Just over two months after the end of the Luzon Campaign, the Republican Army turned its attention to Ilian Island, the largest island in the central Pacific. The U.S. military also realized that the survival of New Guinea Island was related to the security of the entire Australia and South Pacific routes.
A large number of troops began to be sent to the island, and an unprecedented naval and air battle broke out.
The original plan of the Republican Army was to land in the west of Ilian Island from the Maluku Islands and Indo-China Islands, and then gradually occupy the entire New Guinea, and then gradually move eastward to capture New Britain, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
In order to achieve the purpose of cutting off the joint traffic line between the United States and Australia
The US-Japan-Australia coalition forces had almost no defense force in the western part of New Guinea. The 1st Marine Division successfully landed at Uta and Yapero in the south of Jaya Peak, but found a big problem from the western part of Guinea.
To the east, there are high mountains and dense forests, with dense swamps, making it impossible for troops to pass. If you want to build a mountain forest road connecting the west to the east of Ilian Island, even in peacetime, it will not be possible in more than a year.
Based on the actual situation, the General Staff Headquarters officially issued an operational plan to terminate the landing on the western side of Ilian Island, and at the same time formulated a new operational plan. The new operational plan stipulated that the Luzon side would dispatch the Marine Corps Division and the Army's 2nd Group Army in New Zealand.
Landing in the northern part of Guinea Island, the 1st and 3rd Air Fleets of the Beiyang Fleet and the East China Sea Fleet were deployed as the main escort fleet.
On the southern front, the Marine Corps, the 12th Division, and the Army Group landed at Merauke, south of Irian Island, as an advance base for the march to Port Moresby.
In the new combat plan, in order to protect the air security during the entire landing operation, the Republican Army must build two military aircraft superstructures on Sudarso Island in the southern part of Ilian Island for the use of land-based combat aircraft during missions.
China and the United States immediately launched a desperate battle for control of Sudarso Island.
In fact, in early July, the Republican Army began to land on Sudarso Island. By September, two simple runways made of concrete, 1,300 meters long and 70 meters wide, were basically completed on Thorne and Julian.
A simple field airport will soon be able to accommodate fighter jets
At this time, the U.S. military discovered the Republican Army's offensive intentions and began an all-out counterattack
It was a clear and windless morning when this huge dark gray-painted fleet stationed in Van Diemen's Bay began. The fleet's flagship "Hengshan" raised the admiral's flag symbolizing the commander-in-chief.
After that, a signal flag was raised on the signal mast and the fleet commander's order was issued to the entire waiting fleet: "Everyone on time 1 38 Reading Network!"
As the vanguard of the fleet, the cruiser Qinzhou led the 3rd Destroyer Fleet to set off first, followed by the 8th Destroyer Fleet, the 11th Escort Fleet, the 8th Cruiser Fleet and the 3rd Battle Fleet, followed by the 3rd Destroyer Fleet headed by the "Fujian"
3 Air Fleet, 4 Air Fleet and 7 Air Fleet
The Air Fleet has a total of 7 aviation battleships, followed by the 8th Battle Fleet, the 3rd Cruiser Fleet, the 12th Guards Fleet and the 1st Destroyer Fleet. The 3rd Submarine Force Command under the Nanyang Fleet has 4 submarine detachments with 112 ships.
The submarine has entered the scheduled pot in advance for patrol.
Last night, according to reports from the defenders on Sudarso Island, the Republican Army's construction on the island and the two airports were bombarded by naval heavy artillery. In addition, according to aerial reconnaissance, the US military has begun landing in the Merauke area. This shows that
, the U.S. Navy has passed through Cape York, entered the Arafura Sea, and began to cover the Army's attempt to launch a counterattack against Sudarso Island.
After receiving the report, General Chen Shiying immediately ordered the fleet to launch a sortie to intercept the US landing fleet, and waited for an opportunity to find the main force of the US fleet for a decisive battle.
Two hours later, the fleet entered the Frajila Sea. A fighter jet that took off from the "Hunan" on an aerial reconnaissance mission did not pull up during takeoff for unknown reasons and fell into the sea with a bang.
A high water column splashed on the sea
The frigate "Changjiang" quickly approached and sent personnel to rescue the pilot who fell into the water.
On the bridge of the "Hunan", Lieutenant General Gao Xianshen, commander of the 4th Air Force Fleet, was so angry that such flight accidents are not uncommon on aircraft carriers, but before a major battle, it always clouds people's hearts.
a bad sign
Since before the fleet set off, bad news came one after another. The five main aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet led by Halsey had arrived in Port Moresby. Then another bad news came. The Japanese had
The two unfinished new main aviation battleships "Shōkaku" and "Zuikaku" have been completed and put into service in South America with the help of the Americans, and under the command of Lieutenant General Takagi Takeo, they rushed to the Australian battlefield
The balance of power between the enemy and ourselves has undergone major changes. The Republican Navy, which had always had the upper hand, now has two fewer aircraft ships than the enemy. This is the first time the Republican Navy has fought without an advantage. This is very important for all participating in the war.
It will definitely be a severe test for personnel
The real danger appeared in the northern part of New Guinea. The 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions departing from Maluku easily successfully landed in Sami and Jayapura, which were inaccessible, and controlled the areas near the coast.
The operations of the 13th Mainland Division on New Britain Island were not so smooth.
New Britain Island is located in the southeast of New Guinea. This area was originally a German colony. When World War I broke out, the Japanese took the opportunity to occupy it. However, in the post-war agreement, Britain, the United States and other countries joined forces to exert pressure and forced the Japanese to surrender.
removed all German colonies south of the equator and placed them under condominium management by the League of Nations
So far, New Guinea, including New Britain, New Ireland, and the Solomon Islands, is a trusteeship of Australia under the League of Nations.
The Republican Army regarded Rabaul, the capital of Australian New Guinea, as its main advance base towards the Central and South Pacific. According to the intelligence analysis, Rabaul is a natural deep-water port that can station a large fleet, and the Australians are on the island.
There are no defense facilities built at all
The Vulcan volcano located in the port of Rabaul erupted again in 1936. The violent volcanic eruption covered the entire town of Rabaul with more than one meter of volcanic ash. The land composed of volcanic ash is quite fertile, and the island has long
It is full of dense tropical jungles, and the natives in the jungles still live in the primitive Stone Age.
Under the protection of a fleet composed mainly of four aircraft ships of the East China Sea Fleet, more than 30 large transport ships transporting the 13th Army Division to land entered the port, which was actually equivalent to occupying this town. Not a single shot was fired in this town, and there was no resistance.
When the Republican naval warships and transport fleet were still several days away from Rabaul, Australian planes taking off from the port discovered them. Since they were unable to resist, the Australians had evacuated all personnel in this place before the arrival of the Republican army.
The Republican Army easily established an advance base here.
Admiral Halsey, who was rushing to Port Moresby, received the news and decided to change his plan to rendezvous with Major General Fletcher, inserting his fleet between the eastern part of New Guinea Island and New Britain Island to attack La.
Bauer organized a bold attack. Admiral Kimmel, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet, agreed to his battle plan, but asked that the fleet not cross the Solomon Sea and attack the Republican transport fleet anchored in the port of Rabaul in the southern part of New Britain Island.