Chapter 55 Turn crisis into opportunity

Among the many islands in the "death line", the Palau Islands are located in the south. Of course, this is also due to oil considerations. At the same time, Ozawa's troops can also receive strong land-based support from Kakuda's troops during the decisive battle. But what if Nimitz does not go to the Palau Islands, and goes straight to the Mariana Islands in the north?After all, it is the Americans who are responsible for dealing the cards, and the time and place have to be determined by them. Toyota's strategy is to keep the same and respond to all changes. If the U.S. military is going to the north, it will find a way to "lure" them to the south, and then "fight a decisive battle with all our strength at the right time."

Ozawa's troops stayed on Tawi Tawi Island for nearly a month, and the 58th Task Force did not show up—neither to the Palau Islands nor to the Mariana Islands, but the sirens on the north coast of New Guinea were loud. Landed on Biak Island. Learning the lessons of the successive deaths of its predecessors, Toyota did not go out with the large force after issuing the "Operation A" order, but led the staff to continue to sit at the Hashirashima berth in Hiroshima Bay.When news of the US landing reached his new flagship, the cruiser Oyodo, everyone was taken aback. MacArthur's "leapfrog" can be regarded as jumping to the seven inches of the Japanese army.Biak Island is like a fan shaft. If the U.S. military establishes an air base here, it will control the Philippines, Singapore, Borneo, and Palau Islands under the coverage of its fan. Not only the B-29, but even the B-24 can also fly Come over for an air strike.In that case, the southern artery of the Japanese army would be completely cut off.

One south and one north, they are all afraid of the threat of B-29.If Japan's loss of Mariana was like a sharp sword being stabbed in the throat, then the loss of Biak is equivalent to a sharp knife being stabbed in the stomach. It is not a fatal part, but blood may flow more and faster. Everyone in the first cabin is worried, but Caolu is very happy. He thinks that the crisis can be turned into a fighting opportunity. Cao Lu's reasoning is this: Under the constant attack of US submarines, it is no longer a long-term solution for Ozawa's troops to besiege Tawi Tawi Island, and there is no way out except for a decisive battle as soon as possible.The reinforcement of Biak, on the one hand, is to regain this strategic location, and on the other hand, it can also use this to lure the 58th Task Force, so as to fight a decisive battle with it in the waters of the Palau Islands.

After all, he is a master, and he eats more salt than others.Toyota and other staff members were stunned when they heard this, and they were all convinced. Whether intentionally or not, the day the U.S. troops landed in Biak was May 27, which happened to be the 39th anniversary of the Battle of Tsushima.Thinking about people when seeing things, thinking about horses when seeing saddles, the Japanese are very sensitive to this day: Maybe 39 years later, God will blow a wind of mercy on the sea, so that we can fight a beautiful battle at sea that can be recorded in history ? The atmosphere in the cabin changed from the "negative energy" of panic and bewilderment at the beginning to "positive energy" quickly. Everyone even congratulated each other. Fortunately, the U.S. military finally moved their hands on their Biak.

Of course, there will always be some people who are not interesting and do not follow the Dao.Lieutenant Commander Nakajima Kantaka, the intelligence staff officer, raised objections. He believed that the U.S. military was advancing in two directions. The Biak Island offensive was only the spearhead of the MacArthur front, and the Nimitz front was still aimed at the Mariana Islands.In other words, no matter how the US military fought on Biak Island, whether it was successful or not, the attack on the Mariana Islands would proceed as planned. These words were like pebbles thrown into a pond, they were not taken seriously at all.Regarding the main attack area of ​​the 58th Task Force, Toyota, Caolu and other staff concluded that there is a 50% possibility for the Palau Islands, a 40% possibility for the northern coast of New Guinea, and the least possibility for the Mariana Islands. 10%.

According to Cao Lu's opinion, the United Fleet Command hastily formulated an action plan to reinforce Biak Island almost overnight.Yuantian once had a "Operation Xiongcode" that was thrown into the wastebasket. Although it has been abandoned, the name is not bad. In the spirit of majesty, Caolu named the reinforcement plan "Operation Huncode". Big people don't necessarily have great wisdom, and small people don't necessarily have big vision.Toyota and Caolu thought they had their own way, and sneered at Nakajima’s suggestion. In fact, they regarded their spectacle frames as the skyline and the route they walked as the equator—only ten days later, Nakajima’s prophecy It became a reality.