On September 16, 1941, the East China Sea Fleet, reinforced by the main force of the Beiyang Fleet, protected more than 130 large transport ships to transport the Second Army of the Army to land at Wewak in northern New Guinea.
General Cheng Yaoheng currently only has four aviation warships, "Yaojin", "Qingdao", "Jiangsu" and "Guangxi", but he has two Wuyue-class ships including "Taishan" and "Hengshan".
The eight battleships and two heavy cruisers within it have relatively strong defense capabilities.
On September 19th, when the fleet was passing through the Maluku Islands, the weather began to deteriorate. In the afternoon, it rained heavily on the sea, and there were also strong winds of level 9. The wind and waves on the sea could occasionally surge onto the deck of the destroyer.
The navigation of the entire fleet became very difficult, the speed was reduced to twelve knots, and anti-submarine maneuvers had to be abandoned, which was quite dangerous.
However, in such harsh sea conditions, the possibility of an incoming enemy submarine aiming at its target is very small.
The next day, the weather was still bad, and the entire fleet could only enter Port Vanimo to escape the wind and rain. At this time, the weather in the Coral Sea, hundreds of nautical miles away, began to improve, and the main force of the U.S. fleet commanded by Halsey began to take action.
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At noon on the 21st, the Republic Navy submarine No. 4562, which was patrolling off Tagula Island, sent back a report that it had discovered that the main force of the US fleet had entered the Solomon Sea from the Coral Sea. Later, the submarine No. 3526, which was also nearby, also sent back the same report.
In the operation room of the East China Sea Fleet's flagship "Taishan", Cheng Yaoheng expressionlessly took the telegram handed over by the communications staff. His eyes were fixed on the huge map of the Central and South Pacific region on the chart table. The combat staff quickly
Based on the intelligence, the location and course of the enemy's incoming fleet were quickly marked on it.
"Who will be the enemy's target? It should be heading towards Rabaul." In fact, the fleet he led has encountered American submarines many times since it left the Philippines. Before entering the Maluku Strait,
A destroyer and two frigates from the 2nd Destroyer Squadron and the 7th Frigate Squadron on the left wing of the fleet even launched an attack on an American submarine. A US submarine should have been sunk in this area.
Due to the development of radar and sonar technology, it is difficult for submarines to approach the attack area near the heavily defended fleet, unless they are in a chaotic situation. As the escort system becomes more and more strict, even when attacking an escorted ship,
Merchant fleets also became increasingly difficult.
Most of the Republican Navy's current number of more than 600 ocean-going submarines are attached to the fleet, and they mainly perform pre-combat surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Attacking enemy transportation lines has become secondary.
"No enemy transport fleet was found in the submarine's report, which means that the enemy has no intention of landing. I'm afraid they just want to attack the port and transport ships." Rear Admiral Li Danyang, chief of staff of the East China Sea Fleet's aviation force, said, "If that's the case
, they are likely to launch an attack in this area."
Li Danyang gestured with his hand on the chart. The location he pointed to was in the northwest area of Solomon Sea Bu Qianwei Island. "It should be here."
"How many submarines do we have in this area?" Cheng Yaoheng asked.
"There are 6 ships, and there are 4 ships near the channel of New Ireland Island, and 6 ships in the Bismarck Islands." Fleet Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Li Zaolin said. After the naval battle off Japan, the original Fleet Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gao Xianshen took over the post.
Li Zaolin, commander of the Seventh Air Fleet and a graduate of Nanyuan Aviation School, became the first fleet chief of staff in the navy who was not graduated from a naval school.
"Order all 16 submarines of the 7th Submarine Group in the southern Philippines to come over, and all the submarines outside New Ireland Island to enter the Solomon Sea to fully monitor the movements of the US fleet." Cheng Yaoheng said, "In addition, the transportation in Rabaul
The fleet stopped unloading and immediately evacuated to Lorengo,"
Due to the bad weather, nearly 30 transport ships were anchored in Rabaul Port, most of which have not yet completed unloading.
Rabaul does have an airport, and the Australians did not destroy it during the evacuation. However, there are currently only 120 navy land-based fighters, and the three transport ships transporting Army Air Force combat aircraft are still in Cheng Yaoheng's current fleet.
The destination was not reached. The biggest shortcoming here is that the radar station has not been established yet, making it impossible to predict incoming enemy air strikes. From this point of view, it is very fatal.
"Commander Cheng will lead the main force of the East China Sea Fleet into the Solomon Sea to look for opportunities for a decisive battle with the US military. The General Staff's intention is for us to detour from the Maluku Islands to the north of Ilian Island for reinforcements." In the command room of the "Hengshan",
Major General Xie Shaoliang, Chief of the Nanyang Fleet Operations Division, was reporting the latest situation to General Chen Shiying.
"It will take at least five days for us to make such a big circle. By the time we arrive, the day lilies may be cold, so there is no use!" Chen Shiying folded his hands in front of his chest and stood in front of the chart table, thinking.
"Cheng Yaoheng is really courageous. He dares to come and challenge us with four aircraft ships!"
"Perhaps the East China Sea Fleet feels that there is a certain gap in performance between the carrier-based aircraft of both sides. The five aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet are not much better than it. If we had an absolute advantage, the United States would have disappeared early." Xie Shaoliang station
Said beside Chen Shiying.
"If Fletcher and the Japanese air fleet also arrive for reinforcements, the East China Sea Fleet will probably be worse than before. We have to prevent the US and Japanese fleets in Brisbane from entering the Solomon Sea for reinforcements!" Chen Jiliang said suddenly.
"What the commander means... I'm afraid this is a bit too risky!" Xie Shaoliang said. He saw Chen Shiying's fingers gesturing on the map. The admiral's intention was to cross the Torres Strait, which is densely covered with reefs, and directly enter the Coral Sea.
"This waterway is not as difficult and dangerous as everyone imagines. Before the war, we had several merchant ships that specifically ran this route to Brisbane. There were five or six navigators in our fleet who were familiar with this route. Torres Strait
The channel width at its narrowest point is five or six nautical miles, enough to accommodate eight ships running parallel. What worries me a little is the incoming enemy submarines and the incoming enemy submarines in Somerset.
and two airports in Daru. If we enter the Torres Strait in the evening, we can reach the Gulf of Guinea before dawn. Although we are still within the attack range of shore-based combat aircraft, the threat is much smaller." Chen Shiying made up his mind.
Determined, he then said: "Telegraph this plan to the General Staff and Naval Command, and order the fleet to turn and advance towards Cape York!"
At the same time, two U.S. submarines were sailing unsteadily in the northern waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The sea was covered with clouds, the wind and waves were strong, and the submarine's black nose appeared and disappeared between the waves.
The "Shark" and "Perch" with hull numbers SS-174 and SS-175 are both the second batch of "Little Whale-class" submarines built by the U.S. Navy, with a displacement of 1,320 tons (standard)/1,970 tons (underwater)
), which is roughly equivalent to the Type 3 submarine built by the Republic Navy. However, because the Republic Navy has obtained Germany's high-strength alloy steel smelting technology and submarine manufacturing technology, its submarines are slightly ahead of American submarines in terms of endurance and diving depth.
Staff Sergeant Brad Jerry, the bosun of the "Shark", stepped onto the rickety deck that was slippery from the sea water. Two surveyors wearing orange life jackets stumbled behind him. The submarine sailed on
In this water area with dense coral reefs, you have to be extra careful every step you take.
The captain, Major Allen Bullard, stood in front of the bridge and said into the microphone: "One-fifth speed, slow down!" Then he shouted to Jerry on the deck, "See that place
Are you there? Throw the sounding hammer over!" A large piece of coral reef was exposed in front of it, dark red in the dim light. The top was gray and black.
"The left side is 6 fathoms deep, the right side is even deeper, no problem!" Jerry and the two surveyors were soaked by the navy, and they returned to the bridge step by step. He wiped the water droplets from his face and shouted loudly.
"Very good, one-third speed, keep going!" Major Bullard shouted into the boat again, and the Shark continued to move through the narrow waterway between the two rocks.