Sydney, Allied South Pacific Theater Command, Admiral MacArthur once again received bad news from the front. Pen ~ fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info first the 24th Infantry Division of the US Army and the 14th Infantry Division of the Australian Army were besieged by the main force of the Imperial Army 20 kilometers southeast of Daley Waters, and under the heavy losses, the 24th Infantry Division of the US Army and the 14th Infantry Division of the Australian Army chose to surrender, and more than 35,000 people entered the temporary prisoner of war camp set up by the Imperial Army.

Subsequently, the 22nd and 23rd Infantry Divisions of the US Army, as well as the remnants of the 12th Infantry Division and the 13th Infantry Division of the Australian Army, also chose to surrender to the Imperial Army at Dali Waters. And this made the battle of the US-Australian coalition forces in northern Australia completely failed.

In the nearly 20-day battle, four U.S. infantry divisions and four Australian infantry divisions were lost. Such a price, for the US-Australian coalition, although it will not hurt the muscles and bones. However, it is undoubtedly a huge loss. Although the main force of the US-Australian coalition is still there, the continuous defeats are undoubtedly a huge blow to the morale of the troops. If this continues for a long time, the US-Australian coalition will inevitably lose the war.

Admiral MacArthur was also a very determined man. But after receiving the telegram of the defeat at the front, it was still not lightly hit.

"Damn the Chinese, is their combat effectiveness really that strong? Are we really no match for them? Admiral MacArthur said through gritted teeth. He was obviously unwilling to accept this.

"Your Excellency Commander, we have not many troops deployed in northern Australia, and there are too many troops landed by the Chinese, and it is understandable that we will be defeated by them." This was stated by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Christie.

"Chief of Staff, a failure is a failure, there is nothing to hide about this. Rest assured, I won't be defeated by such a small setback. I will lead the US-Australian coalition to continue fighting until the Chinese are defeated. Our losses cost eight infantry divisions, but our main forces are still there, and we can continue to fight with the Chinese. I believe that the Chinese will not be lucky all the time, and they will soon be defeated by us. Admiral MacArthur said firmly. He has always had strong confidence in winning.

"Your Excellency, it would be best if you could think like that." Lieutenant General Christie said.

"When will our reinforcements arrive?" Admiral MacArthur asked. The main reason why he is so confident is that the next batch of reinforcements will soon arrive, and eight infantry divisions plus two armored divisions will further increase the number of troops in his hands. In particular, two armored divisions equipped with M3 light tanks and M3LEE medium tanks, which will greatly increase the armor power in his hands, and he can completely confront the Chinese * army head-on, if the timing is right, and at the same time lucky. Maybe they'll be able to pull off a brilliant victory. In this way, they will be able to change the tide of the war in Australia in one fell swoop.

"Your Excellency, we only made contact with the Pacific Fleet yesterday, and they are almost arriving in Australia. For the sake of secrecy, the fleet will not dock in Australia, but will continue to remain in the far sea. The convoy would dock in Melbourne and then travel overland to the vicinity of Sydney. Lieutenant General Christie said.

Admiral MacArthur nodded, understanding the caution of the Pacific Fleet. After all, the superiority of the Chinese Navy is too obvious, and the Chinese Navy operating in northern Australia alone has six aircraft carriers and eighteen battleships. The US Navy's Pacific Fleet, on the other hand, has only two aircraft carriers and eight battleships. Although the eight battleships of the US military are all cutting-edge battleships, their performance is very powerful, and their comprehensive combat power is even stronger than that of the 19 battleships of the Chinese Navy, but in terms of aircraft carriers, the disadvantage of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet is too obvious. In the event of a battle, it is obviously unrealistic for the US Navy's Pacific Fleet to defeat six aircraft carriers of the Chinese Navy with two aircraft carriers. The cutting-edge battleships of the US Navy are also likely to be besieged by the numerous carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy, and thus be sunk and lose the naval battle.

If the Pacific Fleet is defeated again, then the strength of the US Navy can be said to be lost. Until the next batch of aircraft carriers enters service, the United States simply will not have the strength to enter the Pacific Ocean again. At that time, the army led by Admiral MacArthur will be blockaded more tightly by the Chinese navy. Without any support from home, they are afraid that they will soon lose the war.

In many cases, Admiral MacArthur even hoped that the Pacific Fleet would remain in the waters of the South Pacific without engaging the Chinese Navy and play a role in containing the Chinese Navy. In this case, the presence of the U.S. Navy will tie the Chinese Navy, and thus contain a large number of troops.

Of course, this was nothing more than Admiral MacArthur's own expectations. In fact, it is almost impossible to achieve this. Once the Chinese Navy discovers that a large number of capital ships of the US Navy have slipped into the South Pacific, even if it tries its best, it will surely find out the US Navy and then clean it up. Ensuring absolute control over the Pacific Ocean, which was the main goal of the Imperial Navy for a long time.

"Let our troops focus on secrecy, and martial law must be imposed near Melbourne, so that the Chinese cannot know that our reinforcements are coming." Admiral MacArthur ordered. He feared that the Chinese Empire would send reinforcements if it knew that the U.S. military had sent reinforcements to Australia again. In that case, the US-Australian coalition will not want to have an advantage. After all, it will be very difficult for the US military to get reinforcements. And the Chinese Empire, if it wanted to, could send more reinforcements to Australia. In this respect, the U.S. military is absolutely incomparable with the Chinese Empire.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." Lieutenant General Christie nodded, he naturally knew the seriousness of this aspect.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I think we can also apply for more weapons and equipment from the country. It is undoubtedly unlikely that the country will send us reinforcements again. However, if you provide us with weapons and equipment, there should be no problem. After entering the wartime system, our industrial capacity has exploded. Lieutenant General Christie said.

"More weaponry?" Admiral MacArthur frowned.

"Your Excellency, we can arm more Australians. After all, there are 16 million people in Australia. If the scope of conscription is expanded and sixty infantry divisions are armed, there will be no problem at all. Australians are also very determined to defend their country, and I think it will not be difficult if we continue to recruit soldiers. Lieutenant General Christie said.

"Even if we can recruit more Australians into the military. However, those who have only learned how to shoot at most, after going to the battlefield, are probably not opponents of the Chinese. In that case, they will be sent to their deaths. Admiral MacArthur said.

The combat effectiveness of the Australian Army is not very strong, and even the 20 infantry divisions formed before are far inferior to the US Army. Not to mention the hasty formation of more Australian infantry divisions.

"Your Excellency, Commander, even if they are cannon fodder, they have a role. We have shed our blood and died here for these Australians to defend their country, and they should do all the more to the fullest. In this way, we will be less stressed. Lieutenant General Christie suggested.

Admiral MacArthur hesitated, then nodded, "Okay, you can do it." ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." Lieutenant General Christie returned to the road.

On December 31, 4637, the last day of the year, the Yellow Emperor era, the southern Australian city of Melbourne. The whole city has been put under martial law, and at the behest of the Allied command, all residents of Melbourne are not allowed to go out on the streets, and must stay in their houses honestly.

Melbourne's port is a key area of martial law, where there are three steps, one post, five steps and one sentry, and there are heavily armed soldiers of the United States and Australia. Admiral MacArthur himself also rushed here from Sydney.

On the wharf, merchant ships and transport ships had already docked, and the pale American GIs were disembarking in a procession.

At other piers, cranes are unloading heavy weapons loaded on merchant ships and transport ships. Admiral MacArthur was most interested in the M3 Light Tank and the M3LEE Medium Tank, which completely replaced the M1 Light Tank and the M2 Heavy Tank.

M3 light tank, 4.53 meters long, 2.24 meters wide, 2.64 meters high, 44 mm thick armor in the front, 10 thick rear armor in the side and back, weighing 12.7 tons, with a maximum speed of 58 kilometers per hour, armed with a 37 mm tank gun with 103 rounds of ammunition, five 7.62 mm machine guns, 8,270 rounds of ammunition, and four members.

The M3LEE medium tank, 5.64 meters long, 2.72 meters wide, 3.12 meters high, has 51 mm of front armor, 38 mm of side and rear armor, and weighs 27.22 tons. The maximum road speed is 42 km/h and the maximum off-road speed is 26 km/h. It is armed with 1 75 mm tank gun with 46 rounds of ammunition, 1 37 mm tank gun with 178 rounds of ammunition, and 4 7.62 mm machine guns with 9,020 rounds of ammunition. The number of members is 7.

The M3LEE medium tank is undoubtedly a very strange tank. The main difference from mainstream tanks is that this tank has two tank guns. The 75-mm tank gun was mounted on the right side of the hull and was only capable of firing from the front, with a limited firing range. A 37 mm tank gun was mounted on the turret. Such a strange design is probably only something that an American with a big brain can think of. (To be continued.) )