Under the bright sunlight, the huge Japanese Navy's 3rd fleet lined up in a long column and advanced south. Since they were closest to the target, the departure time was the latest. It took 9 a.m. on November 2 to set off from Truk Base.

In the command tower of the USS Shochi aircraft carrier, Major General Kuroku Nosuke Kuroku was also full of doubts. In addition to caring about the future of the fleet, he was also very nervous about the power system of the USS Flying Eagle aircraft carrier. 12 days ago, the aircraft turbine during training failed and could only drive slowly at a speed of 6 knots. Finally, he returned to repair with the destroyer. Although the power system was temporarily repaired after emergency repairs, the hidden dangers still exist. In response, the engineers and technicians at the Truk Base said that they could not help - the repair ship could only provide emergency repairs, and to completely repair it, they had to return to the local area. There was originally a plan to return to the local area for overhaul, but Lieutenant General Tsubasa was determined to take the risk of bringing the aircraft out for use in order to strengthen the fleet's aviation power.

In addition to the hidden dangers of Flying Eagle, the number of carrier-based aircraft carriers was insufficient. Finally, all pilots and fighter jets with aircraft carrier take-off and landing capabilities in the base aviation teams such as Rabaul, Truk, etc. were selected to supplement them. Some pilots in the base aviation team were able to board the ship, the difference was that the level was slightly worse. Fortunately, Tsukahara and Kusato were both commanders of the Nanyang Base Aviation Team, and were very familiar with the pilot situation. Finally, they used all their skills to barely achieve full crew of carrier-based aircraft carriers. As for what to do with the air teams of each base who were transferred to pieces and what would happen to the new air team commander Ugaki Chan? The two thought they could no longer care about it.

They didn't know that the reason why they were able to draw carrier-based aircraft from the base air force until now was Hoffman's credit - Kerr's question, "Where are the people?", deeply shocked the Navy's aviation faction, and stopped sending Rabaul Air Force pilots to the airfield on Guadao earlier than in history, so they also left seeds for the aircraft carrier.

"Why are you still worried about the hidden dangers of flying eagles?" Before you knew it, Tsukahara had walked behind Kusato Ryunosuke and asked with concern.

"Yes, I'm always worried that something will happen." Kusato Ryunosuke turned his head and sighed, "This operation is too large, basically all the way out. If it fails, there is no room for recovery."

"I understand this kind of worry, but often I have to have the courage to burn my boats. I still admire Chief Horikito. This courage reminds me of General Yamamoto's courage before the war between Japan and the United States. As for the flying eagle," Tsukahara Nizumi pointed to the empty sleeve on his left, "We must be prepared to cut off the arm of a hero... As long as he can successfully arrive at the battlefield and release an attack wave, he will win. Don't expect too much else."

"Okay." After all, Kusato Ryunosuke could only stop worrying about this matter. His entanglement in history caused Tadaichi Nagamoto. Fortunately, Tsukahara Niso San was much more determined than Nagamoto. If Ozawa had been the case, it might have been so entangled. In this regard, Yamamoto Iroku is still aware of people.

At 15:00 p.m. on November 3, an American Caterina water reconnaissance aircraft (PYB) reported to the flagship that it discovered the Japanese fleet in the northwest of the aircraft carrier formation. Major General Kincaid immediately let the Enterprise release 48 attack waves and conducted a 120-degree fan-shaped surface search within 200 nautical miles. The result was a completely false alarm. The formation not only gained nothing, but on the other hand, it lost one Wildcat fighter (F4F), three Fearless Diving Bombers (SBD) and three Avengers torpedo attack aircraft (TBF) when returning due to trekking, improper operation, flight failure and other reasons. The two aircraft carrier formations have not achieved any results since they received Halsey's order to launch a large-scale move on October 25. The unnecessary losses have increased mercilessly, which made him very frustrated - the loss of the aircraft doesn't matter, and it's a pity that there is no less pilot.

Kincaid sighed and went to look at the chart again. His trembling hands revealed his nervousness. His current situation was worse than General Spruenz on Midway (at that time, Japan and the United States aircraft carrier 4:3). Now he only has 2 aircraft carriers, but 165 aircraft (original 169 aircraft). According to information, Tsukahara's mobile troops had at least 2 large and 2 small and 4 aircraft carriers. He didn't know that the Japanese army actually dispatched 5 aircraft carriers. In order to open up the situation, he decided to

Using the same tactics as Midway Island, immediately reconnaissance in advance after sunrise tomorrow and strive to discover the enemy, and then send all attack waves at once to attack. However, the daytime reconnaissance still cannot be relaxed. He continued to release the reconnaissance planes to search, and also sent telegrams to the Guadalam defenders hope that they would cooperate with the reconnaissance together - this was destined to be fruitless, both the mobile fleet and the artillery fleet were at least 700 nautical miles away from Guadalam at this time.

On the evening of November 4, after nearly two days and one night of sailing, Horitiki directed the artillery fleet to move south at an economic speed of 15 knots, preparing to turn northeast of Guadal, cross the middle between Maleta and Santa Cruztobal Island and then rush to Guadal from the northeast. This is completely different from the direction that had previously breached from Savo Island in the northwest. In the past, Tokyo Express had approached Guadal Island from this route. Guadal Island defenders knew nothing about this. During the day, they sent reconnaissance planes to the north and two key directions in the west for investigation, but they still found nothing at all. In fact, the mobile troops entered the Guadal Island defender search circle at 4:45, and the artillery formations in the northeast did not enter the search circle at all. By the same token, since Kincaid's fleet was located in a more southerly central part of the Solomon Sea, neither the Japanese mobile fleet nor the artillery fleet could find him.

Nothing was found on November 3. On November 4, he wasted a day in the South Solomon Sea during the day. Kincaid, who led the U.S. aircraft carrier formation, was almost crazy, but he could not retreat casually. What if the Japanese fleet came tomorrow? After thinking about it, he ventured 60 nautical miles north in the evening that day, approaching his distance to only 250 nautical miles from Bougainville Island. He was determined to take some risks and release the search northward early tomorrow morning.

The fleet will then lead the fleet to flee south before the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft on Bougainville or Monta Island comes out. As long as the means are sophisticated, the distance between the fleet and the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft will be greater than 300 nautical miles, which he believes is a safe enough distance. The logistics officer has issued a warning that according to the current material consumption rate, if the enemy fleet cannot obtain a reliable position on November 6, the fleet's supply will fall into the dangerous zone - that means it will have to retreat.

At 18:45 on November 4th, Guadalam time (Tokyo time is 2 hours later than Guadalam. If there is no special explanation below, Guadalam time shall prevail), night began to fall on Guadalam. Major General Alexander Van der Grift, the commander of the 1st Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps, who was stationed on the island, also began to raise his heart because he had received information that the Japanese army might counterattack. The quietness of the other party in the past two days gave him a very bad premonition.

The pointer has passed 8 o'clock in the evening. Kuroru Ren reported to Hori Teiki: "Sir, the fleet is still 35 nautical miles away from Guadalam. At the current speed, it will be about 2 hours before it can penetrate the waters of Guadalam. Night has come. It is impossible for the US military to discover us through the plane. The only thing we need to worry about is torpedo boats and small ships."

"Are there any tips for submarines to report nearby US fleets?"

"No, but we have deployed two teams of destroyers on the periphery to discover the enemy fleet in time."

"Very good, speed up to 21 knots, the whole army moves forward..." Horitiki thought for a while and ordered, "Break the silence of the radio and send a telegram to the mobile fleet. Our team plans to attack Guado at 20 o'clock tonight. It is very likely that the enemy fleet will appear on the southern sea of ​​Guado today and tomorrow morning. Our fleet will capture and determine the position of the enemy fleet at dawn tomorrow, and the mobile fleet will attack it at that time."

"Sir, the fleet has passed through the Silak Strait and entered the waters of Guadalam. Cape Lunga is not far ahead. According to the Army's prompts, the US airport is not far away, and there is only this airport on Guadalam." Considering the convenience of command, Nobutake Kondo eventually stayed on the Yamato. After checking the charts and the actual sea area, he prompted Horitoshi Dori.

"Very good, ready to shell."

"The island army is gradually disconnecting from the US military and preparing to evacuate, and the sight is very poor at dark and cannot provide accurate directions for fleet artillery fire."

"There is no need for precise instructions. Use the square method prepared by Chief of Staff Kusato to cover the shooting. The entire fleet starts from Yamato, and all caliber guns above 203mm are involved, and half of the high-explosive bombs are fired." Horitoki said coldly, "Don't the Americans fight for steel with us and consume them? Use artillery fire to tell them that although Japan has a little less steel, it is not without them. Let them also taste the wrath of the Joint Fleet!"

The so-called square-covered shooting is similar to carpet-type shelling. It divides Guadao, which is not too large (the distance between north and south is only 45 kilometers, and the entire island is within the coverage of the shelling) into fixed grids. The naval guns cover according to the geographical location and coordinate system, and shoot in all aspects without any difference.

"In addition, tell Lieutenant General Tsukahara that in order to strengthen the shelling force, four King Kong-class ships were temporarily dispatched to participate in the shelling, and returned to the mobile fleet before dawn..."

At this time, the waters of Guadalao were still shrouded in the night, and the US military on the island did not notice the arrival of the Japanese fleet.

"Report to the sir, the firepower is ready and you can fire the fire."

"Report to each ship to shoot the various elements, and prepare for Yamato to fire first. Kondo, please give me full command."

Nobutake Kondo was stunned for a moment, then his face turned red and he replied loudly: "Yes!" Chief Hori Teiki would give him face!

"Priority target, US military airport; second priority target, port, beachhead! Prepare, open fire..."

"boom……"

With the issuance of Kondo Nobutake's order, the world's strongest battleship main gun, the 460mm Yamato naval gun, began to make a key statement. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!