The aircraft carrier Akagi was once the pride of the Japanese army and served as the flagship of the combined fleet. The Akagi once played the role of a maritime firepower platform in the early days of the war against China. During the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanjing, Japan had not yet established an aviation base nearby. The support given by the Akagi to the Japanese Army was huge. The sinking of the Akagi made Yamamoto Isoroku feel heartbroken. From that time on, he wanted to avenge the Akagi and the Hiryu and inflict heavy losses on the Gakuin Army. It became a wish buried in his heart. The "Sink It" operation not only destroyed two Japanese heavy aircraft carriers, but also caused changes in the decision-making personnel of the Japanese Navy. At least in Yamamoto's view, this was no less than two heavy aircraft carriers. With the loss of a heavy aircraft carrier being sunk, Mitsumasa Yoneuchi and Narumi Inoue leaving, one side of the navy's iron triangle was left. Outsiders didn't think so. However, when Yamamoto was dealing with naval affairs, he felt powerless and lost the good rapport he once had. Friends, it seems that the Japanese navy, which was once extremely powerful and capable of defeating the giant polar bear, is declining. Fortunately, Koizumi Minichiro is here. In Yamamoto's view, Koizumi is the lucky star given to Japan by Amaterasu. Amaterasu sent Koizumi. The "Kamiman" is here to help revitalize Japan. With Koizumi, Japan even has the capital to fight the United States.
Attacking Hainan Island and seizing the maritime forward base to attack Guangzhou has long been included in the navy's operational plan. However, if it had not been for Koizumi's efforts, this would not have happened until at least a year later. It would have been bombed in one operation. The sinking of two aircraft carriers made Yamamoto subconsciously overestimate the combat capabilities of the Academy Air Force, and thus believed that relying on two aircraft carriers alone was no longer enough. The arrival of Koizumi revealed the false power of the Academy Air Force. He even stated: To attack the military and China, the earlier the better, because time is on the side of China. China has a vast territory and a large population. Although the technology is relatively backward, as time goes by, they will inevitably take advantage of the geographical and population advantages. The unparalleled advantages are gradually catching up; and, because of the interests of Southeast Asia, it is certainly impossible for Britain and the United States and other countries to sit back and watch Japan become stronger and stronger without restriction. Since the United States will join the war sooner or later, before they join the war circle, China and the United States have not yet reached a close relationship. Resolving China as soon as possible during the partnership is definitely a good thing that will do more good than harm to Japan.
Yamamoto agreed with Koizumi's point of view. With Yamamoto's vigorous lobbying, the Hainan Island Strategy was officially approved by the Tokyo Base Camp. Let's take a closer look at the Japanese attitude towards the Xuebing Army since the rise of the Xuebing Army in the three southeastern provinces of China. It can be described as "snake and rat". Japan's military operations in China (including Taiwan) were repeatedly frustrated by the student army. At the beginning of each time, the Japanese would loudly clamor to completely destroy the student army, but in the end they failed. They all ended with heavy thunder and little rain. Japan's top leaders were always undecided to fight to the death with the Xue Bing Army. There may be two reasons. First, they still looked down on the Xue Bing Army and believed that the main opponent in China was the Central Committee led by Chiang Kai-shek. army, and furthermore, they were afraid of another "sinking" or the Battle of Nanjing.
Although the big guys at the Tokyo base camp didn't know much about aviation tactics, because of the status of the Akagi, they subconsciously thought that if the Gakuin Army could sink Akagi, they could also sink Soryu and Kaga, and Japan obviously couldn't withstand it. After such a loss, the psychology of these big guys is so complex. This is the reflection of the Japanese personality. In Ouyang Yun's words, the Japanese are dogs. The harder and harder you fight, the more power you show. The more powerful he is, the more his tail will wag; and if you treat him kindly, I'm sorry, but the one who bites you in the back will definitely be the Japanese.
Koizumi's words quoted by Yamamoto made the Tokyo base camp begin to seriously examine the scourge of the Xuebing Army. Seishiro Sakagaki even proposed: It is time to deal with the Xuebing Army. It has been almost a year since Nanjing was conquered, but not only has Southeast China not achieved anything Progress, on the contrary, we are losing ground one after another. If this continues, I am afraid that the whole of Zhejiang will not be able to hold on. I think we can use three arms, the northwest to take the defensive, and use special operations to pinpoint the stubborn Chinese leaders one by one in the local organization; the central part of the country will use China to control China. policy to divide the resistance forces in China and further weaken the dominance of the National Government of China; the southeast resorted to force and must solve the scourge of the Xuebingjun this year,
Compared with the current time and space, Ouyang Yun and Koizumi Toshiichiro are both sources that can cause time and space storms. Ouyang Yun's sudden appearance has changed the fate of a large number of Chinese people, the most obvious of which are Zhang Zizhong, Ji Xingwen, Li Tieshu and others, Koizumi The same was true with the emergence of the Japanese government, and the person who changed the most was not Yamamoto but Sakagaki. Although many of the documents Koizumi sent to the military and even the emperor, although many of them failed to enter official occasions, Sakagaki carefully "study them." ", and thanks to Koizumi's "advanced ideas", this martial artist known for his boldness suddenly transformed into a wise general.
Sakagaki is now the Minister of War, representing the voice of the Army, and now that the Army is powerful, the so-called Japanese Military Department is actually run by the Army. With Sakagaki's support, Yamamoto's next preparations went very smoothly. , Yamamoto believed that in order to win with one blow, the two existing aircraft carriers in the combined fleet could no longer guarantee the absolute aviation superiority over the Hainan Island Cadet Force. It is too wide, and it is currently unknown how many fighter planes there are in Hainan. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain sufficient aviation. Therefore, Japan's other two existing aircraft carriers that can be put into combat, the Ryūjō and the Okyo, have also been incorporated into the joint fleet, joined this combat operation (Japan also had the aircraft carriers Hosho and Shokaku at this time. The former had technical problems during its transformation, and the latter was just launched in June and is currently not capable of active service),
Four more aircraft carriers, three battleships, several heavy cruisers and other battleships, plus two divisions of "provisional" marines (one of which was borrowed from the army), the Japanese army totaled more than 180 A fleet of ships with a total strength of more than 130,000 men began to sail out of Nagasaki and headed towards Hainan.
After replenishing supplies in Taiwan, on July 21, the Japanese combined fleet appeared on the ocean about 500 kilometers away from Hainan and about 200 kilometers away from Macau.
In the early morning of that day, in the captain's room of the active Combined Fleet flagship Kaga, Yamamoto Isoroku, Koizumi Toshiichiro, and Tsukahara Tsukahara were standing by the window, talking about something. They boarded the Imperial aircraft carrier and were able to personally Participating in the war is undoubtedly a very meaningful thing for Koizumi Minichiro, who has a strong aircraft carrier complex. At that time and space, Japan could not develop aircraft carriers. Even if it had the technology and money, it could only build a "helicopter aircraft carrier" in the end (fact After a slight modification, it turned into a serious aircraft carrier. The little devils are very familiar with this trick. After all, they started doing it before World War II in order not to violate the "Washington Naval Treaty"), and in this time and space, not only can they do it, And it can be done in a big way. How can Xiaoquan not be excited? In his heart, he must also be full of expectations for the outcome of this expedition. Look at him looking at the undulating ocean, looking at the world from a bird's eye view. The look on his face, is he already imagining a decisive battle with the United States?
Defeating the United States, at least for now, is still Koizumi Minichiro’s biggest dream,