After successfully completing the task of destroying the German heavy water chemical plant, Xu Rui was summoned by MacArthur. The Americans will soon launch an attack on Bougainville Island. Bougainville Island is an island near the Solomon Islands and has a very important strategy. Meaning, Bougainville Island was occupied by the Japanese in 1942. Subsequently, the Japanese set up air bases on Buka Island in the north and Papua New Guinea in the south, and the Japanese Navy established a naval base in the Shortland Islands in the south. These The base is used to defend Rabaul and support its military operations in other islands in the Solomon Islands.
MacArthur hoped that Xu Rui's third regiment, as well as the New Sixth Army and the Seventy-fourth Army could all participate in this battle. In other words, MacArthur finally decided to launch the Pacific battlefield with Chinese infantry as the main force and American infantry as the supplement. Island landing operation.
Obviously, after several consecutive battles, MacArthur was fully aware of the combat effectiveness of Chinese infantry. At this stage, it is still stronger than the American infantry. The Chinese army has stricter discipline, richer combat experience, and a spirit and courage that is not afraid of death. These are what American soldiers lack and need more. Yes, he knows that using a large number of Chinese soldiers can reduce the deaths and injuries of American soldiers.
The reason why MacArthur wanted to visit Bougainville was mainly to establish air power on Bougainville to isolate Rabaul. Therefore, MacArthur hoped to land at Cape Gloucester on Bougainville Island and establish a beachhead, and at the same time build several airstrips on the beachhead.
In early May 1944, the US military began air strikes on Rabaul and Bougainville Island. After some preparations, the Americans prepared to launch the final attack on Bougainville Island.
In this battle on Bougainville, MacArthur used the Chinese Expeditionary Force as the main force because he heard that the Japanese soldiers stationed on Bougainville were the Sixth Division, whether it was the New Sixth Army, the Seventy-fourth Army, or the Third Regiment. , all gearing up, thinking that they must annihilate the Japanese Sixth Division on Bougainville Island and avenge the hundreds of thousands of compatriots who died in Nanjing, and the landing site was chosen at Ogu on the west coast of Bougainville Island. Star Queen Bay.
Before the battle began, hundreds of U.S. warships gathered in Bougainville. Large-caliber naval guns began to bombard Bougainville. Countless shells exploded on Bougainville Island, sending out clouds of flames and thick smoke. The entire Bougainville The island was almost completely bombed by American naval guns. Next, bombers loaded with aerial bombs began to conduct air strikes on Bougainville Island. High-explosive bombs and white-scale bombs fell on Bougainville Island.
Actual combat has proven that white-scale bullets are extremely lethal to infantry. This white-scale bullet catches the wind and is extremely sticky. As long as it sticks to it, all vegetation and animals will be burned to ashes. At this time, the Yankees will This kind of bomb was used on Bougainville Island, which immediately caused the island to burst into flames.
At the same time, the Japs in Rabaul panicked after learning that Bougainville Island was attacked by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. If Bougainville Island was captured by the Japanese Japs, the entire Rabaul area would be in great danger. Therefore, the little devil risked his life this time and sent two heavy cruisers and two light cruisers each, and six destroyers, a total of ten warships, to the waters near Torokina, preparing to attack the American fleet.
The night was dark, and the explosions of artillery shells on Bougainville Island were heard one after another. Ten Japanese warships sneaked into the offshore waters of Bougainville, preparing to attack American warships. However, the Americans had already adapted to the Japanese night attack tactics, and the 9th Task Force Dozens of warships had already been prepared. As soon as the Japanese night attack began, the two sides turned into a head-on fleet encounter.
"boom!"
"boom!"
Since it was night, the aviation forces of both sides could not join the battle, so the naval battle turned into a traditional naval battle. The cannons on the warships of both sides came and went, and the battle was very exciting. After several hours of fierce fighting, the Japanese devils One cruiser was sunk, one destroyer was sunk, and the Americans only lost one destroyer. Subsequently, the US warships relied on their large number and large tonnage to expel the Japanese warships from the Bougainville waters. From then on , the Japanese warships completely lost sea control near Bougainville Island.
With the rumbling of artillery fire from both sides, the sky gradually grew brighter. Then, Japanese fighter planes taking off from Rabaul carried out several attacks on Rabaul during the day.
At this time, Xu Rui was sitting on a landing ship, looking up at the sky. In the distance, dozens of Japanese Zero fighters were flying in. The American aircraft on the aircraft carrier immediately took off to intercept them.
Xu Rui yawned and asked Zhuo Ligetu: "Which batch of Japanese fighter planes is this?"
Zhuoligetu counted with his fingers for a long time before saying, "It seems like this is the sixth batch."
"What do we lose?" Xu Rui asked.
"Not even a hair was lost. The Yankees' planes are good and there are many of them. The Japanese Zeros couldn't reach them at all. They were all intercepted by the Yankees' planes on the way. This morning, the Yankees shot down at least fifty of them. I didn’t even lose ten of the Japs’ fighter planes,” Ergazi said.
Xu Rui said: "After these several wars, the Yankees' pilot experience has increased. Coupled with the fact that they are generally equipped with P51 fighter jets, they have an absolute advantage over the Zero. Now the gap between the Japanese Air Force and the Yankees is getting bigger and bigger." Big.”
"Captain, when can we land? I can't wait." Ergazi said eagerly.
Xu Rui said: "Be careful, the Yankees have so many artillery shells and bombs, no matter what you say, you have to let them explode before they are almost blown up."
"I'm just afraid that the Yankees will have too many bombs and blow up all the Sixth Division, and we won't have to fight anymore." Ergazi said.
"Hey, don't worry. There are 40,000 to 50,000 Japanese on the island, and they have built solid surface and underground fortifications. The Yankees' bombs cannot destroy them. We will wait for another two days for the Yankees to bomb them before we land." Xu Rui I yawned and went back to the cabin to sleep...
On Bougainville Island, in the underground fortifications, Lieutenant General Hyakutake Haruyoshi, commander of the Japanese Seventeenth Army, was discussing military affairs with several Japanese generals guarding the island.
Hyakutake Haruyoshi is in his fifties this year. In 1935, he was only a captain of the Major Regiment. In 1939, he was promoted to lieutenant general. In 1942, he took up the post of the 17th Commander in Rabaul. Commander of the Army Group.
Although he had tens of thousands of troops under his command, Hyakutake Haruyoshi's life was not easy. Due to insufficient supplies and the air superiority of the US military, his troops were exhausted in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Therefore, he could only lead the remaining troops to be trapped on the isolated island. Bougainville is the largest island in the entire Solomon Islands. If this island is lost, Rabaul will not have to defend it. Therefore, Hyakutake Haruyoshi placed all his forces on Bougainville Island.
At this time, Hyakutake Harukichi and the division commander of the Sixth Division, Qiu Nagari, were constantly exchanging opinions on how to deal with the Allied forces that were about to land on the island.
Because the Sixth Division was one of the seventeen standing Class A divisions of the Japanese, it was well-equipped and had a brutal and fierce fighting style. Therefore, Qiu Yongli did not pay attention to the Allied forces who were preparing to land on the island.
In Qiu Yongli's eyes, the Sixth Division is invincible. Although they suffered a huge blow from the Chinese army on the Chinese battlefield, after this period of recuperation and reconstruction, the Sixth Division has recovered. Vitality, but the Chinese battlefield can no longer stay. Those Chinese soldiers saw the Sixth Division as if they were on fire and would not stop fighting.
The Sixth Division could no longer survive on the Chinese battlefield, so it was placed on the Pacific battlefield by the Japanese base camp. However, Qiu Yongli did not expect that this time, their opponents would be Chinese again.
In order to deal with the Allied troops who were about to land on the island, the Japanese dug a large number of underground fortifications to prevent artillery fire and aircraft bombing. It must be said that this trick of the Japanese devils was effective. Although the American aircraft and artillery were busy, However, only some surface fortifications were blown up, and the main force of the Japanese army withdrew to the underground fortifications, so they did not suffer much damage.
In a conference room within the fortification, Qiu Yongli said: "Your Majesty Commander, judging from the current situation, the Allied forces are about to land on the island. Fortunately, we have enough food and ammunition on the island to last for several years. With these With supplies, we can definitely fight a long and protracted war with the Allies until the final major counterattack."
Baiwu Qingyoshi said: "You are right, but I have a better plan."
"What's the plan?" Qiu Yongli asked.
Hyakutake Harukichi said: "China's military art says that the best defense is offense. If we can annihilate the main Allied force on the beach, then we will achieve a decisive victory."
"Your Excellency, Commander, this is impossible. The Americans have the advantage in the sea and air. If we attack rashly, we will be bombarded by American aircraft and artillery. By then, our army will suffer heavy losses." Qiu Yongli shook his head. explain.
Hyakutake Harukichi said: "If you knew that the infantrymen mainly responsible for the landing operations this time would be the infantry of the Chinese army, I think you would not be so pessimistic."
"Nani? The landing Allied forces were mainly Chinese troops?" Qiu Yongli was shocked.
"Yes, and the New Sixth Army and the Seventy-Fourth Army of the Nationalist Government are still the main ones. The combat effectiveness of the China Army has always been very weak. Even their ace New Sixth Army and the Seventy-Fourth Army are no more than that. As long as we work hard, we will definitely win. We can achieve final victory." Qiu Yongli said with full confidence.
"Yo Xi, I just like your confidence. Yes, a pheasant is still a pheasant. Even if you put on beautiful feathers, it can't become a phoenix. Chinese people are very timid at heart. As long as we work harder, We will definitely be able to destroy them all and achieve final victory," said Hyakutake Haruyoshi.
"Your Majesty Commander, when do you plan to take action?" Qiu Yongli asked.
"Once the Chinese troops land, we will take action when it gets dark. By then, the American naval guns and aircraft will not be able to play a big role, and we can kill all the Chinese troops on the beach in one fell swoop..."