On April 6, 1940, Chen Shiying led the main force of the Nanyang Fleet to the Changi base. They came to take over the defense tasks originally undertaken by Wei Zihao's Indian Ocean Fleet. At this time, the Republican Army concentrated three major fleets and 12 aircraft carriers in the Indian Ocean direction.
The campaign mission code-named "Operation North Africa" has been issued, with hundreds of transport ships focusing on ports along the Bay of Bengal, Singapore, Penang, Yangon, Calcutta, Ceylon and Bandazia, and even in Batavia.
Army and Marine Corps officers and soldiers preparing for landing operations have begun to board the ship.
The Republican Army concentrated a total of 5 group armies and 9 marine divisions for this landing operation. In addition, it also prepared reserve forces of 4 group armies on the coast of South China. Those responsible for the first wave of attack missions included 2 group armies with 120,000 people and 6
There are 180,000 Marines in one Marine Division, with a total of 310,000 troops. This will be a large-scale amphibious battle with the largest number of troops deployed at one time in human history.
Colombo was sunny and clear in April, and the entire port was busy. The 1st Marine Division stationed in Ceylon hurriedly boarded ships in the port after handing over the defense to the army. The 1st Marine Corps of the Republic of China was ordered to act.
The commander of the army, Vice Admiral Lin Zhiyuan, was in a hurry. According to the plan, the North African campaign would not start until the end of May, but unexpectedly, he suddenly received an order from the headquarters to start concentrating the troops.
"What did they want to do? They were in such a hurry that the troops left everything in the barracks." Yang Tinggang, commander of the 1st Lu Division, was very dissatisfied with the order of the General Staff. The entire Lu 1st Division arrived three days after receiving the order.
In Colombo, the troops threw all the chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep and other live animals raised by the Improve Life in the barracks, except for the part that was slaughtered for the Improvement food.
"Stop talking nonsense and order the troops to board the ship as soon as possible. We will set off tomorrow!" Lin Zhiyuan said, "The 3rd Lu Division has already set off from Bandazia. We will meet at sea."
"Where are we going to land? How can we fight this battle if we don't even have a target?" Yang Tingang said.
"This is highly confidential. The combat order will be announced to all officers and soldiers at sea." Lin Zhiyuan said, "Don't ask more questions if you are not supposed to know."
In the evening, the entire sky became gloomy. Braving the drizzle, the 1st Marine Division hurriedly set off from Colombo on 26 transport ships. They were escorted by the Hunan and Hubei of the 4th Air Fleet.
Air Battleship No. 4, 4th Battle Fleet
The 4th Task Force, composed of the battleships Yanshan and Yandangshan, as well as 4 cruisers of the 13th Cruiser Fleet, 12 destroyers and 6 frigates of the 11th Destroyer Fleet, is commanded by Vice Admiral Gao Xianshen, commander of the 4th Air Fleet.
Commander-in-Chief.
It was raining lightly, the sea was gray, and visibility was very poor.
At the same time, on the sea west of the Strait of Malacca, Admiral Chen Shiying led an escort fleet composed of the 7th Task Force of the Southern Ocean Fleet to protect another larger transport fleet passing through the Strait of Malacca, and with the Sa Division
The 8th task force led by Jun met on the sea and sailed side by side towards the southwest sea.
Fang Minghao stood by the gangway on the second floor of the command tower of the battleship "Hengshan", the flagship of the Nanyang Fleet, and saw Admiral Sa Shijun rushing from his flagship to the Hengshan in a transport boat. After a while, the admiral's body
From the port side of the battleship to the deck, Sa Shijun greeted the army and navy officers who greeted him, and then hurriedly walked to the tall bridge.
The Hengshan seems a bit too lively now, focusing on a large number of senior officers from the Republican Army. There are nearly 30 generals with gold stars on their shoulders, including three military committee members with the rank of general.
member.
This huge fleet with hundreds of ships advanced slowly at a speed of 15 knots. The sea was calm, and the stars in the night sky were very clear. Below the deck, dark waves continued to roll on both sides of the "Hengshan"
The ground was agitated, making waves of very rhythmic sound, just like waves lapping at the shore.
A bright line forms at the distant sea level in the west, forming a semicircular halo in the darkness. This makes the night sky evoke many magical associations.
Fang Minghao looked at the night sky, trying his best to get rid of some distracting thoughts in his heart. He already knew the entire battle plan involving the president. Although nearly a day had passed, he still couldn't eliminate the shock he felt in his heart. Throughout the battle,
In the plan, the risks faced by the Republic of China were much greater than they are now. If it succeeds, it will change the world structure that has been formed for hundreds of years. If it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable.
But now, nothing can be changed, and the battle has begun.
The President is now in the huge war room on the "Hengshan", studying the specific details of the implementation of the campaign with his senior generals. The entire combat plan is kept strictly confidential. Until now, the vast majority of the officers and soldiers participating in the war have been kept in the dark.
In the dark, in such a huge fleet, there are no more than fifteen senior generals who know about this combat plan.
On the contrary, some staff officers in the Operations Department who worked on this plan were more familiar with the content of the entire operation.
The President seemed to have made up his mind, making an exception and following the fleet for the first time. He wanted to see with his own eyes the implementation of the battle plan he had designated.
"General, the president invites you to come over." The officer on duty on the ship said to him in the darkness.
Fang Minghao entered the president's cabin with a small living room. The combat meeting ended at some point. There were only three senior officials of the Republican Army left in the room: Army General Jiang Chengyu, Navy General Chen Shiying and Sa Shijun.
Admiral.
The president looked a little tired. He had just eaten a snack and was wiping his mouth with a light green handkerchief. Fang Minghao gave a military salute to the three generals.
"This is Fang Minghao. He has been my adjutant for a month. He is an outstanding soldier with great political acumen." The president turned to General Jiang Chengyu and said, but did not let him sit down. "But Xiao Fang has never commanded operations.
This time I plan to let him practice with the army. Xiao Fang, are you willing to join the combat army?"
"Always obey orders!" Fang Minghao was startled for a moment, but quickly stood up and said.
"Okay, that's it. This will be good for your future." A smile appeared on the president's face. "You first go to the 1st Marine Corps as the deputy chief of staff. Is there no problem?"
"Yes, sir!" Fang Minghao replied.
"Do you know Commander Chen?" the president said.
"I know you, but I'm not very familiar with you."
"Okay Ji Liang, Major General Fang will leave it to you to make arrangements." The president said to Chen Shiying.
"I'll do it right away. The fleet is about to change direction, so I'll leave first." General Chen Shiying and Admiral Sa stood up to say goodbye, "Rear Admiral Fang, please follow me."
Fang Minghao followed Chen Shiying and Sa Shijun to the war room on the third floor of the control tower. The admiral asked about the current specific location, and then issued an order to the combat staff: "Notify the fleet that in 15 minutes, 37th left,
All Southeast!”
"Yes, in 15 minutes, turn left 37, all heading southeast!" The combat staff glanced at General Chen, and then repeated.