Chapter 552 Empire's Counterattack

To the east of the narrow island of Guinea, there is a string of islands at the end that seem to be divided. The first swandron of the Royal Fleet of the Xinhua Empire is like a wolf pack of burying, sailing between Tagula Island and Russell Island at the eastern end. Except for the flexible lookouts on the ships, the whole fleet can hardly see anyone walking. Signs.

Deng Haohong got out of the command tower with intelligence. The cloud in the sky frowned. The hatches on the two turrets that were on alert in front of him, which had not been completely closed, the artillery soldiers who were still ready for the battle burst into laughter.

As an officer of the former Guangzhou Marine Division, Deng Haohong may not be so eye-catching in today's navy, but his identity is very special, because his father is Deng Shichang, who ordered to hit the enemy ship during the First Sino-Japanese War and died.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the emperor ordered the construction of a naval monument outside the Dalian Naval Academy. He not only erected a monument for those who had made contributions to navigation in successive dynasties, but also called Beiyang, including his father, the vanguard of the modern navy.

Although he was also happy for his father, it also put a lot of pressure on him. Before the rapidly changing navy, at the age of 30, he resolutely gritted his teeth and walked into the Naval Academy to continue his further study.

Now he is nearly 40 years old and has become the chief of staff of the battleship Jiangsu. His younger brother Deng Haoqian was also admitted to the Naval Academy not long ago. He also became a classmate with the eldest son of Commander Long. The prototype of the naval family is gradually emerging in various parts of Xinhua.

This is an extremely important naval symbol. Even the emperor said that the reason why the British navy has been strong for a hundred years is that many people are passed down by father and son. Some even five or six generations have served in the navy, and Xinhua now has also a naval family, which means that the dream of a hundred-year navy is no longer a lie.

Looking at the old gunners in the cracks of the door, Deng Haohong smiled. Perhaps in a few decades, many of them will let their children join the navy and become a new naval family.

Thinking of this, he walked briskly and soon came to the captain's lounge and gently tapped on the hatch.

"Come in."

Gu Jun Hola opened the hatch, and his partner was on an expedition for several years, so he didn't pay so much attention. He quickly gave him the only chair in the rest cabin and sat on the edge of the bed: "Does Clarkston have a new trend?"

After the warship increased its displacement, the first solution was the living and rest cabin. At the same time, the sailor's cabin was more spacious. At the same time, the captain's room was also expanded from three or four square meters to six square meters of reading space now, so the two people sitting here did not seem crowded.

"Hmm."

When Deng Haohong saw the chart of the Solomon Islands on his desk, he immediately pointed to Guadalcanal in the islands and said, "Half an hour ago, Clarkston arrived here. We thought he would go south from here as soon as possible, but just now the reconnaissance aircraft reported that he suddenly maneuvered and no longer went south. It's to turn around and sail east.

"To the east? What's the speed?"

"The speed is not fast, and it only maintains a cruising speed of 15 knots."

Gu Junhuo frowned quickly. Did Clarkston find that he was waiting for him in the south?

It should be impossible. Although the fleet has been receiving telegrams from Guam and the other two fleets and nearby friendly troops, the radio silence has not been cancelled, and it has also strengthened its air patrols and has not found any trace of seaplanes at all. Is it a submarine?

It is possible that Xiao Tianzhi encountered one at his place. Although he sank quickly, he still exposed himself. However, this idea was quickly denied by Gu Junhuo himself. No matter how powerful the submarine was, he needed to report by radio after discovering the enemy, but he received it all the way. Outside the communication signal, there can be no abnormal clutter at all.

So what's going on? Why did Clarkston change his decision to go south? You should know that a good commander will not change his previous decision without a definite intelligence basis, so this is an illusion? Or did you do something wrong and inadvertently exposed the direction of the fleet?

"Oh, by the way, this is the detection photo that has just been developed."

Seeing Gu Jun Huo's words, Deng Haohong quickly took out a few photos taken at close range by the plane's adventure. Although the distance is relatively close, the quality of the photos is not very high. In addition to the speed of the plane itself affecting the shooting, the current camera's ability is not very clear.

But even so, it is already a great breakthrough. Aviation reconnaissance can make the commander have a more intuitive influence on the enemy, so Gu Junhuo immediately put the photo on the table and pulled the desk lamp a little closer.

Looking at the eight capital ships, six protective cruisers and a seaplane mothership in a single formation, his eyebrows gradually moved closer, especially when he saw the bulge on the front bridge, he took a deep breath: "The information provided by Germany is correct. The American capital ships have been equipped with rangefinders and preliminary fire control."

Deng Haohong has seen the photos for a long time, so he also nodded and said, "Yes, in the past few years, when the confrontation in Europe was fierce, the United States was on the same side. Over the years, it has attracted a lot of scientists and really got some good things."

Gu Junhuo sighed from the bottom of his heart. After all, the United States is the United States. A white man's skin can take advantage of European tensions. In addition to their own industrial capabilities, they really can't be underestimated.

Primary fire control and rangefinders mean that American capital ships have a long range and accuracy, but this can't scare themselves. The only worry is that the opponent has eight capital ships, and the huge advantage in number can't be made up for by the gun caliber, especially his task is to destroy at least four American heavy patrols, but Pencea The Cora level is built according to the British invincible battle patrol drawings, with a maximum speed of 25 knots, which is faster than the Hebei level and the Liaodong level. How to contain the speed and grab the vital T position, using all the main guns to hit them in the shortest time is the key!

Originally, the U.S. mobile fleet continued to go south and was bound to hit its own muzzle, but now it suddenly went east, which is parallel to the First Task Force.

It can be seen from this that Clarkston was an extremely careful man. He must have known that a fleet was searching for him, so he drilled into the narrow Solomon Islands.

Gu Junhuo raised his wrist and looked at his watch. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon. Why did Clarkston hesitate? Just as he didn't understand that his opponent was rubbing in the archipelago, the corners of his eyes suddenly swept the calendar on the bulkhead.

"What day is the first day today?"

"The second day of junior high school!" As soon as Deng Haohong finished answering, his eyes lit up immediately.

Seeing the partners who have cooperated for several years, they understood that Gu Junhuo nodded. Clarkston was an experienced captain. He must have thought that the moonlight would be very dim today, and the weather helped him a little, so he deliberately dodged and maneuvered repeatedly in the archipelago. He spent time until night to break through. !

Clarkston should be said to be a good opponent. He knows how to take advantage of external conditions such as weather. After being exposed to aircraft surveillance, accelerating escape at night is the only option.

"Withdraw all the aircraft and contact all our submarines nearby, along." Gu Junhuo walked to the chart, picked up the pen along the Solomon Islands to the southeast, and stopped in Vanuatu: "This line arrangement, if you find the American fleet, don't act rashly, just keep surveillance and don't lose it."

"Can the submarine work?" Deng Haohong was a little worried that the underwater speed of the submarine was so slow that it could not catch up with the American fleet at all.

"Don't worry, I went to the submarine unit to see that the tiger shark can continue to maintain a speed of 15 knots in the sway state, and there is no problem to follow it far away." Gu Junhuo put down his pen and hooked the corners of his mouth: "We met a very cautious opponent, but no matter how careful he was, he would not expect that there would be a submarine that could maintain a speed of 15 knots without floating out of the sea."

"Well, I'll send the newspaper now."

"No." Gu Junhuo was about to leave Deng Haohong: "Sent a plane to the nearest Bougainville Island. Where is the airport and radio station? We can't break the radio silence."

"In addition, the nautical voyage must arrive in Vanuatu early tomorrow morning. Where are we waiting for him!"

Deng Haohong nodded just to convey the order. The correspondent had sent the latest news: "Report, I received the war report from Guam. The Second Fleet found the enemy ten minutes ago and was approaching quickly. The battle is expected to start within half an hour. In addition, the battle of the Third Task Force has ended, except for indomitable. The USS and an armored cruiser escaped, and the rest were sunk, but the Dandong was seriously injured.

Gu Junhuo picked up the war report transferred from Guam. After looking at it twice, he sighed. Ning Xiaochuan was a little conservative. If he attacked hard at the first time, Seymour might not be able to escape. What a pity!

This also gives him a warning that it is really not easy to block the four fast battlecruisers among the enemy's eight capital ships by relying on his own four battleships, and he must be well thought out.

However, this telegram helped him a lot. At least Seymour would definitely send a telegram to the nearby British and American telegraph station before he escaped. Maybe Clarkston also received the news that after the two squadrons of Australia and New Zealand were attacked at the same time, he would definitely be more eager to withdraw.

"Report, monitoring the radio signals in the Solomon Islands, the preliminary signal frequency analysis should be sent by the U.S. fleet!" The hurried footsteps made Gu Junhuo and Deng Haohong see the smile in each other's eyes at the same time.

"Cancel the combat readiness alert, order the patrol to withdraw the protection, and pay attention to the enemy submarines."

"After dinner at five o'clock, everyone except the on-duty staff will rest and re-enter the battle at two o'clock tomorrow morning." After giving the order, Gu Junhuo looked at his watch and felt a little regretful, because the First Huddle-in Fleet was probably the last battle in this great counterattack.

And whether it can force Clarkston to make up his mind to fight to the death depends on Xiao Tianzhi's face.

Because from the map, if he can successfully destroy Steddy's New Zealand Squadron, he will give Clarkston 10,000 courage not to continue to return directly to the east under the condition of chasing after the front block.

So, as long as the second mixed fleet wins, the T-digit is your own!

(to be continued)