While the U.S. military knew nothing about the situation of the Japanese army, the Japanese army had a clear grasp of the movements of the U.S. military. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

In fact, Vice Takeshi Toyoda has always known the importance of intelligence to a war, and when he was in China, he repeatedly used this to criticize Yamamoto 56 and other admirals, believing that if Yamamoto 56 paid enough attention to intelligence, then there would be a fiasco in the Battle of Midway, which is one of the reasons why Yamamoto 56 hated Vice Takeshi Toyoda.

Therefore, before the war began, Vice Takeshi Toyoda had cast a huge intelligence network in the waters near the Mariana Islands...... This intelligence network consists of islands, submarines, land-based reconnaissance aircraft, and surface reconnaissance aircraft. Among them, the main reconnaissance forces are submarines and water reconnaissance aircraft.

In the early morning of the day when the main US fleet arrived on Guam and launched its bombing, Vice Toyoda sent 43 reconnaissance planes to conduct reconnaissance, and in addition to the reports from submarines and Japanese troops on Guam, Vice President Toyoda had a very detailed grasp of the movements of each US fleet.

Looking at the map in front of him, Vice Takeshi Toyoda nodded with satisfaction: "It seems that the Americans have really fallen into our trap, most of their main fleets are concentrated in Guam, and there is only one main fleet in the direction of Saipan and Tinian Island, which is very beneficial to our 'Operation A'!" ”

"Your Excellency, General!" Ryunosuke Kusaka said: "Then, let's target the main fleet of the Americans and attack!"

Deputy Takeshi Toyoda looked at it, and then shook his head: "No, wait!" ”

"Wait?" Hearing this, Kusaka Ryunosuke couldn't help but be puzzled.

"Yes!" "Although the Americans have only one fleet, they are quite strong, with one main aircraft carrier, two light aircraft carriers, and four cruisers plus 14 destroyers," said Vice Takeshi Toyoda. In this way, their carrier-based aircraft will have nearly 200 sorties, and a considerable number of them are new fighters, and it will not be easy to break through their defense line and achieve results! ”

The fleet mentioned by Vice Takeshi Toyoda is the fourth detachment of the US military, which consists of the large aircraft carrier USS Essex, the light aircraft carriers USS Langley and USS Cowpens, and the number of fighters is nearly 200 as estimated by Vice Takeshi Toyoda.

"So, what are we waiting for?" Kusaka Ryunosuke asked a little anxiously: "If Guam can't hold on, then we won't have a chance!" ”

Caolu's worries are also justified, and several major aircraft carrier groups of the US military are bombing Guam indiscriminately...... Once Guam is swallowed by a fish, it will turn its attention to Saipan and Tinian Islands, and the Japanese will have no chance.

"Don't worry!" Vice Takeshi Toyoda said: "The Yankees didn't attack so quickly!" What I'm waiting for is the escort aircraft carrier formation of the Americans! ”

"Escort aircraft carrier formation?!"

"Yes!" Vice Takeshi Toyoda replied: "I have studied several recent battles of the Americans, and in order to improve the efficiency of bombing, they always bombed the islands with escort aircraft carriers after seizing air supremacy...... I think they are exceptions to Saipan and Tinian as well. These escort aircraft carriers do not have less anti-aircraft firepower than ours, and at the same time they are more likely to be sunk. If you target them......"

"Oh!" Hearing this, Kusaka Ryunosuke couldn't help but suddenly realize.

But to be honest, this point is actually not unthought of by Ryunosuke Kusaka, but this method is really not in line with the habits of the Japanese army...... For example, submarines disdain to attack merchant ships and transport ships, and specifically pick enemy aircraft carriers and warships. This is a very good tactic in the eyes of other armies, which is actually to attack the enemy's weakness, but in the eyes of the Japanese army it is a kind of cowardice.

Therefore, Kusaka Ryunosuke thought about attacking the escort aircraft carrier fleet, but this idea only passed in his mind, and he soon felt that it was impossible, and Admiral Toyota would definitely choose to attack the main aircraft carrier fleet and inflict heavy damage on the enemy in one battle.

But unexpectedly, Deputy Takeshi Toyoda unexpectedly chose to attack the escort aircraft carrier formation, which can also be seen that Toyota's command style is different from that of Yamamoto and Koga.

At this time, a signal soldier quickly ran into the headquarters and reported: "Your Excellency, you have found that the enemy is escorting an aircraft carrier formation, heading for Saipan and Tinian Island respectively!" ”

"It's finally here!" Hearing this, Toyota couldn't help but be overjoyed, and then asked: "Did you detect their escort formation?" ”

The communications soldier flipped through the document and replied, "Your Excellency, the escort formation to Tinian Island is stronger, with a capital aircraft carrier and sixteen destroyers!" The escort group to Saipan had only one light aircraft carrier and thirteen destroyers! ”

"Hmm!" Toyota couldn't help but nodded: "Then don't think about it, just target the enemy fleet in the direction of Saipan!" Order Saipan to be ready to cooperate with the Flying Division to launch an attack at any time! ”

"Yes!" The signal soldier responded, but said with some hesitation: "But, Your Excellency the General......"

"But what?" Toyota couldn't help but be a little annoyed, and even a communications soldier dared to question his orders.

The signal soldier hurriedly stepped forward and replied: "From the return of submarine reconnaissance, the main aircraft carrier of the escort formation in the direction of Tinian Island...... Yes, it's the Shozuru! ”

"'Xianghe'!" Hearing this, the green tendons on Toyota's deputy Wu couldn't help jumping: "Bastard, it's actually the 'Xianghe'!" ”

Although the "Shozuru" was lost in Kogamine's hands, strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with Vice Takeshi Toyoda, but he is the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet after all, and the "Shozuru" is a shame for the Japanese Combined Fleet and even a shame for the whole of Japan, so Vice Takeshi Toyoda cannot stay out of the matter.

"Your Excellency, General!" A little excitement flashed in Kusaka Ryunosuke's eyes: "This is our chance, it is said that the 'Shozuru' is in the hands of the Chinese, and the crew and pilots are all Chinese, although they are trained, their quality is definitely not as good as that of the Americans......"

"Hmm!" Vice Takeshi Toyoda nodded: "That's why the Americans will escort with a light aircraft carrier in another fleet, but in this fleet they will escort with a main aircraft carrier!" ”

"On the other hand!" Ryunosuke Kusaka continued: "We are well aware of the weakness of the 'Shozuru', and if we succeed in sinking the 'Shozuru', it will inevitably deal a heavy blow to the enemy, and at the same time, it will also boost the morale of our army to a great extent!" ”

Deputy Takeshi Toyoda nodded again, and there is no need for Ryunosuke Kusaka to say that he also knows.

Then Deputy Toyoda ordered: "Pass down the order, attack the enemy in the direction of Tinian Island with all your might, and inform Lieutenant General Gao Pinbiao to fully cooperate!" ”

(To be continued.) )