Take Taobao to fight against Japan

Koga Feng nodded his head lightly, he naturally understood what Temple Shouichi was worried about, so he patted his chest again to reassure him very seriously.

Yamaguchi Tamon nodded movedly and said: "As long as our three armies, land, sea and air, can work together, the Empire of Japan will definitely be able to tide over the difficulties and win the final victory."

"Yoxi! Then let us firmly unite and do our best for the future of the Great Japanese Empire!"

"The Great Japanese Empire is bound to last forever!"

“Yamato Nation Onboard!”

"Onboard!"

"Onboard!"

After some heart-to-heart communication, Terauchi Shouichi, Koga Mineichi, Yamaguchi Tamon and others were all moved by each other, they stood up and joined together to high-five the oath, and then raised their arms and shouted.

Immediately afterwards, the generals, staff officers, and guards were also infected, and they shouted like they had been drugged, and the entire headquarters of the Southern Expeditionary Army went crazy for a while.

And at this time period, the Kuban battle in the Caucasus theater on the European Eastern Front has come to an end, and the Novorossiysk-Taman battle is in full swing.

The Battle of Kuban was a major turning point in the Soviet Army's struggle for strategic air supremacy during the Great Patriotic War, and it was also one of the largest air battles in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

In the summer of 1943, the Soviet army launched a new powerful offensive in the central and southwest directions of the Soviet-German battlefield. This offensive is conducive to the resumption of the offensive in the North Caucasus.

The North Caucasus Front Army was ordered to eliminate the German Taman Group, and the German Army attempted to use air power to hold on to the Taman Peninsula due to insufficient ground forces.

So the tip of the needle faced Maimang, and Su De and Su De both sides thus launched an unprecedented battle for air supremacy.

The air battle lasted for more than two months. The Soviet army dispatched about 35000 aviation sorties, of which the front army aviation accounted for 77%, the long-range aviation accounted for 9%, and the Black Sea Fleet aviation accounted for 14%.

The German army lost more than 1100 aircraft, of which more than 800 were shot down in the air.

Because the Soviet air force greatly weakened the air power of the German army in the air battle on the Kuban River, it won the air supremacy on the southern wing of the Soviet-German battlefield, paving the way for seizing the air supremacy in the entire Soviet-German war.

Two months after the Kuban air battle, the Soviet North Caucasus Front launched a campaign aimed at liberating Novorossiysk and the Taman Peninsula. The Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Sea Fleet coordinated the offensive. This was also the last battle of the Caucasus Battle.

The current campaign has been going on for more than a month. The German army has invested more than 44 people, while the Soviet side has reached nearly 70 people, half more than the German army.

Since the German army lost its air supremacy in the previous Kuban air battle, its situation in the Novorossiysk area became extremely difficult.

After the President left by plane from Hawaii, MacArthur, who had long been unable to restrain himself, immediately pressed the war button.

On the same day, MacArthur Yu issued an order to use New Zealand as an advance base to clean up the Japanese-occupied islands around the Solomon Islands, and ordered the fleet to start artillery preparations for the main islands of the Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands are located about 1600 kilometers northeast of the Australian mainland and about 500 kilometers due west of Papua New Guinea, the second largest country in Oceania.

That's right, everyone on earth knows that the Solomon Islands is a small island country, with more than 900 large and small islands adding up to only 2.84 square kilometers, but in Oceania, where there are many small island countries, this area is already the fourth largest.

The terrain of the Solomon Islands is very characteristic. Generally speaking, there are many large islands, which can be called a pocket version of Indonesia.

Among the major islands, in addition to the largest Guadalcana Island, there are Santa Isabel Island with an area of ​​3871 square kilometers, Malaita Island with an area of ​​3840 square kilometers, and Makila with an area of ​​3190 square kilometers. Island, Choiseul Island with an area of ​​2590 square kilometers and so on.

And these islands are all in the hands of the Japanese army. At the same time, as the Allied forces press on, the strategic position of the Solomon Islands is becoming more and more prominent. The Japanese army naturally began to spare no effort to strengthen the defense.

At the same time, the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet was also cruising in the waters around the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia, like poisonous snakes lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity.

Therefore, in the face of the Japanese defense force that was determined to fight to the end and was very powerful, MacArthur did not dare to wave, and could only adopt a gradual and steady attrition operation.

As for the Central Pacific offensive route that Nimitz is in charge of, although it is relatively easier there, the actual situation is not very optimistic.

Because the Marshall Islands has been a Japanese trusteeship since World War I, and foreigners are strictly prohibited from entering after 1935.

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese army stepped up the construction of military bases and deployed garrison troops in the islands, which became the main islands in the outer defensive circle of the Japanese army in the Pacific Ocean.

Since the Marshall Islands had been blocked by the Japanese army for a long time, and because the islands were out of range of US shore-based aircraft, it was impossible to organize aerial reconnaissance, so the US military knew nothing about the situation in the islands.

Until some time ago, the U.S. military conquered the Gilbert Islands in the southeast of the Marshall Islands, and used this to establish an air force reconnaissance base to organize reconnaissance of the Marshall Islands.

At present, the U.S. military is still conducting aerial reconnaissance step by step. The U.S. military can only launch an attack after fully grasping the situation in the Marshall Islands.

In a flash of time, it came to October 10rd.

In the past period of time, the Allied forces have organized 6 landing operations of various scales and launched a series of arduous battles with the Japanese army, accumulatively losing 2 aircraft carriers, 3 destroyers, 1 torpedo boat supply ship, transport 4 ships, 4 torpedo boats, about 500 planes, killed about 3000 people and injured more than 4000

The Japanese army lost 1 aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers, and more than a dozen large and small transport ships were sunk, about 820 aircraft were lost, and the total number of killed officers and soldiers was more than 1.2.

After a long war of attrition, the Allied forces not only opened up an offensive route from New Zealand to the Solomon Islands, but also conducted artillery preparations for several major islands in the Solomon Islands for 12 days.

Everything was ready and only owed the east wind. On this early morning, the Allied forces finally showed their fangs to the Solomon Islands, organized three powerful fleets, and began to carry out landing operations on the Solomon Islands.

Chapter 1554 Landing on Guadalcanal Island

On October 10, 1 people from the 1st Marine Infantry Division of the U.S. Marine Corps took the South Pacific Landing Fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Turner and set off from Fiji Island to Guadalcana for a landing battle.

The 1st Marine Infantry Division of the U.S. Marine Corps, an amphibious infantry division established on February 1941, 2, is the oldest and largest division-level force in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In addition, the first batch of landed on Guadalcanal to fight, there is also a battalion of the Huben Army Marine Corps.

After a series of battles, the Huben Marine Corps has experienced a serious reduction in personnel, but it is relatively difficult to replenish personnel. Therefore, it is already the limit to send a battalion to Guadalcanal this time.

But what I want to say is that although there is only one battalion in total, they are all elite veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles. Their combat effectiveness and fighting will are very strong, and they are still a military force that cannot be underestimated.

In view of his own situation, after consideration, the US division commander Vandergrift divided the more than 600 people into four and assigned them to the four infantry regiments under his command, which existed as a sharp knife force for each offensive force.

In the early morning of October 10, the landing fleet finally arrived at a slightly slower and relatively weakly defended area in the south of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

Although the Japanese army occupied Guadalcanal Island more than a year ago, and has greatly strengthened the defense of Guadalcanal Island in recent months, the current Japanese defensive force has exceeded 2.

But Guadalcanal is not a small island like Midway, but the largest and most important island in the Solomon Islands, with an area of ​​5302 square kilometers.

In fact, if these 2 people are evenly distributed on Guadalcanal Island, there will be less than 4 people per square kilometer. Such a population density can only be described as a drop in the ocean.

Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for the Japanese army to use force equally, and can only use limited force on the tip of the knife.

After extremely careful investigation and planning, the Japanese commander, Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi, was very aware of the core of the offensive and defensive battle of Guadalcanal Island, that is, whoever controls the airport will have the initiative.

As a result, the Japanese army established an extremely strong defensive circle centered on the airport.

Specifically, the Japanese army established a square defensive position around Cape Lunga where the airport is located: the sea to the north, Alligator Creek to the east, dense woods and several mountains to the south, and the Matanikau River to the west .

After careful analysis and careful study and discussion, the Allied forces finally decided to start the landing operation from the relatively weak southern area, and then launch the attack from south to north.

"Buzz!"

As soon as the Allied landing fleet arrived in the southern coastal waters of Guadalcanal, hundreds of Japanese combat planes flew from the direction of Guadalcanal, aggressively attacking the Allied fleet.

The Allied carrier-based aircraft fleet, which had been prepared for a long time, had already taken off one after another, launching a powerful interception operation against the Japanese aircraft fleet, and an extremely fierce air battle broke out immediately.

Taking advantage of the fighting effort of the fighter group, the Japanese bomber group directly pounced on the fleet and began to dive and drop bombs frantically.

At this time, the Japanese forts hidden on the coastline also began to show their power, and more than a dozen heavy artillery flashed dazzling fire from various positions on the shore.

Boom boom boom, a moment later, huge waves splashed into the sky, and black gunpowder smoke exploded from the ship, and the Allied fleet suffered a severe fire blow.

However, the arrow had to be launched. Naturally, the Allied landing fleet would not change the combat plan because of fierce resistance, but immediately organized firepower to fight back, and continued to approach the shore against the firepower of the Japanese army.

After more than three hours of fierce fighting, the Allied forces repelled the crazy attack of the Japanese Air Force, destroyed various forts and coastal fortifications on the Japanese coastal defense line, and established a solid beachhead.

Immediately afterwards, the Allied landing forces began to take advantage of the victory to pursue and expand the occupied area, and the follow-up troops went ashore one after another through transport ships, gradually expanding the beachhead, and advancing towards the deeper jungle ahead.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Allied forces gradually advanced to a depth of about five kilometers in Guadalcanal, occupying an area of ​​dozens of square kilometers.

At this time, Major General Vandergrift, the commander of the First Marine Division, immediately ordered the troops to stop the attack, set up camp on the spot to establish a defensive circle, and transport all kinds of supplies to the central safe zone for storage.

So far, the Allied forces have progressed fairly smoothly, except for the extremely tenacious resistance encountered during the landing, which has only encountered sporadic resistance along the way.

But Vandergrift knew very well that this was just a good start, and the real test was yet to come, because the core defensive position of the Japanese army was still in the alluvial plain of the Longa River [-] to [-] kilometers away.

The most important thing for the Allied forces now is not to rush for success, but to gain a firm foothold and first establish a solid and safe defensive circle.

After receiving the order, the various troops acted quickly, built positions on the spot, occupied nearby commanding heights, set up camps, and so on.

Although it is not the first time that the 1st Marine Infantry Division of the U.S. Army has performed combat missions, for most officers and soldiers, it is the first time that they have fought with real swords and guns.

Many of them were still in the domestic boot camp not long ago, and they were still enjoying the family happiness with their families happily, but now they have all become soldiers who have been charged into battle.

From the moment the landing battle started, they witnessed the comrades around them fall in a pool of blood one after another, and die one after another before their eyes.

However, they don't have time to experience the fear of death and the pain of life and death. All they can do now is to strictly follow the orders of their superiors.

"Battalion Commander, come and take a cigarette to relieve fatigue."

Taking advantage of the time when the troops started to set up camp, the company commander Xu Jinglei walked up to the battalion commander Lu Zefu and handed him an American cigarette with a smile.

Since the start of the landing battle, the Huben Marine Corps has not been idle, following the US troops to land on the beach at multiple points, until now it is considered to be initially idle.

"it is good!"

Lu Zefu was not polite, and after taking the cigarette, he asked in a deep voice, "How are the casualties in your company?"

"The situation on our side is okay. Two people were killed, three were seriously injured, and seven others were slightly injured."

Xu Jinglei nodded, then looked back at the American soldiers who were busy not far away, and sighed, "The war is really cruel. The casualties of American soldiers today are really miserable. Every fresh life Just like that, it keeps disappearing under the nose.

Especially seeing them struggling in agony before dying, the feeling of powerlessness and pain is really uncomfortable! "

Chapter 1555 Become a Lone Army

"Who says it's not? These American soldiers have a much better life than ours. They have always been in a peaceful society and have always enjoyed a happy life that we Chinese people cannot enjoy.

But on the battlefield, all life is equal, when faced with death, we are powerless! "

Lu Zefu sighed softly. The Huben Army has strong battlefield rescue capabilities. Usually, as long as the serious injuries are not fatal, they can be rescued.

However, this is Guadalcanal Island, not the battlefield of the Huben Army. The first aid medicine they carry can only hold their breath first, but if the surgical rescue cannot be carried out in time, often they can only watch young and fresh lives wailing. towards death.

At this time, the only thing they can do is to give one or two injections of morphine to the wounded in endless pain to relieve their pain, so that they will suffer less torture before they die.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lu, I invite you to drink whiskey!"

At this moment, Lieutenant Colonel Glover, commander of the 5st Battalion of the 1th Marine Regiment, came over with a bottle of wine, and invited Lu Zefu to drink with a smile on his face.

"Oops, three grams of oil!"

Lu Zefu nodded with a smile. The company he led happened to be attached to the 1st Battalion. The two were life and death comrades fighting side by side, and their relationship was pretty good.

After Glover handed the bottle to Lu Zefu, he thanked him sincerely: "Lieutenant Colonel Lu, all of you Chinese troops are good, and you are really good at fighting. Thanks to your help today.

Otherwise we don't know how many more good guys we have to sacrifice, and your first aid medicine is also very useful!Thank you so much! "

"Lieutenant Colonel Grover, you are too polite, we are life and death brothers in the same trench!"

After chatting for a while, Lu Zefu said in a serious tone, "Today we just fought a small victory, and we have initially gained a foothold on the island, but it is clear that the Japanese army is far from being injured, and they will never Let it go, the next battle is the most critical.

So please be sure to build up your positions before dark to prevent the Japanese army from raiding overnight. We should enter the real battle from tomorrow. "

"Okay! We know what to do!"

Grover nodded with a smile, chatted a few words before turning and leaving, busy with his own affairs.

Time passed quickly, and it was dark in a few hours.

Just as Vandergrift, Lu Zefu and others expected, tonight is destined not to be a Christmas Eve.

The Allied forces landed on Guadalcanal very smoothly, but the Japanese army would never give in easily. Even if the Allied forces broke through the defense zone was only an insignificant part, they began to gradually launch counterattacks after nightfall.

On the evening of October 10, the Allied landing force had not had time to celebrate the victory of the successful landing on Guadalcanal, and the disaster came quietly.

In the middle of the night that night, Mikawa Army led the Eighth Fleet to a complete victory in the Guadalcanal naval battle, sinking 4 Allied heavy cruisers and 1 destroyer in one fell swoop, and only two ships were slightly injured.

Due to the disastrous defeat of this naval battle, Allied transport ships and aircraft carriers hurriedly fled the waters of Guadalcanal.

The marines who watched the chaotic night battle on Guadalcanal the night before were horrified to find that the transport ships that gathered in the bay yesterday had disappeared, and there were no fighter jets in the sky to provide protection.

Obviously, the [-]st Marine Division and the Huben Marine Battalion were left on Guadalcanal and became a lone army.

"What, was our fleet defeated by the Japanese last night?"

"God, are we abandoned?"

"Damn! What should we do?"

When they learned that the fleet had retreated overnight and that they and others were abandoned on a deserted island, the officers and soldiers of the First Marine Division all panicked.

Especially those young men who were on the battlefield for the first time. They had already seen the madness of the Japanese army and the cold death of their compatriots yesterday, and they felt very flustered in their hearts.

But now, the superior officer told them that they have now become an isolated and helpless army. Perhaps for a long period of time, not only will they not be protected by the air force, but they will also not be able to receive effective supplies.

However, although there was confusion and panic to a certain extent, the First Marine Division was not a vulnerable rookie unit, and order was quickly restored under the command of officers at all levels.

Facing the predicament, Major General Vandergrift can only continue to consolidate the defensive circle, first focusing on defense to stabilize the position.

The 5th Marine Regiment was responsible for the western half of the perimeter, the 4th Marine Regiment was responsible for the north, the 1st Marine Regiment was responsible for the eastern half, and the 7th Marine Regiment was responsible for the south.

而作为陆战一师师属炮兵团的陆战十一团，装备75mm榴弹炮的第2、3营和装备105mm榴弹炮的第5营被布署在防区正中间，随时准备提供炮火支援。