I Became a Captain of the British Empire - I Became a Captain of the British Empire chapter 116

Pacific Ocean, time for decisive battle

Caroline Islands, Truck Atoll.

Combined Fleet gunship high-speed battleship ‘Kee’.

It is a sunny day unlike any other. As if to symbolize the gentleness of the southern hemisphere, the sky is barely visible even with clouds. The sun is shining brightly in the February calendar.

With the bright sunlight shining like jewels sprinkled on the surface of the water, Steel was quietly asleep, bathed in the lapping blue waves.

Key class fast battleship.

A castle on the sea equipped with ten 16-inch .50 caliber guns. With a top speed of 28 knots and improved armor than the squadron flagship “Nagato”, it is the best battleship in the Imperial Navy in name and reality.

One of the world’s top three new battleships designed and built as a counter-horse to the US Navy’s South Dakota-class and the Royal Navy’s Invincible-class.

On the towering bridge boasting of its majesty, Commander-in-Chief ‘Yamamoto Eisuke’ watched several capital ships quietly entering the bay entrance.

“It is a beautiful outline. It is very beautiful.”

“The battlecruisers of the Royal Navy are famous for their beautiful lines.”

The chief of staff, Shigetaro Shimada, took his word.

In their eyes, Repulse, with the triangular pole raised high, was approaching with a mobile unit.

“To come all the way here by express in four days. Response is fast. After all, it’s a high-speed squadron.”

“However, there is not much time. Admiral, the US fleet can leave Pearl Harbor for Panama now.”

“Isn’t that why we sprayed submarines to stop that? If there is a problem, you will be contacted right away. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Even after answering that, the admiral couldn’t erase the anxiety from his words. It’s simple. They are incapable of catching a fleet that has fled beyond Hawaii.

The opportunity to achieve the greatest achievements in the Imperial Navy would be lost forever.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, he could not bear such humiliation.

‘However, as long as we fight, there’s nothing we can’t do.’

It wasn’t just confidence. The reason for believing that was written in the admiral’s eyes as he looked around.

A vast steel forest lined up so wide that even covering the atoll would not be enough.

Countless cannons and a mast soaring into the sky filled the admiral’s field of vision.

Even with the strength of the Z Task Force and the 1st Task Force, which have now arrived in the area, there are two battlecruisers and four carriers. But even these were not many compared to the main fleet of trucks.

“10 battleships, 6 battlecruisers, and 5 aircraft carriers. There are 21 ships in all.”

“It’s really spectacular. With this amount gathered, no navy in the world would dare to oppose them.”

Indeed it is.

Standing with his hands behind his back, the admiral smiled and nodded at the words of the chief of staff.

However, as long as he drew his sword like this, he could no longer flinch. If you don’t want to see all these people sitting on the atoll due to lack of supply, you must go out unconditionally.

The admiral turned his head, feeling that he had hit Bae Jin.

“Call a meeting right away. Contact the entire fleet. From now on, we will start preparing for the decisive battle.”

“Yes, Admiral!”

The sound of countless footsteps echoed across Kei’s bridge.

* * *

thump-

The sound of footsteps in succession.

The United Fleet conference room located on the battleship Kii had a fairly large seat.

“The room is larger than expected.”

“It looks like a new ship is a new ship.”

Sitting down with the chief of staff, I looked around the extension.

After all, a large ship with a full load displacement of 50,000 tons. It has a better facility than Repulse.

But as my sister says, it’s only Repulse for me.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

Everyone focused their attention on the words of the commander-in-chief, Admiral Eisuke, who was sitting in the highest seat. Each of the faces that served as the backbone of the Japanese Navy.

Among them, Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander of the 1st battle, stands out. It’s like putting a smile on your lips.

‘Is it because of my mood?’

It is not surprising that he, who narrowly changed his stance to open war, sailed with us. I just care about the conversation I had with him.

The Japanese Navy is paying attention to European warfare. Then, what strategy will they come up with in the battle of the fleet?

“First of all, the best location to promote a fleet battle is, of course, the Marshall Islands.”

Beginning with Admiral Eisuke’s words, the giant sword in the middle of the desk was pointed at the baton.

Numerous bases deployed against the backdrop of the vast Pacific Ocean.

However, the main force was divided into only two places.

Truck Atoll and Pearl Harbor. And in between, there are the Marshall Islands and Wake Island to the north and south. territories of Japan and the United States, respectively.

In order for one side to hit the opponent’s main force, it must cross between them. In the process, it is certain that it will inevitably be caught in the enemy’s patrol net.

Because of this, opinions have been divided here.

“I think we should hit Wake Island first.”

“No, should we not strike Pearl Harbor straight through the Marshall Islands?”

“A surprise attack with a mobile unit through the southern part of Midway… .”

“It sounds like a dream. They’re not stupid… . And no matter how many planes you hit, you’ll get a message?”

“Admiral, the answer is a submarine. Countless submarines will have to be sprayed like a net to seal the enemy port.”

“Don’t you all know that battleship power is the only answer to this?!”

Numerous conflicting opinions.

However, there was one common problem.

‘It has no choice but to be noticed by the US Navy somehow.’

The objective of this operation is to destroy the enemy fleet forces. To do so, the Pacific Fleet needs to accept the decisive battle.

But what if the U.S. Navy, upon seeing this massive fleet, moved to San Diego?

All of them did not come up with a sharp countermeasure against it.

Clearly, there would be no suitable way.

At that time, an admiral raised his hand and asked a question.

“Then how about splitting the fleet?”

It was Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the First Air War. The audience paid attention to his words, who had previously belonged to the pro-reconciliation faction. After a while, Admiral Eisuke asked in a puzzled voice.

“Are you split?”

“One is moving toward the Marshall Islands, and one is hitting Wake Island.”

Isoroku Yamamoto preaches with a confident voice.

I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of incongruity there. There was a similar scheme he devised at a later date.

‘Operation MI.’

We will lure and destroy the enemy’s main fleet through simultaneous fleet dispersion and ambush. Of course, the result of Operation MI and the Battle of Midway was a crushing defeat for Japan. Japan’s flagship ‘1st Air Squadron’ was destroyed, which became an important turning point in the Pacific War.

‘These were the words of idiots who couldn’t even keep to the basic logistics of concentrating power.’

Because of that, I didn’t pay much attention to the operation.

I never thought we’d get involved in it.

But when this happens, things are different.

I raised my hand to speak and asked him a question.

“Then, what will you do if one side is destroyed by the enemy’s concentrated attack?”

“It doesn’t matter. The main fleet ambushed at Marshall will find them and destroy them.”

“Any guarantee that the US Navy will be caught?”

“They are coming. I will have no choice but to come.”

what kind of confidence

Isoroku Yamamoto nodded, and before long he confidently continued.

“If I were the enemy commander, I would clear the base and secure the rear before retreating. Maybe they’ll hit Marshall first. So that we can pass the time preparing for the enemy’s offensive.”

A murmur heard from all directions.

Most of them seem to agree. However, if communication goes wrong, it is easy to be defeated individually. Is there a solution to this?

“It seems plausible.”

“Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with an aircraft carrier task force serving as bait from the vanguard.”

I was able to find the answer in the conversations of battleship squadron commanders.

“… Are you using an aircraft carrier as bait?”

The chief of staff muttered while looking around as if he was dumbfounded. Then he turns around and asks me.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It is their doctrine. I just remembered.”

Damn it, it was too late to realize.

A major tactic of the Japanese Navy. It is a ploy steeped in the extreme geomanism of putting an aircraft carrier in the forefront.

Even in the ‘declining interception’, which is originally the main doctrine of the Japanese Navy, the role of the carrier is to find the enemy before the battleship battle and reduce the number with a preemptive strike.

So, it’s not unusual for them to think of aircraft carriers as decoys or auxiliary forces.

‘That Yamamoto bastard actually led an aircraft carrier squadron in Midway.’

Originally, the battleship squadron had to protect the carrier from the front. There are no aviation experts here. It is a yard where even Yamamoto sometimes cannot distinguish whether it is a battleship or an aircraft carrier.

“In that case, let’s first deploy the fleet to Wake and Marshall at the same time. Who will be in charge of the vanguard mobile unit?”

“I have an opinion on that.”

As if he had waited, Isoroku Yamamoto continued his conversation.

Then he turned around and looked at me.

“How about if our 1st anti-war and Royal Navy task force take over?”

Facing a sharp gaze, I clenched my fists.

* * *

Hawaii, Pearl Harbor.

US Pacific Fleet Command.

Under the bright afternoon sun, countless masts glisten.

Said Admiral Frank Herman Scofield, commander of the Pacific Fleet, watching it from the window with his hands behind his back.

“The 2nd Battleship Squadron, the 3rd Battleship Squadron, the 4th Battleship Squadron and the 5th Battleship Squadron. Out of 11 battleships, 6 battleships had 16-inch guns. If you add 2 battlecruisers and 2 aircraft carriers, that means 80% of the United States Navy is gathered here.”

A total of 15 ships in the main fleet.

The countless steel forests were never easy to see. The admiral in command of all of this looked back with a face full of confidence.

“Yes, no navy would dare to attack with such a force. Their height can be handled without a problem with our South Dakota class.”

Admiral Luke McName, the commander of the squadron of battleships, responded with some uneasiness, unlike the content. Admiral Scofield, who seemed to know the reason, nodded and asked.

“Do you believe the Constallations will do their job?”

“That’s up to the battlecruiser squadron commander to take care of himself, but don’t worry.”

A powerful battlecruiser armed with eight 16-inch guns.

However, everyone questioned whether the defensive power would play a role in a large-scale all-out war.

In fact, in the last Panama defense battle, wasn’t the enemy’s Invincible class defeated without giving a single wound?

Even in the midst of not being able to repair the internal wounds of the last battle, the gap was too overwhelming.

“But there is no other number. That’s all. All our strength.”

Saying that with a hard face, Admiral Scofield declared resolutely.

The new 1st Division, consisting of Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico, and the 6th Division, consisting of Montana and North Carolina, are stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

All but those five ships are gathered here. It is no exaggeration to say that it is virtually the entirety of the US Navy.

“So I’d like you to come up with a way.”

“Of course, Admiral. It’s not that pessimistic. If they don’t form battleships and only take out fast battleships, the carriers will be tied down and the main fleet will strike.”

aircraft carrier.

A new type of ship that began to prove its value steadily after the war began.

Admiral Scofield was familiar with that reputation. However, from the standpoint of being on a battleship, I was still a bit skeptical of how great a trick it would be.

Indeed, even in the Atlantic they were useful, but did they not become the main force of the fleet? In the end, the auxiliary is to stay in the auxiliary.

‘It’s hard to use it as a main force unless it’s a mean trick like Taylor’s… .’

Because the Atlantic Fleet is only a second line, it is relying on such tricks. The true value of an aircraft carrier lies in supporting the fleet.

And Admiral MacName seemed to be expecting more from that part.

“Well, the carrier can be a nuisance to them and the battlecruiser can strike. Either way, they will have no choice but to fight our battleships head-to-head.”

“Is the Constellation-class taking on the role of a hound? Still, the defense is too unstable.”

A strategy is established only when there is strong artillery power.

However, there were also parts that got stuck. The admiral clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t help but looked out the window at the large ship.

A long hull with two cage-type masts raised high fore and aft. The well-balanced layout of the four extension turrets is impressive.

Excluding the performance, it was truly beautiful. Admiral Scofield felt even more sorry for that.

“It would have been worth watching if I had slowed down there and had more counter-defense… .”

“That would increase the drainage. Like that Invincible class.”

“Well, I don’t really want to see a warship with such a bizarre appearance.”

The two burst out laughing lightly.

It was Admiral McNamee who shook his head at the admiral’s joke.

But after a while, he raised his head with sharp eyes.

“Is it just a fleet battle after all?”

Admiral Scofield nodded resolutely.

“We’re too slow to abandon Hawaii and run. There’s no such thing as such a waste if you catch up with them.”

A reorganization of the United States battleship force is just under way, but many are still at a low speed of only 21 knots.

Unless all of them are abandoned, it is practically difficult to escape the pursuit of the Japanese Navy.

Even if they went to the East Pacific, there was no guarantee that they would not receive help from the supply ships.

“As long as they mobilized the forces of the Royal Navy, it should be seen that they have become somewhat free in the matter of supply ships. In fact, freighter traffic is increasing.”

A traditional powerhouse that once dominated the five oceans and continues to do so today. The strength of the Royal Navy comes from its enormous supply power.

If the world’s No. 1 shipping ability joined forces with the Japanese Navy, there was no guarantee that it would be safe beyond Pearl Harbor.

… Whatever the reality was, those at the time thought so.

“Above all, isn’t Panama’s safety guaranteed yet?”

“It is.”

With a sigh, the two admirals faced each other.

I have asked the home country for a definite answer about the safety of the canal several times, but no satisfactory answer has yet been returned.

‘The mines, the destroyer squadron, and the coastal artillery have been strengthened, but what if they really push through by force?’

Knowing the movements of the Pacific Fleet, they will never stand still. In the worst case, the fleet could be stranded at the mouth of the canal, leaving Pearl Harbor empty.

It was something I could never have imagined.

“Then, at least, we have no choice but to seek safety behind. we have to move on Whatever is in front of me.”

Admiral Scofield quietly approached the desk.

As he adjusted his small glasses, a vast field of vision spread out before his eyes.

Among the countless oceans of the South Pacific, I looked at an island with a red nameplate.

Marshall Islands.

The enemy’s forward base that needs to be dealt with someday. Perhaps here the Pacific Fleet will have a decisive battle.

“And we need to see what happened at the White House. Directly with our own power!”

Looking at the staff around him, the admiral declared resolutely.