Half a month later, Port Moresby was captured by the Japanese, and the entire Australia was within the scope of the Japanese attack. At the same time, the Japanese combined fleet protected the transport ships carrying soldiers and marched towards Hawaii.
When the news reached Hawaii, the air in Hawaii suddenly became tense. Xu Rui couldn't help but smile bitterly. In the original history, the Americans won the Battle of Midway and then turned to counterattack. But in this time and space, because of his little butterfly, There were some deviations. The Japanese actually won the Battle of Midway and launched a full-scale attack on the United States.
According to intelligence, the Japanese sent the main force of the combined fleet this time. There are more than 300 warships with large aircraft carriers and battleships as the core, with a total strength of 100,000. They will reach the Hawaiian Islands in half a month. In other words, the time left for the Americans and the Chinese Expeditionary Force is only half a month.
The Americans only have one army on the Hawaiian Islands, with about 30,000 troops. Plus the more than 30,000 troops of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the total is only 60,000. They are at a disadvantage in terms of strength, and the Japanese have large-caliber naval guns. Cover, the Chinese and American defenders are also at a disadvantage in terms of firepower. The Americans' only advantage may be their own aviation. The Americans have more than 600 fighter jets stationed on Hawaii Island, which gives them a numerical advantage over the Japanese fighter jets.
At this time, the Americans began to strengthen the fortifications on the islands and were prepared to hold on for a long time. Due to the overwhelming power of the Japanese, the commander of the US military in Hawaii, four-star General MacArthur, even prepared to flee again and return to the United States. MacArthur even secretly reserved a transport ship for this purpose, ready to run away at any time.
Both Liao Yaoxiang and Xu Rui received orders from MacArthur to immediately build coastal fortifications. Xu Rui's defensive area was San Marino Island.
After receiving MacArthur's order, Xu Rui began to prepare to defend the island. He transported 10 150mm-caliber howitzers supported by the Americans to the hill in the center of San Marino Island. Here, he could be condescending and give full play to the power of the cannon. effect.
Later, Leng Tiefeng and senior officers from the three regiments including Digua, Du Junjie, He Shuya, Huang Shouxin and Gao Chu came to the beach to inspect. He Shuya said: "If the Japanese want to land, they must pass through this beach, so we must Build strong fortifications on the beach.”
Leng Tiefeng also said: "The fortifications must adopt reinforced concrete structures."
Everyone agreed.
Xu Rui frowned and said, "Chop down all the trees on the beach! Remove all obstacles."
"Old Xu, if all the obstacles are removed, our fortifications will be exposed to the Japanese's large-caliber naval guns and will be easily blown up." Leng Tiefeng said.
Xu Rui chuckled and said, "Who said I was going to build fortifications on the beach?"
Leng Tiefeng said: "If we don't build fortifications on the beach, San Marino Island is only so big. How can we stop the Japanese?"
Xu Rui said: "I never thought about building fortifications on the beach."
"What?" Everyone was stunned. They didn't expect that Xu Rui would have such a crazy idea. Now the defenders on each island are building fortifications like crazy because the fortifications can stop the Japanese attack. If Without fortifications, it would be impossible to resist the Japanese landing on the beach.
Xu Rui said: "Most of the Japanese naval guns have a caliber of about 200 millimeters, and there are even 240 millimeter giant guns. Under the bombardment of such caliber cannons, even building fortifications on the beach is just a waste. A target for the Japanese naval guns."
After listening to Xu Rui's words, everyone was silent. Yes, even if this kind of temporary fortification is made of reinforced concrete, it may not have much effect in front of the Japanese naval guns. The Japanese will definitely attack it first. After destroying the beach fortifications, they landed on the beach.
"Is there no other way?" Huang Shouxin said.
Xu Rui said: "Order the entire regiment of soldiers to remove all obstacles within 100 meters of this beach within seven days. All the land within 100 meters of the beach must be plowed. Remember, the plowing thickness must not be less than half a meter." , if manpower is not enough, you can use the tank as a bulldozer and add a shovel for excavation."
Everyone looked at Xu Rui blankly, not understanding Xu Rui's intention.
Digua said: "Captain, what do you mean by doing this? What's the point of digging the ground?"
"The leader is not going to plant crops on the beach, right?" Ergazi said.
"What are you thinking about? What crops are you planting at this time?" Digua looked at Ergazi with a look of disdain.
Xu Rui said: "Do as I say, and you will understand in the future."
Everyone was puzzled when they saw Xu Rui being put in trouble, but because of Xu Rui's prestige, no one asked again. They all expressed their unconditional obedience to Xu Rui's orders and would start clearing obstacles and digging soil on the beach tomorrow.
In the following days, the Third Regiment stationed on San Marino Island began work. Xu Rui attached great importance to the excavation of the beach and went to the site in person to measure the depth of the excavation with a ruler. He Shuya directly installed the tank given by the Americans on the tractor's shovel. , this mechanized operation greatly improves work efficiency.
At this time, Wiggins came to San Marino Island and saw Xu Rui's troops digging soil. Wiggins kept shaking his head and sighing. In his opinion, Xu Rui's behavior was undoubtedly an extremely stupid act. At this time, Instead of letting people build fortifications properly, he asked soldiers to dig beaches. This is just fucking sick.
Wiggins came to Xu Rui and said: "Xu, in the face of a powerful enemy, your troops did not build fortifications, but instead went to the beach to dig soil. Can you give me a reasonable explanation?"
Xu Rui said: "Since the defense of this island is left to me, I have my own plans. This involves military secrets, and I can't say anything yet."
"Xu, you have to take responsibility for your actions. If you lose this island, you will go to court-martial!" Wiggins said angrily.
"Hey, Wiggins, if nothing happens, you can leave." Xu Rui ignored Wiggins at all.
"I'm going to report your behavior to General MacArthur, Xu, please take care of yourself!" Wiggins left San Marino Island bitterly and returned to Honolulu. He reported Xu Rui's behavior on San Marino Island to MacArthur in detail. report.
MacArthur was moved after hearing this. After thinking for a while, he said: "Xu Rui must have his own ideas. Let's just wait and see. If he really loses San Marino Island, he will naturally have to engage in military law."
"Okay." Wiggins had no choice but to endure this breath, just waiting to see Xu Rui's excitement...
In the vast Pacific Ocean, a fleet of hundreds of warships passed by Midway Island and approached Hawaii. This fleet was the world-famous Japanese Combined Fleet.
Because Japan is an island country, it has established a powerful navy, which has now developed into the most powerful maritime force in the world.
Most of the Japanese military's annual military expenditures go to the navy. The army is completely suppressed by the navy and plays a subordinate role in Japan's strategy. The predecessor of the Japanese Combined Fleet was established six days after the start of the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War. It went through the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, and achieved brilliant results. Since the Combined Fleet has an extremely important position in Japan, the Combined Fleet The Division is directly subordinate to the Emperor and is under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Military Command Department in terms of military orders.
The Pacific War began with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by four aircraft carriers of the Combined Fleet. In November 1941, the Japanese navy was unified into the Combined Fleet. The commander was Marshal Yamamoto Isoroku (just promoted), and the flagship was the battleship Yamato. , the first fleet under its jurisdiction is the battleship force, the second fleet is the heavy cruiser force, the third fleet is the blockade transport force, the fourth fleet is the occupation zone force, the fifth fleet is the northern force, the sixth fleet is the submarine force, the first The Air Fleet is the aircraft carrier force, the Eleventh Air Fleet is the shore-based air force, and the Southern Expedition Fleet has reached its peak size since its establishment.
At this time, the Combined Fleet, taking advantage of the victory at Midway, was advancing towards Hawaii. There were more than a dozen aircraft carriers among them. Together with the Yamato and other battleships, the Combined Fleet controlled most of the Pacific Ocean for a time.
On the battleship Yamato, Combined Fleet Commander Marshal Yamamoto Isoroku and senior officers of the Combined Fleet, including Commander of the First Air Fleet, Admiral Nagumo Chuichi, Commander of the First Fleet, Lieutenant General Takasu Shiro, Commander-in-Chief of the Second Fleet, Vice Adm. Nobutake Kondo, Commander of the Third Fleet, Vice Adm. Takahashi Imo, Commander of the Fourth Fleet, Vice Adm. Narumi Inoue, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, Vice Adm. Gokoro Hosuan, Commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Adm. Mitsumi Shimizu, Minami. Lieutenant General Ozawa Jisaburo, commander of the fleet, and other major officers of the fleet are discussing the next combat strategy in the war room.
At this time, Marshal Yamamoto Isoroku and Admiral Nagumo Chuichi were quite satisfied. After successive victories in the battles of Pearl Harbor and Midway, the morale of the combined fleet was extremely high, while Yamamoto Isoroku and Nagumo Chuichi He also became a national hero in Japan.
The morale of the Combined Fleet is very high, and the war room is full of optimism. These arrogant Japanese no longer even take the Americans in their eyes.
Commander Takasu Shiro of the First Fleet said: "The Americans in the Hawaiian Islands are already frightened. We only need to use a little force to annihilate them all, just like what we did in Southeast Asia. There is a saying in China As the old saying goes, you can kill with a sledgehammer. Marshal Yamamoto, my First Fleet has eight battleships, four heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, two aircraft carriers, and dozens of destroyers. It is fully capable of occupying Hawaii. Please allow Marshal Our troops will take the lead in attacking Hawaii, defeat the Americans, and occupy the entire Hawaii!"
Because in the air attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, Nagumo Chuichi's air fleet was the main force. The successive victories promoted Nagumo Chuichi from lieutenant general to general. This made Takasu Shiro jealous, thinking in his heart I have made great achievements in this Hawaii battle, so I can’t wait to get the mission from Yamamoto Isoroku...