Iron Cross

At 4:40, after thinking for 2 minutes, Kincaid finally made up his mind: "The Enterprise formation will attack the enemy battleship formation according to the direction indicated by Rear Admiral Li. The Hornet will take off the SBD search formation, responsible for searching a 160-degree sector from due west to northeast." noodle."

Sixteen SBDs carrying 250-pound bombs quickly took off from the Hornet. To make up for the lack of aircraft, each SBD that took off for reconnaissance carried bombs so that they could attack the target as soon as it was discovered. They will use a one-way search method in which each aircraft is responsible for a 10-degree sector, covering the entire sector within 160 degrees from due west to northeast. A total of 61 aircraft in the Enterprise attack group (the rest are F4F fighters reserved to cover the aircraft carrier) are taking off one after another, preparing to attack the Japanese artillery fleet about 200 nautical miles away.

Almost at the same moment when Kincaid issued the order, at the Munda Island Airport, Japanese pilots, with white "must win" strips wrapped around their heads, neatly lined up and ready to go, were listening to the lecture of the new Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Matoi Ugaki - he was I just flew from Rabaul and arrived at Munda Island yesterday to give a mobilization speech. At this moment, not only Munda Island, but also all the air forces of Bougainville Island, Rabaul, Lae, New Britain, etc., all the pilots gathered together to wait for the order to attack - Hortiyoshi said that the final battle was not meant Just for fun, not only the main force of the combined fleet was dispatched, but all the aviation fleets in the South Pacific were also assembled.

"You are the first group of aircraft dispatched to cover our fleet today. Your combat mission is to go to the southwest waters of Guadalcanal to support the joint fleet flagship Yamato and the commander-in-chief, and to provide an air protection umbrella for the entire artillery fleet... Our aircraft carrier-based aircraft We must concentrate on attacking the enemy fleet and do not have time to cover them too much," Ugaki Matoi said to the pilots, "After finding the fleet, we will keep guarding it and shoot down any invading American aircraft until we run out of fuel or receive new instructions. …”

What? The pilots all looked at each other - does this mean that we all want to die there?

"Of course I'm not asking you to die. You are the most precious asset of the empire. How can you die so easily?" Ugaki Matoi said with a ferocious face and bulging veins, waving his fists and saying, "When you run out of gas, parachute as long as the fleet below is still there. , someone will pick you up, please live well and don’t die! Airplanes are a trivial matter, don’t take it to heart, there will be newer and better ones when the time comes..."

Everyone is dizzy. What kind of rhythm is this? From the first day I became a pilot, I was told to cherish the aircraft as much as life. But now it’s better. An aircraft costs more than 200,000 yen (30 admirals can’t afford a Zero even if they work for a year), he said. Just don’t want it?

Looking at the bewildered look below, Ugaki Matoi raised his voice and shouted: "What are you thinking about? A Yamato can carry 1,000 planes... If the Yamato sinks, is there any hope for the combined fleet? Is there still hope for Japan? "?"

"yes!"

"Sir, the Munda Air Force is fully prepared and can take off."

"All Zero Combat pilots are out..."

The 36 fighter pilots took a step forward in unison.

Ugaki Matou asked: "Do you remember the position of Yamato?"

"Remember." All the pilots shouted together.

"Gentlemen, please!" He lowered his head and bowed.

"United Fleet onboard!"

At 4:45, 36 Zero fighter jets carrying auxiliary fuel tanks took off from Munda Island Airport and flew southeast.

At 4:45 on November 5, 1942, the sun slowly rose above the horizon, the east became clear and bright, and the moment of the decisive battle in the Solomon Sea finally arrived!

Although the radar is better than that of American warships, the eyesight of Japanese sailors is obviously better. At 4:55, when the distance between the two fleets narrowed to 47,000 meters, far beyond the radar detection range, the Japanese lookout post at the top of the Yamato bridge had taken the lead in spotting the looming U.S. warship in the distance. As time passed, As time goes on, the outline of the other party becomes clearer and clearer.

The bell in the commander's tower rang loudly, and everyone held their breath to listen to the information delivered by the lookout post.

"Enemy fleet: North Carolina-class battleship Ichijo (USS Washington)." (Note: When fighting on the surface at long distances, it is generally difficult to tell the opponent's specific ship number, and can only be called by class. For the convenience of writing, the author will refer to the specific ship number)

"One New Orleans-class heavy cruiser (USS San Francisco), one Pensacola-class heavy cruiser (USS Salt Lake City), one Atlanta-class light cruiser (USS Atlanta)... 6 destroyers." When the distance narrowed to 36,000 Meters later, the observation post had basically clearly identified the TF64 formation.

Not long after the Japanese fleet was discovered by the US warship lookout post, Major General Li was also nervously listening to the information on the Washington.

"Report, the enemy fleet: two Nagato-class battleships...no...one unknown-class battleship...9 cruisers, including 3 Takao-class (Atago, Maya, Takao), 2 Myoko-class (Myoko, Haguro) ), 4 Aoba-level ones (Aoba, Kinugasa)..."

"Unknown-class battleship?" He frowned quickly, "What is this? Is it stronger or weaker than Nagato?"

"This..." The lookout was speechless and could only continue to observe carefully.

"The turrets of this ship are ready." The voice of Captain Takayanagi Yamato came from the intercom.

"Don't be anxious, keep waiting." Nobutake Kondo smiled, "Let the Americans get closer...firing now is a complete waste of ammunition and will scare them."

The distance between the two sides narrowed by another 3,000 meters. "Sir, you can see clearly. It should be more powerful than the Nagato-class, at least on the same level as the Nagato-class..." Then the observation post on the Washington shouted in surprise, "The enemy fleet The current overall speed is 25 knots... Damn it, didn’t it mean that the Nagato class can only run up to 23 knots?”

23 knots was the Japanese Navy's false name for its speed when the Nagato class was built. In fact, the Nagato class can run 26 knots, but the U.S. Navy does not know this information. Hearing this incident, Major General Li's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked the formation's chief of staff: "Has any reconnaissance plane sent any news about the enemy aircraft carrier?"

"Still not."

"Will our attack fleet set off?"

"Has departed and is expected to arrive at the battlefield in another 50 minutes."

Hearing that it would take 50 minutes to get air support, he frowned even deeper: The Nagato class was also known as the world's seven battleships at that time. Although the Washington in his hand had a slight advantage due to its small age, it could win 1 against 2. It was more difficult. I thought I was going to face those old guys at the King Kong level, but I didn't expect to encounter a tough fight. The opponent's speed is not weaker than ours, and now there is suddenly an unknown-class battleship that is no less powerful than the Nagato-class, which makes it even more difficult. Not to mention that Japan also has more heavy cruisers than ours, and we must hold on. After this time, he thought for a moment before issuing subsequent orders.

"Left rudder 25 degrees, increase the speed to 26 knots, increase the distance with the enemy fleet..." He thought about a proper solution and issued the order, "Notify TF16\\17 that a super long gate has been discovered, and the enemy fleet currently occupies a larger area. With a huge advantage, our fleet plans to take advantage of its speed and strive to maintain contact with the enemy while avoiding engagement.”

"Twenty minutes have passed and I haven't received the telegram from the reconnaissance aircraft... It can be concluded that the enemy aircraft carrier is at least 100 nautical miles away. Our covering aircraft group must arrive before the enemy's attacking aircraft group." After returning from the telegraph room, Renyi Caolu said The commander shouted excitedly - the period just now was the most nervous time for him. Although Horikichi had comforted him long ago, he still felt as if his heart was being grasped and he couldn't breathe.

Awakened by the shouting, Horikichi finally "recovered" from a nap with his eyes closed - in fact, he was not asleep either. He joked: "Kusaga-kun, I didn't expect that - I didn't realize that the enemy aircraft carrier was actually there now. It turned out to be a good thing!”

"Sir..." Caolu Renyi lowered his head in embarrassment, "I'm very sorry, my judgment is insufficient."

"Inform the Munda Air Force that the ship attack fleet will set off. The attack target is the enemy battleship formation. Report the enemy's estimated position in 30 minutes." Horikichi looked at the chart and issued two more orders, "Notify Rabaul. The first cover group of the air force set off and informed the fleet of its expected position in 45 minutes; it notified the mobile fleet to continue hiding and wait for the order to attack. "

Caolu Renyi said loudly: "Yes!"

"The enemy fleet is turning..."

"Want to run? It's too late." Kondo Nobutake, who commanded the fleet operations, sneered, "The entire fleet follows the flagship in the assault, and the Yamato is ready to take the lead."

"Current distance from USS Washington: 32,470 meters..." Although the TF64 formation tried to turn away, the relative distance between the two sides continued to close because the speed slowed down during the turn.

"Assigned firing targets: Yamato target - USS Washington; Nagato target - USS San Francisco; USS Mutsu target - USS Salt Lake City, armor-piercing bombs prepared..."

"31080 meters..."

After the "rumbling" sound, the Washington turned tenaciously while using the triple 406mm main gun on the tail turret to fire first.

After dozens of seconds, three shells entered the water more than 1,500 meters in front of the Yamato, splashing three high water jets.

"Hmph, it's ridiculously far away." Nobutake Kondo remained unmoved, "Ignore it and move on..."

"29,420 meters." When the observation post reported this distance, the Washington, which had completed its initial turn and could use all its firepower on the side, began to fire in sequence. All nine shells passed over Yamato's bridge and entered the water. The closest one was more than 1,200 meters behind. Still doesn't pose any threat.

"It's a little closer." Kondo Nobutake carefully observed the impact point of the cannonball, his face became serious, and he stopped being contemptuous.

"27835 meters." The lookout post reported the latest distance. It was already 5:15, and he finally gave the order: "Fire!"

The gunner who had been waiting impatiently quickly fired the famous 460mm main gun. However, since the Yamato was facing the enemy from the bow, only the two turrets on the front deck could fire.

After Yamato opened fire, Nagato and Mutsu opened fire one after another...