Chapter 89 Chapter 88

Strange events on the American side have created this unbelievable situation, and they will always be the subject of debate so long as anyone cares about naval warfare.In fact, the events themselves are very clear.The crux of the debate is how and how they happened.Victor.Henry was in the command room of the flagship USS Iowa and experienced those events first-hand. On October 24, Pug rose well before dawn and sat in the commander's operations control room, checking his staff's plans for how to deal with the situation.How to go into battle, and even, if need be, how to command that task force.He clearly knew that under Halsey, his level was very low, but if he was unlucky.A particularly heavy responsibility will still fall on his shoulders.He was ready to take full control of the situation at all times as if he were Halsey's chief of staff.

The Commander's Operations Control Room was a large, dimly lit room above his stateroom, accessed by a separate escalator.Indoors, radar displays projected on phosphorescent green tracking screens the movements of warships and aircraft, graphics of storms, the outlines of nearby land, and—especially in a night battle—a picture of enemy forces that could be seen more clearly than the naked eye at sea. Army dynamics.Here, huge plexiglass screens are manned by phone messengers, and you can tell at a glance what's going on from the bright orange or red mimeographed summaries.Here, urgent telegrams flooded in and were handed over to the duty officer for quick briefings ready for release: coffee, tobacco leaves, and ozone from electronic propulsion devices all mixed together to form the kind that would always be the commander's combat control room. characteristic smell.The microphone was hoarse, and it kept calling out the inexplicable signals: "Baker. Jig. Howe Seven, Baker. Howe Seven, I'm Court Four. Please report to Able Mike. Peter italics z. The message is over, please reply." and some words like that.

However, sometimes, like now at five o'clock in the morning, when the general occasionally walked in to check, the commander's combat control room was very quiet.A few sailors with blurred shadows sat in front of the monitor.The face looks eerie under the fluorescent reflection, and he is drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette, or nibbling a large piece of candy.Telephone messengers mutter something into the microphone or write something on a plexiglass panel; they all stand behind the screen and print deftly from the back.Some officers leaned over the chart, talking in low voices as they calculated.At this time the chief of staff was already sitting in front of the chart table in the center.During the attack on Formosa, Pug was very satisfied with Colonel Bradford, seeing that he was able to manage the commander's combat control room like that, sorting out relevant information amidst the noise.Pug went down and sat alone in his cabin, eating sweetly on tinned peaches, cornflakes, ham and eggs, and fresh biscuits dipped in honey.Perhaps, it will be a long time before he can sit down to eat again.He was drinking coffee when he heard Bradford's buzzing voice.

"Prepare to begin the air search now, General." "Very well, Ned." Pug quickly boarded the escalator and walked outside to the commander's bridge, facing the clear and warm purple dawn.Watch the dive bomber squadrons take off from the Dreadnought, the Hancock, and the Independence under the morning star.At this time, he felt a faint pain in his heart. ("Absalom", "Absalom"!) It was not until the last of the planes had taken off that he returned to a small office below, not far from his cabin.He always likes to leave his combat command map here.Only during battle did he go himself to the commander's combat control room, where the radar, the intercom and the commander's bridge were nearby.For many hours to come, it was the source material that was gathered that mattered most: sights, distances, courses, speeds, damage reports and what it all meant.

At the end of the day, it was another blue versus orange game, the same old military academy wargames and peacetime fleet maneuvers.Although the thrills of real combat cannot be compared with this, one point remains the same.Even in a drill battle, the hardest thing to do is to keep calm, and it is even more difficult to do this now!Let Bradford experience the excitement in the commander's combat control room and enjoy the latest news.Pug had to wait until the battle broke out to consider the decisive steps here; he consulted with his staff only when necessary. In the quiet atmosphere of this office, he used orange and blue ink to annotate the early morning observation and sortie report on his chart. At this time, he felt the most strange that the Japanese would behave like this Push forward without hesitation.It looks like this guy is heading for the San Bernardino Strait, and he's going to have a serious fight.The submarine had reportedly sunk the enemy ships the day before, but that did not shake his resolve.It seemed that unless the air force's offensive could send him back, there would be a night battle outside the channel, perhaps only sixteen to twenty hours away.

It did not surprise Pug to discover early on that a second surface fleet was heading for Surigao Strait far to the south.It is typical Japanese tactics to adopt a feint attack aimed at diverting the offensive.It was for this reason that Spruance refused to leave his beachhead on Saipan.Now the Japanese are really putting all their eggs in one basket!Davidson's task force sent south would probably follow that fleet.No, guess wrong, now Halsey ordered him to rally outside the San Bernardino Strait as well.Well, the fleet in the bay south of Kincaid has six old battleships, five of which were dug out of the grave of Pearl Harbor, including the old guy "California", in addition to many cruisers and escort aircraft carriers, It can be used to attack the fleet that is heading for the Surigao Strait to divert the offensive.As for the small aircraft carriers, they are all converted merchant ships, small and thin, as slow as molasses flowing; but if they use all their strength, they can still launch a fairly powerful air attack.

Halsey's fleet takes its first hit!The northernmost Sherman aircraft carrier group was attacked by air at 9:30 in the morning: the "Princeton" was shot and caught fire.According to Sherman's report, these planes may have taken off from Luzon or Japanese aircraft carriers.His pilots decimated enemy pilots in large numbers.Besides, it was a piece of comforting news to hear: Halsey was calling back to the Fourth Aircraft Carrier Group, which was now sailing to Ulyssey. (He finally made a decision, and it was just in time!) The charts showed that the ships needed to be refueled at sea and had a full day of sailing ahead.If Halsey had changed his mind because of the blow to the Princeton, it might have been worth the price.

In the center, more air raids were launched against the invading Japanese ships; more encouraging reports of kills were received; multiple battleships and cruisers, bombed, torpedoed, and set ablaze , some overturned and sank.On Pug's battle map, the reports appear to be exciting.The Sibuyan Sea is littered with symbols of sunken and wounded ships.If these reports are true, the Japanese can no longer win, they are already lost.But that being the case, why did they move on?As long as thirty to seventy planes were coming, they could be hit at will, and yet they were still advancing. Why didn't they have air cover?Where did the Japanese aircraft carrier go?This question haunted Victor, Henry; not only him, but William as well.Halsey and his staff, his corps leaders, haunted Admiral Nimitz in the night at Pearl Harbor and Admiral King in Washington.The unaccounted for aircraft carriers did not cover the fleet attacking the San Bernardino Strait.They did not cover the fleet heading south.So, in this desperate battle of the imperial fleet, what task did they undertake?It cannot be imagined that they would hang around in the Inland Sea of ​​Japan.Pug sees two possibilities.In order to make himself smile or make himself sad in the future, he wrote these two possibilities on another piece of paper.

October 24, 14:30, outside Wright Gulf. Q: Where is the enemy aircraft carrier now? Answer: (1) lingering outside the search range in the South China Sea.As soon as the sun sets, we will sail towards our ship at a high speed, and attack the damaged warship outside the San Bernardino Strait tonight at dawn tomorrow. (2) Coming south from the north with the intention of luring our fleet out of the San Bernardino Strait.If so, they must be discovered by us, probably far north of Luzon, before dark. Pug made the above second guess, not because he had any foresight.At that time, several group leaders in Halsey made the same speculation.Recently, the Department of Naval Intelligence released a captured Japanese combat manual, which talked about how to sacrifice an aircraft carrier as a means to contain the offensive and control the situation of the war.Somehow, this fleet of aircraft carriers has left the Inland Sea of ​​Japan undetected by the scout submarines.Now they may be moving within range the Air Force can search.Pug guessed at Halsey's final attack: We'll see what it is all about before sunset.

In fact, the aircraft carrier that Vice Admiral Ozawa is going to exchange for an advantage with a small setback has now sailed to the north of Luzon Island, and he is doing everything possible to attract Halsey's attention. pull the ears.Halsey had assigned Sherman the task of searching north, but the mission had been delayed amidst the confusion of enemy air raids and the Princeton fire.So Ozawa sent some of his carrier's motley crew—seventy-six of them in all—to attack Sherman's fleet, hoping that would at least alert Halsey.The air force attack this time was not as smooth as the one when the planes from the land base ejected the man from the "Princeton".Many of the pilots were shot down, and most of the rest were too inexperienced to land on the moving aircraft carrier, and had to fly all the way to Luzon, or crashed in the sea.Halsey was not alarmed; this sporadic attack was thought to have come probably from Luzon.

Ozawa also sent out numerous radio signals in the hope that they would be found.Late in the day, anxious to be spotted and pursued, he sent two half-ships-of-the-line—two odd-looking gunships with flight decks—down south to meet Schell. Mann's fleet engaged in surface combat.Ozawa notified Kurita of these combat situations by radio.The two fleets were about a thousand nautical miles apart, completely within radio communication range.But Kurita did not receive his telegram, not only directly, but also indirectly through telegrams from Tokyo or Manila. About three o'clock Halsey's plans for the night's battle came down.The plan called for four battleships, including Iowa and New Jersey, two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, and fourteen destroyers. The above-mentioned ships should form the 34th Task Force, which is under the command of Vice Admiral Li's battle fleet.The thirty-fourth task force will attack the enemy ships from afar and participate in the decisive battle. Form a battle fleet! Pug.Henry studied battlefleet tactics all his life.He can recite all military manuals.He did not know how many times he had bet against Jutland, the Strait of Tsushima, and Napoleon's exemplary campaigns at Trafalgar and Cape St. Vincent.The battle of the battle fleet is the highest historical test of the navy.In this war, until now, the ugly, clumsy floating warehouses of the so-called aircraft carriers have made battleships seem unimportant.Well my goodness, at this moment Japan sent its battle fleet across the San Bernardino Strait to surprise my fleet attacking Leyte Gulf, and this time none of the Halsey carriers were going to stop them . Form a battle fleet!This is sounding the charge.Victor.Henry's blood boiled like a twenty-year-old man again. He picked up the telephone receiver from the bracket and said to Colonel Bradford: "At sixteen o'clock there will be a staff meeting in my command room. Leave an officer on duty at the commander's office. In the combat control room. You come down." Pug didn't lose sight of this: Halsey, aboard the USS New Jersey, would be Commander of Battlefleet Operations.willis.Lee would organize the task force, which he could have done very well, but Halsey was to take over the task and oversee the battle himself.Look how excited everyone will be in the USS New Jersey's command room!Pug had waited thirty years for this.Well Bill.Halsey had been waiting for forty years.None of the admirals in history were more eager to fight a fleet battle than under such circumstances.Manpower and timing came together, and this time a brilliant victory was about to be achieved. Pug ran up to the commander's bridge to get a good breath of fresh air.He has smoked three packs of cigarettes.The sea scene could not be calmer than it is now: in the afternoon sun, aircraft carriers, battleships and their screen fleets are lined up as far as the eye can see, extending from north to south until beyond the horizon, fighting The gray figures familiar to me formed an anti-aircraft formation, slowly marching on the slightly splashing blue sea.No land, no enemy ships, no smoke, no gunfire.What was exciting was the noise from the microphones in the flagship's operations control room, and the frantic reporting of the situation by the encoding machines like a naval spell.Radiocommunications, airplanes, black oil: all these have resulted in a new kind of naval warfare, one that can communicate hundreds, if not thousands, of nautical miles, expanding the battlefield to include millions of square nautical miles. noodle.The basic signals, however, were still the same as those used at Trafalgar, and certainly not at Salamis. Form a battle fleet! Fighting is always dangerous.The gigantic USS Iowa may be buried at the bottom of the ocean like any other warship. The sinking of the "Northampton" still haunted Pug's mind, and he was thinking about how he should talk to his staff about the torpedo attack.However, as he stood there alone in his crumpled clothes, breathing deeply the breeze from the tropical sea, he felt that his life was not wasted in enjoying an evening like this up.He was somewhat guilty of being so emotional, because this incident was nothing more than a massacre, and many Americans might be killed, but he felt so guilty about it. The operational control room on board called Pug to inform him of the Japanese ship's new position in the Sibuyan Sea.Pug jotted down the latitude and longitude on a legal pad, and suddenly said, "Check the translation, there is an error here," and hung up the phone at this point.After a while, the officer on duty called again apologetically.The translation has been checked.At this time a newer finding was reported.Pug copied down a few figures, walked into his office suddenly, and immediately called the chief of staff in. "What do you think of the situation?" On his charts, the Japanese fleet's course, marked in orange ink, was now curving to the west.Back off! "General, I can't believe it for a long time. How can they keep rushing over like this?" Bradford brushed his white hair with his fingers and shook his head. Rolling on the steaming stove.In the end, it must be rolled out. " "Did you think they escaped?" "Yes, General." "I don't think so. The meeting is over for the time being. Get on your bus, Ned. Check the urgent calls. Try to get as many messages as you can over the intercom. Double the number of interpreters on the headquarters circuit. Let us Get hold of these news about bearing reports." After a while, Bradford had already called, saying that the entire fleet was noisily spreading the news that the Japanese ship had changed course.Pug stared at the chart, speculating on all the possibilities, like running against each other and seeing the opponent make a move that you didn't expect.He began to write: At 16:45 on October 24, the Central Fleet turned westward. What's the reason? 1. Under air attack.Fleeing back to Japan. 2. The specified time has not arrived.The aircraft carrier has not yet entered the search range.Plans for massing outside Leyte Gulf were disrupted.Time is being delayed.It is also a trick of pretending to be suspicious. 3. To avoid a night battle.Some Japanese small fleets prefer night battles, and some prefer long-range torpedoes, and so on.But this guy wants good visibility in order to make the most of his cannon. 4. In order to maintain its flexible command ability during the day. 5. A damage report has been issued to Tokyo and orders are awaited. 6. Remember Spruance's "retreat" at Midway?Now comes a formidable character, with a formidable fleet and a resourceful command.Maybe he was trying to lure Halsey into chasing him into the San Bernardino Channel, and he turned around and T-ed my fleet. While Pug was there pondering these possibilities, he heard a rapid knock on the door. "General, I think it's better to deliver this to you personally." Bradford's eyes were shining brightly, and a telegram deciphered from the code-a blank form with a few strips of telegram tape stuck to it- Put it on his desk.It was from Halsey. Addressee: All commanders and squadron leaders of the Third Fleet According to Sherman's report, three aircraft carriers, two light cruisers and three destroyers were found at 18-32 degrees north latitude and 125-128 degrees east longitude. Pug dipped him in orange ink The pen poked hurriedly on the chart.In the northeast of Luzon, 200 nautical miles from the coast; the target of the Japanese aircraft carrier can be understood now. "Hmph! Is there any latest news about the fleet in the Sibuyan Sea?" "No news. General." They looked at the chart, and then looked at each other, showing wry smiles.Pug said, "Well, suppose you were Halsey. What are you going to do?" "Start immediately and give those aircraft carriers a hard chase." "So, what about the San Bernardino Channel? Where's the guy in the Sibuyan Sea?" "He's still retreating. If he turns around, the battlefleet can beat him up." "So, are you going to leave the battleships behind and just let the aircraft carriers go north? Isn't that too risky?" "The aircraft carrier is headed north. On the way, it can join up with Sherman's two battleships. That one force is enough to deal with all the current Japanese aircraft carrier fleet." "And what if they concentrate their forces?" Bradford scratched his head. "Well, the Japanese haven't done that yet, have they? They're attacking us from two fronts at the moment. They're too far apart for us to concentrate on attacking one fleet first. , and then attack another fleet. I think the tactical situation is more important than principle. We have to divide our forces into two lines. Make sure that we can attack their two fleets at the same time. In any case, our two forces This squad is much better than their two squads.” Pug frowned viciously. Bradford stammered: “General, since you asked me, no matter how ignorant I am, I have an obligation to Say what comes to mind. " "Your words disturbed Mahan's spirit in heaven. But I agree with you. Now you go back up there, Ned." The orderly knocked at the door to bring in a tray of general dinner.Pug didn't think he could swallow an olive.He would have more coffee, and smoke after cigarette, putting himself in Halsey's shoes. Facing this huge pile of wealth, the old soldier didn't know where to start; in both battles, he had the opportunity to show his skills!He could, like Lord Nelson, win either battle, but not two at the same time, because, as Bradford said, the battles were too far apart.If he decided to send his carriers north, New Jersey would have to be taken out of the battleship.In that case, it will be Willis.Lee went to command the battleship and fought a night battle, replacing the USS New Jersey with a Sherman's battleship.Alternatively, Halsey could command a few battleships and line up outside the San Bernardino Strait, and let Mitchell's aircraft carrier go north to attack the aircraft carrier there.But this method is thunder again.What Spruance refused to use in Saipan. Pug was thinking that the San Bernardino battle would be more decisive.It will directly pose a great threat to the beachhead.However.What if the Japanese, instead of changing course, kept going?If so, Bill.Halsey would swim slowly about the sea all night without firing a shot, and Mark.Mitchell will lead the ship to set off to win the biggest victory since Midway. Too bad there's no chance, Pug.Henry thought to himself.Unfortunately no chance.Bradford was right.If he, Pug, had been in Halsey's place, he would have gone north, too. However, he hoped that Halsey would only take the "New Jersey" and not the "Iowa".Those Japanese aircraft carriers are bound to become Mitchell's pilots.Those battleships going to the north are only used to sink those damaged ships.There will be a naval battle near the San Bernardino Strait.The Japanese hadn't left, Pug knew with a sixth sense. From the combat control room above, a copy of Willis came.Lee's lookback report to Halsey, just before dark.This analysis of the battle situation was similar to Pug's opinion, so he was very happy to hear it.Lee is a shrewd and seasoned strategist.According to him, those Japanese aircraft carriers were weak and were used to lure the enemy, and they had very few aircraft; the diversion of the fleet in the Sibuyan Sea was only temporary; that fleet would return and enter the strait late at night. Among Halsey's staff, Pug guessed, there must have been great differences of opinion and heated debate.Time is ticking.There was still no order issued, not even an "execution order" for the battle fleet's operational plan, and Willis.Lee now needed time to organize and arrange his fleet.It was past eight o'clock, and the order was finally sent.Bradford did not send this urgent mail that decided the battle situation, nor did he notify him by phone.He sent it by an orderly, which was also very strange.Pug read the long battle order before he understood what it was all about. Halsey was going north to chase the carriers, which was fine; but he was taking the entire Third Fleet with him, not a single ship left to defend the San Bernardino Straits. While Pug was still contemplating this disturbingly strange order, another dispatch came down, again by the orderly.This is a night reconnaissance plane's observation report on enemy ships in the Sibuyan Sea.Before he had time to put his pen down on the chart, he saw that longitude which made him shudder.The Japanese ship had turned around and was heading for the San Bernardino Strait at a speed of twenty-two knots per hour. The dispatch time of the dispatch was 22:10, that is, 10:10 on the night of October 24, 1944.