Aboard the USS Wasp, the flagship of the U.S. Navy's 1st Aircraft Carrier Task Force, Rear Admiral Halsey and Commodore Spruance are debating what to do next. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 infoThe main force of the Chinese navy is in Brisbane, which has been judged by them to be a trap. If you know it's a trap, wouldn't you be a fool if you still jump into it?

What worries them is that the Chinese navy is apparently aware of their existence by doing so. In other words, the Chinese Navy is planning to deal with them. This is undoubtedly a crisis for the American fleet.

"General, although the Tasman Sea is vast, it is still too narrow for carrier-based aircraft with a range of several hundred kilometers. Now that the Chinese know about our existence, if we are not fooled, they will inevitably step up the search for the waters near Australia in the next step. If we continue to stay here, we will probably find out soon. It's not safe here. I suggest that we go from the Tasman Sea to the South Pacific. This sea area is more vast, and it is more difficult for the Chinese Navy to detect, and the area where we operate will be a little larger. Brigadier General Spruance suggested.

Relative to the Chinese Navy, the American fleet is completely at a disadvantage. If you want to save yourself as much as possible, you have to stay away from dangerous places. In this way, they will be able to continue their activities in the South Pacific and not be caught by the Chinese navy.

"Hmmm! However, if we leave this sea, we will not be able to cover the army. I'm afraid it's not easy to explain this to the theater command. Major General Halsey said. After all, they were sent here because of Admiral MacArthur's request. And their responsibility is to hold back the main force of the Chinese Navy for the South Pacific theater. If they escape, the mission will probably not be completed.

"General, if we continue to exist, we will drag the Chinese for the South Pacific theater. In order to search for us and defeat us, the Chinese mobilized a large number of warships. If we are killed by the Chinese, this will not be of the slightest benefit to the South Pacific theater. Brigadier General Spruance said. Clearly, he is not in favour of continuing to operate in the waters off Australia, which in his opinion is very dangerous.

"Okay, let's get out of here. As for General MacArthur, it's up to them. Major General Halsey said.

At this time, a staff officer reported: "General, the latest information available, the Chinese aircraft carrier fleet has appeared off the coast of Brisbane, a total of six main aircraft carriers and twelve escort carriers. According to information, the Chinese's aircraft carrier fleet is receiving supplies in batches. ”

"What? The Chinese aircraft carrier fleet actually took the initiative to show up and replenish off the coast of Brisbane, are they crazy? Major General Halsey exclaimed. It's almost impossible to do so. Everyone knows that aircraft carriers are very vulnerable and vulnerable to attack when they are refilled. If it is bombed, the consequences will be very serious.

Major General Halsey wanted to attack almost immediately, but now they were too far away from Brisbane, a full two thousand kilometres. And the combat radius of their carrier-based aircraft is only 250 kilometers. In other words, if they want to attack the Chinese fleet, they must close the distance to within 250 kilometers.

"General, the Chinese are blatantly seducing us! It would take at least twenty hours for so many aircraft carriers to complete their resupply. But, alas, we are too far away from them. Otherwise, we might be able to try to attack. Brigadier General Spruance said with some pity.

"Yes! Now it is certain that the Chinese are trying to lure us into attacking. However, we are more than 2,000 kilometers from Brisbane! Major General Halsey also looked regretful.

"Forget it, no matter how the Chinese tempt us, we just won't be tempted by them." Ordered the fleet, which after half an hour began to turn, leaving the Tasman Sea and heading for the South Pacific. Major General Halsey said.

Brigadier General Spruance did not speak, but frowned, as if he was thinking about something.

After a few minutes, Brigadier General Spruance said, "General, maybe we have a chance to sneak up on the Chinese." ”

"Sneak attack on the Chinese? Wouldn't that be too risky? Major General Halsey frowned.

"General, it's a bit of an adventure. However, it is not impossible to succeed. We are now 2,000 kilometres from Brisbane. A 25-knot trip to Brisbane takes about 45 hours. We can reach the relevant sea area at about 5 a.m. and enter the combat radius of our carrier-based aircraft. Spend an hour determining the location of the Chinese before launching an attack with carrier-based aircraft. Brigadier General Spruance said.

"However, we only have two aircraft carriers, and even if we launch an all-out attack, we may not be able to sink the capital ships of the Chinese." Major General Halsey said. The main forces of the Chinese Navy are concentrated there, which are six main aircraft carriers and 12 escort aircraft carriers. There were also 19 battleships, up to hundreds of cruisers and destroyers. With such dense anti-aircraft fire, it is almost impossible for the carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy to sink the aircraft carriers of the Chinese Navy within such dense anti-aircraft fire.

"No, General. Launching an attack with carrier-based aircraft is just to attract the attention of the Chinese. The real killer move is our battleship. Five 'Montana-class' battleships and three 'Iowa-class' battleships, with enough firepower to tear the Chinese battleship to shreds. The speed of Chinese aircraft carriers is generally not high, at most only 28 or 30 knots. Their battleships, because of their long service time, had serious mechanical wear and tear, and their speed was generally only 25 knots or even lower. For those escort aircraft carriers converted from merchant ships, the maximum speed is generally only 212 knots. Our 'Montana-class' battleships have a speed of more than 28 knots, and if they are ventilated under strong pressure, they can increase their speed to more than 30 knots in a short time. The Iowa-class battleships had a speed of more than 33 knots. At that time, it is entirely possible to let the 'Montana-class' battleships drag the Chinese' battleship formation, and the three 'Iowa-class' battleships will attack the Chinese' aircraft carrier formation. Powerful 406-mm naval guns, only one is enough to seriously damage the Chinese's aircraft carriers, and if you are lucky, you can even sink the opponent's aircraft carriers. After succeeding, go south with all your might. Fighters took off from the aircraft carriers USS Wasp and USS Hornet to provide anti-aircraft cover for the battleship detachments. After that, the fleet entered the South Pacific from the southern part of the Tasman Sea after disengaging with the Chinese. Then wait for the opportunity to launch a new attack on the Chinese Navy. Brigadier Spruance laid out his plans and plans. The more he talked about this plan, the more excited he became, and the more he felt that there was a great possibility of success.

Once the three 'Iowa-class' battleships of the US Navy successfully launched an attack on the aircraft carrier fleet of the Chinese Navy, what kind of scene would it be? Powerful battleships will easily tear those aircraft carriers to shreds with 406 mm main gun shells. If the six main aircraft carriers and 12 escort aircraft carriers of the Chinese Navy can be eliminated, then the Chinese Navy will suffer heavy losses. Even if the Chinese Navy still has quite a few aircraft carriers left. But by the time the U.S. Navy's twelve 'Essex-class' aircraft carriers enter service, the strength of the two sides will be infinitely close. When the time comes, it is entirely possible that they will defeat the Chinese Navy and regain sea supremacy in the Pacific. In that case, the U.S. Navy would be able to launch a full-scale counterattack.

Major General Halsey was also excited, though he knew that it would be too risky to do so. If they fail, they probably won't be able to leave. However, if successful, it will bring too much benefit, which they really can't refuse.

"Brigadier Spruance, it's a genius tactic. I'm sure the chances of this tactic succeeding are very high. If we succeed, we will get out of the current predicament in one fell swoop. Major General Halsey said excitedly.

If these aircraft carriers of the Chinese Navy can be eliminated, then they will have much more room to operate in the Pacific Ocean in the future, and they will no longer have to worry about being surrounded and intercepted by the Chinese Navy.

"However, the Chinese's supply lasts only a day at most." After we arrived in that area, it would be very difficult to find the traces of the Chinese in an hour. Major General Halsey said.

Brigadier General Spruance nodded: "General, this is indeed a problem. However, it is not without alternative solutions. To the west and south of Brisbane, there are quite a few airfields for army aviation. We can ask them to take off before 5 a.m. the day after tomorrow to search for the location of the Chinese Navy. I think that in order to defeat the Chinese navy, Admiral MacArthur will definitely agree to our request. At that time, we can even dispatch carrier-based aircraft to launch an attack based on the position of the Chinese Navy discovered by the army aviation. ”

"In that case, the problem is well solved." Major General Halsey nodded, and he felt more and more that it was highly feasible. After perfecting the whole plan with Spruance, he immediately ordered the fleet to speed up its voyage to the north. (To be continued.) )