The main force of the Beiyang Fleet sailed near the Ogasawara Islands. It was raining heavily on the sea and the wind and waves were very strong. It was even more difficult to navigate the landing fleet that transported personnel and equipment from the 29th Brigade of the 10th Division of the Marine Corps behind the fleet. The speed dropped to about ten knots, and then
It dragged down the speed of the entire fleet.
The "Dongshan Island" class tank landing ship is the first medium-sized ship built by the Republican Navy using a large-scale standardized assembly line. This landing ship with a length of 121 meters, a width of 17 meters, and a standard displacement of 3,600 tons uses two man-type diesel engines.
As power, the maximum speed can reach 18 knots and a cruising capacity of 3,600 nautical miles. It can transport all personnel and equipment including 10 tanks and 12 amphibious armor at a time for long-distance landing operations.
Due to the assembly line construction method of prefabricated standard parts in segmented assembly, the construction period of the "Dongshan Island-class" landing ship was shortened to about two months. After that, the Navy began to vigorously promote the assembly line segmented assembly method in the shipyard.
Now, including the main aviation ships, almost all newly built ships have begun to adopt large-scale flow-through segmented operations, which greatly shortens the construction period. Due to the large-scale flow-through segmented construction method, the "Beihai" with a displacement of 48,500 tons
The construction period of the class "aviation warship has been shortened to 8 months, and the efficiency has been increased by more than three times compared to the past.
The increasingly powerful shipbuilding capabilities are one of the main factors that the Republican Navy has been able to maintain its maritime advantage. On the other hand, the Republican China's sufficient human resources ensure that the Navy has always had enough reserve pilots and crew members to be trained at any time.
It can be replenished to the fleet so that each fleet can maintain sufficient combat effectiveness.
As the war progressed, scientists and engineers from all over the world also devoted their energy and enthusiasm to the research and development of military equipment. In addition, the technical exchanges and technology sharing between allies and equipment technology among allies.
The level gap is getting smaller and smaller. Since the war has been going on, what is competing is the comprehensive national strength in terms of population, industrial ability and educational quality. In terms of industrial ability, the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union must have a slight advantage, but in terms of the number of people
, Republican China, with a population of nearly 700 million, is twice as big as the Allies. This is enough to make up for some gaps in industrial capacity.
With the massive development of oil fields in the Persian Gulf region by the Republic of China, the crude oil production of the Allies quickly reached a peak of 110 million tons per year. Now about 6 million tons of crude oil are imported to Germany through ports in the northern Adriatic Sea every year.
, to ensure that the Germans had sufficient war ability.
With the mining of Western Australia iron ore, the Republic has started construction of steel plants such as Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Shanghai Baoshan, Shandong Laiwu, Hebei, etc. along the coast. In addition, the construction of the Anshan Iron and Steel Base in the Northeast has reached the annual steel output of the Republic.
78 million tons, which is basically the same as the United States' steel production.
In the steel age, steel output and processing capacity are also another important indicator that determines the outcome of a war.
In order to gain the initiative in the ocean, a shipbuilding arms race was launched between the Republic of China and the United States and Britain. Because Germany and Italy are relatively weak in the shipbuilding industry, they have always been the world of the US and British navies in the Atlantic.
In the next year, the United States will have 12 "Exes-class" aviation ships and 6 latest "Midway-class" fleet aviation ships launched, while the United Kingdom will have 4 Lion-class battleships and 4 US
The "Essex-class" aviation warships built on the basis of the "Essex-class" were completed and put into service. In the Republic of China, only 12 "North Sea-class" fleet aviation warships will be completed and put into service. In addition, the Italian Navy and the German Navy each have two airlines.
The warships will be built and launched, but with the shipbuilding capabilities of these two countries, they may not be able to complete the installation.
Faced with the increasingly severe situation, the General Staff hopes to cut off the transportation line between Australia and the United States in 1942, thereby achieving the strategic intention of forcing Australia and New Zealand to withdraw from the war and driving the US Navy back to the Americas.
The overall concept of the Central and South Pacific Battle formulated by the General Staff is to use the offenses of strategic goals such as the Southern Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Midway as bait to find opportunities to find opportunities with the US Pacific when the Republican Navy still has an advantage.
The main force of the fleet engages in a decisive battle, thus achieving the strategic purpose of annihilation or severely damaging the US Pacific Fleet.
Now the first step of the battle has been achieved. The 1st US Marine Division and the 27th Australian Brigade were besieged in the Southern Solomon Islands. The main force of the 5th Fleet, which was originally stationed in Pearl Harbor, was forced to go to the South Pacific for reinforcements. The purpose of the Beiyang Fleet's attack is now
It is to mobilize this fleet back, and the main forces of the Republican Navy's East China Sea Fleet and the South China Sea Fleet will attack it between the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands.
On the vast sea, Wang Chongwen directed the main force of the Beiyang Fleet to sail towards Midway Island in a difficult manner under the wind and rain. On the afternoon of June 17, the fleet arrived at the deep sea area less than one thousand nautical miles away from Midway Island, and the weather began to improve.
At the same time, General Cheng Yao and Evergrande also led the main force of the East China Sea Fleet to the east of the Marshall Islands to intercept the expected Harsay fleet from the anchorages of Guam and Saipan.
Submarine forces operating in Hawaii sent back some bad news. The Pacific Fleet strengthened its air force on Midway and dispatched seaplanes on some islands and reefs to enhance the reconnaissance range of the zone. It is obvious that Nimitz
They are also worried about the Republican Navy's attack on Pearl Harbor.
Another bad news is that the submarine forces that monitor the US Fifth Fleet in the mid-Pacific Ocean lost track of the enemy, and the submarine forces operating in Samoa and Tuvalu did not find this enemy's main fleet.
At dusk, the fleet's radio detection ship discovered that a long list of radio signals was sent from the Nanto Island area, and the transmission time was about 15 minutes. It was obvious that the transport fleet located behind the fleet had been discovered by the enemy's submarines.
It is a dangerous signal, and the enemy is likely to guess the intentions of the Republic Fleet.
After obtaining this information, Wang Chongwen decisively changed his combat plan and ordered the transport fleet to turn to Guam, waiting for the main fleet to control the situation before landing operations.
Chester Nimitz did guess the next target of the Republican Navy, and he made a simple and brave decision: to stop MacArthur, Gormley and Washington from sending his main fleet to the South Pacific.
It was decided to concentrate all efforts on the attacking Chinese fleet on Midway Island.
He took a great risk to do so. Admiral Kim ordered him to send all the main forces of the 5th Fleet to reinforce the Southern Solomon Islands, pointing out that the Republican Army may have all its strength to capture the Southern Solomon Islands. Van Vrist faces the entire army
Risk of destruction. If the facts proved that his judgment was wrong, causing the situation in the South Pacific to deteriorate suddenly, he could become the first U.S. admiral to be dismissed and sent to military court since its founding.
He ordered the 13th and 14th Special Mixed Fleet, who had just arrived from the Panama Canal, to march to Midway overnight under the command of Lieutenant General Kincaid, and then ordered Spruins to lead the main force of the 5th Fleet quietly in the southwest of Johnston Island.
Turn back to the southeastern waters of Midway Island for an ambush.
In this sea area, he has a certain initiative. The reconnaissance aircraft taking off from Midway can search the surrounding area of nearly 700 nautical miles. In terms of distance, it only took more than a day to reinforce from Pearl Harbor to Midway.
It takes at least three days for the enemy to reach this sea area.
It was a clear and windless morning. The fighter planes that were undergoing maintenance from Oahu Airport began to take off and go outside the port to meet with the airship on standby on the sea.
On the calm sea, four fleet aviation ships, "The Brave", "The Boxer", "The Husband" and "The Hornet" and a "**-class" light aviation ship, "The Cabernet" are now
It was slowly driving at a speed of 5 knots. When a torpedo plane landed on the "Hornet", its fuselage suddenly trembled, and it hit the flight deck at the rear, and was cut into the sea in fragments. It served as an escort
The destroyer drew a white mark and rushed towards the wreckage of the plane emitting thick smoke to rescue the pilot who fell into the water.
Lieutenant General Thomas Kincaid stood on the fifth floor of the "Brave" bridge, looking at the accident on the "Hornet" in front of him, and frowned. Although this accident on the airship was
Not unusual, but this time it made him feel a bad sign.
Nimitz ordered him to reinforce Midway along the Hawaiian Islands, which is a zone where Chinese submarines are frequently active. He is likely to be discovered by the enemy first and thus be hit by the first wave.
There is no way to do this. In Nimitz's plan, he has a lot of ingredients to act as a bait role.
At 1 noon, the fleet had already completed formation on the sea surface. At this time, Jinket issued an order to set sail, "Depart as scheduled!" The signal flag rose on the signal mast of the "Brave", and the entire fleet began to accelerate in the northwest direction.