combat power and there is no big threat. If we are caught in the enemy's trap because of rush to obtain the results of the battle, even if we suffer only a slight loss, it will make our victory clear."

"But, you can't be indifferent, right?"

Mu Haoyang smiled and said, "It seems that the second phase of combat plan should be launched in advance."

Ma Mingtao was stunned and said, "We have not seized the power of sea control yet, now..."

"Before the joint fleet recovered its combat effectiveness, the sea control power was in our hands, and the air force had seized air control power, so the conditions for the second phase of combat operation were ripe." Mu Haoyang took out the nautical chart he carried with him, looked carefully after opening it for a while, and said, "But the joint fleet is not over yet and still posed a threat to us, so we have to make adjustments to the second phase of combat plan."

“How to adjust?”

"Revolving around annihilation of the joint fleet." Mu Haoyang glanced at Ma Mingtao and said, "No matter what, the joint fleet is a big problem for us. As long as it is still sailing on the sea, it is a real threat, and the sea control power in our hands is not reliable."

"How to fight?" Ma Mingtao asked very directly.

"First of all, we have to determine where the joint fleet will appear." Mu Haoyang looked carefully on the chart for a while and said, "The Pacific Ocean is very vast, and the probability of finding the joint fleet is not high, so I think we should tighten the noose step by step and compress the joint fleet's activity space."

Ma Mingtao nodded, indicating that he understood Mu Haoyang's meaning.

"After it get dark, contact Lao Pang and let him lead the landing fleet to set off within 24 hours. At the same time, tell Lao Yang that the second phase of combat operation has begun. The first fleet must act according to the plan, cover the landing fleet, and support the Marines to attack the Japanese outer islands."

“Which outer island?”

Mu Haoyang pointed on the map and said, "Iwo Huang Island."

Ma Mingtao was stunned and looked at Mu Haoyang in disbelief.

"The Okinawa Islands are within the air force's strike range, and the bombing operation is not over yet, so the cost of landing in the Okinawa Islands is too high." Mu Haoyang smiled and said, "Our purpose is to kill the joint fleet, and the First Fleet has been operating in the Philippine Sea, so it is unlikely that the joint fleet will appear west of Iwoo Island. After occupying Iwoo Island, long-range patrol aircraft can be deployed to expand the search range. Don't forget that we have lost reconnaissance satellites, and reconnaissance aircraft have become the main tactical reconnaissance method."

"It seems that we all underestimated the impact of particle storms."

"No one expected that this disaster would be so fierce." Mu Haoyang sighed and said, "The fleet's combat operations are still under the responsibility of Lao Yang, and the landing operations are under the responsibility of Lao Pang. We will strive to capture Iwo Huang Island within a week, and do not delay it for too long, otherwise the joint fleet will have an opportunity to take advantage of it."

"In this case, it's better to let the Air Force do some effort."

"air force?"

"Iwo Huang Island is within the range of the attack between h-20a and h-20b, and the island's garrison forces are not too small. Without air force support, landing operations will not be easy."

"Okay, I personally send a telegram to my mother Qi Tie."

"I'll go find Lao Zhou and ask for his opinion."

Mu Haoyang nodded, and Ma Mingtao also stood up and left.

After smoking the second cigarette, Mu Haoyang left the officer's restaurant and returned to the commander's cabin.

As Ma Mingtao said, everyone underestimated the impact of the particle storm, so the combat plan formulated by Mu Haoyang before this needs to be adjusted.

Mu Haoyang has nothing to worry about about Yang Yufang.

He was asked to serve as the commander of the First Fleet instead of appointing Zhang Yuting because Yang Yufang was more steady and not the kind of commander who likes to take risks.

There is nothing to worry about in the Marines.

Although Mu Haoyang is the commander of the Marine Corps, most of the work is under the charge of Pang Yuelong, who is the chief of staff. Pang Yuelong knows the Marine Corps even better than him. According to the combat plan formulated by Mu Haoyang, the Marine Corps will gather from July 15th, but the primary target is Okinawa Island. To this end, the Marine Corps has gathered two divisions of troops and prepared two divisions as a battle reserve.

There is no doubt that the defense strength of Iwoyu Island is not as good as that of Okinawa Island.

Because it is far away from China, Japan has not attached much importance to the defense deployment of Iwoo Island. There are less than 2,000 garrisons on the island, and half of them are air service personnel. At most, one land brigade is required to attack Iwoo Island, which will not have much impact on the combat operations against Okinawa.

Of course, the attack on Iwo Yu Island was not easy either.

The main reason is that the distance is too far.

When only one land brigade is sent, a landing fleet needs to be used to dispatch more than ten transport ships, and several escort warships must be used. More importantly, even if the landing troops dispatch immediately after receiving the order, it will take five days to reach Iwoo Island. During this period, the First Fleet will carry out high-intensity bombing Iwoo Island, and with the assistance of the Air Force, complete the firepower preparation before the landing. With the remaining two days, the Marines must occupy Iwoo Island. That is to say, it will be as early as July 26th to capture Iwoo Island.

If the login battle is not going well, it may have to be delayed for a few days.

In these few days, can the Combined Fleet repair damaged warships?

Mu Haoyang was unsure, but he believed that Yang Yufang would definitely take the right response, such as leaving the First Fleet in a safer waters.

After thinking for a while, Mu Haoyang felt that he was thinking a little too much.

Regardless of how the battles in the Pacific go on, the first priority of the Second Fleet is to kill the Japanese Indian Ocean Fleet, and to complete this task as soon as possible. The longer it drags on, the greater the variables, the more opportunities it will leave for the enemy, and the less hope of a decisive victory...
Chapter completed!