freenovelworld Chapter 599 Heading to Guadalcanal
Chapter 599 Heading to Guadalcanal
Map of the Coral Sea and Ye Qingshan's fleet's sailing route 599 to Guadalcanal
On the morning of the 17th, in the northeastern part of the Coral Sea, a few dozen kilometers away from Port Moresby.
Ye Qingshan's fleet, under the command of Captain Wang Chuying, has arrived here.
"Captain, there's nothing here!
The Americans asked us to come here, clearly not giving us a chance to make merit.”
In the command room, a fleet officer complained to Wang Chuying.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense.
You really want us to encounter the main fleet of the Japanese.
You don’t know how much you weigh.”
Wang Chuying scolded the officer next to him.
“Don’t forget, our main mission in this war is to train our troops.
We are not really going to fight to the death with the main fleet of the Japanese."
"What's the point?"
The officer next to him was still unhappy and muttered to himself.
Wang Chuying didn't say anything. In fact, he also hoped in his heart that his fleet could encounter the Japanese fleet.
It would be best if it wasn’t the Japs’ main fleet.
But unfortunately, they have been waiting since yesterday afternoon when they arrived at this sea area until this morning.
They didn't find any trace of any ships, let alone the Japanese fleet.
"Any updates from the command center?"
After half a day, Wang Chuying became impatient and asked.
Because their fleet participated in the war.
Therefore, General Frank, who was in charge of commanding this battle, also ordered the latest battle intelligence to be shared with Wang Chuying and others in real time.
This is the treatment that all fleets participating in the war must enjoy.
“According to the information reported by the command center a few hours ago.
Currently, the two Japanese aircraft carrier fleets are engaging in a carrier-based battle with the US aircraft carrier fleet in the central Coral Sea.
It’s hundreds of kilometers away from us, quite far away.”
An officer nearby answered.
Then Wang Chuying looked at the map of the islands around the Coral Sea and gave an order after a moment: "Send an order, let the fleet turn east.
Let’s go to Guadalcanal.”
Seeing Wang Chuying suddenly change the battle plan, the white first mate next to him also hurriedly stopped him and said, "Captain.
Our mission is to patrol this sea area.
How can you change the combat mission without authorization?"
"Daniel, you can see that there are no devils here.
We will continue to stay here and patrol. I estimate that after this battle is over, we won’t encounter any Japanese warships.
Then we have come here for nothing."
"But……"
"Okay, Daniel, I've made up my mind, so don't say anything more."
Seeing Wang Chuying's unquestionable look, the white first mate spread his hands and stopped dissuading him.
Anyway, he was just hired by Ye Qingshan to assist Wang Chuying.
But matters like this are mainly decided by the fleet commander Wang Chuying.
Even after the war, Wang Chuying was held accountable by the Allied Command for disobeying orders.
It has nothing to do with him.
Wang Chuying certainly knew that he was disobeying military orders by changing the fleet's whereabouts without authorization.
However, compared to disobeying the American military orders, Wang Chuying did not want to waste this actual combat opportunity that Ye Qingshan had worked so hard to secure for them.
If, he really brought his fleet and strolled through this sea area until the naval battle was over.
Even Wang Chuying herself couldn't accept it.
So, after careful consideration, he decided to make his own decision on combat operations.
Soon, Wang Chuying summoned several fleet officers to the command room and pointed to the map and said to everyone:
"Everyone, the headquarters' intelligence said that the Japanese attempted to send a landing fleet to attack Port Moresby a few days ago.
However, because of the sudden attack of the US aircraft carrier fleet.
Forced the Japanese to abandon the landing plan.
This is also the reason why the command asked us to patrol the northeastern waters of the Coral Sea to prevent the Japanese landing fleet from continuing its operations.
But judging from our current situation in this sea area.
The Japs obviously have no command center, so they think so boldly.
There is not a single Japanese warship here, which can only mean that the Japanese landing fleet has retreated.
However, it is impossible for such a large landing fleet to withdraw directly to the Japanese base in the Bismarck Islands in the north.
After all, the result of this naval battle has not yet come out.
What if the final result is that their aircraft carrier fleet wins and defeats the US aircraft carrier fleet?
If this is the case, the Japanese landing operation plan must continue.
In this case, this is the best way for me to predict the Japanese landing fleet.
Just find one of their bases nearby and stop temporarily.
Waiting for news from their fleet.
The nearest port base of the Japanese was Guadalcanal, which they had just captured not long ago.
I think the most likely location for the Japanese landing fleet is here.
This is also the reason why I ordered the fleet to go east.
What do you think? "
"I agree with the Captain."
"I agree."
Wang Chuying's speculation was recognized by many fleet officers.
"In that case, I will send a telegram to the commander in the name of all the officers and soldiers of the fleet.
Tell the Commander of our new action plan."
Not long after, Ye Qingshan received Wang Chuying's report.
Wang Chuying could modify the combat plan without authorization without telling the Allied Command, but he had to tell Ye Qingshan.
"This Wang Chuying is really a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers."
"Forget it. Since we have given them the power, let them decide for themselves."
Not long after, Wang Chuying received a reply from Ye Qingshan.
"Yes."
Wang Chuying was very happy looking at the telegram in her hand.
Just because Ye Qingshan only said one sentence in the telegram: I believe in you, just go for it boldly.
It was considered as an agreement with Wang Chuying's combat operations.
"The commander agreed."
"Ow!"
The crowd cheered.
"Send an order, have the fleet advance at full speed, and reach Guadalcanal before dawn tomorrow."
"Yes!"
*
*
It was when Wang Chuying commanded the fleet to go around the main fleet of the Japanese and attack their new base on Guadalcanal.
In the middle of the Coral Sea, a carrier-based battle was fought between the US aircraft carrier fleet and the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet.
It has also entered a white-hot stage.
Because both sides had aircraft carrier fleets, they all sent out carrier-based aircraft to fight.
To the extent that the fleets of both sides were so far away from each other that they could not see each other at all.
It is a beyond-visual-range combat mode, which is different from traditional naval warfare.
This is actually very novel for both parties.
This time, the scale of the aircraft carrier fleet dispatched by the Japanese is larger than that of the US aircraft carrier fleet.
In terms of main aircraft carriers, the Japanese dispatched four, while the US military only had two.
The Japanese also had an advantage over other battleships, cruisers, destroyers and other warships.
Fortunately, in this battle, both sides mainly used carrier-based aircraft, which made the advantage of the Japanese's extra warships less obvious.
For various reasons, the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Coral Sea in this time and space was even larger.
The U.S. military is much weaker.
It’s because in this time and space, the US Pacific Fleet was weakened so badly that it has not yet fully recovered.