Chapter 253 Bait on Land
There was a buzzing sound in the sky, and two F4F Wildcat fighter jets flew towards the newly opened "Red Dragon Airport" on Guadalcanal with black smoke.
As soon as the two planes landed, seven or eight people immediately ran up to check the status of the pilots and fighter jets. Soldiers on the fire truck were holding water pipes and were ready to deal with possible explosions.
You must know that these people are ordinary soldiers of the 1st Marine Division. Most of them were rookies who had just joined the army a few months ago. Now everyone is a good ground crew.
The reason for this situation is that in addition to the battlefield being the best training ground for recruits, the recent fierce air battles above are also an important factor.
The bodies of the two pilots were briefly checked by the medics. After it was judged that there was no serious problem, they were taken to the intelligence room aside to report the latest battle situation. This is the most effective channel to obtain intelligence after the aircraft carrier's radio is silent.
Because he vowed to kill the "Imperial Shame" on Guadalcanal, Yamamoto Isoroku led a huge fleet including six aircraft carriers to the nearby waters to seek a decisive battle with the US military.
The daily air power comparison between the two sides here is as follows:
Both sides have land airports. The US military has a Cactus Squadron stationed near Guadalcanal with less than 40 aircraft of various types. The Japanese army also has more than 60 land-based aircraft in Rabaul, far away. The other is the naval aviation. The Japanese aircraft carrier aircraft have more numbers, but the US military has better quality and slightly better pilot quality.
In the first round of the battle, both sides were evenly matched.
As soon as He Chi entered the door, Major General Vandergrift came over and said, "Good news. The pilot just reported to us that our people sank a Japanese aircraft carrier (Ryuxiang) in the northeast"
He Chi looked at it The major general's face showed no expression of joy, so he said, "I'd better listen to what you said after BUT before deciding whether to applaud."
Sure enough, the next second the major general began to speak. bad news "But... the Enterprise was also hit by three bombs on the deck. It is currently injured and has to retreat temporarily."
He Chi thought for a while and asked, "Does this mean that the surrounding sea control is currently in the hands of the Japanese?"
"Although I don't want to admit it, it is true. Fortunately, half of the planes on the Enterprise will land at our airport next, and we will not be short of planes in a short time." Major General Shi's expression was a little serious.
"Where is the Saratoga?"
"Fletcher asked the two aircraft carriers to take turns patrolling the southern waters to prevent Japanese ships from raiding from another direction." The major general said without expression.
"At the same time, it is also the safest place nearby, at least outside the strike range of the Japanese aircraft carrier, right." He Chi did not hide the sarcasm in his tone.
The Major General did not speak, which was regarded as acquiescence. After all, the daily life of the 1st Marine Division in Guadalcanal some time ago was eating, fighting, and scolding Fletcher. The same was true for Major General Vandergrift, his naval colleague. I have denounced it many times in private.
Then the major general looked around and asked: "What about our "allies"? How are they prepared?"
"I was about to tell you, please come this way." He Chi made a gesture to guide the way, and then walked ahead alone.
The major general and his entourage walked forward for about a kilometer at the same time. A tall flag was erected on a high hill (or slope) in the distance.
"The First Regiment of the New Japan Founding Army"
About hundreds of people are wielding shovels and other tools, digging trenches in full swing, and at the same time using cement newly transported by plane During the construction of the bunker, bursts of labor chants with Kyushu slang were heard from time to time.
What a prosperous scene. "How many people are they?" The number of people in the team in front of him was obviously different from before, which made the major general a little confused.
"There are less than 50 people who can actually fight with guns. This is the result of recruiting new recruits from the captive captives. The others are all Koreans, just showing off." He Chi shrugged shrug.
"Can they really attract the Japanese?" Major General Vandergrift looked at the place in front of him with some doubt.
There is no cover and no barriers on all sides, the defenders are condescending, and the terrain below is flat, which is very suitable for the sudden support of our armored vehicles and light tanks. If he is a Japanese commander, he will not attack such a place even if he is killed.
"Believe me, if the Japanese were given a choice, they would rather let go of an aircraft carrier formation or kill these people, just like these days..."
Before He Chi finished speaking, an exaggerated shout came
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
I saw a flag shaking violently on the top of a mountain in the distance, and someone then raised the flag Put them down. As this action was completed, the soldiers of the New Japan Founding Army who were still working quickly got into the bunkers they had dug like meerkats encountering their natural enemies. In an instant, no one was visible on the ground.
There was a buzzing sound in the sky, and four Type 97 carrier-based bombers flew over from the sky, rushing toward the position with murderous intent.
Brush! ! brush! ! !
In a forest in the distance, several anti-aircraft positions that had been hidden for a long time suddenly took off their camouflage, and the 37mm anti-aircraft gun revealed its cold barrel right in front of the bomber's trajectory.
Bang bang bang bang bang! ! ! ! ! !
Facing the waiting anti-aircraft firepower, the Japanese bombers were obviously ill-prepared. The four bombers panicked and adjusted their posture to avoid it. However, one of them was hit in the tail and fell down.
Boom! ! ! !
With the explosion caused by the Type 97 and the ground impact, other aircraft hurriedly gave up dropping bombs and pulled up again, while at the distant airport there were already Flying Snake fighter jets preparing to take off.
After another fighter plane shot down one of them, the remaining two Type 97s flew away in a panic towards the sea in the distance.
"This is the third time in the past few days. The Japanese are killing them like crazy. We have shot down at least five planes in this area." He Chi pointed at the busy position in front of him. said.
"It seems that they are the best bait as you said." The major general nodded, finally agreeing with He Chi's statement.
On that day, the First Marine Division temporarily adjusted its troop deployment and placed two battalions equipped with new armored vehicles and tanks on the sides and rear of the New Japan Founding Army. At the same time, high-density mines were laid in this direction. A minefield formed.
1.5 kilometers away, eight M101 cannons were aimed at this place, always ready to deal a heavy blow to the Japanese who launched the charge.
At this time, dark clouds began to gather in the sky, and the bad weather near Guadalcanal began to rain again.
On the night of August 30, about 4,500 people from the Kawaguchi detachment, led by Colonel Kiyken Kawaguchi, began to land on the beach in the eastern part of Guadalcanal under the cover of naval destroyer gunfire, while another thousand-man-level Rangers Then they landed on the island at the same time from the west side in a strange way.
(End of this chapter)