Kaohsiung. After adding a new long-range aviation division (there were originally two, one was transferred after completing the first air strike mission, but two were quickly transferred back), Xue Changkong realized that the Supreme Command would next
There were bigger moves in the Pacific direction. When Tielinfei flew over, because he knew the seriousness of delegating members of the Supreme Command of Tielinfei's level to local places, Xue Changkong knew that the Americans were finished.
"The U.S. Pacific Fleet has not separated from the Japanese Combined Fleet yet, and it should be waiting for a better time. As soon as we have completed the preparations, we will wait for the order to attack," Xue Changkong said to him while accompanying Tielin Fei to the aviation building.
Iron Forest Trail.
"Reconnaissance is twenty hours?"
"Yes. Just in case, we have increased the reconnaissance radius. Now we will dispatch three reconnaissance planes every half hour, including one in the direction of Palau, one in the direction of Guam, and one in the northeast of Guam.
.”
"The junior commander issued a death order. This time, all American aircraft carriers must be destroyed. Even if they cannot be sunk, they must lose power. This will be the 'sink it' we give to the Americans."
"With three long-range aviation divisions, there should be no problem."
"It's not a should, it's a must!"
The spying of Chinese reconnaissance planes aroused Li Mei's vigilance. However, Li Mei could not distinguish clearly whether these reconnaissance planes were sent by the Chinese fleet or came from other directions. Li Mei seemed careless. But it is not hard to blame him.
, although the previous night attacks of China's flying fortress clusters caused considerable damage to them, it also seemed to confirm the following point, that is, horizontal bombing can damage the combat power of the US aircraft carrier, but it cannot sink the US aircraft carrier. Therefore, it is relatively
Li Mei was worried that the torpedo planes of the Chinese fleet would be better than the flying fortress.
As Xue Changkong said, Li Mei was indeed waiting for a better opportunity to escape. He thought that after seizing the initiative through two previous raids, the Chinese Pacific Fleet would definitely take the initiative when the Malan Battle fell into a stalemate.
In his words to Yamaguchi Wenta: Although the Chinese fleet has severely damaged us before, it has not laid the foundation for victory. According to the information you provided, the outcome of the current Malan battle is still uncertain. Since the Chinese have already achieved victory at sea
Taking the lead, of course they will try to transfer this advantage to land. I firmly believe that within a week at the latest, the Chinese will not be able to help but take the initiative.
Have Chen Ce and Bai Chongxi considered transferring their maritime advantages to land to provide assistance in the Battle of Malan? The answer is yes. The second Pacific War provoked by the Americans was not a pure naval battle. The reason why the Americans and Japanese wanted
The purpose of seizing control of the Pacific is to completely drive Chinese forces out of the Pacific. Then, sooner or later, Americans will join the land battle in Southeast Asia. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is a small power that cannot be defeated. This has been proven. Therefore.
, after severely damaging the US Pacific Fleet, in order to consolidate the fruits of victory, in Bai Chongxi's view, on the one hand, the Chinese Pacific Fleet should pursue the victory and not give the Americans a chance to start over; on the other hand, the Third Expeditionary Army should seize this opportunity,
Give the Japanese a head-on blow on land and make the situation in Southeast Asia more favorable to China before the Americans intervene.
The proactive attack by the Japanese Combined Fleet once paralyzed Chen Ce and Bai Chongxi, making them feel that the Americans and Japanese were "jumping over the wall". But soon, they discovered that the Japanese attack was louder than thunder, let alone breaking through the Pacific Fleet.
Even if it caused trouble for the Pacific Fleet, it would not count. Bai Chongxi thought a little more and couldn't help but wonder if the Americans and Japanese were brewing some conspiracy.
Bai Chongxi was just thinking about it when the Supreme Command sent the latest instructions to expose the true intentions of the Americans and Japanese. "The Americans want to withdraw eastward! What a plan!" After learning the truth, Bai Chongxi first marveled at the Americans' fantastic ideas.
. Then, after discussing with Chen Ce, they felt that with three long-range aviation divisions looking after the Americans' retreat route, they did not have to worry about the Americans actually escaping. Their mentality changed and they were no longer in a hurry to "expand their lead."
"For the Americans, the best time to withdraw eastward is naturally when we take the initiative to launch an attack. So what if we just keep hanging on?"
"Of course the longer it takes, the better it is for us. We can still get supplies from Kaohsiung. Where can the Americans and Japanese get supplies? The only thing to worry about is the situation in Malan. If the Americans really launch an attack from the southern front, the third expedition will be
Can the army group resist it?"
"If the Americans want to launch an attack from the south, they can only attack Sumatra first. Sumatra was previously run by General Bai. Based on my understanding of her, she must have made a thorough arrangement before going to Ryukyu to take office. For the time being, we should not worry about Malan.
War situation."
"Then drag it!"
"drag!"
After discussing with Bai Chongxi, Chen Ce and Bai Chongxi finally decided to adopt the procrastination strategy. The Pacific Fleet only implemented this strategy for three days, and sure enough, they received good news from the defenders of Sumatra Island.
The Americans made a mistake here. In other words, the Americans simply did not learn from their previous experience with the Chinese Navy. The Americans assembled five divisions of the US-Australia coalition forces from the Indian Ocean with the support of a mixed fleet.
They launched an attack on Sibilu Island in Sumatra. Before the attack, the trumpets were blown loudly, but the result was quite disastrous. The Americans attacked for two consecutive days, but even at the cost of one Marine brigade in casualties, they did not even reach Siberu Island.
None of the beaches could be reached. When the Chinese submarine force arrived from the Karachi Naval Base to join the battle, the Americans could no longer stay at sea and had to retreat to Jakarta first.
Koizumi Toshiichiro was certainly not satisfied with the fact that the American attack on Sumatra ended in a tail-end. However, after learning about the true battle losses of the Americans and the fact that the Americans had no intention of stopping, he thought about it again and again, and finally restrained himself.
Unhappy, he ordered Yamaguchi to help the US Pacific Fleet withdraw eastward as soon as possible.
Although the battle on Sibilu Island came and went quickly, it was not the end but just the beginning. The Chinese defenders of Sumatra Island were still the marines from Karachi left by Bai Liusu, and their establishment was only two divisions plus one.
Independent Brigade. Feeling that the Americans would definitely use troops against Sumatra next, and Sumatra must not be lost, Ouyang Yun, after consulting Gu Zhutong's opinion, sent a telegram to Stern, asking him to send
Three Jewish divisions reinforced the Malay Peninsula, mainly strengthening the defense of Sumatra.