On the morning of the second day after the fleet completed its replenishment, Tan Renhao received information from the Navy Command about the deployment of Japanese forces on the Volcanic Islands and Ogasawara Islands. This information is very important, although Tan Renhao doesn't know how high its reliability rate is, but he has no other choice, because he has no other relevant information in his hands. Subsequently, Tan Renhao asked Lei Shaoqing to organize a group of important staff officers to discuss combat operations.

"The Japanese army has a total of seven airfields, five military stations, three temporary ports, and two headquarters on the four islands." Lei Shaoqing first explained the situation, "Shore artillery positions, air defense positions, and others such as hangars, ammunition depots, underground oil depots, etc., all of which must be destroyed before the landing of the marines exceeded 400 targets. According to the current strength of the fleet, even if all the bombs dropped hit the target accurately, we would have to prepare at least two batches of bombing operations. In fact, the hit rate of the bombs will not exceed 20 percent, that is to say, we have to prepare at least 10 batches of bombing, and if the attendance rate of the fighters is 8 out of 5 according to the dispatch of three sorties a day, then it will take us four days to complete the bombing mission before the landing of the marines. ”

The more than ten senior staff officers who attended the meeting were silent, and Lei Shaoqing's words were clear enough. It was not a big problem for the fleet to continue to bomb targets with high intensity for four days, both in terms of pilots and ammunition, and these bombardments were not very difficult. But the problem was that it was impossible for the fleet to continue to operate for four days in a place where Japanese bombers were frequent, unless it was confident that it could hold off all the Japanese bombers.

"We can only choose targets in order of priority." Tan Renhao stood up. "This time, we have to complete the bombing mission and ensure the safety of the fleet. Therefore, the fleet must first seize air supremacy. Chief of Staff, how many bombers do we need to use to determine the target according to this priority sucking? ”

"This ......" Lei Shaoqing obviously hesitated, "If we want to seize air supremacy first, then we must first destroy the headquarters of the Japanese army." Airports, hangars. Ammunition depots, fuel depots, as well as anti-aircraft positions. The total number of targets in this category is about 78, and most of them, such as airfields, air defense positions, etc., require more bombers. If we were to ensure that the Japanese fighters would not be able to lift off after the first round of bombing, we would have to use all the bombers. Some reconnaissance planes even had to carry out bombing missions. ”

Tan Renhao nodded, he didn't make a decision immediately. Now, the First Fleet will no longer be threatened from the sea, even if all the bombers are sent out, but Tan Renhao doesn't want to launch a bombing in such a desperate way, so he has to reserve a little strength for himself!

"The most troublesome thing is the airport." Lei Shaoqing sighed secretly, "If the Japanese fighters on the airport receive the alert, they can take off early, even if we can use the fighters to seize air supremacy." Then blow up the runway, and the Japanese troops on the island can quickly repair the runway, at least, our local sappers can fill in the craters in a few hours and make the airport back in service. In other words, we are likely to find ourselves in a situation where we are repeatedly fighting for air supremacy with Japanese fighters. Even without taking into account the threat to the fleet. It will be difficult for us to gain air supremacy in a short period of time, and it will be even more difficult for us to meet the requirements for the landing of marines. ”

"That is, the destruction of the airfield is the most important task?" Tan Renhao glanced at Lei Shaoqing, and he also realized the seriousness of this problem.

"Actually, we shouldn't worry about it." Hao Dongjue hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I have checked the ammunition replenished this time, and there is a batch of new bombs, one specially designed to deal with airport ground bombs. ”

Tan Renhao and Lei Shaoqing both looked at Hao Dongjue.

"It's a sub-bomb, that's what we call it. Inside the big bomb were dozens of small bombs. Each bomblet weighs only a few kilograms. A mechanical mainspring fuse is used. The manual says. These bomblets are time bombs, after the mother bomb has been dropped. The fuse on it is unfused, and the timing of the fuse is not fixed, some will explode immediately, some will explode after a few minutes, and some will explode after a few hours......"

"Getting to the point." Tan Renhao glared at Hao Dongjue, now is not the time to discuss technical issues.

"Imagine if there were dozens, hundreds, even thousands of these bomblets, or even live mines, on Japanese airfields. When the time comes, will the Japanese sappers still dare to repair the airfield? Moreover, the explosion of these bombs creates a large number of small craters, which can also destroy the runway and blow up the planes parked at the airport. A 500-kilogram submunition is equivalent to dozens of mines, in this case, ......"

Tan Renhao pressed his hand and looked at Lei Shaoqing.

"Maybe it's a solution." Lei Shaoqing shrugged his shoulders, Hao Dongjue was in charge of aviation operations, and he knew the most about those new bombs.

"Well, that can be taken into account as a factor." Tan Renhao sat down, "The point is the suddenness of the blow. In order to gain air supremacy, we would have to bomb dozens of targets on the four islands at the same time. In addition to the fact that the sorties of the strike groups can be staggered, the most important thing is that a suitable area for operation must be selected. ”

Now, the room was quiet again. In fact, it is the sea area chosen by the fleet that is the most critical. If it is not possible to guarantee the simultaneous bombing of targets on the four islands, perhaps half an hour later will be staggered, and the Japanese will be given time to prepare, and it will be impossible to achieve the suddenness of the attack, and it will be even more difficult to successfully seize air supremacy.

"If, according to Hao Dongjue's assumption, we can suppress the Japanese airfields in the first place, I suggest that the fleet sail to the northwest sea of the Volcanic Islands, and then use the method of staggering the time of sorties to achieve the goal of bombing the four islands at the same time." Chang Jianxin spoke at this time.

Tan Renhao nodded at him and motioned for him to continue.

"As long as we can destroy the Japanese airfields on these islands in the first round of bombardment. Then the fleet could quickly move south after completing the bombing, avoiding the bombers that took off from the Japanese mainland. Counting the reaction time of the Japanese army, we should be able to quickly maneuver to a safe area. "Then, we can use the warships to shell Iwo Jima, and the bombers will focus on the Japanese facilities on the other three islands, and finally complete the campaign mission." ”

"That's a good idea. It's worth our consideration! Lei Shaoqing added next to him.

Tan Renhao pondered for a while, then nodded. said: "Then let's decide, the staff will come up with a plan tomorrow, and the specific actions will be determined tomorrow morning." The Marines will probably leave Naha the day after tomorrow, and we will have three to five days to complete the bombing operation. At that time, it will be necessary to support the landing of the Marines on Iwo Jima. So, time is already tight for us, guys. Let's take action! ”

That night, the fleet staff came up with a general battle plan, and Tan Renhao also carefully considered the feasibility of this combat operation at this time. In fact, the key to the whole operation is whether or not there is a sudden attack. If the suddenness is lost, then even the best bomb may not be able to achieve much effect. There were at least hundreds of Japanese fighters on seven airfields, and there were many ground fighters among them. If the fleet's whereabouts were revealed and the Japanese were alerted, the Japanese fighters would take off. The bombing will be intercepted. Those Japanese bombers would also pose a threat to the fleet.

"Actually, our biggest trouble should be those Japanese patrol planes, as well as Japanese submarines operating in this area." Lei Shaoqing also recognized this problem, "As long as the whereabouts of the fleet are exposed, then we will lose the opportunity to raid, and the fleet itself will also be threatened." ”

"Yes. I've been thinking about this all afternoon. Tan Renhao leaned on the railing and looked at the dark sky, "If the fleet goes north at full speed at night, it will probably be able to advance about 240 to 300 nautical miles, which is enough to maneuver in place." However, the night is also the peak period for Japanese submarine activities. The waters northwest of the Volcanic Islands were the main passage for Japanese submarines to go south. If we accidentally hit a Japanese submarine, then we don't do anything. ”

Lei Shaoqing nodded, the Japanese combined fleet is finished, but the Japanese submarine force is not finished, it is still frantically attacking the Tang Empire's fleet in the western Pacific, and it has also succeeded in sneaking up on the first task force several times. Arguably. The threat posed by Japanese submarines was not much less than that of the Japanese Combined Fleet.

"If we can't get around the Japanese submarine cordon. So what to do? Tan Renhao glanced at Lei Shaoqing, "This is the worst possibility." But we have to be prepared for that. What should the fleet do if it is discovered by a Japanese submarine while heading north? ”

"This ......," Lei Shaoqing flicked out the cigarette butt, "why don't you consider avoiding the Japanese submarine blockade?" ”

"Unless we take a gamble, I don't have the confidence that I will be able to pass the Japanese submarine cordon smoothly." Tan Renhao took out another cigarette, "Judging from the information provided by the Navy Command, we only know an approximate location of the Japanese submarine cordon. In this cordon, there is a gap of about 30 nautical miles between Iwo Jima and the west of North Iwo Jima. This is only a rough estimate. If we want to avoid the Japanese submarines and succeed in going north, then we will have to pass through this gap. Even at night, the fleet passed less than 15 nautical miles from Iwo Jima and North Iwo Jima, which was still quite risky and slipped almost under the noses of the Japanese. ”

"Then let's make a bet, if the bet is successful, the fleet can send a bomber group at dawn, and if it fails, at most withdraw immediately, and then choose another route."

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, then turned around and looked towards the sea on the outside of the battleship. The sea was dark, and the moon and stars were obscured by dark clouds. If it's still like this tomorrow night, maybe this is a real chance.

"Okay, I'll make a decision tomorrow afternoon, don't tell anyone just yet." Tan Renhao made a decision, "Wait a minute, call Chang Jianxin, let's discuss in detail the navigation of the formation when it goes north, if we want to go north quickly, then we must choose a new formation." ”

"It's still tomorrow, it's midnight now, and you think everyone has become night owls like you?"

Tan Renhao laughed embarrassedly, he only found out at this time that when the fleet was on combat mission, he couldn't sleep at night, but could sleep during the day.

Early the next morning, Tan Renhao found Chang Jianxin and told Chang Jianxin about his bold idea. Chang Jianxin was surprised at first, and then went to set up a new fleet formation plan according to Tan Renhao's request. In the afternoon of the same day, Tan Renhao asked Lei Shaoqing to announce the battle plan to the staff officers. Subsequently, the fleet began to form a group. When it was dark, the fleet left the wandering sea and went north at a maximum speed of 31 knots.

The sky darkened again, Tan Renhao stayed in the command cabin, and when Hao Dongjue came in, he immediately beckoned Hao Dongjue over.

"Let the aviation crews be ready at night, and the bombing is scheduled to start at dawn." Tan Renhao handed a cigarette to Hao Dongjue, "The pilots should be full of spirits, and the pilots will gather at half past four to release the battle plan and assign the bombing mission." The first bombers took off at 5:15 a.m., and the last at 5:30 a.m. Each of the four bomber groups has its own mission, so don't get confused. ”

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Tan Renhao patted Hao Dongjue's shoulder. "You go and get busy, if there is something else, I will send someone to call you again."

After Hao Dongjue left, Lei Shaoqing came over. "What, now you have confidence?"

"Even if I don't have faith, I can't show it, can I?" Tan Renhao laughed, "Okay, you go and rest, and I'll be in charge of the night." ”

"It's okay, I don't want to sleep yet." Lei Shaoqing pulled a chair over, "Ren Hao, do you really think the army will hold us back?" ”

Tan Renhao glanced at Lei Shaoqing, and he didn't tell Lei Shaoqing about many things he heard from the principal. "In any case, if the navy wants to become the main force in the western Pacific theater, then we must have the ability to fight independently, and we can't rely on the help of the army for everything, right?"

Lei Shaoqing sneered, and stopped asking questions in this regard, he also knew that there were many things that he couldn't know, and he couldn't ask casually.