After a day and night of intense deductions, the expeditionary force staff finally came up with a preliminary combat plan at dawn the next day.
The war situation analysis at the Expeditionary Force Headquarters is already full of stars. The four giants, Yue Weihan, Stilwell, Wei Lihuang, and Deng Gong, are sitting in the front row. Behind the four are Song Xilian, Huo Kuizhang, Liu Yi, and Dai Anlan.
, Peng Bisheng, Gao Shuxun and other commanders-in-chief of the six major armies, as well as their respective deputy commanders-in-chief and chiefs of staff.
On the rostrum, Mr. Zuo, the deputy chief of staff of the expeditionary force, was holding a command pole and talking about the map.
"Singapore is located at a strategic location, straddling the Strait of Malacca. It is a battleground for military strategists. The British have been operating here for hundreds of years since they captured Singapore from the Netherlands in the last century. They have not only built a large number of solid fortresses on the main island of Singapore.
Reinforced concrete fortifications are equipped with dozens of fortress guns with diameters exceeding 300mm on Palm Leaf, Bagao and other islands!”
"Singapore has fortifications that are so strong that they are almost indestructible, so it is known as the Verdun of the East."
"However, in the 30 years of the war of the Republic of China, the so-called Verdun of the East did not play its due role. The Guards Division commanded by the Japanese warrior Yamashita Fengfumi almost wiped out the Malay Peninsula with overwhelming force.
The British garrison on the island and the 100,000 British troops who retreated to the main island of Singapore surrendered without any resistance."
"However, this does not mean that the fortifications built by the British army in Singapore are not effective, nor can we draw the wrong conclusion that Verdun of the East is just a false name. In fact, the British army's fortifications in Singapore are still very strong.
Especially the more than 20 large-caliber fortress guns are enough to sink a 10,000-ton giant ship and lock the Strait of Malacca."
"The reason why the British army collapsed two years ago, and the reason why the 100,000 British troops who retreated to Singapore surrendered without a fight, was entirely because the British army had no intention of engaging in a strategic decisive battle with the Japanese army in Southeast Asia. The British strategic focus has always been on
In Europe and in Asia, the British's only desire is to hold on to the crown jewel of India."
"For the former British Empire, Singapore was just a marginal interest, so it could be given up without hesitation. Although the number of 100,000 British troops was large, they were just mercenaries composed of Australian, Burmese, and Indian natives, not
An elite force composed of British native soldiers, so the British government gave up when it said it would."
"However, for little Japan, Singapore is a core interest. Singapore's gains and losses are directly related to the raw material supply of Japan's domestic military industrial enterprises. Therefore, the Japanese army will definitely start a desperate battle with our army in Singapore, and the Japanese army's combat effectiveness is by no means
The British mercenary army composed of Southeast Asian indigenous people can be compared."
"It is foreseeable that there will be a fierce battle between our army and the Japanese army in Singapore!"
"Since the outlying islands off Singapore are equipped with more than 20 large-caliber fortress guns, it is extremely unwise to directly land on the beach off Singapore or offshore. Otherwise, our military transport ships and allied warships responsible for covering them will inevitably
Suffering heavy losses, even if we finally succeed in seizing the beach and landing, our army will lose the ability to continue the offensive."
"After repeated deductions, we believe that Shah Alam Beach is the most ideal beach landing place."
Off the coast of Singapore, Lieutenant General Tomofumi Yamashita, commander of the 15th Army Corps of the Japanese Southern Army, was patrolling north along the western coastline of the Malay Peninsula on a gunboat. He was accompanied by Lieutenant General Saburo Takehara, commander of the Japanese 5th Division guarding Singapore.
General and Lieutenant General Katamura Shihachi, commander of the Japanese 10th Division guarding the Malay Peninsula.
Yamashita Fengfumi's actions were undoubtedly quite risky, and it would be dangerous once discovered by Allied reconnaissance planes.
Because the western coast of the Malay Peninsula is less than 700 to 800 kilometers away from Yangon, it is already within the combat radius of Allied fighter jets. At this time, although the two major flight groups of the Japanese Southern Army have recovered slightly, they are still insufficient.
To compete with the flying groups of the U.S. Navy and the Chinese Expeditionary Force.
When the gunboat approached Shah Alam Beach, Saburo Takehara stepped forward again to dissuade him: "Your Excellency, Commander, it would be too dangerous to continue going north. Why don't we land here?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, please be sure to go ashore." Katamura Shihachi also said, "This place is already within the combat radius of the Allied Air Force. Allied reconnaissance planes may appear at any time. Once we are discovered by the Allied reconnaissance planes,
Within two hours, Allied bombers and fighter jets will swarm us."
"Katamura-kun, Takehara-kun, you don't have to worry." Yamashita Fengfumi waved his hand and said calmly, "The gunboat is no better than a battleship or an aircraft carrier. The target is too small. How easy will it be for an Allied reconnaissance plane to discover our whereabouts? Moreover, I'm worried.
The Allied forces will land on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula in the near future, so they cannot be treated with caution."
"Recent beach landing?" Katamura Shiba said in astonishment, "Your Excellency, Commander, the Southern Agency has not received any news?"
"South Agency?" Yamashita Fengwen curled his lips and said, "Since the arrival of that woman, when has the South Agency brought us truly timely and useful intelligence? On the contrary, the Allies have uncovered many of our intelligence agencies.
Top secret information."
"What do you mean, Commander..." Saburo Takehara said solemnly, "Chief Nanzo betrayed the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor?"
"I didn't say that." Yamashita Fengwen shook his head, and then said, "Betraying the empire and His Majesty the Emperor should not be a problem. However, since I received the favor of the temple cabinet, I am no longer as enthusiastic about work as before, but it is definitely
Yes, in fact, this woman should not have stayed in the position of agency director long ago, huh."
After saying this, Yamashita Fengwen said again: "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore."
Saburo Takehara took the opportunity to persuade again: "Your Excellency, Commander, let's go ashore. I don't think the Southeast Asian Allied Forces will take major military actions in the near future, let alone land on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. If the Allied Forces are really prepared
To land on the beach, we can only choose the southern beaches of Singapore’s main island or Java Island.”
"Singapore's main island?" Yamashita Fengwen shook his head and said, "No, Takehara-kun, you are wrong."
Before he finished speaking, Yamashita Fengwen spotted the Shah Alam Beach in front of him, and immediately asked Katamura Shiba: "Katamura-kun, what kind of beach is that in front of you?"
Katamura Shiba said without hesitation: "Shaalan Beach."
Yamashita Fengwen nodded and said, "How many fortifications have you built on this beach and how many troops have you deployed?"
"This..." Katamura Shihachi thought for a while and replied, "There must be more than a dozen bunkers and artillery towers. Although the deployed troops are not many, there is only one infantry squadron, but this beach is less than 50 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur.
, if something happens, the motorized infantry brigade directly under our division can definitely arrive within two hours for reinforcements."
Rangoon, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
After Mr. Zuo finished speaking, Yue Weihan said calmly: "Tell me the reason for choosing Shah Alan Beach. From the map, Shah Alan Beach is less than 50 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur. If I remember correctly, the Japanese 10th Division
The regiment’s division headquarters should be in Kuala Lumpur, right?”
"The division headquarters of the Japanese 10th Division is indeed in Kuala Lumpur." Mr. Zuo said with a smile, "Shah Alam Beach is indeed less than 50 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur, but the short distance of 50 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur to Shah Alan Beach
There are two large highway bridges within this distance. As long as these two bridges are destroyed in advance and supplemented by airborne troops, the enemy reinforcements can be blocked!"
After saying this, Mr. Zuo added: "The most important thing is that Shah Alam Beach is less than 50 kilometers away from the headquarters of the Japanese 10th Division. Tactically speaking, it is very unfavorable for beach landings. Therefore, compared with other
The Japanese defense on Shah Alam Beach should be relatively empty, and the possibility of a successful beach landing would be higher."
"Yes." Yue Weihan said happily, "This can be regarded as taking him by surprise."
General Zuo paused and then said: "Now I will introduce the specific combat plans of various arms and echelons. The first is the tactical air force, which needs to clear the airspace over the Malay Peninsula two hours before the beach landing. Half an hour later
, the Strategic Air Force began bombing the roads and bridges between Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alan Beach..."
Shah Alam Beach.
Yamashita Fengfumi had already landed on the beach, surrounded by Katamura Shihachi, Takehara Saburo and a large group of Japanese generals.
Looking at the sparse obstacles arranged on the beach, as well as the scattered bunkers and gun towers along the coastline, Yamashita Fengfumi shook his head and said: "Katamura-kun, the defense here must be strengthened, and the density of beach obstacles must be increased.
Ten times, don’t be stingy with this little steel, there is no shortage of low-quality steel in the empire now.”
"The bunkers and gun towers on the coastline need to be reinforced and built into bunkers."
"The garrison force must also be strengthened. However, only one squadron of garrison force is deployed on the coastline that is more than ten kilometers away. On average, there are less than twenty imperial soldiers guarding each kilometer of coastline. How can this be done? No matter how brave and skillful the imperial soldiers are, they cannot fight like this.
One can block a hundred, Katamura-kun, this is no longer the era of cold weapons that values personal bravery."
"Hai." Katamura Shiba suddenly lowered his head and said, "I will strengthen my defense immediately."
"Okay, let's call it a day." Yamashita Fengwen said and walked straight to the armored vehicle parked on the beach. Throughout the whole day today, Yamashita Fengfumi had patrolled hundreds of kilometers of coastline, and he was indeed a little tired. However,
The results of the inspection made him very dissatisfied. The 10th Division obviously only focused on land defense, but the sea defense was very sparse.
Therefore, Yamashita Fengwen wanted to stay in Kuala Lumpur these days and personally supervise Katancun Shiba to strengthen coastal defense.
Hawaii, U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Command.
The combat plan of the Chinese Expeditionary Force has been distributed to all branches and armies. General Nimitz, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, has also obtained the relevant parts of the entire combat plan from Stilwell. At this time, Nimitz
The general is summoning the commanders of each squadron of the Pacific Fleet to discuss the expeditionary force's battle plan.
After more than two years of war, the strength of the U.S. Navy has long since changed.
With strong industrial support, the two ocean fleets of the U.S. Navy now have more than 80 aircraft carriers and more than 30,000 combat aircraft of various types, including more than 2,000 strategic aircraft. With such strength,
Not to mention the Axis powers such as Japan, Germany, and Italy, even the United Kingdom can hardly keep up.
Of course, most of the U.S. Navy and Air Force forces have been transferred to Europe, and only a small part remains in the Pacific.
But even if only a small part of the U.S. Navy and Air Force remains, the Pacific Fleet still has 15 aircraft carriers and more than 2,000 combat aircraft. With such strength, even when facing the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet in its heyday, it still has considerable power.
advantages, not to mention the current Japanese Coast Guard.
If it weren't for endurance and supply constraints, the U.S. Navy would have strolled around Tokyo Bay several times.
Before receiving the battle plan from the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the staff of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet had actually formulated a battle plan aimed at dismembering and ultimately destroying Japan. Coincidentally, the Americans also proposed the "leapfrog" tactic.
, but the Chinese proposed to jump from west to east, while the Americans proposed to jump from south to north.
In the U.S. Navy's plan, it should first seize Port Moresby, then use Port Moresby as a springboard to seize Saipan and Guam directly north, then use Saipan and Guam as a springboard to seize the Ryukyu Islands, and finally
Then use the Ryukyu Islands as a springboard, go north to attack the Japanese mainland, and finally land in Tokyo.
This plan is almost the epitome of the U.S. military's Asian battlefields in history. However, in order to clear up his past shame, MacArthur took over Luzon Island. However, in this world, not only MacArthur was transferred to Europe, but also dozens of Marine divisions of the U.S. Navy were transferred to Europe.
Going to the Mediterranean battlefield, the Pacific Fleet no longer has the ability to land on beaches.
If the Pacific Fleet wants to realize its combat intentions, it must have the cooperation of the Chinese Expeditionary Force.
Now, the Chinese Expeditionary Force has first proposed its own leapfrog plan, which means that the Pacific Fleet plan is likely to be aborted.
Nimitz and the generals of the Pacific Fleet do not mind helping the Chinese Expeditionary Force. Not to mention the public opinion in the United States, their love for Yue Weihan and the Chinese Expeditionary Force has reached an extremely high level. Nimitz and most of the American generals
In fact, he also had a good impression of Yue Weihan and the Chinese Expeditionary Force.
However, once the national interests of the United States are involved, Nimitz and others must consider it carefully.
If the plan of the Chinese Expeditionary Force is implemented and Japan is defeated, then the Chinese Expeditionary Force will undoubtedly be in a dominant position. The Chinese will have the final say on a series of matters such as Japan's garrison after the war and the division of power in Asia.
, but if the US Navy's plan is implemented and Japan is finally defeated, then the situation will be completely opposite.
Whether to agree to the Chinese Expeditionary Force's plan and cooperate fully, or to start a new plan to seek the cooperation of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, this is indeed a question. Nimitz had already filled half a bag of cigarettes in his pipe, but still had not made up his mind.
Most of the fleet commanders looked hesitant and just smoked silently.