Chapter 76 There are so many bad omens

On the same day that the United Fleet received the "Ocean Order", the battleship "Hyuga" had an accident during training, and the turret exploded, causing more than 70 casualties. Only two days later, the Japanese Navy was hit again, and the small aircraft carrier "Xiangfeng" was sunk by the US military.In the ensuing naval battle in the Coral Sea, the Japanese had the upper hand on the surface, but they suffered great strategic losses. Not only did they fail to achieve the expected goal of capturing Port Moresby, even their preparations for the Midway Island were affected.

The two aircraft carriers of the Takagi Fleet, "Shoukaku", were seriously injured and almost overturned on the way back to Japan. Finally, they limped and managed to sail into the military port.The aircraft carrier is the most damaged large ship of the Japanese Navy since the beginning of the Pacific Fleet War. It will take at least a month to repair after inspection, which means that it will not be able to participate in the Midway operation. A few days later, the flagship "Zuihe" of the Takagi Fleet entered the port. Although the hull of "Zuihe" was not injured, nearly half of the pilots were lost, and the number one among the dead was Heichi Takahashi, a navy commander.

During the air raid on Pearl Harbor, Takahashi served as the captain of the dive bomber team. This man's combat style was calm and sharp, and he was named "Ship Explosion Hero". The Japanese Navy has never interrupted the training of pilots, and new pilots can continue to be added, but no matter how eager and fearless the new pilots are, they cannot completely replace these skilled and experienced battlefield veterans. It can be regarded as the foundation of the Japanese navy's strength. Therefore, the death of Takahashi and a group of old pilots dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese navy.

In addition, there is also a problem of coordination between the carrier-based aircraft and the aircraft carrier. When "Ruihe" arrived in Hong Kong, it was only one week before the departure of the mobile unit. Even if the pilots and aircraft were replenished immediately, it was too late to conduct on-board training for the supplementary personnel. Obviously, "Ruihe" would not be able to participate in the battle. The Takagi Fleet was originally organized as a mobile force, designated as the Fifth Aircraft Carrier Squadron.Their unexpected absence caused the mobile force to suddenly lose one-third of its air attack power, and in a major battle, this change was likely to determine the final outcome.

On the day "Xianghe" entered the port, the U.S. submarine "Poseidon", which had regretted not being able to catch up with "Xianghe", gave Yamamoto a blow.When the submarine was sneaking on the seabed outside Kyushu, Japan, it found that the Japanese submarine "I-164" was driving on the water surface. The "Poseidon" immediately aimed at the opponent's driving conning tower and fired. 164" sent to the sky. "I-164" belongs to the Fifth Submarine Squadron in the United Fleet. According to the "MI Action Plan", the Fifth Submarine Squadron is an important part of the Japanese submarine cordon. I am afraid that "I-164" would unintentionally become the first unlucky guy in the Battle of Midway, and let their boss Yamamoto really taste what it is like to "open the door black".

All of these cast a shadow over Yamamoto's psychology.However, since the "Ocean Order" has been promulgated, there is no reason to return without success. Moreover, judging from the report of the Takagi Fleet, the Pacific Fleet was also sunk by two aircraft carriers, and its strength should be offset by more. Japanese public opinion also emboldened the soldiers. A newspaper even boasted that the main fleet of the U.S. Navy was lying on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean at the moment. On May 21, 1942, the Japanese Army's Midway combat forces held a two-day fleet exercise on the high seas. This was the largest exercise of the Japanese Navy since the Pacific War, and it was also the last exercise they held on the high seas.

On May 25, after the above-mentioned troops returned to the anchorage of Zhudao Island, the combined fleet conducted the last sand table exercise on "Yamato", which marked that the pre-war preparations for Midway Island were all ready. At lunch, taking advantage of his joy, Yamamoto ordered to open the rice wine bestowed by the emperor and drink it, but when the chef served the dishes, his face suddenly changed. It's not that the dishes are not delicious, it's that the names of the dishes are too unlucky.This dish is called "Grilled Crucian Carp with Soy Sauce", and "Grilled with Soy Sauce" is pronounced the same as "failure" in Japanese.

Even if you don't burn "celebrating crucian carp", it's good to say "encouraging crucian carp", but it's "failure crucian carp"!But it's no wonder the chef, after all, he didn't do it on purpose, who knew that you guys who are fighting are so particular now? After all, it was Yamamoto who couldn't really get rid of the shadow in his heart, otherwise why would he be so superstitious? The wine is in the belly, but the matter is in the heart. Since you have encountered bad luck, it is impossible not to be happy.Yamamoto set anchor day for the mobile unit on May 27, Japan's Navy Day and the anniversary of the Battle of Tsushima.

The Battle of Tsushima was Yamamoto's first battle after joining the army.In that battle, two fingers on his left hand were blown off. If he had three fingers blown off at that time, he would have retired from the navy as a disabled person in accordance with relevant regulations. To save one finger, let Yamamoto take over the class of his predecessor Togo after more than 30 years. In the eyes of the Japanese, isn't this destiny?Yamamoto himself thought so. The reason why he chose to lift the anchor on this day was that he hoped that the Battle of Midway Island would become the second battle of the Tsushima Sea.

On May 27, 1942, Nagumo led the mobile unit to be the first to lift anchor and set off. On May 29, the Kondo Force, the Takasu Force, and the Yamamoto Fleet also set off successively. Yet the omens seem to be continuing.One night before the United Fleet set off, Yamamoto's good friend, a naval squadron commander, had a dream. He dreamed that he was holding a launching ceremony for the completed ship, and the ship on the slide rail suddenly capsized.Needless to say, this dream is even more uncomfortable than "failed crucian carp". The commander did not dare to tell Yamamoto about his dream, but Yamamoto's heart was already shaking.Before setting off, he wrote a letter to his lover: "To tell you the truth, I don't have much expectations for this expedition. The road is rough and bumpy, and it has reached its peak."

Yamamoto's private life corresponds to a Chinese saying that a wife is worse than a concubine, and a concubine is worse than a thief, but it is in front of his lover that this "Japanese god of war" is willing to take off his mask and express his true feelings. Of course, most of these are bits and pieces that were discovered after the fact.Before the war, if the spectators were asked to bet, few people would have predicted that Japan would lose. It is obvious that Yamamoto invested a total of more than 200 ships in the Battle of Midway Island, including almost all the ships of the United Fleet, including 8 aircraft carriers. , 17 battleships, the number of ships, sufficient ammunition, and fierce firepower are unprecedented. Such a mythical fleet, let alone the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, can be called a spectacle even in the history of world naval warfare. A Japanese officer said that on the way to Midway, his mind was full of victory in the battle of Pearl Harbor and the Indian Ocean. As for Midway, his view was always: "The war is easy, we can win it, and taking Midway is easy." .”