The involvement of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in the Pacific War caused an uproar in the Japanese base camp.
Lieutenant General Qin Yanzaburo, deputy chief of the army, said: "The problem now is that we cannot lose Guadalcanal, otherwise, the empire will be in an extremely passive situation strategically."
Deputy Chief of the Navy Ito Seiichi said: "It is difficult to capture Guadalcanal now. In the Battle of Guadalcanal, the combined fleet suffered huge losses and could not recover in a short time. Now Guadalcanal has lost its aircraft carrier battle." Therefore, the situation on Guadalcanal is very passive. We can only secretly transport troops to Guadalcanal by using transport ships at night, and logistical supplies are a huge problem."
Lieutenant General Qin Yanzaburo said: "Although the situation is very difficult, we cannot give up. Giving up Guadalcanal means giving up the South Pacific and giving up the strategic initiative. American planes take off from Guadalcanal Airport. It will cover the entire south-central Pacific route and pose a huge threat to the empire."
"Now it seems that our previous estimate of only 2,000 US troops on Guadalcanal was obviously wrong. Xu Rui's regiment alone on Guadalcanal alone has 3,000 troops. Adding in the rest of the US troops, the total number of US troops on Guadalcanal is probably There are no less than 8,000 men. With the strength of our Kawaguchi detachment on Guadalcanal, it is difficult to win against Xu Rui." Qin Yansanlang continued.
"Okay then, then continue to increase troops to Guadalcanal until Guadalcanal is completely taken back." Harem Chun said loudly.
Admiral Kaitian also understood the importance of Guadalcanal and immediately stated: "The navy will fully support the landing on Guadalcanal. This battle is related to the future success or failure of the empire. We can only win, not lose..."
Just when the Japanese base camp decided not to abandon Guadalcanal and continued to increase troops to Guadalcanal, Kawaguchi Kiyoshi's troops were in desperate situation on Guadalcanal.
First, the Second and Third Battalions mounted more than a dozen 150mm howitzers on the Lunga Ridge and continuously bombarded the Kawaguchi Detachment at the foot of the mountain, causing great losses to the Kawaguchi Detachment. Then Langya sneaked into the Kawaguchi Detachment's ammunition reserves and overnight During this period, most of the ammunition reserves of the Kawaguchi detachment were blown up.
What made Kawaguchi most desperate was that the tanks of the First Battalion raided the camp where Kawaguchi was located. Kawaguchi was injured by a tank shell. If several guards had not tried their best to cover his escape, Kawaguchi would have been a prisoner of the First Battalion.
In the end, under the joint attack of the three regiments, the Kawaguchi detachment was defeated across the board. Kawaguchi and the remnants of more than a thousand people fought to the death, and finally waited for the transport ship to arrive, and fled Guadalcanal in embarrassment.
News of Kawaguchi's defeat once again reached the Japanese base camp in Tokyo. The Japanese base camp decided to continue to increase troops to Guadalcanal until all Guadalcanal was recaptured.
However, Xu Rui and his third regiment did not live long in peace. A larger Japanese army was already sailing at sea, preparing to launch a new attack on Guadalcanal.
On October 1, 1942, with dark clouds and a howling north wind, a huge typhoon swept almost the entire South Pacific. In the waters outside Guadalcanal, the waves were huge and the wind was roaring. The large and small ships of the US military were constantly rising and falling in the wind and waves. In this case, the US military's radar has basically lost its function, and everyone's energy is spent on dealing with typhoons.
In the violent storm, a huge Japanese fleet was approaching Guadalcanal. Not only were the Japanese not afraid of the typhoon, but they used the typhoon to successfully avoid the radar of the American warships and arrived at the shore of Guadalcanal. Subsequently, including the Japanese More than 20,000 Japanese soldiers, including the Army's most elite Second Division, successfully landed on the island and continued to attack in depth.
At this time, no one on the garrison on Guadalcanal thought that the Japanese would suddenly land on the island to launch an attack in such a harsh environment. Most of the garrison took shelter in the barracks, so the Second Division took advantage of this opportunity and successfully occupied Lunga Ridge and advancing towards Henderson Field.
It was not until the Japanese Second Division approached Henderson Airport that the officers and soldiers of the Third Regiment stationed near Henderson Airport finally discovered traces of the Japanese.
"Captain, this is bad!"
Zhuo Ligetu rushed into Xu Rui's room. Xu Rui sat up and asked, "Atu, what happened?"
"Captain, the Japs took advantage of the typhoon to land on Guadalcanal! Vandegrift just sent news that Lunga Ridge has been lost, and the main force of tens of thousands of Japs is rushing towards Henderson Airport."
At this time, Xu Rui's troops were responsible for defending Henderson Airport. After listening to Zhuoligetu's words, Xu Rui immediately said: "Gather the troops immediately and prepare to meet the enemy."
Zhuo Ligetu said: "Captain, there are tens of thousands of Japs coming to attack the airport. How can we fight with just three thousand of us? How about we withdraw?"
Xu Rui said: "If the Japs take over Henderson Airport, what will happen to the hundreds of planes at the airport? It's not easy to take back the airport."
"But Captain, our strength is too weak." Zhuoligetu said.
"Since the Japanese dare to attack Henderson Airport, then we will make Henderson Airport a grave for the Japanese!"
"Artoo, contact Vandegrift immediately and ask the warships parked on the sea to shell the Japanese Japs rushing to the airport with all their strength. At the same time, let the artillery battery attack the Japanese Japs rushing to the airport. You must not let a Japanese Japs rush in. Airport!"
"yes!"
Xu Rui's request was quickly passed on to Vandergrift, who immediately contacted the Navy. Dozens of naval warships and hundreds of large-caliber cannons on the sea were constantly adjusting their shooting angles, preparing to attack the approaching ship. Japs attacking Henderson Field.
The Second Division of the Japanese Army was one of the six earliest divisions established by the Japanese Army. Because the recruiting ground was in Sendai, it was also called the Sendai Division. It was the absolute main force of the Japanese Army.
The Second Division consists of the 4th Sendai Regiment, the 16th Shinbada Regiment, and the 29th Aizu Wakamatsu Regiment. However, the current Second Division is not the same as before. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the 2nd Division The Second Division was reorganized, and most of the original main forces were retained and reorganized into other units or left-behind troops. It was the simplified Second Division that was actually sent to Nanyang. Both the personnel and weapons and equipment were not the same. Basically, Above is a division frame and a large number of recruits.
In order to seize the airport on Guadalcanal, as the advance team, the Second Division dispatched the Nasu Detachment, which was composed of the 4th Infantry Regiment. The detachment leader was Major General Yumi Nasu. Later, the 16th Regiment was added. The team, the 29th Regiment, and the main force of the Second Division successfully landed on Guadalcanal. On the night of the 24th, taking advantage of the wind and rain, under the command of Lieutenant General Masao Maruyama, they occupied Lunga Ridge and attacked Henderson Airport.
The 2nd Division's attack went extremely smoothly, with an unobstructed path from Lunga Ridge to Henderson Field.
Masao Maruyama was overjoyed. In his opinion, the Americans did not expect that their troops would suddenly land on Guadalcanal, nor did they expect that they would attack Henderson Airport. This was simply a God-given opportunity. The weather at this time made it impossible for planes at the airport to fly. If you take off, as long as you occupy Henderson Airport, you can get hundreds of US military fighters and bombers at the airport. At that time, you can rely on Guadalcanal Airport to attack US warships and key points, completely Reversing the unfavorable situation in Guadalcanal.
If he really captures Marushima, then he should be able to advance to the rank of lieutenant general by one more level. Thinking of this, Lieutenant General Masao Maruyama showed a proud smile on his face.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, there are still two kilometers to Henderson Airport!" An officer reported.
"Yo Xi, order Major General Yumi Nasu to advance at full speed and capture Henderson Airport in the shortest possible time!" Masao Maruyama said loudly.
"Hai!"
Masao Maruyama stared ahead, his heart full of excitement. There were still two kilometers. As long as these two kilometers were passed, Henderson Airport would belong to the Japanese Empire!
At this moment, a piercing scream pierced the sky and struck forward. Masao Maruyama, who had rich combat experience, was shocked. He knew that this was clearly the sound of a 150mm howitzer shell piercing the air.
"boom!"
There was a loud noise, and the artillery shell exploded in front. Maruyama Masao immediately judged that from the explosion power of the artillery shell, it should be bombarded by ground artillery fire.
"Boom! Boom!"
The 150mm caliber howitzer shells continued to fall. It was obvious that the ground artillery fire from the US-China Allied Forces had discovered the whereabouts of the Second Division.
"Launch a general attack immediately!"
Masao Maruyama decided to go all out and capture Henderson Airport even if he had to pay a certain price.
But then, Masao Maruyama suddenly saw meteors all over the sky crossing the sea and heading towards his troops.
"That's... a large-caliber naval gun!" Sweat dripped from Masao Maruyama's forehead, mixed with the rain, and rolled to the ground.
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, we are under double attack from American naval guns and ground artillery. What should we do?" an officer asked.
Masao Maruyama gritted his teeth and realized that Henderson Airport was just around the corner. How could he give up all his previous efforts
Thinking of this, Masao Maruyama said: "Order, Major General Yumi Nasu will attack with all his strength, and we must capture Henderson Airport before dawn!"
"Hai!"
With the roar of artillery and the sound of killing, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers launched a flood-like attack on Henderson Airport under the command of Major General Yumi Nasu.
"boom!"
"Boom!"
The U.S. warships fired thousands of guns, coupled with the continuous attack of ground artillery fire, the entire perimeter of Henderson Airport was completely blocked by artillery fire. All living things within 500 meters of the airport, not to mention humans, even a fly, would Every mosquito turned to ashes.
The outside of the airport was already a sea of fire and explosions, and the scene was like purgatory.
On the Chinese battlefield, the Japanese took advantage of artillery fire to make the Chinese army abandon their armor. At the Battle of Yikou, the Japanese used ninety-nine cannons and beat hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops to death, and they fled. , in the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, 80,000 elite Central Army troops died tragically under the cannons of the Japanese. Now, the situation has turned, and the Japanese have tasted the taste of American cannons...