On the shore of the Caspian Sea, there are vast mist and sparkling lights.
The special plane of An Yi and his party arrived at the Surakhan military airport more than 30 kilometers east of Baku at 9 a.m. on the 16th. Mountain Cluster Commander and Political Commissar Jiao Guangxu, Chief of Staff Gao Jinbao, the first, second, and third
Mountain Army Commanders Sun Zhuming, Zhang Hao, Wang Huanyan, Ye Qingfeng and others went to the airport to greet him.
After greeting a group of old brothers, Director of the General Political Department Zhan Zhan and a group of generals returned to Lockbatan in the west of Baku city in advance to read out the latest list of commendations from the Central Military Commission for meritorious groups and individuals. However, An Yi was among the staff of the Baku Military Control Commission
Accompanied by him, he first went to the Caspian Sea and took a helicopter to Altium Island to inspect hundreds of oil wells that had been damaged by missiles.
The Baku oil field mainly consists of the oil-rich Apsheron Peninsula, Altim Island and its adjacent Caspian Sea waters. Looking around from the black-burnt Altim Island, there are many steel frame ruins everywhere.
The once majestic kowtow machines and oil pipelines as dense as spider webs are all riddled with holes, and many steel surfaces even show signs of melting.
At this time, countless oil workers, whose bodies were stained with oil and black ash, were cleaning the mine equipment that could continue to be used and dismantling the scrap steel frames.
Professor Dai Liming, a petroleum engineering expert at the Military Control Commission who went abroad to obtain a master's degree in petroleum engineering from Clausthal University of Technology in Germany in 2003, told An Yi that it would take at least three months to completely sort out the oil area and re-pave it.
After improving the oil pipeline, oil production can be restored in about half a year. It will return to the maximum production after a year.
When leaving Altium Island, An Yi unexpectedly saw some land covered with black ash. Green grass grew under the blowing of the spring breeze, and his mood suddenly changed from heavy to beautiful.
It is indeed an oil city. Before the outbreak of World War II, the oil production in Baku and surrounding areas reached a historical peak of 24 million tons, which once accounted for more than 80% of the total oil production of the Soviet Union. Therefore, returning to land, the convoy traveled from the sea to Baku city.
From the southern part of the peninsula to the offshore Caspian Sea, there are densely packed steel oil wells and black-burning kowtow machines along the way. The entire area looks like a steel forest, which is extremely shocking.
The motorcade passed through the old site of Baku City. When Ye Zixin and Dijana looked through the car window, they saw the desolate city outside, the city walls that were almost burned to white ground, the collapsed buildings, and strips of broken-down buildings due to holes in the upper cement slabs.
The exposed sewer gives people a desolate feeling. The little mouth is slightly open, and it is so surprised that it cannot be closed.
The old city and the new city of Baku were both reduced to ruins by missile attacks by the Anjia Army.
The refineries and oil depots built around the city of Baku are like a volcano. When ignited by continuous explosions, the damage caused is almost devastating. About four million tons of crude oil and more than three million tons of gasoline and diesel,
Kerosene products exploded together. The destructive power was no less powerful than the explosion of an atomic bomb with an equivalent of 40,000 to 50,000 tons of TNT.
In such an explosion, Baku, once an industrial center city in the Caucasus, was almost completely wiped off the face of the earth. The "Virgin Tower" in the center of Baku's old city, which is on the edge of the Caspian Sea and was later listed as a World Cultural Heritage, has long since
No trace of its existence can be seen, leaving only some dark stone walls for people to mourn.
Since the high-level policy towards the Transcaucasus region was undecided, the Mountain Cluster only sent out troops after consolidating the northern defense line. The city was thoroughly cleaned up, and some corpses and skeletons buried in ruins, dry wells, air raid shelters, and basements were incinerated and buried centrally.
At the Shahova Spit in the southeast of the peninsula, trees were subsequently planted there.
The convoy drove on a flat road, passing some local villages from time to time along the way. Due to the war, the villages looked dilapidated and dilapidated. Some villagers stood at the entrance of the village and looked at the convoy indifferently. An Yi looked carefully and found that those people looked at
Xiang Jie's eyes were filled with hatred, and he couldn't help but tremble in his heart.
At one o'clock at noon, An Yi and his party had lunch at the 12th Mountain Division station in Lockbatan. They took care of Diana's eating habits and served canned beef and mutton, and added a seaweed soup to complete the meal.
After the meal, An Yi held talks with Jiao Guangxu and others, asking in detail about a series of problems encountered by the troops in the Caucasus.
Just when An Yi was getting to know the real situation in the Caucasus, in the eastern waters of the Coral Sea, ships belonging to the Japanese Navy's Fifth Air Fleet were sailing in the vast sea between Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
As the main force of the U.S. Navy was huddled on the island of New Caledonia, the Japanese Navy launched a tentative air attack on the island. As a result, the carrier-based aircraft suffered heavy losses due to the attack by U.S. land-based fighter jets.
In addition, four destroyers tentatively entered the land-based radar monitoring area, and only after entering forty or fifty nautical miles, US Air Force fighter jets quickly arrived, including the A-36A dive bomber, which was improved and developed based on the P-51 fighter jet.
.After the Japanese destroyers paid the price of one sinking and another being severely damaged, the remaining two destroyers fled the waters of New Caledonia in embarrassment.
Such a shocking and tragic encounter gave up the plan of Japanese Combined Fleet Commander Yamamoto Goto to directly attack the heavily fortified New Caledonia Island, and instead used his brains on the New Hebrides Islands.
The New Hebrides Islands are located in the central Pacific between Hawaii and Australia. They include four large islands and more than 80 small islands. They connect the central Pacific and the Southwest Pacific in a "y" shape. They are two miles west of the Australian mainland.
More than 1,100 kilometers away, the main port of Port Vila is more than 600 kilometers away from the island of New Caledonia in the southwest.
This distance is neither long nor short. Although the sea areas in between are all within the combat radius of B17, B25, B29 bombers and P47, P51 fighters, for carrier-based fighters, bombers and torpedo planes, it is still
It seems too far away, and it is only outside the control range of land-based radar. It is not necessarily safe for the American fleet sailing in this sea area, and it is even more rare for the Japanese Navy, which is eager to break the current deadlock.
opportunity.
Vice Admiral Yamaguchi Takan, the commander of the Fifth Fleet, was on the bridge of the flagship. He picked up a telescope and looked carefully. Suddenly, the communications staff Major Rui Aso came behind him: "Your Excellency, we have just received a telegram from the reconnaissance aircraft dispatched. However, the telegram
I only got half of it and then it suddenly stopped.”
Yamaguchi was surprised. After thinking about it, he asked Major Rui Aso: "Do you know which reconnaissance line he is in charge of? Has he sent another telegram?"
"No!"
Major Rui Aso shook his head, then followed Yamaguchi Tawen back to the command room, picked up the baton, and pointed out the reconnaissance route for this reconnaissance aircraft on the chart.
The chief of staff, Rear Admiral Go Kawashima, who was instructing the staff to use flags to contact the warships of the fleet, came over and looked at the chart for a while. He speculated: "There is a high possibility that our reconnaissance plane is approaching the American fleet.
It was intercepted by U.S. Navy carrier-based fighter jets."
In this time and space, since the Japanese army never entered the Yangtze Estuary, Yamaguchi Duowen, a rare tactical expert in the Japanese Navy and a famous general who was good at aircraft carrier operations, did not commit the "May 3rd" and "May 4th" attacks in Chongqing.
" and the "June 5 Jiaochangkou Tunnel Massacre" crimes. At the same time, due to the continuous victories of the Japanese Navy in the Pacific and Indian Ocean battlefields, it also avoided its early sinking with the "Hiryu" aircraft carrier after its failure in the Battle of Midway.
destiny.
Lieutenant General Yamaguchi Tawen pondered for a moment and asked: "What is the content of the telegram from the reconnaissance plane?"
Major Rui Aso reported: "It only said that it was attacked suddenly, but it did not mention what kind of attack it was, nor did it mention whether the American fleet was discovered. It is estimated that the incident happened suddenly and there was no time to report."
"Almost all the U.S. land-based fighters in this sea area have been deployed to the island of New Caledonia in the southwest to cope with the landing operations that the empire may launch at any time... There is no doubt that they should be the carriers escorting the U.S. aircraft carriers.
Fighters shot down our reconnaissance plane!"
Kawashima Gang made his own judgment with a solemn expression. He added: "Commander, the American aircraft carrier fleet may be nearby. This is basically consistent with the intelligence we have obtained."
A week ago, in the waters north of the Loyalty Islands between the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, a Japanese submarine specially responsible for reconnaissance discovered traces of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier formation.
Based on observations for many days, it was confirmed that the U.S. Navy has a frequent transportation channel between Port Vila in the New Hebrides and Noumea in New Caledonia. Americans pass through New Caledonia.
The waterway between Al Island and Baba Island in the north of Lidonia Island enters the western coast of New Caledonia Island. Then it goes south to the port of Noumea.
The American troops and material supplies, as well as fleet mobilization, are basically completed through this route.
In order to break the turtle shell of the Americans, Yamaguchi Tamon was ordered to lead the Fifth Air Fleet to the eastern waters of the Coral Sea and wait for an opportunity to annihilate part of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. It would be best to attract the Americans to lose their minds and attack blindly, and then stay away from New Cali.
The waters off Donya Island dealt a devastating blow to the US warships.
One day ago, the reconnaissance submarine sent another message that a large US military fleet set out from Port Vila, including the two latest Essex-class aircraft carriers "Lexington" and "Wasp", as well as "**
"class light aircraft carrier "Princeton", in addition to a large number of cruisers and destroyers as escorts.
When you see this, you may be surprised. Haven't the "Lexington" and the "Wasp" been wiped out by the Japanese Navy? Why do they appear in the US Navy sequence again?
It turns out that in order to boost the morale of naval officers, President Roosevelt made an important decision after consulting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Every time the Japanese sunk an aircraft carrier, the U.S. government immediately spent money to build a new aircraft carrier to replace it, still using the original name. Therefore, the U.S. aircraft carrier is also called the "unsinkable aircraft carrier."
Americans may never have imagined that in this naval battle, both sides would have aircraft carriers with the same name dueling.
"Yoshi!"
Yamaguchi nodded in agreement and no longer hesitated at the moment: "Order the Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga, and the first wave of carrier-based aircraft will officially launch an attack, under the command of Fleet Commander Lieutenant Commander Sasaki.
Take command!"
"Hi--"
The Japanese Navy fleet aviation establishment consists of an aviation commander with the rank of colonel, a deputy commander, the rank of lieutenant colonel, and a flight chief, usually with the rank of major or lieutenant colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki is the flight commander of the fleet and is responsible for commanding air combat. He is also an excellent pilot with excellent on-the-spot adaptability. He is Yamaguchi's favorite general.
The three American-made aircraft carriers in the fleet, which were salvaged and repaired from the Pearl Harbor shipwreck, quickly turned around. When sailing into the wind, each reached its own fastest speed, with the lowest speed being more than 32.5 knots.
The first to take off were the 39 "Gale" fighter jets escorting the attacking bomber group, and then the dive bombers and torpedo bombers also left the aircraft carrier deck.
As an expert in aviation warfare, the first wave of bombers arranged by Yamaguchi Takan included 40 dive bombers and 30 torpedo bombers.
The Fifth Air Force has three US-made aircraft carriers and two "Falcon" class light aircraft carriers. It has 360 carrier-based aircraft. According to the "Lexington" class and the modified "Saratoga" aircraft carrier, each carries 39 fighter jets.
Counting 40 dive bombers and 21 torpedo attack aircraft, the number of fighter aircraft in the first wave accounted for approximately 31% of the total number of fighter aircraft in the fleet.
According to Yamaguchi's arrangement, the first wave of bomber groups will return to the fleet after completing the attack.
If the attack effect is not satisfactory, send out a second wave of bombers, and at the same time let the returning first wave of bombers prepare for the next attack.
If it still fails to achieve its goal, it will prove that the enemy is unstoppable. After dispatching the third wave of fighter planes to carry out bombing, the fleet immediately retreats to the northwest to avoid being attacked by the US aircraft carrier fleet and land-based combat aircraft. Return.
The strike group returned directly to the fleet from the diagonal line.
After the first wave of attack aircraft, the fleet launched two squadrons of a total of 30 "Gale" aircraft from two "Falcon" class light aircraft carriers with a displacement of 8,000 tons, a maximum speed of 31 knots, and a capacity of carrying 30 carrier-based aircraft.
The fighter jets were on air defense alert. At the same time, ten "Gale" fighter jets that had previously performed night air defense patrol missions landed on the deck of the "Falcon" class aircraft carrier to replenish fuel and allow the pilots to rest in time.
The atmosphere in the aviation operations center of the flagship aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was very tense.
At this time, the fleet still maintains radio silence. Unless it is determined that the American aircraft carrier ahead has been killed, or the fleet is attacked by American fighter jets, the fleet will maintain radio silence. This approach is very risky. In order to avoid being attacked by the Americans
Land-based radars deployed on the New Hebrides and New Caledonia found that all warships equipped with air-to-sea search radars had turned off their radars and were unable to detect incoming enemy aircraft from a distance.
The enemy aircraft group can only be discovered by fighter jets operating on the periphery of the fleet.
Yamaguchi Tawen walked back and forth in the command room, always feeling a little uneasy. After thinking about it, he simply called the fleet's aviation commander, Colonel Kawashima, and asked: "When can the second wave of attack aircraft take off?"
Colonel Kawashima blurted out: "It will take at least half an hour to prepare."
"Half an hour..."
Yamaguchi thought carefully and waved his hand decisively to strengthen his tone: "Immediately prepare the second wave of attack aircraft and set off in half an hour!"
Fleet Chief of Staff Kawashima was stunned for a moment and quickly reminded: "Commander, we have not yet finalized whether the American aircraft carrier fleet is in the predetermined sea area. If the attack goes wrong..."
“I can’t care so much anymore!”
Yamaguchi explained: "Fighters are fleeting and we must seize them! The American fleet in New Caledonia avoids fighting, but the Americans' connections between the islands in the Central Pacific are momentary.
It has not been interrupted, which means that the Americans still have a strong strategic maneuver force
Strength. Judging from the deployment of U.S. forces in the Pacific, it is very likely that what is in front of us is an aircraft carrier formation. Their purpose is to go to the port of Noumea on the island of New Caledonia to join the U.S. fleet there.
, once again strengthening the strength of the Ninth Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Fletcher!
"We can completely assume that if we encounter an American aircraft carrier formation, then our first wave of attack aircraft will be intercepted by American escort fighters, and the strike effect will not be very good. If we wait until the first wave
The decision on whether to launch a second wave of attacks was made only after the results of the attack were determined. This gave the Americans a breathing space. They could call in land-based fighter escorts at any time, making our second wave of strike groups futile, while their bombers
It could appear above our heads at any time."
Speaking of this, a confident light appeared on Yamaguchi Tawen's face: "If you want to do it, just do it more thoroughly. Before the Yankees can react, we will destroy their ability to counterattack! The number of the second attack group and the first attack group
Quite, so we still have a third strike force left. Even if there is any accident, we can deal with it calmly!"
"Hi!"
Kawashima Gang was convinced and immediately accepted the order and left.
The aviation personnel on the three aircraft carriers were once again busy. The ground crews on the deck replenished fuel for all the fighters as quickly as possible and loaded bombs. At the same time, hundreds of pilots gathered at the aviation combat centers of each aircraft carrier to listen.
Operational briefing before the attack.
Twenty minutes later, the first batch of fighter pilots boarded their planes and began to start the engine warm-up, followed by the roar of the engines of dive bombers and torpedo bombers.
When the three aircraft carriers turned to sail into the wind again, "Gale" fighter jets flew off the aircraft carrier flight deck one after another, followed by 40 "Comet" type carriers carrying 500 kg aviation armor-piercing bombs, and 30 mounted torpedoes
The "Meteor" type ship-borne attack aircraft ejected from the aircraft carrier deck one after another.
These bulky bombers have a more difficult time taking off when they are loaded with ammunition and full of fuel. They must take off smoothly with the help of catapults. However, the "Zero" and "Gale" fighter jets that do not have bombs can take off smoothly.
You can take off directly without any auxiliary facilities.
~~~~~~~~~
ps: Thank you for looking at the history, dlghy_zy will give you a big reward!
Thank you for reading Poisoner, Big Head of the Dead Man, Mu Sanshui, Nanqiao Zhusou, and Jin Mu Canchen for your perseverance and rewarding day after day! Thank you brothers for your subscriptions, recommendations and monthly votes!
Every bit of support is the best encouragement and encouragement to the Emperor!
Thank you all, the emperor is really touched! Only by bowing to everyone can we express our excitement at this moment!
Thank you thank you!
{Piaotian Literature www.ptwxz.com thanks all book friends for their support, your support is our biggest motivation}